The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-24 00:00:00

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COIIONF R'S INQUEST.

hIELANCROLY St-tc:tta:.--On Friday last a Jury were em.
panelled, heMre 11. CARTER, Esq. the Surrey Coroner, at the
Fountain public-house. in Lambeth-walk, on the body of a gen-
tleman named Palmer, late the superintendent at the flour-mill
belonging to Messrs. Noakes and Co. of Mill-street, Lambeth,
who destroyed himself by cutting his throat.
It appeared that the deceased Mr some time pact had been in a
desponding way, brought on by family affliction, added to
which were money transactions in bilis, that he was fearful he
could not discharge without the assistance of a country bank, as
he anticipated; but unfortunately. during the recent failures, that
bank had stopped payment. On Wednesday night the deceased
slept with his brother, and about four o'clock in the morning the
latter was awoke by deceased getting out of bed. lie requested
him to return. but he declined, saying " I have a deal of business
to do," and left the room. The deceased's brother fell into a doze,
and soon after waking he heard repeated groans. He got tip, pro-
cured a light, and on entering the parlour was horror-struck at be-
holding the deceased lying prostrate on the floor, with his head
nearly severed from the body. A medical gentleman was quickly
called in, who pronounced hint dead.
The Jury regretted the melltneltoly catastrophe, but were of
opinion the rash act was committed during a fit of desperation, and
returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."

DREADFUL C.ssr. or SUTUlDE.—Yesterday evening an in-
quh-ition was taken at the Red Lion, Portland-street, Oxford-
street, before T. limns. Len., Deputy Coroner for Westminster,
on view of the body of Mrs. Hannah 3layfield, a widow lady, who
terminated her existence under the following melancholy arcum.
tances

On the Jury being impanelled and sworn they proceeded, at-
tended by the Coroner, to view the remains of the unfortunate
lady, which lay at her apartments, N 0.14, Poland-street, adjacent ;
the curse presented a shocking spectacle, In consequence of the
quantity of poison which the deceased had taken ; it however was
evident that she had been most prepossessing in her appearance,
and seemed to be about 38 years of age.
On the return of the Jury the following evidence was adduced
for their consideration _ _

Mr. 11Isrgaret Laporte, of 11, Poland-street. aforeeald, on her
oathdeposed, that she had known the deceased for several years ;
she was the widow of an officer of the army, and had for the last
six months resided in witness's first floor ; witness had of late ob-
served that the dec-aced laboured under a great depression of spirits,
and on questioning her about it, she replied that she had more
troubles than she could bear. On Thursday last the deceased went
our early in the morning, and did not return till near ten o'clock
at night; she then appeared unusually low spirited; witness
attempted to rally her, and begged she wonld come into the parlour
and take acme brandy and water; the deceased however refused,
saying shetlid not want any thing; she soon after went up to her
apartments, telling witness that she felt very unwell, and begged she
would wine up in the course of half an hour and see her ; witness
replied that she would. The deceased then retired ; halt' an hour or
so had elapsed when witness went tip to the deceased's bedchamber,
tthc was lying on the bed, looking very pale; witness called her by
her natne, but she returned no answer; being now much alarmed
she called tier husband, who came up, and attempted to rouse the
deceased, but in vain. A medical gentleman was then sent for.
who soon attended, and declared that there was little hopes of the
deceased's recovery ; witness continued with the deceased till she
expired, which took place about one o'clock on Friday morning.
tkironer—Pray what was your opinion as to the deceased's ntind
some days previous to her committing the rash act conceived
her conduct strange, but I did not think her insane.
Juror—Did you hear were the deceased went on the morning she
left the house so early P—Since her death I have heard that she was
walking the Regent's Park the best part of the day.
Juror—Did the deceased live by herself?—Yes.
Coroner—Who attended on the deceased ?—My servant.
.furor—Wes the deceased visited by any relatives or friends
whilst living with you ?—Certainly; but they reside in Hereford-
shire, and only conic occasionally: they have not yet heard of the
cat ,strophe.
Mr. IVin. Laporte, husband of the last witness, corroborated
her testimony in every point.
Mr. James Edwards. of No. 48. Poland-street, surgeon, on his
oath deposed that on Thursday night last, between the hours of
ten and eleven, he was requested to attend a lady who had taken
poison. Witness instantly went. and found the deceased lying in
a bed-chamber in the last witness's house. She was labouring
under groat bodily °premien, as well as insensibility. Witness
imagining that she had taken some description of poison, searched
the room, and in a cup found dregs of laudanum. Witness raised
her in bed, and attempted to rouse her, but she continued perfectly
insensible. He then administered an emetic and also a quantity
of brandy ; but the power of swallowing was gone, and he
considered there was little or no hope of her recovery. Witness,
however, wishing to leave nothing undone, sent for Dr. Burton;
of Benters'.street, who soon attended; but notwithstanding their
united efforts the deceased. after great suffering, expired about
forty minutes after he was first called in. Witness has no hesita-
tion in saying that the quantity of laudanum the deceased took was
the immediwe cause of her death.

Juror—Why was not the stomach-pump put in requisition?—
In this instance I knew it would have been perfectly useless, as
the poison had taken too Crest an effect before 1 was called in.

Coroner—ln your opinion, how long had the rleeeroted taken the
laudanum when you was sent for ?....1 should imagine about four
or five hours.

Stephen Burton, M.D. of el. Berners-street, deposed that he
was sent for by the lest witness at the time above stated. Witness
Immediately attended, and found the dts:tased in a dying state : he
foul no hopes of saving life ; but he, in conjunction with Mr. Ed-
wards, hail recourse to every thing to counteract the dreadful effects
of the poison, but it proved useless; the deceased's dissolution
took place tibuut 14 or 15 minutes after his arrival.
The Coroner addressed the Jury. and said, by the evidence It was
clearly proved that the laudanum hai destroyed the deceased, and
they hail only to consider in what state of mind she wits at the time
she took it. ,

The Jury, after a few minutes ennanitatinn, returned a eerdiet__
" That the deceaecd hsil herself whilst labouring under
temporary derangement."

The name of the gentleman who acquitted himself with
so much credit Oa Friday last, at Drury-lane Theatre, as
the substitute for Mr. Sinclair, is Yarn()ld, and not Yard-
ley, as stated by mistake in several ot the papers. This
correction is the rather due to him, as there is a member of
t►te corps dramotigue nauxd Yardley.