The Sun. — 1844-11-08 (London, England)

SUICIDE AT KILMARNOCK. (From the Birnr'nglanin Advertiser.) ' In our last page, under the 'mad of " Scotland," 'we hake give', full particulars of the determined suicide a two pi rsons unknown at the place where they committed the fatal act of selt'-destruction. There being good rea- -. eon to suppose that the parties were from this neighbourlion:l, we made every possible inquiry on the subject, and discovered on Monday last that they were in all probsbillty old inhabitants of Birmingham. Under these cireutnoances we felt it our duty to prosecute the inquiries further, and are now enabled to lay the following partiehlars before our readers : The deceased, Mr. Joseph Barker, was 61 years of age, his wife was somewhat younger. They resided, privious to leaving Birmingham, at No. 54, Vittoriast&et. Mr. Barker was born at Preston, in Lancashire, frqm which town he married for his second wife the pal-tiler of his romantic, but melancholy exit. Ile had resided in Manchester, London, Malta, and several parts of The continent, being at one time most extensively • engaged in business as a foreign merchant. At the butning of Moscow he estimated his loss at 500,000/. ; fr•im that time his fortunes were reversed. Ills first wile died on board a ship. Ills only child, a son, on . whose memory ho appeared to dote, also died when 21 yehrs of age. Six years ago he entered the service of M. Samuel Kempson, floor-cloth manufacturer, Constitution• hill, where he remained as chief ( Jerk and traveller until May last, when lie entered into partnership with Mr. James Archer, who had also been wi‘h Mr. Kempson, and the firm was opened in Summer-lane, as James Archer and Co., table-cloth main facturers. In the • arrangements there was nothing to disturb the equanimity of his proverbially even timper. He appeared cn excel'ent terms with all aroLnd him ; tail when, two months ago, he left home, as he alleged to his partner, on a visit to Manchester, there was nothing to indicate the fearful resolve to which sibs' quent circumstances ' lead us to suppose he Ind made up his mind. On leaving their house they told the servant girl they were going to see a relation at a distance, and should be back in eight or nine days. When he parted from Mr. Archer, he shook hands heartily, saying, " God bless you, Archer;" and it was observed by Mr. Archer that he turned away and seemed affected. It was afterwards found that he had, previous to his departure, called and discharged every tradesman's bill against the firm. It was supposed that he had about 401. on him when he left Birmingham. In a pecuniary point of - view there ~ was not, as we can ascertain, any embarrassment, and we have met with no satisfactory solution to the mystery ‘, of their self-destruction. Mr. Barker was of most gentlemanly habits and manners, speaking fluently the Italian, French, and German : languages; and of kindly disposition, creating regard and love in those with whom he was associated in business and in private life. Mrs. Barker was a woman of much • amiability and suavity of manner, highly accomplished, , and a proficient in music. The gold watch found on Mr. Barker was an oldfashioned family relic, and the knife was a present from a young and esteemed friend, in Mr. limp,on's employThe description of the knife led to the identity of the unhappy deceased. On seeing the account in the London papers, Mr. Archer sent his foreman over to Kilmarnock, to identity the parties. The bay of Mr. Barker ws4 ". alone disinterred, and AN-Ls immediately recognised by . the foreman. ~  11 '