The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-08 00:00:00

COiiONER'S INQUEST.

On Saturday an inquest was held before William
Carter, Esq., the Coroner for Surrey, at the Kentish
Drovers, Old Kent-road, respecting the death of Mr.
Thomas Atkins, one of the inmates of the Licensed
Victuallers' Asylum. The deceased had arrived at the
advanced age of ninety-four years, and the circumstances
of the case were very extraordinary.
Mr. James Seaward stated that he had been a licensed
victualler, but now resided at No. 54, in the Asylum.
The deceased lived at No. 53. On Monday night wit-
ness went to bed at eleven o'clock, and soon after he
heard a noise like the falling of a chair. Instantly
afterwards he heard dreadful groans, and they seemed
to have come from some one who was in an adjoining
room. He and his wife got up, and were soon alarmed
by Mrs. Grafts, one of the inmates, knocking at
the door, and calling out, " For God's sake
come down, there is something the matter, and I
believe it is Atkins." They instantly went to his house,
and could not find him either in the parlour or bed-
room. Witness, upon looking round, discovered that the
window was open, and he again distinctly heard groan-
ing. Before looking out of it he saw the deceased lying
on the pavement and moaning bitterly. He went down
to his assistance, but the deceased said, " Let me alone."
Witness, with the assistance of his wife, conveyed him to
his house, and Mr. Ward, the surgeon of the Institution,
having been sent for, most promptly attended. There
was a severe wound on the temple. He was put to bed,
and witness was with him for some hours.
By the CORONER—In consequence of the deceased's
advanced age the Governors had directed a nurse tocon-
stantly attend him.
The CORONER—In what way do you account for what
you saw ? Mr. Seaward—The deceased was under a
delusion that at some time a carriage would run over
him, and I think that under this impression, and to avoid
the imaginary danger, he jumped from the window.
The CORONER—Had lie his clothes on ? Mr. Seaward—
No ; nothing but his shirt, and when I went to him he
said, " Take me away, take me away, the carriage will
run over me."
Mr. Ward, the surgeon, was next examined, and stated
that he found the deceased covered with blood, and his
hair was completely matted with it. The blood was
flowing profusely from a wound on the temple. He was
at that time quite insensible. Witness attended him up
to the time of his death. He was not labouring under
any infirmity •except that of old , age. He died from
concussion of the brain caused by the fall ; there was
_ _

no fracture of the scull or dislocation of the limbs.

Mr. Ward here stated that a year ago the deceased
gave his son a sovereign to buy his little necessaries, but
instead of doing so, he never came to see his father until
Saturday last. The daughter called at witness's house,
and was told the dangerous state her father was in, but
she said she must go home to Kensington. He prevailed
upon her to stop, but she went home the next morning
without having seen her father.
The CORONER observed that it was cruel and most un-
natural treatment.

The nurse was called in, and fully proved that every
possible attention was paid to the deceased, who always,
she said, appeared in full possession of his mental facul-
ties. On the Monday night she placed a bottle of warm
water at his feet, and gave him a glass of wine and water.
He was then perfectly coherent in his manner.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a ver-
dict of " Accidental Death."

NEW COIN.—We have been enabled to ex-
amine a new " five-pound golden piece," the production
of William Wyon, Esq., R.A., which, for chastity of de-
sign and beauty of execution, far exceeds anything that
has been hitherto issued from her Majesty's Mint. The
head of the " Royal lady" is clear and carefully defined ;
and on the reverse Mr. Wyon has happily identified the
exquisite fable of Una guiding the Lion with our own
Queen. The likeness is preserved in both face and
figure. When the coin comes into circulation, no cabinet
of English coins cau be without it. We sincerely con-
gratulate Mr. Wyon on this chef-d'ceuvre of his art : his
pure and classic taste is of great value to the country ;
and everything within the sphere of his influence takes
a high moral tone worthy his occupation. We must bear
in mind that, above all others, the medallist labours for
posterity ; his works are tests of the truth of history ;
they mark the period and semblance of the age. It is
pleasant to think that such labours cannot fail of being
" time-honoured."—The Art-Union.
William Nield, Esq,, Mayor of Manchester, will
be re-elected to that office for the coming year.