Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1870-07-23 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

BANK FAILURE AT NORWICH.  Sir IL Harvey, a leading banker at Norwicli, was found on Friday in the shrubbery near his house with two revolver shots in his breast. On Sunday afternoon he still survived, but in the course of Monday his condition changed for the worse. The pistol which had reduced Sir Robert to his present deplorable state seems to have been aimed by him at his heart. The bullet just missed the heart and passed through the body coming out at the back. All the circumstances which have transpired render it a matter of certainty that Sir Robert had for some time previously contemplated suicide. Thus he asked more than one surgeon during the present summer which was the easiest form of self-destruction, and it has been ascertained that on Friday morning he went to a gunsmith's shop, purchased a revolver, and had it loaded. With regard to the causes which have produced what may be really termed a mournful tragedy, it would appear that Sir .Robert has for the last three years had a continued run of ill-luck upon the Stock Exchange, and that his losses during that period have been, in round figures, £600,000. The disturbed state of continental affairs, and the ruinous fall in Spanish stocks during the last few days, gave the coup de grdce to speculation, which every oae, Sir Robertincluded, must now bitterly regret. Much sympathy is felt for the other partners in the Crown Bank, Mr. Allday Kerrison and Mr. Rodger Kerrison. Mr. Allday Kerrison returned to England about seven years since from Mexico, where he accumulated a considerable fortune. He inherited also with Mr. Rodger Kerrison 'considerable resources from the late Mr. Roger Kerrison, Ben. well knoWn as the hon. secretary for many years Of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival. The whole of the fortunes of the Messrs. Kerrison must necessarily be engulphed in the settlement pf the affairs of the Crown Bank unless, indeed, the assets should show a surplus over the liabilities —a very improbable contingency, although a dividend of 16s. in the pound continued to be mentioned on Monday as probable. The overtures made to the London and County Banking Company for the transfer of the concern to that important undertaking have not proved successful. The affairs of the bank are stated to have been administered with perfect regularity, and as a going concern it was a valuable pioperty, but the London and County Banking Company have declined to take it up, the reason aSsigned being, we believe, the disinclination of the directors to compete for provincial business with the National Provincial Bank of England which for some time past has had a branch at Norwich. Other parties Were negotiating on Monday with a view to taking over the Crown Bank, but nothing definite had been settled. Meanwhile, Mr. Gibbons, accountant, and a large staff of clerks are going through the books of the bank, and a statement of the affairs of the concern will shortly be available for the information of all concerned. The other local bankers are doing all in their power to mitigate the pressure of the calamity which has befallen the district. Sir Robert Harvey died on Tuesday morning. Gurney and Co. have entered into provisional arrangements with the receivers under the bankruptcy for the purchase of the premises and good-will of the Norwich Crown Bank. An inquest has been held on the body of Sir It. Harvey. Part of Sir Robert's landed property is entailed, and his family will, therefore, have the benefit of it; but in other respects he has made a complete wreck of his once fine fortune. The Crown Bank —has been purchased by Messrs. Gurneys, Birkbecks, Barclay, and Buxton, bankers, Norwich. The probable dividend which the creditors of the Crown Bank will receive was estimated at from 10s. to 16s. in the pound. The jury found that deceased was labouring under temporary insanity, his mind having been thrown off its balance by the events of Friday last. The sum paid by Messrs. Gurney and Co. for Ite transfer to them of the premises and goodwill of the Crown Bank is stated to be £1:30,000.  TELEGEAMS TO PnaNan . —An order has been received at the postal telegraph offices that no messages are to be received in cipher for 'transmission to France. 8111GULAR