Ambleside Herald and Lakes News 28-July-1882 Sad End of a Native of Ambleside On Saturday 15th inst., a young man, named JOHN BIGLAND, 25 years of age, son of Mr. JOHN BIGLAND, Church Street, Ambleside, came to his end under circumstances which leave little doubt but that he, in a fit of mental aberration, rashly fired a shot which terminated his existence. The facts of the case as disclosed at the inquest are as follows: On the body of JOHN BIGLAND, about 25 years of age, a ship carpenter. ALICE FREDERICKS, an unfortunate, who said she was 18 and had come from a comfortable home in Glasgow, and that she lived in a house of ill fame: 1,10 Court, Prince William Street, stated that she met deceased on Wednesday evening in a free-and-easy at 60 Paradise Street. He went home with her and stayed during Wednesday and Thursday nights. They went to Manchester races on Friday, and deceased left her about nine o'clock, stating that he wanted to look for a pocket book which he had lost. She went home about eleven o'clock with a "professional" named Kirk, and about two o'clock the deceased was admitted to the house and asked to see her. She came downstairs and told him she was "with an old friend." He then shook hands with her, kissed her, and said "Good bye, you don't think anything of me; I am going to shoot myself, and if you follow I will shoot you". He then left, and shortly afterward she heard a report, and on looking out saw the deceased sitting in the court. She did not go out as she was afraid, but she told the other inmates of the house, including a private in the 2nd Dragoons, named FELLS, of the affair. None of them went out, as they were frightened. She knew he had a revolver, as on the previous Wednesday he had given her a box containing cartridges. On Thursday she and the deceased were photographed together. MRS. JONES, the wife of a carter, said that on Saturday morning she heard a man call out "Alice" in the court referred to. This was abut three o'clock. She got up, and saw the decease at the door of No. 1 house. An hour and a half later she saw the deceased lying down in a corner of the court, and saw two soldiers, one of whom set the deceased up against the wall . The soldiers left, and the deceased again fell. Police constable 534 stated he was called to the court a few minutes past five, and found the deceased lying dead. He had a wound in the right temple. Under his leg witness found a six-chambered revolver. Four of the chambers were loaded, and two had recently been discharged. The body was taken to the deadhouse by Police constable 65. On it were found 6s 5½d, a purse, a pencil case, and a likeness of the girl Fredericks and the deceased. On the likeness was a piece of paper with "Good-by Alice" on it. The dragoon FELLS, stated that when he left the house he lifted the deceased, who he thought was in a drunken sleep, and placed him against the wall. He hid not notice any wounds nor the revolver. GEORGE VAUSE, licensed victualler, 60 Paradise Street, sated that the deceased was paid off on Wednesday from the ship 'William Symington', on which he had been boatswain and carpenter. He believed the deceased was a native of Westmorland. The medical evidence was that death was from the gunshot wound. The Jury returned an open verdict. ... to be continued