The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1856-02-05 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MELANCHOLY SIIICIDE.—On Saturday morning, about half-past ten o'clock, Police-officer 248 (William Ward) was called to the public-house of Mr. Helliwell, Bridport-street, where a young man lay on the floor of one of the bedrooms, with his throat cut in three places, and an open razor lying beside him. He was still alive, and the officer asked him his name. He replied " William Moffatt." The officer further asked him " Who has done it?" (inflicted the wound) and the young man gasped out "myself," and in a few moments expired. A surgeon had arrived shortly before and attempted to'save his life by sewing up the wounds, but without avail. An inquest was held the same afternoon, when Mr. and Mrs. Helliwell stated that the deceased came into their house about ten o'clock on Friday morning, with a portmanteau, and stated that he had just arrived from Ireland. He appeared as if exhausted from excitement or sickness. He gave them his name, and said he was a clergyman's son from Newry. He added that he had been a very wicked man, and had left a servant girl at home in the family way by him, and that his father had refused to let him marry her. He had been spoiled, he said, by his parent's indulgence, and expressed a fear that he bad broke his "poor mother's heart." After partaking of breakfast he went to bed, and remained there until two o'clock in the afternoon. About half-past nine o'clock he went to bed again, after paying Mrs. Helliwell two shillings for the accommodation he had received, and expressing a wish to be called at six o'clock, in order to catch the early morning train for Manchester. He was heard about five o'clock next morning walking about his room restlessly, and about six o'clock Mr. Helliwell took him a cup of tea. He appeared in great trouble, however, and refused to take it, saying that he should go to Australia. About ten o'clock • Mrs. Helliwell went to his room,, and found him as described. Upon the deceased was found a Punch's Pocket Book, for 1853, containing sundry letters and papers, but no money. One was a letter dated June,' 1855, from the Secretary of the Dublin and Belfast Railway Company, regretting that a situation, for which the deceased had applied, was filled up, and enclosing his testimonials, signed by the vicar and curate of St. Peter's, Drogheda, several justices of the peace, and other gentlemen. The deceased appeared to be a fine young man, of about twenty-one years of age, light complexion, sandy hair and moustache, and bright blue eyes. The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity. Shortly after the termination of the inquest, Mr. Haggarty, who keeps a temperance coffeehouse in Hood-street, came into the court and stated that the deceased had arrived at his house on Thursday morning. He appeared greatly agitated, and gave the same account of himself as he did to Mr. Helliwell subsequently. He continually exclaimed " Oh ! the girl, the poor girl ; I have ruined the girl I" His conduct was so suspicious that he was put to sleep in a treble-bedded room, along.with some recruits, who stated that several times during the night he tried to jump out of the window. About ten o'clock he left the house, with his portmanteau, and was not seen by Mr. Raggarty again until the suicide became known. A small brass plate was found in Mr. Haggarty's kitchen, after the deceased left, with " Rev. C. J. Moffatt, Newry," engraved upon it. The corpse awaits the instructions of the deceased's friends, who have been written to to ascertain their wishes as to its disposal.