The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-10 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY INQUEST.

On Saturday evening an Inquest was held .at
the sign of the Lord Nelson public-house, in the Eetit-road,
before C. JEMMETT, Esq. on the body of Richard Wilson
Dickson, M.D., who died on the 17th of September last, ever
since which time, a lady, the cousin of the deceased, who is a
most eccentric character, has kept the body of her relative in
the house, not permitting a creature to enter the apartment
where the corpse was placed, and peremptorily refusing to
admit the body to be interred, declaring to those who made ap-
plication to her for that purpose, that the remains of Dr. Dick-
son should be unburied-until the day of resurrection rather
than submit to have it deposited in any sanctuary but that
which the King had promised to grant exclusively for' the re-
lics of the deceased. The parish officers of Camberwell, having
been lately apprised of these facts, judged it expedient to in-
stitute an inquiry into the circumstances of the deceased's death,
as many extraordinary reports had been circulated in the neigh-
bourhood respecting the manner in which the deceased came to
his death.

The Jury, after having been sworn, proceeded, accompanied
by the Coroner, to view the body of the deceased, which was
at his late residence, a neat house on Camberwell-terrace, near
the Green Man turnpike in the Kent-road. On entering the
house the effluvium arising from the corpse was intolerable.—
The body was placed in a leaden coffin, in one of the rooms up
stairs, the lid of which had not been fastened down during the
space of nearly four months. In one of the hands was a paper,
containing an account of the Doctor's Agricultural Works,
losses, &c. which was read to the Jury.
• .Philip Tuor, a coal and potatoe dealer, in the Kent-road,
deposed that he had known the deceased for a considerable time.
About two months before he- died, the deceased came to his
house for the purpose of ordering home vegetables, and he then
appeared to be in a very debilitated state. Two days subse-
quent to his death, namely, the 17th of September last year,
witness saw the body of the deceased, and he has no doubt but
that he died a natural death. Witness understood that a fe-
male cousin of the deceased resided in the house with hint for
the-last seven or eight years. Witness added, that lie did not
observe the slightest mark of violence upon the body.
By a Juror—The witness does think that Miss Dickson is
deranged. Many people, added the witness, suppose that she
is as mad as a March hare, but I think she is perfectly sane.
Thomas Wicks, an undertaker, residing in the Kent-road,
deposed, that he was also acquainted with the deceased for some
years previous to his death. Three or four months preceding
the Doctor's death, he observed he was declining fast in health,
and for the purpose of securing a job, he proceeded to the house
of the deceased; had an interview with Miss Dickson, to whom
he stated his opinion, at the same time soliciting the favour of
being employed in the event of her cousin's death. When the
doctor died, he accordingly proceeded to the house, when Miss
Dickson gave him the job, and he supplied a leaden coffin, in
which he placed the deceased. After this Miss Dickson told
him that she intended that the ceremony of interment should
take place in the month of December ; and, in the mean time,
she desired him to make another coffin, not in the usual shape,
but in imitation of a square chest, to be lined magnificently
throughout with crimson velvet, and, instead of putting
brass handles to it, she wished that stout bullocks.' horns might
be supplied. She also, on that occasion, informed hint, that
his Majesty had promised her a piece of ground for building
a temple over the remains of her deceased relative. The wit-
ness added that, most fortunately for him, he did not compry
with the.latter order, for when he sent in his bili for the leaden
coffin, he never got one farthing of it from the day lie supplied
it until the present time. He saw the body of the deceased im-
mediately after he expired, and lie is convinced he died a na-
tural death. _ _ _ . _ _

The Jury observed that they were satisfied the deceased had
died a natural death, and a verdict to that effect was accord-
ingly returned.
The Coroner and Jury gave the necessary directions for the
immediate interment of the deceased.

IRELAND.

COMMISSION INTELLIGENCE.
SESSIONS COURT, GREEN-STREET, DUBLIN.

THE KING, AT THE PROSECUTION OF THE MARQUIS OP

iVESTMEATII r. ANNE CON ELL, &C.

ror several days a trial of some public interest, but of the
highest importance to the parties concerned, has- engaged the
attention of a Special Commission in Dublin. The proceeding,
in point of form, is an indictment against Mr. Momuire, a soli-
citor, a woman named Ann Connell, and others, charging them
with conspiring falsely to accuse Lord Westmeath of adultery
with Ann Connell, and thus to support Lady Westmeath's ap-
plication for a divorce against Lord-Westmeath. The deposi-
thins of the defendant, Ann Connell; were read, in which she
swore to many repeated acts of adultery she had committed
with Lord W., in hotels, woods, &c., her first acquaintance with
him originating in the circumstance of her appearing before
him, as a Magistrate, to swear an illegitimate child to another
person. On the other hand, Lord W. positively swore that
ha had never before seen the woman in his life ; and all the
consequences of this general denial would follow as a matter of
course. _ _ _ _ . _ -

On- the last day, Judge Alooflr charged the Jury in this
case. His Lordship entered -into a very minute detail of the
evidence of Corcoram, as bearing on the case of Anne Connell,
Monaghan, and APKenzie. From the evidence of Corcoran, it
was manifest that Monaghan was at the beginning and the end
of the transaction ; it was owing to his suggestion that Anne
Connell was looked' for ; that after her falsehoods with respect
to a settlement made by Lord Westmeath had been discovered,
recourse was had to her misrepresentations concerning the two
children : and when these two false accusations failed, then
Monaghan said he could prove the adultery himself. His Lord-
ship then commented on the evidence of the other witnesses,
and concluded by telling the Jury, that unless they found that
two or more of the traversers had been conscious that what they
were accusing his Lordship of was a fabrication, they must
acquit them.
His Lordship several times observed, that nothing could be
more honourable than the conduct of the Noble Marquis and
Marchioness, and that they were made dupes of throughout the
whole proceeding.
The Jury retired, and returned in about an hour and a
quarter, finding Ann Connell, John Monaghan, and Patrick
Farley, guilty • and bringing in a verdict of acquittal with re-
spect to Edward' Bennett and William APKenzte.
Alr. Justice M OORE.—Gentlemen, I never saw or heard of a
more reasonable and discerning verdict. It is creditable to
yourselves, and of advantage to the public.

SIR FIARCOURT LEES.—.About 3 o'clock. Mr. Hickman
Kearney entered the Court, and gave to the Clerk of the Crown
the bills of indictment against Sir H. Lees ignored. Mr. Sealy
'rownehend, K.C., came into Court a few minutes after, and on
hearing that the bills bad been thrown out, he instantly left
the Court.

ROBBERY AND ATTEMPT AT MURDER.—On Friday
evening a robbery was committed on an individual called Free-
man, resident at hew-bridge, accompanied with more than or-
dinary brutality. About nine o'clock on Friday evening he was
met at Old Brentford by a man genteelly Brewed, who inquired
the nearest road to the Plough, at Little Ealing. He at first
hesitated, but the rot- bee said, " I'll give you half-a-crown, my
honest fellow, if you'll spew me the way," which lulled his sus-
picion, and he offered to accompany him. On arriving at the
cross-roads, Freeman- said they must turn down Dunn's-lane,
and in order to point. out the Plough he went a few yards
down. The robber then said, " Thank you, my friend,' and
Freeman turned round to proceed to his home. He had
scarcely got two yards away when he received a blow on the
head from behind, and was immediately trampled on by two
men. In the scuffle he received three stabs in the body, and
three" cuts across his throat, with several severe blows. He at
lengtri contrived to crawl to the door of the Plough Inn, where
he was found in an almost exhausted state. He was robbed of
three 101. notes, his wat,c.h, a quantity of silver, and some pa-
pers of no value to the totem, but of consequence to him.