The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-31 00:00:00

CORONER'S I_NQUEST.

OesreMart Kt:lmm or EDWARTI Seowea Es4l—On
M'ednesday night an inquisition was taken at the Prince of Wales
Tavern, oa the Kensington-rood, before Mr. II i c.c.s, the Assistant
COToller for the City and Liberty of Westminster, and a mpeetable
Jury, touching the death of Edward Snowball, Esq. a gentleman
of independent fortune, residing at No. 2, Kensiegton Gore.
The cirrainstences connect:el with the untimely Leath of the un.
fortunate gentleman having been ninth the subject of coneersanun
at Kensington, the shocking catastrophe elicited a great sensation
in the nei;;llbotiyhtesl, and longliefore the arrival of the Lortmer,
the inquest room and the lower part of the house were crowded by
the friends and acquaintances uf the deceased.
At six o'clock the investigation eummenced. The ('droner
having cut:tunnelled the Jury, he repaired with them to the de-
ceased's late resi fence, to view the body. It was lying on the bed,
covered over with a sheet, and the features were frightfully dis-
torted. Many of the gebtlenten, who had been long acquainted
with the deceased, shed tears on beholdieg the corpse. On their
return m the Jury-mom, the following testimony was given :
Mr. Joseph Auterac sworn-11 am sturgeon and apothecary, and
reside at Kensington. I have been acquainted with the (licensed
gentleman for many years • 111 fact, 1 always attended the fancily
pntfessionally. At about lialf.past two o'clock, on Tuesday after-
nocn, a messenger came in great haste to nie, and ret;ueeted my
attendance immediately, at 31r. Snowball's house; I guessed
something dreaiful had taken place, and in less than ten minutes
I arrive:l at the house, and discovered the deceased alive, lying on
the bed ; he had his elotlus off, and complained to me of exces-
sive pains in his stomach and bowels. NI ins Smith, a young Lady,
a resident with the deceased, called me aside, and expressed her
fears that his sufferings proceeded from his bowleg poisoned him-
self, and in support of her suspicion she produced a paper con.
tenting some arsenic ; there appeared to he about two ounces and
three ilmehnis gone, as it seemed to be a three omits packet ; on
the paper was written " arsenic ;" I questioned the deceased upon
the subject, and lie strongly denied having taken any poison, and
cold not account for the way hi which the arsenic came into his
pocket; I repeated the question frequently, and he at length con-
fessed that he had swallowed about two teft-rpoonfulls, in a glass
of beer, at the l'amtlen's .trios, thin morniog, and expressed him-
self confident lie should soon die from the large quansity he had
taker,. The deceased accosted very weak and low. but his mind dal
not at all appear to he affected with insanity. I administered the
usual antidotes prescribed on such occasions, ell of which lie took
eagerly. as if be was anxious his life should be spared, but all
effort* to counteract the powerful effects of the poison proved in-
effectual, and he died about six o'clock in the evening.
. .

I:pruner—Did you consider the deceased of a violent disposition ?
and have you ever noticed any thiog exusonlinory its his manner
of late to induce you to think hint in a deranged mote of stand ?
Auterac—l certainly cannot say en nay oath that I believe
him to have been insane • but about a fortnight since he attempted
to destroy himself. Ile ;hen took two ounces of laudanum hi wine
tincture of opium, but I administered some strong medicines, and
saved his lite. for which he appeared very thankful, aod, from the
conversation I then had with him, I dii. not think he would make a
second attempt. Ile told me that some family embarrassments
had CIIIIIrd hint to mow& the horrid deed; he said he wished foe
pardon in the nest world.
Juror—l hi you happen to know what embarrassments they were
that h' alluded to ?

......
Mr. A iiteme--h do not esnetls ; but I know that blrs. Snowball,
his wife, who is a most amiable lady, vat obliged to leave her house
some time hack, on neemint of some dereliction of duty on the part
of the deceased towards her. .

Juror—lhtn't you know that Mrs. Snowball was compelled to
Snit her home in conarquoire of the deceased introducing another
temale int,. the house, and who, tip to the rcrioti of his death, lived
with hint ?

-.• ...... .
Mr. A uterac—Uprin my word I can't stare that of my own know.
ledge ; I have heard so frequently, but whether it is so or not I
cannot take upon myself to say.
Mr. Thomas Gould sworn—l am proprietor rf the Camden Arms
Tavern, Kensimpon. I knew the deceased well ; he was in the
habit of frequenting the Corfee.room ultimo every day, for the last
eighteen months, or two years. I always considered him of wand
intellect till within the last six weeks, since which I have observed
a great change in his manners. Ile would frequently scribble on
pietas of paper, and afterwards tear them up, and throw them be.
hind the fire. Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, between eleven arid
twelve o'clock. he came into my house, and complained of pains
in his chest. He went into the l'offee.rooni and desired the waiter
hto bring him a pint of wenn porter, and e; the 2'i es newspaper,
mid pen, ink, and pie•er ; all of which were taken him. In about
an hcur after he left the house. without taking any notice, which
was very unusual. Ile returned in half an hour, and ordered some
bread and cheese, and a glass of stout, saying he should nut dine
at hems that day. The deceased ate very little of the bread and
cheese, and cast his eyes over the newspaper. Shortly attar this, a
young lady, named Smith, whom the deceased seemed particularly
attached to, came into the bar, and asked nic if I hail seen Mr.
Snowball ; her voice was very tremulous, and site Petlll.ll dread.
fully elitism'. I went into the ceff're-romn, and beckoned the de-
ceased out, and as he proceeded, 1 saw him stagger. Miss Smith
took hint by the arm, and Ind him towards his home. About live
o'clock in the evening, I received a nute from the deceased in his
own hand-writing. The following is a copy ;
" Mr. Snowball will thank Mr. Gould to go to the Gore, and
break to Miss Smith (Mrs. Snowball being no longer there) the
sail intelligence, in as delicate a manner as he can ; and tell Miss
h, that he was induced to commit the rash act through the cen.
tinued persecutions of his wife, and her two brothers ; seal also tell
Miss Smith to take front my breeches pocket a small key, that
opens the drawer in the escritoire, in which she will tied a letter
directed to her, and one also for Mr. Hughes, the undertaker. I
have not many more moments to lire. God bless you. I hope i.e
will forgive me. How hard it is to struggle."
The Jury expressed their unanimous wish that Miss Smith
should he examined, as to her knowledge of the business, mind to
produce the letter that the deceased had left for her.
Miss Smith was then assisted into the room ; sir appeared to be
about twenty.five years of age, of elegant deportment. and rather
prepossessing in her manners; as soon as she entered the room she
burst into tears, acrd sobbed hysterically. Site was actutuutaxhded
with a chair by the side of the Coroner.
Oit being sword, she deposed as follows :—My name is Charlotte
Marla Smith. and I reside in the deceased's house, Ne.9,Kensing.
ton Gore. I have lived there for the last three months, since Mrs.
Snowball left her busbaml. I think the seperation took place on
the 29.11 of Septemlee. I sin confident that that circunistaues had
not preyed on his ns,e.d, but he has been melancholy ellr since.
lie was of a very mild disposition, and not given to passion. Yes.
terday morning, about half-past eight o'clock. he took breakfast
with me, after which he thawed, and went out about half-rast nine,
saving he was going to Kensington. In the afternoon, finding he
did nut return to dinner, I became alarmed, knowing what had
happened before and went to Mr. tiould's house, where I found
I Mr. Snowball. le seemed dreadfully agi'usd, and was almost
unable to walk home. AVltees I got home I put hint to boo; and
to satisfy my suspicions I searched his pockets, and found a parcel
of arsenic, and a razor recently set. 1 premed hint tie a consider.
able time to tell me if he bed taken any of the peioonous drug, and
he arlength confined he had ; upon which I immediately despatch-
ed a messenger for Dr. A uterac, much against his inclination.
To questuwis from the Jury—l am no relation to the deceased,
nor was I his servant ; he was my friend. I was induced to go into
the house at his solicitation. The day I entered the house the de-
ceased made over all his property to me by will. It may hereafter
be found, but I don't know where it is at present.
Juror—You my. Miss Smith, that the deceased was your friend;
now what are the Jury to Infer from that? Do you mean to say
that you cohabited with hint as his wife ?
Miss Smith held down her head, and said she was not bound to
answer that question, and again burst into tears.
atnother Juno—Gentlenien, there can he but one opinion upon
that subject ; therefore we will nut pons the lady a. to her con.
nection with the unfortunate suicide. The deceased lefts letter foe
you, MISS Smith, have yeu got it 'bow you ?
Miss Smith said she had, and drew it from her bosom. It was
then read by the Coroner: the following is an extract:—
•' My dear Charlotte,—Shute my v. ire, Mrs. Snowball, has left
me, which was on the '29th September last, I have experienced
front her two brothers, Mr. John Tweedy, banter at York, and
Captain Geswge Tweedy, lately returned from Bombay, the most
inveterate and mencious persecution possible. so much as to occa.
aion the fatal deed I am going to be guilty of."
The remainuet of the letter went on to state what debts he owed
and were owing to him, and referring all parties to a gentleman in
rump-court, Temple; he concluded by wishing that the letter
stead go forth to the world by means of the public papers.
The Coroner here remarked, that it was a most desperate case.
The letters produced went strongly to show that the deceased was
in Ili/ sound acute when he desituyiel himself; no parson had as
yet proved to the contrary. Nothing could be more rational than_
the language in the letter.

The waiter at Mr. Ganltl's was neti esamined.—lre always
sidereal the the dressed of sound burliest. The glass in which bo
took the poison had not since been ►een.
Mr. William Illighes, appraiser and undertaker. of Iligh-street,
Kensington, produced a letter in the deceased's hand-writing, which
he had recciveti that mottling from Miss Smith, authorising him to
sell all his effects by auction, and the proceeds to be given to Miss
Smith for her use and benefit. The letter concluded by expressing
his wish, that he might be buried on Friday next, in St. Marga-
ret's churchyard, and the procession to (mists' of a bears* and one
mourning coat h, without leathers.

One of the Jury said, that a (lea had been said about the de.
reseed's effects ; cult he considered they had nothir,.; to inquire
into but the cause of bis death.

The Coroner observed, that at present be saw nothing that could
prevent the Jury from returning a verdict to the edict, that the
dr-
ceased was in a sane state of Mind at the time he committed the
suicide, and then in that cane the Jury had to do with the pro-
perty of the decessed, because, in the event of their returning a
verdict of " Edo tie be," all his edicts would be forfeited. Ile
understood that there were no other witnesses to be examined,
therefore the Jury would consult together upon that point, and
lind a verdict pursuant to the oath they had taken.
The Juty were then left to themselves, and, after a deliberation
of an hour, thew returned a verdict, " That the deceased, Edward
Snowball, Em, came to his death by taking &quantity of arsenic,
being at the dine of unsound mind."
The Inquiry hotted till ten o'clock at night, and many persons
who had heard the investigation, expressed their aurpnse at the
decision of the Jury.
IVhen the sad tidings ranched the can of Het. Snowball, she
was an greeted that she was i.koged to have medial assistance, and
iest,sl reatteina &IA a very pitiable 'item*.