The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-15 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, before George Unwin.
Esq. at the Unicorn public-house, Shoreditch, on the tardy of Mr.
Bell, who lost his life during the late calamitous fire in that
place. The body, on the Jury viewing it, presented a most fright-
ful spectacle, the :eft leg and thigh being completely burnt off and
the stomach so shockingly mangled, that the whole of the intestines
were plainly visible.
•
It seems that some suspicion existed in the neighbourhood that,
the accident was occasioned by Mr. Bell being at the time in a state
of intoxication, and in order to set that matter at rest, the Coroner
was very particular in the inquiries he made of the various wit.
nesses, but there appeared no ground whatever fur the supposition.
Valentine Skinner, his shopman, deposed to his coming borne that
evening soon after ten o'clock, and Jas. llsylett, the watchman,
stated that he alfa saw him going home about that time. No di-
rect clue was gained td the cause of the fire, but it is supposed to
have originated in the cellar, to which place Thomas Edmonds.
the errand boy, had gone at a late hour in the evening to fetch up
some coals. Near the coal cellar a quantity of birch brooms was
placed, and from the evidence it appeared probable that a spark
from the candle might have caught them, and smouldering, caused
the calamitous event. Theroperty destroyed is even more consi-
derable thau at first expected—Verdict, " Accidental Death."
An inquest has been held at Brighton, on the body of Jacob
Idle, the landlord of the White Horse public-house, Brighton. The
Jury took a view of the body. The head was much beaten and
the face considerably disfigured in consequence of the two hours'
drifting of the body over the shingley shore : and one temple was
violently enough beaten to have caused death, supposed to have
been done among the piles and timber-cork at the pier-head, the
body having been driven amongst them by the tremendous force of
the sea. On the body there were fewer bruiseathrm wan at first
imagined, and there wan very little water in it. The trouser. were
much tattered, the shirt had been literally tern from the body, and
there were only trifling remains of the flannel waistcoat ; the braces
had kept the trousers attached to the body.
Stephen Bald, master of the AVhite Horse Hotel, stated that
the deceased had attended for him to the public-house., four or
live years ; that he had been punctual in hid dealings and atten-
tions to business ; but that for some time he had obswved consi-
derable despondency of demeanor about the deceased. There
was noaccountable lowness of spirits in his manner. Such fact.
together with what he had learned about theeireumstances under
which the deceased had left his home on Monday morning (hav-
ing taken his money and watch out of his pocket, and deposited
them in the cupboard, &e) induced witness to go in search of the
deceased, apprakending that something might happen to him. It
was not long before he bad reason to believe that the deceased had
jumped front the pier tied into the sea; and by about half-past
nine, or near ten o'clock, a body was seen drifting amongst the
waves. backwards and forward., with greit Violence, but close in
upon shore. Men were immediate's, obtained, who fastened them-
selves to ropes (as previously particularly narrated) but such was the
heaviness of the sea, that the men could not secure the body till
nearly twelve o'clock.
Stephen Gourd, of Brighton, said he had long known the de-
ceased, wad of late had observed great changes in his manner
for the worse. On Thursday last, he reminded the deceased of
his gloomineas. lie replied, " I have cause l" and he added,
" could you make my will for me ?" Witness said yea ; spoke of
the number of witnesses that Would be required, and asked for a
sheet of paper. The deceased, after some pause, and haying
poised the skill of witness an a penafxn, observes', " Oh, never
mind it now : there's a will up stairs that I made before I was
married, and that will do as well for my wife." " Very well." re-
joined witness, " that's your business, and not mine." On Satur-
day' he saw the deceased, who remarked that he had just been car-
rying out some becer, adding, " and I had
,great mind to go and
throw myself over the Groine into the sea.' Witness remarked
" If you use such language jocularly, it is very improper ; and if
seriously, you might to drive all such thoughts from your mind."
On Sunday afternoon, the deceased still appeared as gleamy and
unhappy as ever ; tbereupon witness repented, " What's the
matter with you ? What makes you look so unhappy ?" He I
also repeated what he had before often said, " I have cause, I
have cause enough." Witness did not know whether the deemed
had thrown himself into the sea; but if so. he had not the
least doubt that such act was committed during the temporary
aberration of mind.

James Weeks merely proved that he first perceived the body
when it had floated towards shore; that he procured men for the
purpose of obtaining the body, stc.
The Coroner (it being again stated in answer to inquiries, that
there Mere 110 witnesses vs prove the suicidal act), sub`mitted that
the verdict must be •' Found drowned." Aboit the state of the
mot's mind, there could not be much doubt.

At a select vestry meeting held at Mansfichl on Tuesday,
it was resolved that, in obedience to an order of the Magis-
trates a fortnight ago, all outstanding arrears for poor-rate
and natural children be immediately got in, and that here-
after no such patments shall be allowed, on any account,
to exceed three months. At the next meeting, it is intend-
ed to pass a tesolution to ‘i•ithliold parochial relief from all
persons kcoping dogs and fighting cocks, and offer a reward
and keep secret the names of persons giving information
1 thereof to the overseers.—Boxfwr Gazelle.

CArTI'II6 Or ANOTatit IInRXI7-ITlALER.—tirnothy
Hawkins, the accomplice of Johnson, the noted horse-
stealer, was captured on Tuesday, on the Hertford road,
and brought to London yesterday. Our readers are aware
that Johnson and another of the gang are in custody.
A widow-woman of the name of Marshall, who keeps the
sign of the Fox, at Pontefract, and has two or three
children dependant on her industry and carefulness, had
her drawers entered by means of a pick-lock, and notes and,
sovereigns to the amount of Sit. 2s. taken away by her son,'
a married man, who resides in the west-country, who came
over under the pretence to see her; and before the family
retired to rest contrived to get up stairs where the money ,
was kegt. • lie was securctl.---York Courant. • • ..4

~~..

G EA...01bl r, FtECTION'.I
. . .
LOtrioir.—Mr. Alderman Thompson ret:rcs from tP• e...r,
bfirough of Callington at the end of the present Parliar
ment, in the confident expectation, as is generally suP;
posed, of being one of the successful candidates fob the
city of London in the next.
Ts u N ToN.—Mr. A . Baring havirtttated, id g letter to Sir
Thos. Lethbridge, that the address to the el!ettiss of Taun-
ton, which was so severely commented n, wig published
wi.hout his knowledge, General l'eael . stsr. Bayley
Peach
4)d
have, in consent:thce, publicly sated,t At, strong ex-
pressions used by thtni in reference to it este* applicable
to Mr. Baring.
PIERTtISKIIIE.—The contest for aibi Ognit *ill, it Li
understood, be severe, and it is genera g esttpeco) that ths
number of contests in Scotland wilLie.freater than at ant
former election.
Dovsa.—The candidates forlskoncient ccipoe putt;
are Mr. Bootle Wilbrahaos, ja, f utterworth, and Nir
Thompson. Hythei. and other places in Kent,. are ex-
, pected to be contented, , -
Guntironn.—This borough will be severely contested:
The candidates are, Mr. Sergeant Onslow, Mr. 'tall, Mr.
Drummond, Mr. Delap, and a gentleman who contested
this place at .the last election. • ,
SIIORICHAN.—The candidates for this boroughsre Si•
C. M. Burnell, Bart., the lion. Mr. Howard, and Mr:
Sugden, the Barrister.
Lawns.—T. It. Kemp, Esq., M.P. for Arundel; is nose
canvassing Lewes with extraordinary perseverance.

W