Glasgow Courier. — 1846-10-31 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A CLERGYMAN.  We regret to announce that the Rev. Robert Cock, Curate of Everton, near East Retford, in a moment of temporary insanity, put an end to his existence last Sunday, by shooting himself through the head with a pistol. Mr. Cock was born in the year 1801, and was educated for the Church. Between three and four years ago, the deceased undertook the Curacy of Tickhill, at which place he continued to reside until the last summer, and during his residence there he earned for himself the good-will and approbation of the Vicar. Towards the latter part of his ministry at Tickhill, however, some ill-disposed person set afloat a rumour that the deceased was frequently intoxicated, which, coming to his knowledge, and well knowing the charge to be untrue, appeared to haves serious effect upon his constitutional powers, so much so, that his friends believe that it laid the foundation for that state of nervous excitability which ultimately, in an unguarded moment, prompted him to committ self-destruction. The following evidence was adduced at the inquest held on Tuesday last. Mary Ann Thompson deposed—l have lived as servant with the deceased for the last seven years. For the last two or three years he had been very poorly, and for the last fortnight or three weeks he has been exceedingly low-spirited. I have heard of some evil reports which have been propagated against him, which unhinged his mind and made him much worse than he formerly was. It had been said that begot tipsy; but it was not, to my certain knowledge, his habit to get tipsy; he was a perfectly sober man. Ile has been Curate of Everton since June or July last. He came frem Tickhill to Everton. On the morning of Sunday last, I thought he appeared very low in spirits, but he breakfasted with Min. Cock, as usual. He was not going to Church that morning, as he said he could not do the duty. I knew he had a brace of pisto s, which he Has had by him all the time I have lived with him. I saw him about ten minutes before he shot himself, when he came into the kitchen to know how the baby was. Mr. William Dixon, surgeon of Tickhill, said—l have attended Mr. Cock profession illy ever since March, 1841; I knew him most intimately. A few days ago I beard the report of his getting drunk, but he never to n me of any such reports, nor complained that they had injered 14m. He 1 has become greatly altered since he came from Tickhill and be told me once in particular that he had never known p ace and quietnesss since he came to Everton. He has on one or two occasions alluded to his circumstances, since he came to vertou, saying, be has got a house too large for him, and had neurred expenses which he was not equal to. He came over to me t Tickhill a few weeks ago, especially to ask my opinion as t how he should reduce his expenditure : he proposed to give up hi gig and pony; he also proposed to go into a small house, and in mad of keeping four servants, only keeping two. Ilealso suggested the idea of going to the Isle of Man for a few years to enable him t redeem his circumstances. On Friday Mrs. Cock came over t me at Tickhill, to ask me what was the best to be done with him. he told I me he was so singular, so low and so nervous, that she did i ot know what to do with him, and she ii as afraid, if he did not g t better soon, he would be compelled to be sent to an asylum. IV r. Cock was a very sober man, and I never even heard until latch of his being otherwise. He was most perfectly and decidedly a sober man. This being the whole of the evidence, the Coroner w s about to address thejury when several letters were handed to hi 1, which on being read, proved tube from gentlemen vouching for the late clergyman's sobriety and general excellence of character. The jury having consulted together for a very short time, found that the deceased destroyed himself whilst labouring under temporary insanity. It is said that the rev, gentleman's circumstances were good, and that his idea to the contrary arose entirely from despondency.