From the Kent Herald, 9 March 1826.

Suicide.

On Friday afternoon last, a stranger of gentile appearance called at the "Blue Door," about a mile and a half from Maidstone. He had there a glass of gin and water and gave to a man whom he accidentally saw there a shilling and a pint of beer. He asked many questions, and made several memorandums in his pocket-book. From thence, he went on to the "Horseshoe," at Langley, where he took another glass of gin and water. He entered into conversation with a man named Rodney Masters, who it appeared had been formerly known to him, and after giving him four pints of beer, about five o'clock he left, and went on to the "Plough," about a mile from Sutton Valance. At that house he had two glasses of gin and water. He told the landlord he was going to Sutton, but did not want to get there before dark; he should then walk about and take a survey of the place. About 7 o'clock, he left the "Plough."

On arriving at Sutton he went to no house, but was seen near the site of the church by a person who bid him good night, to which salutation he made no reply. The church at Sutton was some time ago pulled down, and a new one is erecting on the same spot. Shortly after the stranger had been seen near the church, some persons heard the report of a pistol in the interior of the building. They procured a lanthorn, and on going to the spot they found the unfortunate man lying extended on a large stone and perfectly lifeless. It appears that he had seated himself on the stone and placed a pistol so truly to its intended destination that the ball had entered his heart, and he died instantly. His necklace was off, and the studs that fastened his collar were in his pocket-book. His waistcoat, shirt, and flannel waistcoat were pulled open, so that nothing intervened between the muzzle of the pistol and the body. The external haemorrhage from the wound was very trifling. It was discovered that the deceased was a Richard James, a merchant of Hull, in Yorkshire, and related to several respectable families in Sutton. In his pockets were found three sovereigns, half a crown, and a few half pence, and a gold watch and another pistol loaded; the pistol appeared to be quite new. In his pocket-book he had written a wish to be buried near his grandmother, whose remains lie at Sutton, and a request that his gold watch should be given to his "dear son." Deceased was very genteelly dressed in a new suit of black. He was about 50 years of age, and a very prepossessing appearance. He leaves a widow, one son, and two daughters. He was formerly in a very extensive line of business, but it is supposed that pecuniary embarrassment occasioned by the distress of the times, induced him to commit the rash acts that has deprived him of existence. The singular melancholy circumstances connected with the occurrence, have produced a great sensation in the neighbourhood of Sutton.