The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-10 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF AN OFFICER.

An act of determined self-destruction was committed
at an early hour yesterday morning by Mr. HoWard'
Douglas Aytoun, ensign in the 15th Regiment, and god-
son of Sir Howard Douglas, colonel of the regiment.
The fatal act was accomplished with a razor, in bis bed-
room, in the Royal Barracks. It would appear that he
bad been a man of inexpensive and abstemious habits,
aad of a retiring disposition. He was 26 years of age,
though he looked at ieast 33, and had formerly belonged
to the Fifeshire Militia, from which, about two montbs
since, he was appointed to the 15tb. Pecuniary em-
barrassment seems to have weighed on his mind, and it
is said that the prospect of peace, which would lessen his
hope of advancement in a profession which he joined
rather later in life than usual, had also a depressing in•
fluence en him. Previous to joining the FifeslAire Militia
he bad been to the Australian gold diggings, and was
heard to say that he returned home a poorer man than
he went. That the dreadful act by which be terminated
his existence was premeditated there can be little doubt
from the following memorandum, which was found in
his bed ; it was evidently written hastily, in large, un-
connected, and straggling letters, on the back of a card
on which was printed an almanac for the present year
and an interest and discount table. The memorandum
was as follows :—" I gave my watch to Gaskin, to dis-
pose of for 101. There are 71. in my desk." The desk
alluded to was found to contain 61. 2s. 6J., and a num-
ber of letters.

J. E. Hyndman, Esq , one of the city coroners, held
an inquest on the body at 2 o'clock. The following evi-
denee was given :
Major Cole, 15th Regiment, said—The deceased joined
the regiment about two months ago, from the Fifeshire
Militia. He kept very much aloof from his lorotherofficers.
It seemed from his demeanour as if something weighed
on his mind. I never saw him i,'rink wine or spirits of
any description at tile mess. He did not even take
beer. When I saw him last, about two days ago,'there
was nothing striking or particular in his manner.
In consequence of seeing the card found on his bed
(above copied), I sent to Messrs. Cane, Dawson-street,
to inquire how his account stood. I received from them
the letter now produced, dated March 4, written by de-
ceased. The letter asks for an advance of 91. till the end
of the month, to be remitted to a writer in Cupar Fife,
Scotland. A postscript of the letter asks whether an
order could be cashed in Scotland without heavy clediv:!.
tions, but directs that no movement should be made in
the matter till he w•a•+ heard from again. I understand
that Mr. Cane being out, he did not get the cash. "lig
regimental debts only amount to 4/. 19s. 6d., which
should have been paid by the 10th of this month. I saw
a letter this morning from the paymaster of the Fifeshire
regiment, requiring payment of a small balance. The

answer of the decealed, which is not sent, demurs to the
debt. From the first day I saw him I formed the idea
that he had something heavily weighing on his mind.
It was generally remarked by the other officers. He
seems to have been quartered at Cnpar, which may ac-
count for his having some small debts there.
Thos. byce, Esq., surgeon, 15th Regiment, said—De-
ceased bad been on the sick list since the 4th inst. His
complaint was very trifling, and he was not confined to
bed. I saw him yesterday, and prescribed for, him. I
observed nothing unusual in his manner. He generally
seemed in very low spirits, as if something disturbed his
mind. At half-past 9 o'clock this morning a private of
the regiment reported that deceased had cut his throat.
I immediately went to his quarters, and found him lying
on the,floor in a corner of the room, quite dead. I hare
no reason to Fay that he was labouring under temporary
derangement. He bad evidently died from loss of blood.
I cameo"; say whether the wound ens inflicted by d eceased.
Richard B Ile deposed as follows—l was servant to
deceased for a month and four days past. I saw deceased
alive last at a quarter to ten o'clock last night. He
called me to bring him some barley-water. I brought it
to him, and he said " That will do for to-night." He
was dressed then. I saw him in the lobby, but was not
in the room. Ho went in and shut the door. I had seen
him several times durin, the day. He was writing let-
ters a great part of the day. He gave me two to post
at half-past one o'clock. Ido not recollect who they
were addressed to. I left a letter, from him, at Messrs.
Cane's, in Dawson-street, on Tuesday, and brought
back an answer, which I delivered to him. I did not
observe anything peculiar in his manner yesterday or
last night, when I last saw him. I went to his room at
half-past seven o'clock this morning, as usual. I found
the door locked. I knocked, but got no answer ; being
on the sick list, I thought he was asleep. I reported
the fact to a servant-man named Harris, at nine o'clock;
he cam, down with me, and we forced open the door,
having knocked again and got no answer. We found
deceased lying on the floor, in his night-dress, dead. I
never had heard him speak of money matters. I knew
of his owing some small debts. I have no reason to
think he was deranged.
Surgeon George Porter described the wounds. Either
would cause his death, though, if promptly assisted,
they might not have been fatal.
The jury found that "The deceased died from loss of
blood, which flowed from two wounds inflicted on his
throat by himself, last night or this morning, while la.
bJuring under temporary derangement of mind."

DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENING.
MINISTERIAL DEFEAT AT SLIGO. •

Lord Palmerston and his prefegef John Patrick Somers,
have been defeated at Sligo by a Conservative, the
Bight Hon. Jno. Wynne, sustained as he was by a strong
party of Liberals, who felt that if the Premier had his
own way on this occasion, their town would have con-
ti❑ued to bear the foul stains cast upon it by the re-
presentatives they have sent to Parliament of late
years. All honour to these electors. The cha-
racter of Sligo may be considered as retrieved. But
only thi❑k of 107 persons possessing sufficient
qualifications for the purpose of recording their votes for
John Patrick Seniors ! In Mr. Wynne the people of all
shades of political and religious opinion may feel assured
they have an honourable representative. He did not
purchase the support of his liberal friends by vague inti•
mations of what he might do or try to do to please them,
nor with solemn protestations that he did net mean to
fulfil—like some o: the other worthies who appeared be-
fore the electors prior to the day of polling. Although
unfledged, there is full confidence that he will exert
himself for the general benefit of the town—the property
of the noble Prime Minister, who did all in his power to
prevent his election. The following were the numbers
at the close of the poll yesterday :—Wynne, 143
Somers, 107. Majority, 41.

NSW CROSS ELECTION.
Sir Thomas Redington has gone off to New Ross,
where he will be encountered by Mr. James Fitzpa-
trick, ex-colonial judge. Neither candidate stands high in
the estimation of the Nation, which denounces Sir Tho-
mas as the impersonation of the Crarendon policy in
Ireland, than which nothing could be more obnoxious
to the character of the country. The second-natned ob-
tained his situation by abusing Young Ireland, and " is
now speculating on getting office again by selling his
constituents." A pretty pair this, according to the
Nation. If Mr. Tottenham goes to the poll, we think
ho will succeed. The electors of Ross, like those of
Sligo, ought to be anxious to rid themselves of intruding
"patriots" and place-hunters. Mr. Tottenham is con-
nected with the town by family and nrapert.y, and if the
electors have proper regard to their own interests and
the good name of Ross, they will choose him as their
representative in preference to any other spoken of.

SPECIAL COMMISSION FOS CATAN.

A special corazzliEfii9l3 has been issued for Com, to