The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1871-11-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN OF BALLIOL COLLEGE.  A sad and melancholy event, costing a gloom over the whole of Oxford society, occurred on Monday morning, at kIaHMI College, through the suicide of Mr. Francis John Cheshire Walker, commoner, who was found in his rooms quite dead, having discharged a Millet through his heart. An inquest was held in the afternoon before a jury composed of matriculated citizens, and members of College, when the following was the principal evidence adduced  The bedmaker deposed that on entering deceased's room to light his fire, shortly after em x o'clock, he found him lying in an easy-chair in hie night shirt, apparently dead, and a pistol on the hearth rug near him. Mr. George Taunton, M. H.C.S., who was immediately sent for, stated that he arrived about half-pt six, and found the body as described, death having occurred, he should say, about three and a half or four hours previously. There was a gunshot wound in the chest, a little above the region of the heart, and on turning the body over he discovered a bullet close to the back of the shoulder. He thought that deceased met with his death by his own hand, and that it occurred. almost instantaneously.  Mr. Webb, a gunsmith, deposed that deceased purchased a five-chamber revolver of him OH Friday last, saving he intended it as a present to his brother. Mr. Weriderburn, a commoner of Balliol, and personal friend of deceased, stated that between six and seven on the previous evening, at the request of the lattsr, he went to his rooms, which were opposite lib own, and smoked a cigar with him. Deceased secriesd in good spirits and asked him to breakfast on Tuesday. He had heard him complain lately of paine inhis head, and knew he had had a sunetreke.  Lord Elgin, an undergraduate of Balliul, a particular friend of deceased, gave evidence to the effect that deceased was with him in his rooms from about half-past nine to nearly twelve o'clock on the previous night. He noticed a strange look in his face as he entered the room, and the last words be said to him on leaving were to the effect that he hoped he should not have that pain again in his head, or he did not know what he should do. lle knew that he suffered considerably from his head, and that he was unable to read on Friday last on that account. Deceased was exceedingly steady in his habits, and his lordship did not believe for a moment be had anything on his mind. He knew that he had been warned by his medical man not t mend t..l:ard. - • •  Mr. John E.ei Walker deposed that deceased was his e, -•••t, hi,, health had for some years past I wen anxiety his f view !s. He suffered very much from depression of spirits and inten-e headaches, and he lead a sunstroke whilst rowing during the summer term, kill. He was at the time of his death being treated by a London physician, and hail an appointment to see him again im Saturday next. That morning he had received by post a letter from his son, 118 had also deceased's mother and sister. In the letter to his mother, he complained very much of the pain in his head, and said that he hoped it would not drive him mad, as there was nothing he had so great a horror of. Another letter, addressed to his father, was found in deceased's room, stamped ready for post, and in that he spoke of his head being worse. •• • • •  The jury almost immediately returned a verdict that the d0v..3,4ed connnitted suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind.