The Express. — 1847-09-09 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE OF MR. ROWLAND JONFA, FORMERLY OP THE 67TH REGIMENT, hY caused much converotion is Chester, where the lamentable act was committed on Monday morning last. It appeared that the deceased, who is about 27 years of ages, in company with Mr. H. Melling, the secretary of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, arrived at the Green Dragon Inn about eight o'clock en Sunday evening, from Bangor, and stated their inteation of proceeding on the following morning to Wrexham. The deceased spent the evening with his friend, and retired to bed about 11 o'clock. Mr. Melling and the deceased occupied separate room'. On Monday morning Mr. Melling arose about eight o'clock, and between that hour and half-put eleven he several times went up stairs to his friend's chamber-door to cell him up. On the lot occasion Mr. Jones was on the floor, and he directed Mr. Melling to order some breakfast for him, and promised to be down immediately. Not making hie appearance, however, Mr. Melling went up stairs shortly after eleven o'clock, and on receiving no answer after knocking at the door, he opened it, when, to his horror, he beheld his friend stretched lifeless by his bed-side, with a pair of duelling pistols lying near him, with which be had accomplished the act of sell destruction. Surgical aid was immediately obtained, but it was of no avail, as life was quite extinct before the body was found. In the course of the day an inquest was held, when Mr. H. Melling said—l am the secretary of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, and became acquainted with Mr. R. Jones about twelve months ago, when he joined the club. On the 15th of August last we went with the fleet to Beaumaria, to honour the Queen. and be present at the regatta. The pitch in which we sailed had been purchased by Mr. Jones from myself in April last, but it was not paid for. On Saturday night I slept on board with him, and on Sunday morning we left Bangor by coach for Chester. On the Ist of September, Mr. Jones gave me a cheque for 3501. on the North and South Waits Bank at Bangor, in settlement of my account with him. The mosey was to be paid by Lloyd and Co.'s Bank, at Wrexham, into the North sad South Wales Bark at Bangor, and I was then to get my cheque cashed. I understood Mr. Jones had not that much money in Lloyd's Bank, but he said he thought Mr. Lloyd would advance it for him. The money was not paid at Bangor, as Mr. Jones expected, and he propcsed we should go together to Wrexham and get it there. We accordingly left Bangor by coach on Sunday, and arrived at the Green Dragon, in Chester, about 8 o'clock the same evening. I was to be Mr Jones's guest, but he had not sufficient money to pay our fare with, and I lent him a sovereign for that purpose. We had tea at the Green Dragon, and Mr. Jones afterwards drank a glass of ale and a glass of brandy punch. Mr. Jones seemed quite cheerful. When we were p for bed, the chambermaid inquired whether we war have a double-bedded room, and Mr. Jones replied that he would not. We had screed to start on Monday morning by the 10 o'clock train for Wrexham. I arose first on Monday morning, and told the chambermaid to call Mr. Jones. He did not get up, and I then went up stairs myself and told him if he did not ggettt upp we should miss the train. He told me to get my for he did not want say himself. Having mused the 10 o'clock, I wished to get away by the llh. 40m. train, and 1 VMS up stain two or three times to his chamber door to Nguema him to make haste, or we should miss that train the TM het lime I went up the door was a-jar, and I heard bites the deer. I again asked him if he would lake say hawskiest, and ha directed me to order some WM to be pespered for him. As he did not come down Maim Ike saw time I went lap again, and knocked twin at le isee; belt reeeivhig se mower I opened it. I .t smoke, and on peeseilog two or shoo lab the room I saw Mr. iemealpilLibly his beide% ememei with blood. Whilst we ale et or I rasa Ilr. Jame with a pair of pistols sal boll which he Mit in a pistol can, and are those now ; he amassed himself there by shooting at bottles rted water, with a young gentleman named Todd. I never pressed him for the money he owed me for the yacht, but there had been a good deal of shuffling on hie part respecting it. All I know of Mr. Jones's connections is what he himself told me. I understand that he formerly held a commission in the 67th Regiment, but that he had sold it. He mid his father was a colonel in the Royal Engineers at Malta, and that he had a eater also resident there. He also told me that the house in which his uncle lived near Wrexham belonged to him, and that he had some property in Devonshire he has give' me unendorsed bill, on his @gents in Devonshire. I never *boned anything in Mr. Jones's conduct to induce me for a moment to suspect that he was not in the polemicist of a sound mind..-.sgt The Coroner said it was very desirable in a ease of this sort that they should have the evidence of a medical man as to the immediate cause of death ; and it was also but right that the friends of the deceased should have an opportunity of showing, if they could do so, whether his mind was in any way affected. As the case at present stood upon the evidence, he did not we how they could return any other verdict than that-of fele de se; but he was sure the jury would rather not find such a verdict if they could conscientiously return a' at proposed, therefore, that a post mortern be made, and that they should adjourn the fageset ter a few days.—Mr. Melling intimated his belief, iteeriedless what he had sometimes heard Mr. Jones say, that ho led *ruled an attachment for a young lady in London, whisk was disapproved of by his friends, and whom he hid ashy been prevented fees marrying for fear of the esisequewese.—The BMW lir. Melling to obtain foam tedhometles boa tide =lra practicable ; and with the eland et the Joey the Inquest MY then adjourned until Meoloy next.  P1V116151X.11.