The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-27 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

An Inquest was held on Saturday, at the White Horse,
Knightsbridge, on the body of Stephen Petcher, aged 5 years.
George Al•Dowall, of Kew-green, joiner, stated-, that on the
12th of-August he was celebrating the King's birthday with
the deceased and others, on Kew-green. They fired off several
cannon, and re-loaded one of them. The deceased placed his
thumb on the touch-hole, and witness rammed with an iron
ramrod by striking it with a hammer. After several strokes,
the cannon went off and burst ; part of the deceased's thumb
was, by the explosion, blown oft; and one of his knees was
shattered. The cannon was the property of the King, and wit.
was ur opinion that the mction oruarttisiiit.eingramrod while
charging caused the unfortunate accident. —lllr. Wrentmore,
surgeon of St. George's Hospital, described the injury, which
e vstcart(ei theAc
Accidental
etal
Dtheeattli by elceased's death.
Verdict—"the
of a cannon
belonging to the King."

Another Inquest was held at the King's Bead, James-street,
Westminster, on the body of Susan Cam. The deceased re-
sided at No. 8, Bennett-street, ‘Vestminster. On Monday she
was visited by a young man with whom she was intimately ac-
quainted. The young man left her about two o'clock in the
fuming, and she said, " Harry, I want to speak to you ;" he
replied, " I shall come back ;" she answered, " Oh ! no, you
will never return." Soon after he was gone, she was heard to
open her chamber window, and in a quarter of an hour after-
wards she was found by the watchman lying on the pavement
in a dying state. There was no evidence to show whether her
fall was the effect of accident or otherwise.—Mr. Dakins, sur-
geon to the Westminster Hospital, said that the deceased was
brought to the Infirmary between two and three o'clock on
Monday morning ; her skull was fractured, her left thigh
broken, one of her arms broken, and the wrist dislocated. She
was suffering from that period till her death from compression
ot' the brain. Several witnesses were called to prove that the
deceased was alone in her apartment at the time of the accident,
and when she was found in the street she had no clothes on ex-
cept her chemise. Verdict---" Accidentally killed by a fall
from a window."

A third Inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at the Noah's
Ark, Deptford on the body of Mrs. Lydia Hanson, of No. 9,
Bloom&lds, Deptford, the unfortunate woman whose body was
found in the Deptford Creek, in consequence of her bonnet
having been left on the shore, as stated in The Sun of Thurs-
day last. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased had
become much disordered in her head since the death of her
sister. The Juryreturned a verdict of " Insanity."
On Friday evening, at eight o'clock, an Inquisition was held
at the Golden Lion, in Cannon-street Road, before J. W.
Unwin, Esq. on view of the body of James West, Esq. a re-
spectable solicitor, residing at No. 24, Cannon-street Road, who
put a period to his existence by taking a quantity of laudanum.
The causes, as stated, that 'led to the commitment of this rash
act are as follow : In the summer of 1821 the deceased, accom-
panied by an elder brother and a female domestic, named Mary
Clarke, left this country to reside in France, the latter being
in a very delicate state of health at the time, and in about two
months atter her arrival in that country she died. The de-
ceased, Mr. West, in September, 1823, was married at Cassel
to a young French lady, the daughter of a very respectable
family residing in that town, and In a short time afterwards he
brought his bride to this country, and continued to live in
the greatest happiness until April last, when a Mr. 'Wright,
a friend of the family called at the house of the deceased,
and incautiously mid unintentionally mentioned to the de-
ceased, in the presence of Mrs. West (not being • aware
that she understood English), the rumours that were in
circulation about him, which reflected very much on his cha-
racter, namely, that he was the cause of the death of Mary
Clark, who was pregnant by him, and through his ill-treat-
ment, to cause abortion, she died. This communication had
such an effect on Mrs. West that she died about a month af-
terwards. Reports being spread in the neighbourhood at the
time, that she had also come unfairly to her death, an inquest
was held on her remains, and the Jury, after the examination
of several witnesses, returned a verdict that she died a natural
death, but that her death was accelerated by the evil reports
.circulated against her husband, which reports they firmly be.
lieved to be wholly false and unfounded. The author of these
reports wax subsequently ascertained to be the brother to the
deceased, who is also a respectable solicitor, residing in Red
Lion.strect, Wapping, and an action was commenced against
him for the slander. The dams es were laid at 10,0001. The
case came on to be tried in the court of King's Bench, Guild-
hall, at the last Sittings after Term, and.was referred to arbi-
tration, on the recommendation of the Judge. Arbitrators were
accordingly appointed, and, after a due consideration, they
made an award of 51. to the deceased. This award was made
on the 15th instant, since which time a visible change was ob-
served in the manner of the deceased. After the Jury was
sworn, the following witnesses were called :
Charles Casp, surgeon, deposed, that on Wednesday, be-
tween eight and nine o'clock, lie was sent for to attend the de-
ceased ; lie appeared perfectly, tranquil, and told witness that
he had taken poison, and that in a short time he should be in
eternity. Witness had no doubt that taking the poison was the
cause of his death; the deceased gave no reason for his having
taken the poison, and refused to takweitanneyssatnhtoiduogthet;ththaet
tdheecectisir:
quar-
rel siewerweecelntohliime trainudclitliaggibtarottiedleruipon speaking about the guar-
cumstance preyed much on his inind, as when be spoke of it,
he appeared like a madman,—Richard Buckly, a clerk in the
employment, deposed to general incoherency in his manners,
particularly since about the 15th instant.
The Jury, feeling satisfied with, this evidence, rteitluirrne:foular
f—
verdict olnsanity. The" *deceased was, only ty
years of age.