The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1880-05-29 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

ROMANTIC SUICIDES.  Mr. Tilley, beputy-Coroaer, humid an inquest at the National rachoolrooms, Mataken Abbey, CM Friday, on the beetles of Ellen Maria Peireoek. aged eighteen years. and Charles Robert Week more, nineteen, who hail committed suicide by drowning themselves in a pond. The girl's aunt, Mrs. Julia Knox, said the deceased had been staying with her some time ; lest us witness fourel she stayed out late, and was often with Blackmore, she communicated with the girl's parents, and it was arranged to take her some to Wales next Monday. Blackmore was a respectable youth, but she considered they were to young to form an eregagement. The following leiter in the handwriting of the girl, was found after the discovery of the bodies :--" May, 90, IMO. Dear friewls,— No doubt you will be surprised to get this, but Charley and self have arranged mut aully-to drown ourselves, and you will final our bandies in Mr. Oliphant's pond in Abbey-lane. I dial not wish to be parted from Charley, and I prefer to die with him. Plemee to give my clothing and locket to dear Polly flier sister], anal I trust we shall all meet above.—Signed, Ellen M. Peacock, C. R. Blackmore."---A verdict was returned to the effect that the decetteed both destroyed themselves while of unsound rain!.---On Friday, Mr. W. J. Payne held an inquest at the City of London Coroner's Court, Gelalen-lane, EC., on the body of George Leaton Shield, 24, of 2, StockwellAvenue, Brixton', who shot himself through the head on Tuesday last. It appeared that tie deceased, who had been cruising about for several years past, was invalided lionie from Calcutta in the summer of MX suffering from sunstroke, and subsequently earned eome distinction at the war in the Transvaal undSv Sir taarnet IVolaeley. He returned to England about a month ago, and, had since been in very low spirits at not being ableto obtaiu employment, although his parents wishedhim to stay with them.. On Tuesday morning last he left home and went to the London Decks. where he expected to obtain a berth on board a vessel he had previously sailed M, anal returning to his . sister's house at Walworth, told her he was to go again to the docks that afternoon to get an answer. He left about four o'clock for that purpose, and was not again seen by them. After leaving the docks for the SCCOIId tinee with all unfavourable answer to his application, he, it appears, entered a gun shop in Unit nplece; a I Reim to see some revolvers, finally selected a large twelve-chambered piece awl requested the assistant to give him a cartridge. He was collected and quite sober. and the assistant, suspecting nothing, haeated him the cartridge. which he placed in one :if the ehambers. He then stepped back, and saying, "I have great trouble," put the pistol to his right temple and pulled the trigger, falling dead iintweiiately after. A letter was found on him, in which he said, "I cannot get a ship, and I am too manly to live on my parents who want me to stay, need weeld never tire of me. I must put an end to, my life. Ged bless you all. I shall be dead in one hour. but still I might confess another thing. I fell in love with a dear girl, but I was not in a tit position to mai ry 11..? r. God bless her. Farewell. I the, die, die, b:oken-learted. Farewell." -After sonic discussion, a verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind " was recorded, an expression of sympathy on the part of the jury, in which the coroner Joined, being conveyed to the parents a tbe deceased. 

Article type: Incident