The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-13 00:00:00

SHOCKING SUICIDE.

An Inquest was yesterda7=-1 at the Plough public-house,
Kentish Town, on view of the body of Alexander Taylor. aged 48
years, late of the Hon. East India Company's civil service, who
put a period to his existence on Monday last, under the following
distressing circumstances
Mrs. Martha Power, maternal aunt to the deceased, stated, that
about four months ago lie returned home from Madras, where he
had spent several years in the Company's service, as an engineer,
and by his industry had realized oonsiderable sums of money, which
be placed in the hands of a Mr.-Munro, • Scotch merchant at Ma.
draa, to be vested in the name of the deceased, in British Stock
Securities, purposing, at the expiration of the term of his last
engagement, to con's- over to his native country. [A letter from
deceased to friend a in London was here produced, to the effect
stated by witness.) It appeared, however, that the person to whom
those deposits were entrusted for remittance to England, had con.
versed them to his own use, together with monies belonging to
many other persons attached to the same service ; and, fearful of
detection, Munro sold off his effects, and fled to America. This
circumstance hastened the departure of deceased for his native
country, and, on his arrival, he found himself nearly as poor as when
be quitted it ; however, through the agency of friends, who knew
of, and felt for, his misfortunes, he was enabled to speculate a
little in mercantile pursuits, with a prospect of ultimate success,
but the gradual decline of constitution, impaired, perhaps, in the
first instance, from long residence in a tropical climate, and the shock
of his recent calamity, incapacitated him hom realising the san.
guise hopes of those friend. who had stepped forward to his relief.
An eminent physician, who atterukd him through a lingering ill.
nese, advised a constant change of society and scene, as the surest
means of alleviating the deep rooted melancholy that had possessed
his mind, and counteracted every effort of medical skill to recruit
his health. During the last two months he had been to Brighton,
Cowes, and Southampton, on visits to rations friends, and re.
turned to London, front the latter place, on Thursday, more than
usually depressed in spirits, and still more enfeebled in bodily
power; however, he persisted in refusing to see the physician, who
waited on him, at the request of his uncle, Mr. Partly, in the
Edgware-roail, where-lie then lodged- On the Saturday following,
he wrote to witness's daughter, to whom he was much attached, in
the following terms
Dear Harriet—l shall see you tomorrow. There are a few
whom I think deserving of regard, before the scene closes. Your
mother, William, and yourself. are of the number. I know what
I wish to say, but cannot express -mv ideas, they are so confused.
This visiting about is not to my mind ; it cannot do me good • but
I have done with it now ; my next visit will be the longest of any.
I thought I might be able to get back to India, but It must not
be. Believe me ever yours faithfully, "A. T.
"Iwu at the theatre last night, though very ill indeed. The
piece was the False Friend. It made me worse, and I couldn't
stop fur the whole. I have had too much of that."
The witness, on this letter being read, was greatly affected, and
observed, that it would be seen from the latter part, respecting the
theatre, that deceased's brain was seriously affected, as no such
piece had been performed at any of the houses on the night in
question. On Sunday however he kept his appointniat, and cams
(ruin town by one of the stages. Ile then looked rather better than
lie had done for some time before, but his spirits were evidently
forced and unnatural. His animation was even more distressing
tltao his melancholy, lie spoke a good deal to witness, to her
daughter (the person to whom the letter was addressed), and to a
Mr. Carter, who dined along with them on that day. Ile drank a
little wine and water after dinner, hid coffee, and took much snuff
during the evening, which was not common with him. At abcut 11
o'clock he went to the room meowed far his reception, and before
getting into bed he drank some pectoral medicine, that had been
ordered for him every night and morning. SVhen the servant
knocked at his door to all him to breakfast, on Monday morning,
she received no answer, and thinking hint asleep, did not repeat
the knocking. About twelve o'clock witness went up to arouse
him, but still no answer was returned. The door was bolted in.
side; and this circumstance, together with the lateness of the hour,
excited suspicion in witness's mind, and she, with the servant's
assistance, forced open the door, and on entering the apartment
she was shocked to see the deceased lying half out of bed, and the
floor and bed-clothes literally drenched with blood. Witness
fainted, and was borne out of the room, and could tell nothing fur.
titer about the matter.

Miss Harriet Power spoke generally to the earns effect, and
added, that she occupied the room under that in which the deceased
usually slept on former occasions ; heard him for mote than an
hour after pacing the room ; but as this was by nn means uncom-
mon with him, she did not regard it particularly at the time,
though she believed that she mentioned it to the last witness, at
breakfast, on the following morning. The general tone of his con.
venation on the Sunday, was such as plainly indicated a disordered
imagination.
Mr. James Evart, surgeon, examined the body of the deceased,
on Monday, about noon ; it was then quite cold, and no human
effort could have restored ife. There were three cut, in the throat,
two of which seemed to have been inflicted with an enfeebled hand.
the third was of great magnitude, extending from the jugular vein
on the left side of the neck, a little below the ear, to the centre of
the throat, and perforating the gullet and windpipe. There was
an excessive hemorrhage; death must have ensued directly after
the infliction of the wound. The instrument of destruction lay on
the counterpane ; it was a small penknife, with an ivory handle,
having a silver name.plate in the centre, with deceased's initials,
" A. 'l'." engraven thereon • it was quite clotted with blood. Wit-
ness also examined the htis.d, in order to satisfy his mind as to the
state of deceased's brain, white appeared to him in an extremely
disordered condition, such as must have affected his mental fa-
culties.
Mary Ramsay, servant to Mrs. Power, observed, thatdeceased,
when he rung tor a wine glass, to take his medicine, on the night
previous, said, " This bottle is out, but 1 shall not want another."
He appeared very melancholy when he wished her good night,
on shutting the door.
The Jury expressed themselves perfectly satisfied as to the fact
of insanity, and returned as their verdict, " 'l'hat the deceased
committed suicide whilst in a state of mental derangement."

Wt] CIICRATT.-At East Coker, Somerset, there is now
an infamous woman imposing on her besotted neighbours,
by assorting that she is bewitched. As one time she affirms
that her feet are so firmly fixed to the floor that no effort
can remove them ; and at another time she pretends that
she can walk in the air, and on the ceiling and side-walls
of her room! It is revolting to mention such disgusting
instances of grovelling superstition ; but without reasonable
authority for such deplorable facts, their occurrence might
be well doubted.

The London Sessions commenced yesterday, and the
constables of the different parishes were sworn in, %Thiel'
busintst occupied the Court till near two o'clock.

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