The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-04 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF A CLERK IN THE

COLONIAL OFFICE.

On Saturday evening an inquest was held at the
Northumberladd Arms, Charles-street, Westminster,
on the body of Mr. Joseph Miller, a married man, with
two children, and many years clerk in the Colonial
Office, who committed suicide in the Northumberland
Arms, a little before six o'clock on Friday evening.
The particulars of the suicide have already appeared
in The Sun. The following is the only additional in-
formation relative to the habits and state of mind of the

deceased :
William Newness had known the deceased for the
last three years. Was, like himself, a clerk in the Co-
lonial Office. Saw him yesterday, and he appeared
labouring under great excitement, arising from the
circumstance of several creditors pressing him on that
day. His manner showed great depression of spirits
on the two previous days. His salary was 2001. a-year.
Deceased bought the pistol now produced two months
ago, and carried it about with him for some days before
he shot himself. He had had his nativity cast, and believed
that he would not survive the year 1840. This impression
often made him dejected in his mind. About two months
ago, when his creditors were pressing him, deceased told
witness that he would destroy himself, and that he had
bought the pistol he had in his possession for that pur-
pose. He was a very sober man. He said a few days
ago, that owing to severe pecuniary embarrassments, he
he could hold out no longer. On Tuesday he was ob-
served putting his hand to his head, and pressing it
very much (when he was told to bathe his head in cold
water), which he was never observed to do before.
John Edwards, a clerk in the Colonial-office, has
known the deceased twelve or thirteen months. During
that time, with the exception of the last fortnight, he
had been very cheerful. During the last fortnight he
seemed to labour under great depression of spirits. Had
seen the pistol in his possession, and heard him say some
time age that he had it for the purpose of shooting birds.
Was not of a bad temper, but seemed very nervous. He
said two days ago that he felt a great pain in his head,
and a swimming in his eyes. Put his head on that oe-
ealion into cold water to bathe it. For eight days past
he has often put his hand to his head and pressed it. He
did this in a very marked manner about three hours be-
fore he shot himself. . .

The Jury, after a few moments' consultation, returner
a verdict of Temporary Insanity.

MR. WAKLEY AND HOSPITAL
SURGEONS.

In the course of an inquest held on Friday before M r
Wakley, at the Middlesex Hospital, on the body of a
young woman who was accidentally burned to death,
Mr. Herbert Mayo, one of the head surgeons of that in-
stitution, having given his evidence, addressing the Coro-
ner, said he wished to know why he should have been
summoned, when the house surgeon was fully cupable of
giving the required testimony?
Mr. WAKLEY—Thera is no occasion for your atten-
dance if you will, as I understood you some time ago
to say you would, produce a case-book in which
are described the nature of the disease and the daily
treatment of the patient whose death we meet to in-

quire into.
Mr. Mayo—l certainly did consent to the keeping
and production of such a book ; but having maturely
considered the matter, and advised with Mr. Tuson,
my colleague, I must beg leave to withdraw thatpro-
mise. I consider the house surgeon's evidence quite
enough. Besides the book you speak of would not be
an official record.
Mr. WaKLEv—lf the house surgeon was to see you
make the required entries then his statement would be
sufficient. He himself is not a responsible person, in-
asmuch as he is not paid, butt ay for his situation.
Mr. Mayo—His situation is one of great responsi-
bility, and I contend that, without a book or my atten-
dance, his statement would be considered quite satisfac-
tory to a jury. My opinion is that you have no right
to insist upon the production of such a book, neither do
I think that your duties as Coroner authorise you to see
that surgeons of hospitals do their duty, which I believe
they at present do. You have no right, therefore, to
impose upon us such a check as you wish. We look to
be treated by you with courtesy.
Mr. WAKLEY—I believe I have always treated you
and every other gentleman with courtesy, and I will
just remind you that it has been out of courtesy alone I
have listened to your observations, they being quite ir-
relevant to the case we have met to
investigate. I say,
as I •
said before, that 1 do not know if such a book were
kept
te
twhoautlal a
roci
bsOevui
alod
question.compel
a Bill into Parliament book is quite The necessity of such a
tand I shall endeavour by bringing
to make it an official document.
Until then, in the aimbsperaliovfe adbook of that description,
I shall think it ray
surgeon, whose patient the deceased
North London Hospital a case-book is kept- and pr.-
to summon the head
At the
house surgeon
That I shall
duced without being asked for, and the
swears to the correctness of the entries.