The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-01-14 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE MISSING JOURNALIST. DISCOVERY OF:„THE BODY. The body of Mr.4rchibara M' rteilk-who has been missing since Dec. 20, wasifound- on the. morning of Friday the 6th inst. on the western beach of the deepsea harbour at Boulogne-sur-Mer. As will be gleaned from telegrams received during the afternoon the body was in a condition which indicated that it had been in the water for a considerable time, probably a couple of weeks, 'and it was considerably bruised, as if from icontact with the rocks, or with the great wooden piles of the pier. At first sight, however, the appearance of the body afforded no justification for the suppositiion that there had been foul play, but after a, more careful examination had been made the police authorities unhesitatingly declared that the unfortunate gentleman had been murdered. Upon the neck were livid marks only too plainly due to violence,  Ifor  and not a single valuable or a farthuig of money could - - - -  M'l wri‘ Dec)  bro: twol  Mil MO) CRI chii  .!-fight between Jam, tte a , an, of '  owing to telegraphic' delays, reached London very late, and the knowledge of this had a very depressing effect upon Mr. M'Neill. The next morning he seemed in fairly good spirits, interviewed the fighters, and started for London in company with several friends and journalistic _ colleagues. On the journey he again _ . _  became nervous .Lai-eiciteel, and= reaching Boulogne complained of feeling unwell. He went aboard the steamer, and just before the vessel started for Dover he told a friend he would go down into the cabin and take a rest. From that moment almost all is mystery. Only one thing is certain, viz., that he voluntarily left the steamer—but for what reason no one knows—walked into the town, whence he sent a telegram to the Sportsman stating that he had missed his steamer, but would come on by the next, and making some rather incoherent remarks about his health. Nothing more was seen or heard of the unfortunate gentleman until the discovery of 'Ais body on Friday, although the French police have been most indefatigable in their efforts to elucidate the mystery. Ile was not the man to commit suicide; on the contrary, his opinion expressed to friends innumerable shows that he always held that mode of quitting this life to be cowardly. Mr. Wellcome's researchea at Boulogne proved conclusively that he was accompanied, during the interval of waiting for the second boat, by a man ofoordinary appearance, who officiated as interpreter. This man so far has not been traced, and the French police, we understand, are endeavouring to find his whereabouts. Mr. M'Neill was a journalist of unusual ability. He was originally intended for the Baptist Church ministry, and received a thorough education in the college connected with that denomination in Birmingham, where his parents reside. He thought, however, that he had a penchantjor journalism, and his first article was written for the Birmivham Daily Mall in reference to a local colliery in which coal had been found after many hopeless months of mining. He subsequently rined the staff of the Birmingham Morning News, When that journal was edited by the late iMr. George Dawson, the celebrated lecturer. oedr. M'Neill was subsequently engaged as leader . writer and dramatic critic on the Yewcastle -Daily Chronicle. He came to London in 1878, and wrote for several newspapers and magazines, ultimately joining the Sportsman in 1882 as a descriptive writer and dramatic critic. The well-known article eigned "Lorgnette," and also the daily "Notes on News" appearing in that journal were written by him. Ile was about 40 years of age, umnarried, and was a highly-respected member of the Savage and Press Clubs, of the Gallery lodge of Freemasons, and was secretary of the Savage Pub Fr xis' Lodge. St 01.1100 .11/104.1111/ 04