The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-14 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF A MERCHANT.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Payne held an inquest,
at 32, Budge-row, on the hodi of Mr. William Lewis
Moinier Laschellss, wholesale stationer, of Budge-row, and
Charthara, is Seat.
Edward tii,sing, warehouseman to the deceased, deposed
that that morning, about a qu to eight o'clock, he was
in bed asleep, and was awoke by one of female servants,
who told him that she could not find Mr. Laschellas. Hear-
, ing that he had not made his appearance at breakfast, wit.
new proceeded to search the premises, and eventually be
found him sitting between two piles of paper in one of the
werehowee. His mouth was open, and his feet were
stretched across the pathway, which induced his to think
that he was only asleep. lie at once lifted him, when ho
found blood streaming from his bead. Having obtained
assistance, he sent for a surgeon, who on arriving pro-
nounced life ettinct.
_

In answer to questions from the coroner, witness said that
he heard the deceased get up about six o'clock, before it
was daylight, but it was no unusual circumstance. Witness
went to sleep again, and ho heard no more of him afterwards.
Hs did not see him on the previous night, but he did on
Saturday evening at sevcu o'clock. He then appeared much
better in spirits than he had been for some time before.
By a Juror—Deceased had been for at least a year in a
very desponding state, which arose from his thinking that
he had lost all his prorerty. He expostulated with him,
and endeavourtd to show the mistake he had made, but
deceased would only answer that he was sure it was a fact,
and ho could swear to it. He also asked him if he had
not en..ugh on his mind to snake hint c onmit suicide.
Witness then inquired of him what be had to hope for if
he destroyed his life, when he said that at least it would be
• grant change. On the bth of last March he attempted to
commit suicide in • similar manner. Ho was sane on every
point except on money matters. On the previous occasion
he begged bard that his brother might not be informed of
the circumstance.

By the Coroner—Ha had been with the deceased 12
years, and he had no hesitation in saying that Inc laboured
under a delusion in supposing that his affairs were dia.
arrangcd. His chamber was separated (corn de.eaced's by
only a thin partition, which allowed him to hear when he
got up. He never saw the pistol before. He found, on
searching the body, that it was in his right hand. Another
was also found, which was loaded with a very email charge
of powder and ball. The pristol he axed on the previous
occasion he procured at the time the Chartist riots were ap-
pr!l..enile.d.

Mr. John laschellas said that the deeeased was his bro-
ther. He was about 57 yeah of age. Ile thought he had
been enffering mentally for more than 12 months. The
disorder commenced some time after a mil:, that formed a
principal part of his business, being destroyed by tire, and
he had an erroneous impression that he was in consequence
going to ruin. lie dined at his house yesterday, but tried
to ovoid any other company.
By the Coroner—My impression is that h:s mind was de-
cidedly wrong. I was never informed of what took place
in Marco last until some considerable time aft, rwarde. lie
told me himself of it, and extracted a promise from me that
I would never mention it to any other person. My candid
opinion is that the business was too great fur him to carry
on. The persons who took stock can prove that his affairs
were not in the least di iced, but ho said the figures
were conjured up to deceive him.
Mr. William Sodgwiek Saunders, surgeon, of 13, Queen.
street, said that he was sent for that morning to see the de-
Cre,ell. and on his srriv.il found a contused wound on the
right temple, and a considerable discherve of blood from the
wound. From the appearance of the wound, he had no
d,,uld but it had been caused from a bullet. •the muzzle of
the pistol must have been place.d very is ar the Ain.
The core .er mimed up, and the jury r, turned a verdict
of "Temporary insanity."

THE LAVE EARL OF SIIREWSBERY's WILL.—The
wi.l of tic late Earl of Shrewabury has been proved, and
the personal property sworn under 100.0001. Ilia lordship
has directed that out of this amount 'here shall list paid
16001. to the Rte. Thomas Doyle, 5011. to the It, r. Daniel
Roth, Irk/. to the Rev. Dr. Winter, and there arc some
other legacies to his sister, and to servants. Ile has directed
the whole of his estates at Alton, Farley, and elsewhere,
to he converted into money, the whole of the proceed., to-
gether with the residue of his personal property, to be siren
to Mr. Ambrose Lisle Phillips, of Grace Dieu Manor, Lei-
cestershire, and Mr. C. Stott Murray, of Danesfield, Buck-
inghamshire, both of whom it will be r•tuembereil ,ecedtd
fnut the church of England, some years since, and joined
the communion of the church of Remo. By the Mortmaiu
Act mann exceeding 5001. can be lett for religious pur-
poses, and it is therefore generally believ,d that although
this large amount of property has been 1. ft one
to Mr. Phillips and Mr. Murray, there is a tacit under-
standing that it is hereafter to be applied •,) the h-nt fit
the Roman catholic church. This suppositiml Ic vreryth-
ened by the fact that in a will mode some tint' inm, the
whole of his lordship's property was left M Dr. Wol,h, and
in the ev,•n• of his decease to Cardinal Wiseman ; but this
was revoked by a codicil in favour of Meiers Phillips and
thMurray, who are is divide tt• property equally beta ein
em.