BRIGHT CAREER RUINED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 November 1924, Page 4

BRIGHT CAREER RUINED.

+ CLERGYMAN’S LIFE TRAGEDY. . FOUND DEAD IN BED. MAN OF BRILLIANT PARTS. How a brilliant man, a member of a distinguished family, a clergyman as well as a barrister, wrecked his career through drink, was "rescued” by an inebriates’ home, and became its manager and private secretary to the founder, and then, taking to alcohol and drugs, died in tragic circumstances at Brighton, was partly revealed at the inquest last month. This tragic story is that of the career of the Rev. Douglas Vale, who, after a life of strange vicissitudes, was found dead in bed in an hotel at the age of 62. The son of high-born parents, cultured and well educated, Mr Vale had been curate at a little church in Goldhanger, Essex, anc| at other places. At the time of his death he was private secretary to Mr F. N. Charrmgton, the millionaire brewer, ' who left the liquor trade to found what is now a famous mission in the East End of London. He was also the manager of the home for wealthy inebriates at Osea Island, near Mai don, Essex, which Mr Charrington founded nearly 14 years ago. Mr Vale was one of the first inmates of the home. When Mr Charrington found Mr Vale he had, to use Sir Charrington’s own words, "sunk to the gutter,” and was an inmate of a Church Army Home. Mr Charrington got to know of his plight and sent his mission secretary? Mr J. B. Wookey, to see him. "I "took him, a quarter of a pound of tobacco from Mr Charrington,” Mr Wookey states. "The poor fellow was in a deplorable state, but I told him that Mr Charrington would be willing to assist him. He went with me to the East end, and afterwards entered the home at Osea Island. There he got on splendidly, as we thought, and became the manager of the home. But apparently he continued to have occasional drinking bouts.” The last of the bouts took place at Brighton. Mr Charrington, who was staving in an hotel there, sent for Mr Vale to come to him. He did so, but arrived at the hotel inebriated. He had' no control over his craving, and that night he ordered two bottles of brandy,

which were taken to his room. The sequel was that he was found dead two or three days later. A He was a most clever man—a brilliant man.” Mr Charrington told the coroner when the inquest was opened. "He was a barrister and a clergyman, still in holy orders, but he suffered from outbursts of intemperance., I rescued him as in inebriate about 14 years ago. He had sunk to the gutter then, but he got on so; well that I made him mv private secretary and secretary of the home.” SUSPICIONS OF DRUGS. In reply to the coroner as to whether he knew if the dead man was in the habit of taking drgs as. well, Mr Charrington replied, "I cannot say that I know that he took them, but we had suspicions—very strong suspicions.” Witness said he saw Mr Vale the day after arrival, when he found him under the influence of drink. He went to bed, early, and stayed there all the next day. The Coroner: "When you went to his bedroom on the Monday morning, did he appear to be recovering from an attack of alcoholic excess ? "Witness: He was very bad indeed then from drink. >

Did you talk to him seriously about the matter?—Well, no. He was in such. a state of mind that he was drunk and abusive. I left him to sleep it off. Mr Wookev told the coroner that he had known Mr Vale for about 14 years. The Coroner: Did you know that he suffered from sleeplessness ?—Yes, he told me so. ' And were vou aware that he took drugs in. order to. procure sleep?—l suspected that he did. I did not know, but it was common talk that he used to do so. .Tames Crosby, a porter at the hotel, said when Mr Vale arrived he was a little inebriated. Soon after his arrival he asked for two bottles of braudv to be +aken to him in his room. Mr Vale said: “This is the result of coming down in a Pullman. I got in company with some .fellows I knew. One fellow had a drink, and then w r e all had some.” Medical evidence bv Dr. W. A. Powell, who made a post mortem examination. showed that, while there were signs of excessive alcoholism, there was also found a fluid which suggested traces of veronal.

To view of this Dr. Powell said he conld not say positively that death was dre to a natural cause[ aud the coroner adiourned the inquest for three weeks, ordering that certain of the organs should he analysed.