Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 30 April 1853.

SUICIDE IN A WOOD.

On Saturday the body of a man was discovered suspended to a tree in Whitley Forest, Sundridge, which proved to be an old inhabitant of Riverhead, named Russell, many years a gingerbread baker, latterly keeping a beer-house. It it supposed he committed suicide on the Monday previous, as on that day he went into a beer shop on Goathurst common, and was not seen alive again afterwards. It was also remarked by several on that day that the jays were greatly disturbed, and making an unusual clamour over the forest. It is also supposed that he attempted self-destruction some little time since by drowning in the Bull river at Chipstead, but was disturbed by some one approaching, which caused him for the time to relinquish the attempt.