The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-11-21 00:00:00

LAMENTABLE CATASTROPHE.

Last night an inquiry took pisee befewe Thomas XiseNon,
Esq. Curoorr for London •nd Soothosik, and a very re.
speclahle Jury, touching the death of Antonio IN iehael De-
feat., Esq. who deprived himself of esistroce by wounding
himself sear the abdomen.

The inquiry wee held et the late residence of the deeesetd,
No. 4, Portland. terraes; New Keet Road, oppoode the
Paragon.

_
The Jury hairier, been sworn, proceeded to view the body
of the unfortunate gentleman, which lay in the bed-room,
and afterwards the following particulars of the sad event
were adduced.
Mr. Cramer Humble, sworn reside is Reopl-place,
New Kent Road, and am a hop factor. Oa Satorday siennight,
about sine o'clock ill the looming. I was seat for to the
house of the deceased, who I siodentood had laid violent
hands on himself. I immediately west to kis residence, and
found the deceased io his bed-room. lying opus the bed.
His mall. clothes were on, bat were Imaging dews, and the
blood was flowing is tweed* from the 10111/t part of the alt.
domes. I sew a dreadful wound, which I understood to
have been inflicted by himself. It was a frightful injury. I
held him by the hand, he appeared dreadfully agitated. I did
sot observe at that unorneut the iOlllllllllMIli with which the
set was perpetrated. I remained in the room some part of
the time whilst Mr Boast and two other surgeons dressed
the wooed. I could oat ►top the whole time I was so alarm-
ed. The deceased appeared composed at iate►vals, bat was
insane the ereater part of the time. I remained with him
the whole of the week, anti was ooly absent a few hours to die
night. He lingered till Monday night last, when he expired.
I am positive the deceased laboured wider as aberration of
mind.
Groner—DM be ever make any declaration that be com-
mitted the act ►imself'

Witarss—He did ; he said he had injured himself, and
that be did it in a state of apathy
Curaaar—Did he declare what broaght on the apathy
Witness—He said be had sent in a petition So retire from
hi. appointment, sod that he was afraid it would out be
granted. sod that he shoold be discharged.

Comner—What siluation did be hold?
Witness-41e was checker of the deities on wines and
spirits, and bead writer. He bad held the appointment 35
years, and his emolument was about 600/. per annum.
Juror—Did you ewer understand that be bad once before
attempted bls

Witnem—l was told by the decosted himself that he MO
attempted to drown himself at Vanthall.bridge ; I after_
wards was told that be went out in the morning as meal,
and took a boat at Vaechall-atairs, sad on letting into the
middle of the river be threw himself in, bust was picked op
mid his life meeervoil
Juror—Have you any reason to believe his drain' were
easbarressed ?

Witness—Soon after he had attempted to drown himself,
he told me that he was about 150/. deficient in his quarter's
account. 1 cheer's' him up, and gave him a cheek on my
hanker for the amount deficient. A few days before be earn-
mitted the deed he wailed upon Lord Carrington, and his
Lordship advised him to send in his resignation, which lie
did, hut his fears of As being reiertedo in NW opinion,
brought on insanity. He was fifty-three years of age, and
had a wife mud four. childless. He bad been married eight
years.
Mr. David Roast 111110.11....11 sae a surgeon, and reside at
No. 1, County Terrace, Rent road. About nine n'cloek on
Moseley morning I wait seat for to the deceased; 1 foetid
him lying on the bed with hie small clothes on, and also his
morning gown; the blood was flowing copiously from his
abdomen ; he appeared very exhausted; I examined biro.
and found a desperate injury at the bottom of the belly; I
advised further aid to be sent fur, sail Mr. Callaway sad
Mr. Humble came, and the wound was dressed. Th.
deceased was dreadfully agitated in bis mind. The wowed
went on very well, sod fur the first two or three days it was
thought be would get over it, but his constitution was NO
impaired from irritation of mind, and the waned together,
that he died on Monday morning last. 1 hod known him
before' and he was evidently of an insane state of mind.
Mr. Tyson, a merchant residing in the City, who aid in
the course of hii mercantile pursuit. seen the deceased very
frequently, spoke to his aberration of mind.
Mr. John Pheasant, of the Rent Road. sail that he hail
been sequainlid with the deceased fur smut time, ceinfidea-
tinily so, and had often assisted in arranging bia areoests.
SOWn after he-attempted to drove himself, he expressed 'his
fears that he was deficient in his accounts, sad op that use
be (wittiest) belanced his accounts, and, instead of bis
bribe deficient. it turned out that a balance was in bin fawner.
He then advised him to consult Dr. Siena, he was in much a
nervous state. Dr. Sung said he ought not to Le left •luae.
The deceased afterwards visited his sister at Ripley, in
Surrey, where he reinsired some time. He returned ntioeh
belief, het shortly after his nervous affiction seized him
again, and he was as bad as ever. Within ibt MA fueteight
he had given him (witness) the keys of hie Irmo ehest, and
on opening it he found upward.. of MW. la sovereigns and
*Pier, strewed about in • very motion* manner. In addition
to the above Proofs there was ..ether instance of his being
insane. Oa hi. way to Pr. Sims's house he sioppeil iu the
street, and refused to go any further, and said that he (.di-
nal.) was going to deliver him up to justice.
The Coroner said, that the medical gentlemen were the
best persons to depose as to the mild or the deceased ; Gum
their experience they were competent to state that fart with
more certainty 'has • any one else. They had proved moist
clearly the deceased was insane.
' The Jury. consohed fur a few second., and unanimously
returned their verdict—. That the decelcied thrtt frum a
wound inflicted by himself when in a slate of mental de-
rangement."

' At ',yawed fair, a few days since, ten atone
sheep were sold for nineteen shillings, outrf which
the owner had to pay ten-ponce fir penning ; vn
diet each sheep brought not quite vat shilling aid
texpeNce.—( Alfred./