The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-22 00:00:00

DREADFUL SUICIDE.

COROXIM'S INQUEST.—On Tuesday 'r inquisition ve
taken in the Committee-room of Middlesex before 7
Stirling, Esq. Cormier for the western divioisaistadhirma
the body of James Smith, aged ne, late a peed g tom
palish of Si. Panass, who came by his death - tabs
eircummances :
Mr. John Corbett, secretary to die Wr Ceomitee,
swam, it appeared from his evidence that ammed n his life.
time filled the office of patrol in the perish. hehlasemq became w
nervous and debilitated, that he was readarell imsmable of doing
his duty, and various complaints having bees made of him to the
-Commissietters, they called& meeting to Inelseigate the loaner, isd
uldramely came to a conclusion nett he was wholly unfit fee the:
situation, but in cossidemtion of the deceased's family sod good
character be was suffixed to hold a solserdibele the dotes
of which were not so impatient, and the Midas ductile of
3s. id. was taken from his usual salary. The dassamod
tsemely dejected and injured in hie noind t and, whaneeer a Cooe
Diktat was called, he conjectured that it wit seimesietim his Me.
dust, and was frequently beard wany that be waesusedeted of ad
the burglaries in the parish, and setting fire to homes. lin this de
plowable condition he remained until Meteley vamaing whek, Thee
his wife heard the report of a *MI paella* Mlle the bed.rom
of the deceased, and she called three tines, hot reedgeh Ito lam.
Shortly afterwards she heard the gleans of her hushed d,
"My dear, come up—l have shot myself!" She imemdl, ma& as
alarm—and, on entering the room, the deceased war Iheati lying 01
the bed. which was covered with bleed. AEttel eins -lying by his
side, with which he had shot himself them) the dim M es. -the -
ecum having gone through the head, and ea away dto based
the skull. and the blood was flown" peofoiely from the wood.
Dr. Roes attended, and by his directions Smith was cavil ed to the
above hospital. This witness said that a report a d is the
Times newspaper, resting a dome of onwarraotab&ndief at on the
Commissioners, foe having discharged the man ; who, hoe ever, es
not discharged, but was allowed a salary ; the redaction, of Whitt
had evidently affected his mind. He trusted this CM. twoedel be
corrected.

George Cullam corroborated the above, and added, that be bid
seen the deceased cry like a child, especially whenever • ci.ouning
of the parish was called .• thinks he was deranged.
John Bury deposed, that in about ten minutes after the deceased
bad shot himself, be went to him, and asked, " What I are roe
been about, Smith ?" He answerid. " Who are you ? (Ph deg:
what have I done ?"
Several other witnesses were esanneted, and proved theft the pie!
col with which he committed the art was one of a pair willieh DU
been hidden by his wife, who was aware of the deceased's. alllictisa
of mind ; but be ascertained by sonic means what they Ilse bid.
den, and loaded one of them with biid-shot. He wu begrd to say
he was sorry he had not done it effectually, and that big daiad us
deeply affected.
ne.lury felt satisfied that there was no blame whateru waded
to the pariah, and they returned • verdict—" That the denied
shot himself, being at the time in a state of temporary n 1 ental
rangement."