The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-04-16 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE IN

111 CH LIFE.

On Monday night last a young gentleman who, we under-
stand, is related to the noble family of Lord A.
made a most extraordinary attempt upon his existetice,
while confined in St. James's watch-house, on a charge of
forgery preferred by Messrs. Cox and Greenwood, Army
Agents.
The young gentleman, who does not exceed 24 years of
ace, • shoot time ago called at Messrs. Cua and Green-
wood's, owl there offered a bill of exchange to the amount
of 6 11. purporting in hr their acceptance. He left the of-
fice, mid afterwards the-toll proved to be a forged one. In-
formation was immediately given of the circumstance to
the necessary persons to apprehend the tenderer; and on
Monday night last intelligroce bring received that be was
at the White Bear Coffee.house, Piccadilly, • constable re-
paired thither, and took him in custody to Marlborough-
Street oilier, where hr underwent an examination, brit was
remanded for the attendance of the clerk to whom it was
offered, mid other necessary persons.
Ott searching the Primner papers were found on him signed
with the name of Woodward and others, which creatrJ an
idea that the Irish hank had suffered from a similar mode of
imposition. The Prisoner was ordered to he taken care of,
and the circumstance was made known to Lord A. H--n,
and information forwarded to Ireland, from which place
letters are daily expected concerning the circenistance. He
was taken back to the watch-house, but at the desire of his
Lordship, aisd from the Prisoner's great respectability, a
separate apartment was cosistittited for his tow during his
cwislimment, and prior to his heing conducted there
every necessary search was made to prevent self-destruction.
Ile slept there during the night, awl the following morning
on a person rntermg the apartment to make some necessary
inquiries of the minimums, lie was found lying on the bed
weltering in his blood, mid on searching a desperate wound
was found on the stile of his throat, from which a profusion
of blood was issuing. He was in a very weak stilt., and
Mr. Alcock, surgeon, of Mary•lmbone-street, attended
him immediately, and deemed the wound near the jit•
gnlar sein, which wits very deep, and bad been inflicted by
a nail, which was f a,ud tinder his heast,and 'ohr to that bad
berm in the wall. It appeared after having been searched,
be contrived to ',incur( the nail which he ran into his throat.
The circumstance was immediately made known to hi.
Lordship, and the Magistrates at Marlhorongh-street Police
0111cr, mid he was cons/eyed to St. James's work-house,
where he now lies in a dangerous coudition, under the care
of Mr. Ruse, the surgeon.
He very seldom speaks to any one concerning the affair,
and has tint assigned any cause for the rash attempt, but it
is thought that the disgrace attached to a circouistance of
the KI/41110. ihscription to his family led him to it. Blood is
continually flowing from the wound, which while it coo-
tomes renders his situation very dangerous, but as won as it
will allow lie will be Mooed op to Marlborough-street fur

exasiiiiiatiou. He is a hue iuukisig y b mau.

MEL.4SCHOLY AND SINGULAR EI'ENT.

After narrating the military parades, &c. at Rich-
mond, ill America, in I sir of the i2tl February,
Journal says—s• A melancholy catastrophe closed
the day. Col. W. 'fat hum, so well known iti Ent-
hood and this countly for his acquaititatice with
civil engitierring, whtrh a* been residing its this city
fur two or thrve 3 ears, but whose utility was consi-
derably arrested by an unfortunate habit to which
hr had become addicted, was destined on that day to
breathe his hart. In a moment of inteitiperancn as
he stood by the piety of artillery which was firing
the evening salute, hr rxelatarird that lie wished to
die. As the second gull was about to lire, and imme-
diately after the C hug Officer bad given the
word, • fire !' Colonel 'Tatham presented himself
in front of the muzzle of the piece, and by its dis-
charge, his abdomen was almost laterally blown to
pieces. Ills body was raised a few feet in the air by
the explosion, and be fell upon leis face, without ut-
tering our word that wits heard by the by-slanders.
Colonel Tatham died without any latitily—orcuta-
stances had stript life of much of its attractions iii his
eyes ; but it iv iminooible not to regard the manner
of his death with horror, and to fee! the deepest
commiseration for his melancholy fate. lie was a
titan of great information, of great genius, and of
great resource of mind. But to this melancholy
end lie has inlayed."

An liiquisitiurs was held yestrrilay at the White Linn
Ileisinsiims-ruw, ht. Nisi bt(.re Themes Higgs,
list'. Curuner, uir the body of It" It'll Dyer, • compositur,
employed in the Piiiiiiug.sitticr ur Mr. Clowes, Northers'.
herlati.l.cuurt, Strand.
ThUllllll.l Day, a compositor at the sows office, staled,
that uti Weduesslay, Mowers' Iwo.lre awl some o'clock, the
deceased was at his (rouse cousisussuc, asst suddenly 1.11
down and enticed. Ms. Fincharri, isursccuu, Sistissirsowdear,
was called iu ; he could out readrr any assistance or the de-
li-rased ;he said his shall. was caused by the implore of a
I/loud veseel.—Verdict—" Died by, Ilhe validation al Gott"—
The pour mut has Irrt a auk and b%r children usipruridell
fut.