The Sun. — 1859-05-19 (London, England)

SUICIDE OP AN OFFICER OF THE ROYALS.  CANTERBURY, Wednesday Evening. We regret to state that Cornet Augustus John Bourke Fellowes committed suicide this day, about one o'clock, under very melancholy circumstances. It appears that on the 7th of April a warrant *its issued against the deceased in a judgment at the suit of Messrs. George and James Duncan, of Edinburgh, debt and costs amounting to il4. The sheriff's officer, Mr. Saunders, in whose hands the warrant was placed, after several applications, entered into an arrangement by which the deceased paid .£5 of the debt, and the sheriff's officer paid the remainder, trusting to Mr. Fellowes's honour for repayment. This • morning Saunders called, by appointment, for repayment of the balance. Mr. Fellowes was then at carbine practice. On his return, about 12 o'clock, he told the sheriff's officer, who met him at the gate, that the money was all right. He then went to the rooms of a brother officer, Mr. Fraser, where he was soon afterwards found on the bed by Mr. Fraser's servant, quite dead, with a discharged carbine lying on the floor between his legs. The unfortunate deceased had shot himself through the head. The inquest was held this evening at the Waterloo Tavern, before Mr. Delasaux, coroner. The first witness called was  John Hind, private in the 16th Lancers, servant to Cornet Fraser. He deposed that a little after 12 o'clock he was in his master's room, when the deceased came in, and, after walking in a meditative way up and down the room, took up a pen and paper and sat down as if to write. Witness then went into his own room below, and presently, he heard the discharge of a gnn, and saw blood running down the wall from the ceiling • he immediately rushed to his master's room and found the door locked. On bursting it open he saw Mr. Fellowes lying on the bed, with the discharged carbine between his legs, quite dead. .  —Charles Battery, assistant surgeon, Cavalry Depot, deposed to being called into Mr. Fraser's room, where he found Mr. Fellowes lying on the bed with a gunshot wound in the mouth, the anterior part of the skull being shot away. A carbine recently discharged, which had been loaded with ball cartridge, lay beside him. That was the instrument of death. Witness saw the deceased the previous day, when he came into his room and went away again without speaking. He seemed in low spirits, and witness was aware that there were circumstances which might have induced such a state of mind. Witness knew the handwriting of the deceased. The paper produced was in his handwriting, and was found by witness in the room. The paper contained the following words : " Frazer lam going to shoot myself. I can bear life no longer. One minute, and all is over. God bless you. Poor Fan !"  By the jury --.lt is not unusual to take a loaded carbine into the room of a brother officer after practice. Cornet John Fraser, 1 ith Lancers, said he had known the deceased about two months, and was very friendly with him. He was almost daily in witness's room. Witness saw him on Tuesday in the barracks, and spoke to him. He did not appear depressed in spirits. Witness also saw him to-day. There seemed something peculiar about him. He was at drill, and kept making mistakes, and did not appear to know what he was about. That was not usual with him. About a week ago deceased informed witness of certain circumstances which would be likely to induce low spirits. Deceased came into witness's room to-day at 12 o'clock, and placed a carbine in the corner, saying it was loaded. The circumstances likely to depress deceased referred to a lady to whom he was engaged. Verdict, temporary insanity.  The Colombo Examiner notices the success of the pearl fishery at Aripo. The oysters were selling at £6 to £3los. per thousand, anclmoney was abundant. Bates the chief of the European divers, was under water for three hours. The operations of the European divers are expected to produce very beneficial results, both in the discovery of new banks and in determining the age of the oyaers. •