The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-04-19 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

SENSATIONAL DETAILS.  A tragedy of an extraordinary character WEI 4 enacted on Saturday night on the Midland Railway between Nottingham and Derby. When the tnail train from Lincoln &rived at Trent shortly before ten o'clock a ticket clerk named Amos Taylor found in a first-class smoking carriage a young womal and a young man, 'both having wounds in tl3e temples. The man was apparently dead, but tho woman was living, though unconscious. Taylor informed the platform inspectcr, who instructed him and a porter named John Robinson to enter the carriage and accompany the train to Derby, there being no doctor within s mile of Trent station. The inspector then telegraphed to the authorities at Derby informing them of the circumstances. When the train reached Derby no doctor had arrived. The man was found to be dead. The woman, who was still unconscious, wa; removed to the infirmary, where she died shortly alter admission.  Llquiries showed that the man was Robert Feron, about 20 years of age, who had been for a short time foreign correspondent to Messrs. Holmes and Son, elastic web manufacturers, Derby. He belonged to Brussels, and was respectably connect. His companion was a young woman named Ellen Bamford, who had for a few weeks lodged at Peartree, a suburb of Derby. She is said to have belonged to Durham, but another account states that her mother lives at Kidsgrove, near Stoke-on-Trent. Her landlord states that Robert Feron has been in the habit of calling for her. He called with a hansom cab about six o'clock on Saturday evening, and she went away with him, stating that they were going to Nottingham. What they did at Nottingham is not known, bat the post office officials who travelled with the mail train state that they saw the two chatting amicably together on the platform at Nottingham station. The carriage in which they were found was freely bespattered with blood. They were sitting on the opposite sides of the carriage. When the body of Feron was removed a six-chambered revolver was found on the seat, two chambers having been die. charged. Six bullets were found in his pocket, also seven letters, sealed but not stamped, five being addressed to persons in Derby. In one of the letters he gave a list of debts which he wished to be paid. Farther investigation of the circumstances attending the tragedy on the Midland Railway between Nottingham and Trent on Saturday reveals a most sensational state of affairs. It now transpires that the Belgian, Peron, only became acquainted with the girl, whose real name is Lily Barford, since she came to Derby, three weeks ago, for the purpose of obtaining a barmaid's situation at the Midland Hotel. Failing in this, she appears to have become depressed in spirits, and, though not leading what may be called a fast life, visited theatres and other places of amusement. At the theatre she met Feron, who had, during his year's sojourn in Derby, shown a penchant for actresses and music hall artistes. He had been leading a gay life, and some few months ago he became so nmelt beyond the control of those who were made responsible for his conduct at Derby that one of the friends of the family requested Feron's father to come over from Brussels. He came, and after the visit Feron became quieter, though his fondness for theatrical society remained. He made the acquaintace of a tradesman's daughter, who, after some time, declined his companionship, whereupon he threatened that, unless she consented to a rendezvous, he would shoot her with a revolver, which he produced. This weapon he regularly carried with him, and had frequently shown to friends. Soon Feron and Burford became acquainted, a strong attachment sprung up between them, and Feron was a frequent visitor at the girl's lodgings in Princes-street, Derby. She die. closed to him after a time the fact that she was engaged to be married, but confessed her preference for Feron. In presence of other persons the young pair have often spoken of making a sensation, committing suicide, and ending their lives together. An assiduous novel reader and stage struck, she remarked on Saturday before leaving for Nottingham with her lover that they intended to do something sensational, and would be found dead in the train. She only regretted that she would not he able to hear the newsboys shout. ing the news of the occurrence, and witness the faces of the people who came to the door of the compartment. Another remark made before the journey was undertaken goes to show that she and Feron premeditated self -destruction. It was that she had put on clean clothes as she was going to die. These observations were, however, treated by her landlady simply as silly jokes, and no notice was taken of them. Nor when, before the return journey commenced, Feron gaily remarked to an acquain. tance oh Nottingham platform that he was about to commit suicide, was the remark treated seriously. Being accompanied by the girl, it was thought he jestingly referred to his approaching marriage. Thai which, however, more conclusively points to the foolish pair having determined to die together is the discovery of a letter addressed by the girl to a friend at Spennymoor, Durhs in, where her home was. Therein she declares her intention to die with her lover. This letter, with six others in the handwriting of Fermi, was found bloodstained on the railway carriage seat—not in Peron's pocket, ft 4 previously stated. It appears probable that the pair took the journey to Nottingham on Saturday night, intending to end their lives before getting there, but were unable to secure a compartment to themselves, owing to the train being crowded with people returning from Derby races. At Nottingham they visited no place of amusement, but merely loitered about the town for a couple of honrs, and selected a thinly patronised train in which to commit the deed on the return journey. The new theory put forward is that the girl shot herself first, and Fermi then seizing the revolver, took his own life. Doubtless suicide, and not murder and suicide.  Clarmitss.—We are accnstomed to think that greatness always denotes exceptional powers; yet most of the world's great men have rather beeiidk tinguished by an invincible determination to work out the best that was within them. They have acted, spoken, or thought according to their own natures and judgment, without any wavering hesi• tation as to the probable verdict of the world. They were loyal to the truth that was in them, and hart faith in its ultimate triumph; they had a mission to fulfil, and it did not occur to them to pease or to falter.