It had been, it appeared, a very flagrant case. Thousands of persons were reduced to poverty; and one in particular had blown out his brains as soon as payment was suspended.

看来，这是一起非常骇人听闻的案件。数以千计的人陷入贫困；尤其是其中一个人，在付款被暂停后就脑筋急转弯了。