The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

SHOCKING DEATH OF A SURGEON.

Mr. Richards, deputy coroner, held an inquest at
the Three Colts Tavern, Cambridge-heath, last evening,
relative to the death of Mr. Bsnjamin Vale, aged 50 years,
a surgeon, who was found dead from the effects of excessive
d rink ing.
Dr. Hughes Halle, LLD., said that he was one of the
trustees to an annuity of 401., which the deceased
had settled on him. He practised as a surgeon. He
was a licentiate of the Apothecary's Company, but
he bad not passed the college. For the last six
weeks he had lived at No. 5, Three Colt-lane.
Bethnal-green. For years past be drank excessively. In
1864, the Dean of Lichfield left him 4001., which was
invested in house properly that yielded him 401. a year
in addition to his annuity. He at once gave up practice,
and took to drinking until all his money was exhausted.
He then mortgaged the houses to a pawnbroker, and drank
the proceeds. On last Thursday, witness received a note
from the people at No. 5, Three Colt-lane, stating that
Mr. Vale had become maniacal, and that a medical man
had ordered him to be watched night and day lest he
should commit suicide. Witness had already' dvanced him
4/. out of his own pocket, since he bad been paid on the
2nd November his annuity, but all the money was spent
in liquor. Ile used to compel the instant payment of tLe
instalment due to him in a lump sum by threatening the
executor with an action. Witness at once took steps
for the proper care of deceased on the Thursday, but on
the next morning he was found dead.
Selina Greener said that three weeks ago when she went
to live at 5, Three Colt-lane she found deceased lodging
there. Ho had nothing to cover him but a coat, not even
a shirt. He had uo food. She bought him a second-
shirt with money given her by Dr. Halle. He spent every
thing in drink ; the first thing he took in the morning was
a quantity of ruin. The place was in a dreadful condi-
tion, but she had to use great tact to get an opportunity
of sluicing it out with water. Dr. Robins cautioned her
against going into the room alone fur fear deceased would
knock her on the head with the poker. On Thursday
morning deceased began to get mad ; he shrieked out
" Stop him ! stop him !" She called in a doctor, who ad-
vised his removal to the union. The neat morning she
found him dead on the floor nearly naked.
Dr. Halle said that deceased used to wrap himself up in
an old rug like a wild Indian, and go to sleep ou the floor.
Until witness made himself responsible for his rent, he
used to be perpetually seized upon or turned out of his
lodgings. Witness provided money for his use on Thurs-
day, and sent Dr. Atkyns to see him.
Mr. B. J. Shaw, surgeon, said that deceased died from
effusion of serum on the brain, arising from excessive
drinking of ardent sprits. Nearly all the organs of the
body were in a state of disease from drink.
The jury returned a verdict " that deceased was found
dead from effusion of serum on the brain, the result of ex-
' I cessive drinking of intoxicating liquors."
. . . .

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

TCB9DAT, DECEMBER IS, 6 A.M.

Biztrems.
B. T. W. 120
F. D. W , ISea,l te
12
--
Naha 129.03 53' 8. 31 W.S.W cb 1
Aberdeen -029.78 531 S.S.W. S 4 1 S.S.W. rrn 0.04' 2
Leith 120.64 55' S.W. 2' 1 B.W. locl - 1 1
Ardroaaan 2.4.5t; 51, S.W. 8 6 I B.W. I o.- 1 6
{ice2o.Bl 52. W.S.W. 4 5
ntia 29.52 52 S.W. 78 i S.W. mu '614 5
Cape Clear , - - - - I-i - 1 -
IJvcrpool '30.14 62 s.w. 3 4' S.W. o- 2
Holyhead ....30.07 52 B.S.W 16 6 S.S. W or 0.03 5
Penzance.- 54 S.W. 15 4 ! W.S. W. co - 3
Brest .. 30.31 52. S.W. i 516 I W.S.W. foc l- j 6
Lorient 30.32 54' S. 2 3 W.S.W. - 3
Rochefort 30.3954 E.N.E. 2 2 o -. 2
Plymouth 51. S.W. 2 2 S.W o; - 1
Weouth 3 1 , S.fmo 0.01 3
Porymtsmouth.. 30.3362 8.5 W. 3 3 B.W mo 10.01 2
London 30.31 50 S.W. 3' 4 W.S.W. cro I- I -
Yarmouth... 30.'27 48 ?S.W. 4 5 1 W.S.W. bo 1 - 2
Soarboroush. 30.05 50 W.S.W. 1 2 1 S.W. ob I - 2
Shields ...... t..).Ut3 54 N.W. . 6 2 1 S.W. oc 1- j
Helder

REM A RKS.
Temperature hu then considerably on our northern and
eastern coasts, and is now very high and nearly Uniform over
the British Isles. Barometric pressure is about six.tenths of an
Inch higher in the south ,d England than in the north of Scot-
ian& l'he winds are southwesterly, strong, with much sea on
our western coasts, and light to moderate on our other coasts.

The Atlantic cable seems to be working a com-
plete revolution in trade between the United States and
Europe. Besides the ordinary business messages be-
tween England and the Atlantic commercial poets,
it is stated that English orders upon the San
Francisco market for the purchase of the fine
wheat of that region have passed through the
cable and by the American Overland Telegraph, direct
from London to San Francisco. So promptly were these
orders executed that advioss of purchases made have been
returned to the London merchants who sent the messages
in the morning by the evening of the same day. The cable
also has an effect upon diplomatic relations, and the longest
message yet sent through it is mid to have been Secretary
Seward's remonstrance to Minister Bigelow on the Mexi-
can question, which contained over 5,000 words, and
being in cipher, cost the American government about
5,0001.
The managers of the Opera-house at Paris have
determined, in consequence of tbe increasing population
of that city, drawn together in anticipation of the Uni-
versal Exhibition, to give six performances. week, com-
mencing on the 15th of January, 1867.