The Sun.
London, England, 1809-06-24 00:00:00

INQt:4BTS.

I Au
Inqueit. Was. held,yesterday; by the IVlessrs.
Gant:, sea. and jun. at the Crown and Anchor
pnblic-hotise, near Belgrave-place;. lave
Chelsea, Co the body of R. F. Aitking, Capt,-Aciju-
rant of the Royal Pembroke Fusileers,. who was
found dead, on Thursday morning, in one of the
Five Fields.
The first Witnest examined was Frederick Burt,
Serjeant in the ad Regiment of Guardt.and re-
siding in Grace-buildings, Duke-street, Manchester,.
Square. Witness; on Thursday morning last, about
a quarter before five o'clock, was going over the
Five Fields, Chelsea, and towards ; there
were two or three persons neat him, going'the same
way, all unknown to Witness ; one of their perceiv-
ed, at about 30 yards distance, a Mait'lying on the
grass, which being very wet, he observed that it was
very improper the man should be.there, for he must
be in liquor;. they all -Went to the spot, and found
the deceased stretched on the ground; and dead ; in:
his right hand was a small pistol, and in his left a
brown paper parcel ; they perceived that the man
was shot; the ball had entered the right temple,
passed through the head, but. had not come through
on the other side; deceased had hii gloves.on, and
his coat was buttoned close to the ilea ; 'one of the
persons present searched his pockets, and found a
red pocket-book, ccattaiding sundry papers, amongst
them a card, superseribed '.' Capt. R. F. Aitkins,
Royal Pembroke Fusileers," a promissory note for
81. Bs. payable to the deceased, and-signed. ‘,‘
tenant-James James;" also. a .thiplipate 'of a, silver
watch, name Norman, No. 75,03, and. two gold
seals, pledged at Dory's, in St... Martin's-lane, for
21. Its. 6d.; also a red silk purse, containing 4s. 6d.
The person who took the papers out of the de-
ceased's pockets gave them in charge to the
Hess, as he was going to the East India House to
work; Witness sent word to the Patrole, and saw
the body brought to the Crown and Anchor public-
house.

Thomas Bishop, one of the beadles of the parish
of St: George, Hanover-square, said,.. he'•lived- at
No. '3l, Five Fields, Chelsea, and that John M'Do-
nald,.a supernumerary patrole, called him up about
six o'clock on Thursday morning, and informed him
that a Gentleman bad shot himself in one of the
fields, and that there was a great concourse of people
colleaed near the spot. Witness got up, and cane,
the landlord of the Crown and Anchor public-lionse'
there being no board, he took one of the shuttersi
and went to the spot, and, with the assistance o
tour men, brought the body to the house. In the
coat pocket of the dead man he fonnd a small load-
ed pistol, maker's name Smith, and similar to the
one he had in his hand; also a paper parcel, sealed,
and direaed to " Christopher Chrishop, Esq. Soli-
citor, Child's-place," which parcel Witness deliver-
ed according to the direation ; there was also. a loose.
letter, writtert in a gentlemanly manner, worded as
follows As soMe inquiry may. be instituted as
to the cause of my death, I think it necessary to
state, that it was ioflitied by my own band, partly
froM pecuniary embarraisment, and partly from the
etiea of a strong nervous malady, whicn is fixed so
strong on my spitita as to render rife insupportable;
and I desire, that whoever finds my. body will for-
ward the parcel. I wish for nothing more than
death.—(Signed) 11. F. AITKINS, Captain-Aclju--
tent Royal Pembroke Witness that
lie had seen a person who had heard a pistol fired at
two o'clock that morning.
Lieutenant. Colonel Sergison, a very,elegant man;
and brother-in-laW to the deceased, stated, the de-
ceased had but lately been promoted as Adjutant,
and was Gazetted only last Tuesday,: that he was
Captain and Adjutant of the Royal Pembroke Mi-
litia,
a rank which he had long wished for. Wit-
nesa married the deceased's sister, in 1806 ; and
the first time he saw him was in 1807 ; he I,vas
upon leave of abience; he observed, at that time, an
unusual thoughtfulness about bid), and used 'fre-
quently to rouse and cheer him up ; deceased
.would
frequently, *bile sitting in the drawing-room, be
very sullen, and appeared as if he had been asleep,
and start up and rub his eyes; he was at other times
a good companion, and was a very sincere friend.
On .Tuesday, the 13th instant, deceased came to
town; and went to his mother's house, in Great
Portland-street, and retpained there until last Sun-
day the i sth, and went away at ten o'clock.—He
had spent :the day with his sisters and
Witness was.out of town, and.returned on Sunday
night, but did not see him; and was very anxious
ao speak to .him. On the letter being produced,
Mr. Sergison said it was his brother's hand-writing ;
lie was so much overcome, he was under the neces-.
city of leaving the room, and flew up stairs. to give
vent to his grief. The Jury, without hesitation, re-
turned a verdia of Lunacy.
The deceased was not 30 yens of age, of a most
amiable disposition( and had some estates in Kent ;
be bad been brdught up to the bar, but preferring
the artnY, he had entered the Kent Militia. Ile was
unmarried.

Another Inquest was held, yesterday, at the
White .Lion, public-house, Market.lane, St. ..fames,
by ANTHONY GuLt., Esq. jun. by virtue of Co-
roner's warrant, for preventing The interment o
Richard Whitmore, until an investigation had taken
place, it being maliciously reported that the deceased
had come by his death by being severely beaten on
the head with a poker, by hii own son. The corpse
wag stopped on Wednesday, us it was carrying to
the grave. _

At One o'clock the investigation took place; two
medical Gentlemen came forward, and gave their
evidence.

Mr. ILScriven, assistant to Mr. Morris, surgeon,
No. tg, Great Marlborough-street, and Mr.
kin, apothecary, of Jaines-street, Haymarket, stated,
that they saw the body on-Wednesday night, after it
was in the coffin, but in so putrid a state it could not
be taken out, it having burst.
Mr. Wilkin. said, that on Friday 'last he Was
sent to attend the deceased in the morning he ap-
peared to him almost strangled ; end from -the smell
of licitror, he was sure he was drunk- and, insensible;
Witness, alter feeling his pulse, and finding 'him
dangerously ill, advised his wife to send for a phy-
slain, which she declined doing ; WittICVS went
'Arnie,- and sent a gentle emetic, whiCh operated ;
he visited him a few hours afterwards,' and was told
be was not wanted, for they had called in the parish
dofitor, who- had sent a blister and. a' bottle at medi-
cine r Witness was of opinion that heilied. from CIO

cessive drinking, and there was tio appearance or at
violence about him. He died on Supdisy last, Two
,men,, who had circtilated, the report, ind Were
subpcensied to appear, did *et
.donne. , •
~,.Williarn Gun, a dealer. birds,: t aid; he had
knOwn the deceased lot ten years; he said they. wet 6
intimate, stnd
.had not been very saber during that
time; they ,would go and: dripk sikteen or sevenn
teen glasses of gin in the morning; be said it was
not true that the deceased had been beaten or M-
used, at any time, b his family ; on the contrary,
he would often-turn. them out et, doors ; he,was a
strati man,, near Seven feet . high ; and his s'ong.
were, one t and the other 17 years of age, were
stripling lads : he Was fiersuaded that he,died (rum
extessive drinking.
One of the Jury wishing for t',:rtber, evidence tr.;
prove the report, and not any heingtoetid, the
ronei. proposed td adjourn until a future day, when,
at hit, he wai convinced from the ,eVideeee ei the
Medical Gentlemen, and' returned a verdict
by the nillation ref 664.•fit •
inqu'est wa4 also held yesterday by'G.
SON. Esq. at .flatripmead, on the body of Mr. Jones,
the landlord Of the Angel and Crown neblic-Iniese,
in Little St: Martin's-lane, w Mali welF: burnt down
in the beginning of last winter. It apiiein.ed that
Mr. Jones
.was only insured* 0001. and it ;F, pre,
anises had cost him a contiderahle Sum to rebuild.--
He has been in a declining t.tv:!rflitce
the fire,, and was removed to Hampstead, ,for the
ehange of air. On Thursday he went but in the
evening for a walk, and dropped down dead. Ver.
diet-r-Pied by Me Visitation qf (,)94: . . .
An Inquisition was held on.'ilturiday, in Letiein-
street, Goodman's-fields, on the. Liddy ot Mr. Farnq:.
worth, late a respeMable inhabitant Of that vicinity.
From the testimony of several Witnesses, it appear-.
ed, that the, deceased, about - half-past eleven eti.
Tuesday night; was riding, with i!l.ol.ilef person, eri
the Mile-end-road, near the livery-stables of Mr.
Wallis, where stood a waggon loaded. with timber,
belonging, to Mr. Mountford, tkbent twenty inches,
from the footway, from Which otie of the pieces Of
timber proje6ted about three feet. It wAs' rather
dusk than dark; the deceased galloped furiously, •
and his head curie in contaa With the timber with,
such violence, that a crash, resembling the breaking
of a door, was 'heard, when he was precipitoted
from his horse and killed on the Spot. The Co-
roner remarked on the culpable negligence el the
proprietor of the waggon, in pacing a vchi, lr, io
loaded, to remain ail,tiight in a public road, which
was the 'more dangeroils, as such an impediment
would not be eripetied. The reinit has been, that
a respetiable and valuable meMber of the corthnunity
has come.to an untimely. deith: The waggen and
the timber were stationary; otlierOie the Whole'
would have been a forfeiture to the Crown.
evidence did not bear the features ot criMinality
yet a nuisance, so fatal in its effetiq; WWI to be con-
sidered by the parish.; arid by those who. have autho-
rity in the public road'. Verdiet---;—. Casual Death.