St. John, May 15 - Richard W. THORNE, for 19 years secretary of the Board of Health, died suddenly this morn. at his home on Carmarthen street. Mr. Thorne was the descendant of a loyalist family who settled in Nova Scotia. He was born there nearly 80 years ago and when a young man removed to this city and was for a time was employed with Messrs. Keaton & Thorne. He was afterwards engaged in the commission business with Mr. Knowles and then for a time on his own account. On the 13th May, nineteen years ago, he was appointed to the position of secretary of the Board of Health. He was an active worker in the Methodist denomination and one of the original trustees of Centenary Church. His father was a brother of the late Edward L. THORNE, father of W.H. THORNE. A brother, James T. THORNE of Granville, N.S. and a sister, Mrs. Mary SHAW of Gaspe, still live. Mrs. Thorne, who survives her husband, was a d/o late Henry HENNIGAR of the commissariat dept. There are eight children, five sons and three daughters, all living. The sons are R. Ward THORNE, Stephen S. THORNE and J. Leavitt THORNE of Messrs. Thorne Brothers. The daughters are Mrs. W.F. FLEMING, Boston, Mrs. P.W. SNYDER, Mrs. E.T.C. KNOWLES, Mrs. Robert C. THORNE and Mrs. J.S. MARNIE, Moncton.