SUICIDE OF THE BISHOP OF MEATH.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 157, 11 October 1876, Page 2

SUICIDE OF THE BISHOP OF MEATH.

The Bishop of Meath suffered front pleurisy and bronchitis. Early on Saturday momma;, 29th July, he rose from his bed and entered the adjoining dressing room, and having locked the door he severed the arteries of his throat with a razor. A few moments afterwards some members of his family returnin'!; to his bedroom, and, finding the door to his dressing-room closed, forced it open. Dr Butcher, who was still conscious, made a motion with his hand for materials, and, being supplied with a pencil and paper, wrote the word “ Mad.” One of the symptoms of disease, and of which the bishop himself complained, was a pressure of blood to the head. The instant relief and return of reason after the artery was severed' and blood escaped, together with the fact that on the morning of the occurrence, and throughout his entire illness, he was perfectly collected and hopeful, shows how sudden and purely physical was the attack which temporarily deprived him of reason, and how absolutely unpremeditated was the act. An inquest was held, and a verdict of temporary insanity while suffering from diseases, returned in accordance with the facts. “ Men of the Time” furnishes the following account of the deceased prelate: Butcher, the Most Rev. Samuel D.D., Bishop of Meath, "second son of Vice-Admiral Butcher, bom in 1811, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was elected a Fellow in 1837. He was appointed a Professor of Ecclesiastical History’m 1850, Regius Professor of Divinity in 1852, and Bishop of Meath in 1866. He hr s written “An Introductory Lecture on the Study of Ecclesiastical Literature,” published in 1851: “ Sermons on the Crimean War,” in 1854; “ On the present state of the Romish Controversy in Ireland,” in 1855; “On the relative Value of Divine and Human Knowledge,” in 1857 ; “ On the Conseryative Character of the English Reformation,” in 1862 ; “ Some Thoughts on the Supreme Authority of the Scriptures,” in 1864; “ Ordination Sermon,” in 1865 ; and “Two Sermons on Dr Pusey’s { Eirenicon/” in 1866. The diocese, including the counties of Meath, Westmeath, King’s Country, and parts.of Longford and Cavan, is of the annual value of £4,500. As ' Bishop- of Meath. Dr ■Butcher bore the title of Most Reverend.