The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1870-05-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF AN OXFORD COLLEGIAN.  A most determined suicide by a scholar at Bslllol College was made at Oxford on Friday last. The gentleman in question, Mr. Favour James Greg. Snell Exhibitioner of Rani.' College, proceeded to Port Meadow, a common of 500 acres, and clinching a retired pert known as Howell's Corner, deliberately cnt his throat with a razor. A labourer, who saw the Occur, rence. obtained assistance, and Mr. Greg was conveyed to the Radcliffe Infirmary, where be died on Sunday night. Mr. G,g hail been advised by his former medial adei,er M. Ilitchings, to abstain from study firs time ; but was lately engaged in come exanainations In winch he was not successful, and this with over study lad evidently preyed on his mind. Mr. Gre4 was a geotlettom of the highest attainments, baying taken a first-class in the University examination, besides competing ounce...fulls at College. The sad affair caused a painful feelizg throughout the Univerhity.  An inquest has been held, and from the evidence of Mr. CAM Ritchie M'Clyniont. who was on intimate terms with him, it appeared that the deces,ed had been very notch depressed in temsequence of the too. finement of his mother in a lunaticasylum, but wanes observed in him nothing that would have suggested to him that he intended to destroy himself. He was of a weakly and restle.sdispo.ition. Thomas Rowland, of W. olvercot, b.und the body on Portmeadow, about half•pisst FiX on Friday evening, before lite was quite extinct, and with assistance brou2ht the body to the Radcliffe Infirmary. De. ceic.e.l tried, but could not speak. A razor lay by his side, covered with blood.  George Hitchings, surgeon, of Oxford, had known the deceased for two years past, and attended him since 18.68. Ile suffered from excitement minsequent upon close reading. He was very abstemious in his habits. His niehts were very much disturbed, and he always mitioared depressed. re,xsinination of Mr. Al'elymont, it appeared that the deceased had been obliged to place his mother under restraint some time last year, that she had re sivend until about three weeks since, when she was t 4,1 again to be confined. This pressed very heavily upon him, and he frequently mentioned his trouble to the witness. He expressed some disappointment in Lot gettil g the Jenkins exhibition. He took a tirst class in moderations in 186 S.  %tarp Wotton, at whose h-i'm-s-e. he lodged, observed him a...1.y much depressed. 11, left her hotnie about half-past ono. She hal olser, oil that he was very tacit urn and not ci,erful. He was expecting a letter. Ad the term he st.pcared very melancholy. The Rev. Dr. Soct, Mascsr of Batliol, had received aI. tier from Mr.. Wotton, addressed by the deceased to his stepfather, which announced what he meant to .10, :Ind expressed extreme aeony of mind and Malin...erne of thought. It was the letter of a man who had het himself, The letter is now destroyed. After a careful summing up by the Coroner, the jury retnruell a verdict "That the deceived destroyed himself wlrle in a state of temporary insanity.