The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-02 00:00:00

IMPIOCER STREET CONSTRUCTIONS.

A report was brought up from the Building Act Com-
mittee, recommending th►t the freeholder and all other
parties interested in the premises known u the Old King's
Head public-house, Upper•street, Islington, be summoned
to show cause why the provisions of the 74th section of
the Metropolis Management Amendment Act, 186?, should
not be put in force with regard to the setting beck of those
premises.
The report we received, mad the recoramendatioas were
limed to.
Fib. board wee lett sitting. ]

SUICIDE OP A SOLDIER IN THE CITY.
SINGULAR CASE.

INQUEBT.-(THIS DAY).

This afternoon an inquiry was resumed by Mr.
W. J. Payne, deputpeortmer for the city of London, re•
wetting the death of James East, aged 28 years, • soldier
of the 3rd Buffs, who committed suicide by blowing his
head off.

Sergeant Edward Butler, of the 3rd Buffs, stationed at
Weeslon, said that the deceased was • private in the
first battalion of that regiment. Witness identified
the deemed as the same man by the moustache and
eyebrow. On Tuesday week be got leave of absence
from Major Gardner, until 7 o'clock the following
morning. He did not return, and thereby he became
• defaulter. He was not • deserter, for his death took
place within five days. He was six years in the regiment,
he had fought in the China war, and received the silver
medal. He was • good soldier and bad the good conduct
hedge. He bad • wife. He wished to get his discharge,
and be was troubled in bin mind because he would have to
pay IS!. for it. He said to witness, " I don't like to pay
so much money for my discharge." Witness told him it
is optional with you to pay or remain • soldier." He asked
for his leave of absence shortly after that conversation.

tiT Sergeant Mitchell, of the Cite police, ea a from in-
quiries he had made be ascertained that the damaged came
up to Loudon on toe day he got his leave of absence. He
had received from his wife who lived in the country 181.
to buy his discharge. A portion at least of that money ap-
peared to have been spent by him in London upon ayzj
woman, whose portrait be got, hut which be had crushed
under his heel immediately heforehashot himself.
_ _

Mrs. Ann Mansfield said she was the landlady of the
China coffee-house hi Rishopegute-street. The deceased
came to her house on the evening of Tuesday last. He was
in uniform, but he changed his dress upstairs. He was •
quiet, sober man. He lived there until Friday night, when
be sat down in the shop, and talked about all the passing
event, of the day. He wee quite sober, but in going up-
stairs he fell. He started up and rushed out of the home.
He came bark in half an hour. and went to his room. and
locked himself in with a key which he had asked for. In five
minute. after she heard a load noise, and she went to the door
and said, " Soldier, soldier. open the door .." There being no
reply the door was burst in. Upon entering the room she
saw a dreadful eight. The deceased's bead was completely
shattered, and he still clutched • pistol in his tight head.
He had shown her during the evening the portrait of • young
woman, and he had been somewhat desponding.
Charles Ruff, porter at the Chins Coffee-house said—
I was called by the minus, who said she had heard an
explosion. I rushed upstairs and put my nose in the key-
hole because I had • violent cold. I said to the ninasits,
"It must be in here; 'smell powder; it's the soldier." When
we broke in the door I saw the portrait of a young
woman crushed on the floor. The soldier had never brought
• young woman to the omfarbonse. _

-Serge.ant Westwood,' City police, said that be searched
the room occupied by the deceased. He found, crumpled
up and stained with blood, • soldier's pass, dated for the
previous Tuesday. There was • ticket of a perms to New
York, ft was m follows :
"trey and Co., King Williametreet. Ship Webster,
Thomas Ashington, aged 25. Paid 31. 15s. for purge to
New York. Bought 23rd Nov., ship to sail on the 28th."
Alongside this paper lay three bullets, hail a pound of
powder, • good cooduct badge and medal. There was •
pistol in deceased's hand.
Dr. R. Fowler add that when be was celled to the de-
ceased he found the head in a moat shattered state. The
pistol barrel was still warm. The pistol most hare been
duchand in the mouth.
The Dormerasked whether the young woman had been
traced, and whether any of the deceased's money had been
found.

Sergeant Mitchell said that no money was found on the
deceased. Who the young woman was they had not bees
able to ucertain.

The Cormier said that the matter would require to be
further inveetitated. in order to ascertain whether it was a
ewes of felo.de-se. It was possible that after having spot
the money given to him for the discharge upon the writer of
the portrait he might have Lad • quarrel with her on the
night of his death.
The court wee then adjourned.