The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-01 00:00:00

The Suicide of Captain Mahony,

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Bedford, the coroner for West-
minster, held an inquest at the Vestry-hall of St. Martin-
in-the-fields, on the body of Capt. Hugh Fitzgeraid Mahony,
who committed suicide on Monday morning last, at his
lodgings, 8, Cecil-street, Strand. _ .

The jury, to the number of 17, having answered to their
names, was sworn, and proceeded to view the body. On
their return the first witness called was

Capt. Frederic Sylvas Daubeny, who stated that he knew
the deceased, and should think he was about 35 years of age.
He had left the regular service, and was captain and adju-
tant of some Welsh volunteer corps. He believed deceased
bad no friends in London. They, he was given to under-
stand, resided in Limerick. He knew nothing himself as to
his habits of life.

Ann Diamond, the housemaid, at 8, Cecil-street, where
deceased lodged, was the next witness. She stated that he
had resided there for the last seven weeks. He was taken ill
on Christmas-day, and was attended by Dr. Skegg. She
attended him, but he was nOt at all violent. She saw him
in bed about 10 minutes past 11 on Sunday night. and she
did not again see him till she found him about. 7 o'clock on
the following morning, sitting on a chair in the hall covered
with blood.
Sabina Brooks, the cook at the lodgings, gave similar
evidence.

John Thompson, of 81, Drury. lane, coal porter, stated
that he was at the Cock and Bottle when the last witness
came running there as if in terrible fright. She beckoned
to him and he followed her to 8, Cecil-street, where he found
deceased in the hall, sitting on a chair, with a wound in his
throat and covered with blood. A doctor was sent for, but
before the doctor came he was taken to Charing-cross Hos-
pital.

Mr. David Hughes, the house surgeon of Charing-cross
Hospital, stated that he saw deceased when brought in.
There was a large wound in his throat, such as a razor or
sharp instrument would inflict, and he died 10 minutes after
he was brought into the hospital from loss of blood. He
had no reason to doubt but that it was a suicidal wound.

Mr. Robt. Skegg, surgeon, of St. Martin's-place, was
then examined, and stated that he was called to see the de-
ceased on Christmas morning last, and found him labouring
under great nervous excitement, and seeing at once that he
had been intemperate, he had no doubt that if such excite-
ment was not allayed it would result in delirium tremens.
He charged him with having been intemperate, when he
admitted having been so, but distinctly stated that he was
not addicted to it, and that for some time past he had been
labouring under great distress of mind caused by circum-
stances which he did not explain to witness. He prescribed
for him, and again saw him in the afternoon. He appeared
better, and assured witness that he had not nor never had
delusions of any kind, such as hearing noises and of being
attacked by people which were the sure signs of delirium
tremens. Witness left him a composing draught to make
him sleep, and when leaving deceased requested him to pro-
cure some male attendant to stay with him all night, as he
had a strong feeling to jump out of the window, and added
that he would not hold himself responsible for committing
violence on himself or some one else. Witness endeavoured
to find a man to sit up with him, but failed, and he ar-
ranged with one of the servants of the house to do so. She
accordingly did so, and on witness calling on the Saturday
morning told him that he had had a restless night, although
he found him much better, The same servant sat up with
him on the Saturday night, and when witness called on the
Sunday morning she told him that he had got four hours
sleep, and he found him greatly improved. He saw him on
Sunday night about 11 o'clock, when he appeared much
better, and asked if he might spoke a cigar. There was no
one sat with him on that night ; but witness gave direc-
tions as to giving him his medicine. Be did not want any
one to sit with him. He did not see him again, but he saw
him in the hospital the following morning dying. He should
say from the blood on the bedclothes, which was quite dry
on Monday morning, that the act of self-destructiDn had
been committed as early as one o'clock in the morning, and
that before coming downstairs he had widened the old wound
with the other razor which was found. Considering his state
from the time he first saw him, he should unhesitatingly say
that he committed the act while in a temporary state of in-
sanity.
The Coroner then briefly went over the evidence, and the
jury, after some minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict in
accordance with the surgeon's opinion, " That the deceased
destroyed himself while labouring under temporary in-
sanity."