The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-13 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

DREADFUL AND DETERMINED SUICIDE.
Yesterday afternerp, at four o'clock, an inquisition wan held at
the Goat tavern, in Stafford-street, Bond-street, before H. Geld,
Eeq. the Cozener, on view of the body of a line young man named
Thome Bridge. aged 21 years, who coin/flitted the following act
of self.destruction
The Jury hsving been swan, proceeded with the Coroner to the
house where the deceased was lying. The body presented one of
the most appalling spectacles we hare for some time witnessed, the
head being literally severed from the shoulders.
Jame Sedgwick, of No. 42, Carnaby-street, Holden.square,
stated, that he was in the service or Mr. Cullum, the wholesale
butterman„ at No. 44, Old Bond-street ; the deceased was in the
same employ, engaged in the ont-dror department. \Fitness had',
known him for the last four Team, and always knew him to enjoy
good health and spirits till the last two or three weeks, during
which period be had complained of a continual weight and pain in
his head, and always seemed in low spirits, but hie mind did not
appear to sue:kr in the least, nor was he disabled from attending to
his business, which he always did very properly. Witness could
not say that he ever,eaw any things* incoherent in his manner, that
he could undertake to state on oath that he believed him to be of
unsound mind. On Saturday morning last, between nine and ten
o'clock, was the last time he saw him alive; he then seemed much
the same as usual, and went about his business with his usual ac.
cavity. Witness saw no more of him till between nine and ten at
night, when he went down stairs to look for him ; and. not finding
him where he expected, he went into the yard, and finding the privy
door shut, he considered that he was there, and called him by his
tame; but receiving. no answer, he pushed the door open a little,
and saw him welterir.g in his blood. He was kneeling, and his
head lying on the sent. Witness caused en immediate alarm, and
several persons came to the spot; and it was then discovered that
the deceased had cut hia throat, from ear to ear, with a penknife.
which was afterwards Imiod, covered with gore, underneath his
corpse. lie was quite dead. The deceased was in good circum-
! 'nieces, a single man, and witness had no reason to doubt but he
committed the deed himself.

Mr. John Spooner, clerk in the house of Mr. Cullum, said that
he was in the habit of seeing the deceased young man almost every
km in the day, and from Ms observations he felt perfectly satis-
fied in hts own opinion that he was of unsound mind, and had been
so for the last three weeks or a month ; his appetite failed very
much, and he would frequently fall into a deep reverie, front which
witness has frequently roused him. It t: a: his conviction that the
deceased was decidedly an insane person, and that he committed
the itteadlul dead whilst labouring under that malady. He ap.
peared mote dejected on the Saturday than on any preceding day.
Juror—Do yon know of anything that preyed on his mind, that
might cause the dejection you speak of ?—Witness !Laid he did not;
he had formed' a very ardent attachment to a young female, and
whether or not there had been any quarrel between them he knew
not. The deceased was so very private with his affairs, that he
opened his mindlo no person or friend.
The medical gentleman who was called in to the deceased said
that he had examined the body, and found two dreadfully deep
wounds in the neck, which had divided the great artery and the
windpipe, and had produced almost instantaneous death. He
naves in all his life saw such a determined suicide.

_ - ......
Beadle here said that the family of the deceased wished the
young female with whotu the deceased kept company to be exa-
mined, but
The Coroner and Jury were of opinion there was no necessity for
it, as enough had beeri proved to show that the deceased was insane
at the moment he committed the rash act ; under these cireum-
stanees she was not called, and a verdict of " Insanity" was re-
corded by the Coroner.
Drtemm•rit. Suter oa.—Yesterday morning, about nine
o'clock, Mr. James Smith, theproprietor of a coffee-house, situate
No. 4.1, Foley-street, Fitsroy-square, put a period to his existence
by hanging himself, at Ida residence. The unfortunate man. it &P-
-pests, had been in a moNt melancholy state ever sines the death of
his wife, which happened about two months ago, and it was found
necessary to haves friend to remain with him in the house. He at.
tempted to tut his throat CO SOnday •i`ht last, sad yesterday
morning he left the room under some pretense, sad was shoetly
aria found in the kitchen, auespeoded by a cord, gaited/ad. The.
Wad, lies for a Coroner's infest.

COMBINATIONS IN SCOTLAND.
Notwithstanding the increased circulation of sound views
respecting combination, the jot:rot:yin:at shoemakers of
Perth have entered into an association for the regulation of
wages. Some of the journeymen of that town, having
agreed to a reduction of per pair upon shop below the
price of trysted shoes, the association summoned the work-
men before them, to answer for this offence. The journey-
men in question sent one of their number to speak in the
name of the rest. The following judicious remarks are
from a letter, which this individual addressed to his com-
bined brethren:—" We cannot subscribe to that absurd
doctrine, that every man in every shop should have wages
alike: for while men are born with various capacitive—
while some are more industrious, and some give a clos:r
application to improvement than others—there will always
be a different result of their labours, and of course different
degrees of remuneration will be given. We are deter-
mined to act according to the best of our judgment in this
matter, fearless of consequences." This mode of acting,
however, did not satisfy the combination ; and the work-
men who advocated free labour were expelled from it.—
Perth Paper.
A correspondent informs us, that on Monday last a meet-
ial,4 was held on Irvine Muir, from.
quarters, no doubt, as he 121=,,:etes,- -for-The good of the
country !—Ayr AtipMilfr.
The colliers eofnbinstion is again on the qui vine. There
is no saying what foolish project they may next attempt to
put in practice; but there can be no doubt that it will end
in their utter discomfiture, for if the new workers flinch in
the least, of which there are no fears, they will share the
fate of the old, and only make room for a new supply of
willing libourers.—Gleagow Chronicle.