The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-19 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF SIR 11. MILDMAY.-THE

INQUEST.
The inquiry into the mean. by which Sir Henry
fit. John Mddmay, Bart., came by his death, took plum this
day, before Mr. Wakley, M.P., coroner, at the Bedford
Arms, Pont-street, Belgrave-equare, and twelve jurors of the
parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, who, on being sworn, proceeded
to mew the body of the deceased baronet, which lay at his
residence, No. 6, Heikki-terrace. On their return,
Thomas Trenton was sworn, and gave the following tes-
timony ; I lived as valet to the deceased for she last 7 years.
He was about 62 years of age. I found him dead
I in his own bedroom, about a quarter before six o'clock on
Monday morning. I called him, at his own request, at live
o'clock, when he made sme reply, acknowledging that I
had done so. It was very unusual with him to be called so
early; but he was leaving town at half-past six, by prm
arrangement. After putting out his things, I left the room,
and went back at halt-past five. He then asked for his box,
and I gave it to him, he being still in bed. I left again, and
returned in about ten minutes, to see if he was getting
up. He looked very strange at me. I took the box
away, and he desired me to bring it back again,
implying that he was not done with it. He spoke rather
sharply, and, at the same time in so strange a manner, that
I could not exactly understand what he said. He did
not speak is his usual tone of voice. But seeing that he
desired to have the box, I left it back again on the bed. He
then said something about not going out of town, and that
he should tell me presently, upon which I left the room. In
about three minutes after, I heard a noise like a table fall-
ing, went up and found him dead, with a pistol between both
his hands, and his finger on the trigger. I first called the
landlord, and then went for Mr. Thorn, the deceased's
surgeon, but, not finding him, called in Mr. Teevan,
a surgeon, who pronounced him quite dead. I have
not the slightest idea when the pistol was obtained. I had
not been preparing or cleaning any fire-arms for the deceased.
w a pistol with him before, and I did not know he
had one. I found some bullet. on the bed after his death,
but never previously observed anything of the kind in his
poeseesion. I noticed a change in his conduct within the
last two or throe dais, particularly on Sunday. His orders,
for instance, were very inconsistent, and his manner alloge-
ther different. On Saturday he went out earlier than usual,
returned in the evening, sweat out again to dinner, came back
at twelve o'clock, and went to bed. I do not recollect his
then saying anything whatever. He was perfectly sober. On
Sunday he also went out earlier than WWII; by that I mean
Most one o'clock, instead of three. He returned at eight
Vika in the evening, when he appeared very low in spirits.
Tie desired me to get ready to go into the country that night.
I sald there was not sufficient time to do so. That was
shortly before the last train left. He said be had met with
on accident in his brougham, which had detained him an
boor &aka half; that he had seen his brother, who had gone
limn by the five o'clock train, and that he wished also to go
Dogmansfleld, his place in Hampshire, but he did not
seem to press going. I said there was sufficient time for him 1
to go if he wished, and that I could, follow by the first train in
the morning ; but then he replied that he would not go with-
out me. All this was very unusual. He never before spoke
of leaving town so suddenly. Bat his whole manner was on.
usual. Ile said there was time to go, said yet that there was I
not. He before made an attempt on his life since I
lived with him He was very ill about six weeks ago, and
has slept very badly of late. -None of his family lived with
hiss. His brother saw him on Friday last ; but I do not I
think any ens could give better information as to the state of
hi mind than myself. He had not been writing on Sunday,
and I did not find any scrap of paper with his writing on it
dace his death.
Robert Semen, coachman to the deceased, said he bad
lived with him seven years. He drove him on Sunday last,when
• slight accident occurred by the horse falling, and the shaft of
the brougham breaking ; but the deceased, whom be expected
would be very angry, was not at all so, but quietly descended
from the vehicle and got into a cab. Obeerved a change in
hie manner and mode of acting within the last few days ;
such, for instance, as sending him home suddenly from
White's club-house, St. James'estreet, which he was not in
the habit of doing, and which he did twice during the last
week.
Mr. Edward Owens, iceman, of No. 6, Holkin-terrace,
said, the deceased lived in his house three years. Was told
by his cook, at the valet's request, on Monday morning, that
the deceased had committed suicide. He immediately went 1
up stairs, and found hint as already described by the valet,
the pistol being clasped between both hands. Did not see
him every day, but observed on Sunday one change in hi
habits, having opened the door for him on hearing the hefd
ring : he usually knocked and rang both, but on that weer
sion he only rang the bell very gently.
Augustus Warren, Esq , solicitor of Great Russell-street,
Bloomsbury, was examined as to the deceased's state of mind
sad gave the following; evidence: The deceased called on
me on Sunday respecting his pecuniary difficulties, and
said he was unable longer to face them. He added that he
was afraid of being arrested on execution the following day
(Monday). The amount he owed was not very large. His
difficulties were so far inextricable that he could not prevent
the execution from being put in force. His manner was so
malted and unusual, that I believe he hardly knew what
he was doing. He put his hand to his head two or three
times during his visit, as if he was suffering very much ; and
he once observed that it would be just as well for him to be
eat of the world ; but I did not think at the time, that by
that expression he meant, or contemplated, committing
suicide. It was just what a man overwhelmed with grief or
difficulty might exclaim.
Richard Thorn, surgeon, of Upper Belgrave-plsoe, exa-
mined with the same view, Meted that the last time he saw
deseseed was about a month ago, when he was suffering
Ism Influenza and goat. He complained more then of his
head than at any previous period. He was very feeble and
ilmeremed, and spoke of his not rallying as he used. His
lhoelth was generally good, except that he had frequent
Meeks of rheumatic gout, bat had never attended him far
imasisdness of mind.
Wakley then briefly addressed the jury. Of the
gauss of death, he observed, there could be no doubt,
sad that it had been instantaneous was evident from
the easy position of the hands holding the pistol.
Weed there was no doubt that when the hands dropped the
daseseed was dead. It was also clear, from the state of the
body, that the pistol had been discharged through the mouth,
sad certainly as much injury had been done as it was possible
from one shot, the whole side of the skull having been blown
off. No one appeared culpable but the deceased himself, and his
culpability was almost altogether removed if he bad
been of unsound mind. He (Mr. Wakley) had often
expressed his opinion respecting the necessity which the
law imposed on them of going into an i nvestiga-
tion upon that point, because, however, searching
the-investigation might be, they were generally left is doubt
at the end ef it, and unable to fOrm more than a bare conjec-
ture as to the state of the deceased's mind when he committed
the act of self-destruction. The evidence upon that
point was in this case, however, much stronger than usual.
Indeed he believed that the jury would have little doubt
that the evidence of Mr. Warren satisfactorily proved that
the deceased was not in a sound state of mind on the day
preceding that on which this deplorable occurrence took
place. Mr. Wakley having recapitulated the chief points of
that gentleman's testimony,
—The jury, without imoment's deliberation, found "That
the deceased died in consequence of a pistobahot, discharged
by himself while in an unsaund state of mind."

TEA DUTIES.
The combined deputation from Liverpool and Man-
chester, in favour of the total abolition of the tea duties,
headed by Mr. James Heywood, M.P. for North Lan-
cashire, had an interview with Lord John Russell, at
the Treasury, at one o'clock this day. Mr. Heywood
and other gentlemen addressed the noble lord, pointing
out the state of distress existing among the poorer classes
in Liverpool and the manufacturing districts of Lancashire
and Yorkshire, and suggesting the relief that would
result to them consequent upon the abolition of the duties
on tea. Lord J. Russell received the deputation with his
unusual courtesy, intimating that the subject brought under
his notice was entirely one of revenue. The noble lord
did not express any intention of considering the subject with
a view to reduction or abolition, and therefore it is to be
presumed, the object the deputation has In view is not likely
to be attained.

EISIIOPRICK OF HEREFORD.—In the case of the
mandamus against the Archbishop of Canterbury, arising
out of the appointment of Dr. Hampden to the see of Here-
ford, the rule is returnable on Friday, and the Attorney-
General is expected to show cause against it on Saturday.
THE DIRECT LONDON AND EXETER RtILWAY
Comata.--At a meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany, held this day, all the persons present were favourable
to an immediate dissolution ; but a sufficient number of
shareholders not being present to comply with the provisions
of the act of parliament, the meeting was adjourned to
Tuesday next.