The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-08 00:00:00

DISTRESSING SUICIDE AT DARTFORD.

An appalling act of self-destruction was committed
early on Wednesday morning last, by a gentleman who
had taken a bed over night at the Bull and George Inn,
Dartford. The deceased, whose name was Henry La-
vender Culmer, was manager for Messrs. Saunders and
Otley, publishers, Conduit-street, London. He was
single, and 34 years old. IL appears that he went to the
Bull and George about 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning,
but nothing peculiar was observed in his behaviour. He
was writing during a great part of the day, and went to
bed at about 11 at night, having first smoked a cigar
with Mr. Meyers, the landlord, and asked the servant to
call him at 7. She did so, but received no answer, and
her attention being called another way she did not pro-
ceed to call him for another hour, when she went again
and knocked at his door, but received no reply. She ima-
gined that he was writing, and did not want to be dis-
turbed, as she had seen him writing so much on the previous
day. However, she went again about 10 o'clock, and still
receiving no reply, she communicated the fact to her mis-
tress, who instantly told Mr. Meyers her apprehensions
that something was wrong, a recollection flashing across
her mind that early in the morning she had heard the
report of fire-arms without knowing whence it proceeded
Mr. Meyers immediately sent for Brandon, the superin-
tending constable, who proceeded to the deceased's bed-
roam, and finding the door locked they burst it open,
when a horrible scene was disclosed. Deceased, partly
dressed, was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his
head literally severed from his body, nothing but the ver-
tebrae sustaining it. Close to his head was a razor ; a
pistol recently discharged laid on the table covered with
blood, and also another likewise covered with blood,
loaded, but having no cap on. A hole was discovered
beside his ear, which had received the contents of the
pistol, but it is supposed that the first discharge not
proving effective, he had taken up the second pistol, but
could not discharge it in consequence of the cap being
off, and that he must then have resorted to the rum.
Mr. Meyers instantly sent for Dr. Culhane, but life had
been extinct several hours.

An inquest was held on the body on Thursday even•
ing, before C. J. Carter, Esq., coroner, when it appeared
from the evidence of Dr. Gill, deceased's medical attend-
ant, from London, that deceased had been subject to
palpitation of the heart, sometimes to an extent bordering
on insanity. Witness had received a registered letter
from the deceased, enclosing three others to the de.
ceased's employers, but he had not brought down the
letters. The deceased stated in his letter to Dr.
Gill that he was in a depressed state of mind, and
concluded by saying that before he received his letter
the hand which wrote it would be closed in death;
His father had committed suicide about twelve years
ago, and the deceased had mentioned this fact to Dr.
Gill, and expressed his abhorrence of the act. From the
uncle of the deceased, who was also present,,s,,,
liaatst t
ecworanlsy.
deceased's elicited
had
beenmatters hiial dt preyedhe
habit In
eufehon the
making
satnanatlllyowwalcteintgo htois mholitnhefro,rwmhoo,nneeyv,eratnhdelehssa,d
threatened to expose him to his employers if he did not
give her more. This letter seemed to excite him very
much, and to prey on his spirits, as there we
re no
grounds for any exposure, deceased being highly trust-
worthy and enjoying the full confidence of his employers.
There was another source of trouble to the deceased.
a youlig la
beenr
res peol engaged
de
to
on
He
offe
thhaedoo
consequencedy ,of whot
li thefrequently
inpe
pro-
perty, einiacde , that deceased broke n
Some other facts were stated
excited state of his mind.
character, and the jury 'returi
porary insanity."
show
will, and bore an unimpeachable
led possesseda verdict someof ~rrpermo
--

EAST INDIA HOUSE.- -The amount paid into the trea-
sury of the East India House for bills on India from
the 24th ult. to the 7th inst. is 52,784/.
THE SWELLY BACKS.—MENAI STRAIT-S.—It is fully
expected that the chief portion of these dangerous and
obstructive rocks will be removed during the present
summer, the contractors having received instructions to
proceed with the undertaking, according to the plan pro.
posed by Mr. Edwin Clarke. The time allowed by the
Admiralty for the completion of this work is 18 months,
and the removal will be set about in good earnest with.
out loss of time.