The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-04-29 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE SUICIDE OF THE WARRIOR'S STEWARD. On Fri lay afternoon the inqoest was held, at Portsmouth, on the body of John William Bunning, late a resident in Portland, and ship's steward on board the Warrior. Mr. E. .T. Harvey, Admiralty law agent, appeared for the Admiralty. and Mr. George Feltham for the widow of deceased. From the evidence of Mr. J trnes May, schoolmaster of the Warrior, it appeared that the deceased w s 42 yen.° of age, of a nervous temperament, and liable to depression of spirits. But, though fond of a glass of grog, he had never, during the eight months which witness had known him, been seen incapable of performing his work. Witness was with the deceased from balf-pet ei.dit on Tuesday morning, and they csme ashore together between two and three in the afternoon, when they went to " TAterdell's" Hotel, in St, George's Square, Forties, and remelted thero Until after five, the deceased during that time having but one glass of ale. They then wet to the house of witness's aunt in Somer's-road, Southses, and partook of tea. The deceased seemed 1)w-spirited, and de. dined going to the theatre; but they went for a short walk, arid, as the deceased complained of being tired, they returned in a tramcar to the hotel at Porrsel. Once in the afternoon, and again in the evening, the deceased exhibited a confused manner, and on witness leaving the hotel he telt some anxiety about the deceased, and consequently requested Mr. erosiland, the proprietor, to look after him until he (witness) called for the deceased at half-past seven in the morning to go on board his ship. By Mr. Harvey: The deceased never made any complaint on board his ship, but he seemed to have a groundless idea or delusion that both afloat and ashore people were endeavouring to take a lvantage of him.  By Mr. Feltham : About a month since the deceased had a str tin upon hitn, by the m .king up of his clothing accounts, and a month 1-elore that he coinplaised of having to pay money for clothing lost by those serving under him. Mr. G. D. 4 'rosslan,l, the keeper of Totterdell's Hotel, deposed that he had known the deceased for twenty years, and for three years he had exhibi ad a depression of spirits, which he had attributed to circumstances connected with his duties, some of which were friv done, and other witness believed were true 9r. Tuesday night the deceased remainel in witness's sitting.room until he went to bed, about half past 10, but about a rut ate/. before 12 the ,eceaeed was heard Calling " Murder" and witness went to him, when he fund him tartly undressed, standing in the room. and In a very excited state. Deceasrd alleged that the Whole of the 'thin's cempar y were around the hotel, and ware waiting !to ,murder him, and he was shaking slightly. Witness got him about half a wine-ens.; of brandy, which he drank with water, and in the course of half-an-hour he became pac fierl, an I promised to go to bed. At 20 uncut -e after two in the tn irning the cook went to witness, told him that deceased was again making a great noise, and th t several gentlemen who had bwm weeping at the hotel were in at alarmed condition at his be In-tom door. Witness went to the room, found the door fastened insi.,e and broke it Open, when deceased, who had not been to bed, declared teere were men at th door waiting to murder him. Witness then took him down to the sitting-room, and remained up with him th • whole ,rf the night, and before daylight he talked and raved a good deal, and wanted to fasten the door. He was permitted to have 1l&5 of soda water and a Flass of ale at intervals, and PM witnej wee gone ;Me the kitchens shglit  quarter after six, the deceased left, the door having previously been opened to give a key to workmen and for the portent. After that witness's son, a man servrint, and witness himaelf, weot in search of the deceased, but no trace could be food of hiro. The entriry lasted three hours, but the remainder of the evidence was to the effect that shortly before Wen o'clock on Wednesday morning the body of the deceutdd was found floating about a hundred y..rls to the south of the Clarence E-Planale Pier, by Mr. Richard ROM, a cemmercial traveller, who had been out boating, and whose attention had been drawn to the body by Robert Home, labourer, .9, Chapastreet, Gosport. It was landed at the beach, and taken to the mortuary in Penny-street. Mr. F. Morley, surgein, High-street, deposed that the body presente I all the appearances of death from drowning; and the Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind. ' Great interest in the melancholy event is exhibited In Portland, where the deceAsed resided a long time.