The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-10-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT RUNCORN.—It is our painful duty to record this week the death of Mr. Edward Lynn, surgeon, of Runcorn, under circumstances of a very distressing nature, having last Wednesday put an end to his life by swallowing prussic acid. It appears the unfortunate gentleman had been labouring under a depression of spirits for some time past. About four years ago he was subject to what is generally termed a " religious melancholy," being at the time an attendant on the service performed at the parish church, then he joined the methodist connection, afterwards the calvinists, and last was a hearer of the Rev. Mr. Cox, at Trinity Church. This religious melancholy continued to hang about and depress him more or less to the day of his death and to all appearanc.^ was augmented by the death of his wife, in February last. One day during the last week in August he was missing, and could not be found ; his sick patients were desirous of having his attendance ; every place was searched, likely and unlikely without success; and, last of all, drags were employed to try the canals and ponds in the neighbourhood. His housekeeper stated, that when he left home he went in his usual manner, and she knew nothing contrary to him being in at the next meal. His relatives and friends were much distressed, considering him then dead ; when, on the 4th of September, as two of his neighbours were about to get into the railway carriages at Whitmore station, Staffordshire, the deceased came and booked for Moore, hear Runcorn. 'Upon expressing their joy at seeing him, and quietly remonstrating with him for absenting himself so long without any notice, thereby causing his friends so very much trouble, and at the same time damaging his medical practice so vitally, he merely stated that he had been on his business. On his return to Runcorn, he returned his vocation, and appeared as usual, up to Wednesday,as morning last (the day of his untimely death), when he was shaved by Mr. Roberts, dressed in the manner he generally to his room.uerallis • y did, breakfasted at nine, and soon after wept up a room. An application being made for bum i te thesrec surgery, ived no b the servant knocked at his door about ten, receiving an answer. She then tried owwhioi slitvaeirssn, eaanrd, answer ; she shortly afterwards knocked again, adgoaoi butand found without i t fastened inside, and, becomin stated her apprehensions. gAthr ani re (dna ran nr lying on the floor lifeless, open, and the deceased was was called in, and with hisfoundyi assistancel the door was broken at the foot of the bed, wnld,th aand surganeons glass r near to him on the floor, which had lately eon s glass measure firmlyempty phial bottle lying grasped in the right ha ' prussic acid. Medical assistance was forthwith called ; and Mr. Henry Wilson, contained isurgeon, and Mr. Peter Ward, druggist, applied the stomach pump and the usual remedies, but without effect, the vital spark having fled before they arrived. He w year, a widower, and has left two children. Aasin 39th coroner's inquest was held on view of the body, when the jury delivered a verdict of " Temporary insanity."--Chester Courant.  , Lima tJUUMI lIIS master hr Salford, of the sum of £l2O, in, gold and notes. From the description, Holt suspected a young man whom he had seen in Seacombe on Tuesday evening, and on the following morning, he went to the Abbotsford Hotel there, and found him in bed. Holt, on entering the room, charged Johnson with the robbery, when he declared that he was not the person—he was a gentleman, and that he would prove to his satisfaction presently—at the same moment turning himself round, and placing his hand under the pillow. Holt, suspecting that all was not right, seized hold of the youth, and dragged him on the floor, and on removing the pillows, he found a loaded pistol, capped. On being secured, Johnson said " I am the man you want ; I lived with Dr. Creighton, a physician, of Salford." The officer afterwards searched the room, and under'the pillow, found a purse, containing thirty sovereigns and seven .guineas; and in another place, twenty sovereigns and three £5 bank notes. When- before the magistrates, Johnson entreated them to send for his master. Mr. Walker, clerk to the magistrates, had taken care to do this as soon as the circumstances came to his knowledge; but the gentleman did not appear previous to the breaking •up of the court. The prisoner was remanded until Monday next, or in the mean time, the case will be heard, if the prosecutor appears. The magistrates bestowed the highest commendations on Mr. Palmer, special high-constable of the hundred, for the admirable arrangements he had made, by which the whole consmbulary force was kept in• such an excellent state of discipline. They also bestowed the greatest praise on Holt, for his services, especially in reference to the capture of Johnson, which displays so much tact and discernment.