The following are transcriptions of two of several contemporary newspaper reports of Peter Peddie's death:
Melancholy End of a Comedian. Yesterday, about half-past twelve o'clock, Thomas Rafferty, lodging-house keeper, 125 Saltmarket, reported at the Central Police Office that about half an hour previously he had found a lodger of his - a stranger man - dead in one of his beds. He had come into Rafferty's house the previous night, about twelve o'clock, and although he evidently had had spirits, he was by no means drunk. He seemed in good health, and went to bed without making any complaint. Another man was sleeping in the same bed with him, but rose without discovering anything wrong. When observed, a bottle which had contained laudanum was found in the bed, and it is supposed that death had been caused by thge unfortunate man having partaken of it. In the course of the evening, deceased was identified as Peter Peddie, a comedian, who, we understand, formerly belonged to the stock company of Mr Murray, in Edinburgh, and at one time acted in the old Adelphi Theatre, Glasgow. [North British Daily Mail, 18 May 1857; Edinburgh Evening Courant, 19 May 1857; North British Agriculturalist, 20 May 1857; Inverness Courier, 21 May 1857]
On Sunday afternoon, a lodging house keeper named Thomas Rafferty, residing at 125 Saltmarket, reported at the Central Police Office that at twelve o'clock noon, same day, he found one of his lodgers lying in bed dead. Deceased, who was a stranger, came to Rafferty's house about twelve o'clock on Saturday night, somewhat affected with liquor. He appeared to be in good health, and did not complain; and although another lodger slept in the same bed, he rose without discovering that his bedfellow had expired. Deceased, whose body was quite cold when discovered by his landlord, appeared to be about fifty years of age, and about 5 feet 6 inches in height. In the course of Sunday the body of deceased was identified as that of a comedian named Peter Peddie. From the fact of an empty phial, which had contained laudanum, being found in the bed, a number of addresses of relatives, and a note stating that he regretted nothing he had done, there is reason to suspect that the unfortunate man had destroyed himself. [Glasgow Chronicle, 20 May 1857]
I would be very interested to see the list of addresses of relatives. Trying Glasgow City Archives. Any other suggestions?
