The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-16 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1858.

whether the investigation is to be public or private.
So much public anxiety has been excited and so
many conflicting rumours are in circulation that we
sincerely hope the authorities will decide upon the
expediency of holding a public inquiry. We have
been 'informed that Mr. M'Carthy Downing has
arrived in town in order to conduct the prisoners
defence."

At the tail of this statement the Reporter thus
announces what it calls " Warlike preparations
against the Filibusters in the West" :
" A large detachment of the Staffordshire militia,
about 120 men, will proceed from Cork this day
to occupy temporary barracks recently hired at
Bantry. We understand the army contractors for
provisions have been noticed to be ready with large
supplies for the western towns upon the shortest
notice. The Artillery at Ballincollig are held in
preparation for movement, should necessity arise, at
an hour's warning."

SUICIDE OF MIL E. J. DICKENS.

(From the New York Tribune of Nov. 27.)

Yesterday morning the paragraph adjoining ap-
peared in the columns of this journal :
" THE SUICIDE AT TILE AMERICAN HOTEL.—The in-
quest upon the young man found dead in his room at the
American Hotel on Wednesday morning was held yesterday
by Coroner Morris. Two letters, in female handwriting,
were found on his person, addressed to `E. J. Dickens,'
with the signature torn off. They are supposed to have been
written by an actress, and one of them desired him to meet
her at the theatre. Phials containing laudanum and potas-
sium were found in his room. The linen was marked 'E.
J. Dickens.' The jury returned a verdict, That the de-
ceased came to his death by taking poison.' "
-

He was about 5 ft. 6 in. in height, stout built,
full face, dark brown hair, long black whiskers and
moustache, and hazel eyes. Deceased was well
dressed—black cloth coat, black vest, grey pants,
striped; he also had a dark blue beaver-cloth over-
coat, and black hat.
It immediately occurred to us on reading the
paragraph that the deceased was Mr. Edwin James
Dickens, an English literary gentleman, who had
recently been introduced us. Who Mr. Dickens is
may be seen from the following note, addressed to
a contemporary :
" Astor House, Nov. 8, 1858.
" Gentlemen,—l am desirous of getting placed on a first-
class American journal. I have for the last nine years been
connected with the English and Colonial press, and have
held the following situations :
" Parliamentary condenser and theatrical critic to the
London Daily News; contributor of leading literary articles,
and book reviews to the Manchester Guardian; co-editor
of the Melbourne Argus ; co-editor of the Melbourne
Herald; sole editor and manager of the ' Geelong Spirit
of the Age, a daily newspaper. General contributor, book
reviewer, and theatrical critic to the John Bull, Britannia
(since united), and Press,—all first-class London weeklies.
I am also accustomed to translating French, and having
been well worked in, am thoroughly donversant with the
economical arrangement of newspapers in all branches. I
have brought with me some of my later writings, which I
shall be happy to submit to your notice, and by a perusal of
which, I think you will perceive that, although a stranger
to America, I am not altogether unacquainted with Ameri-
can topics.
" I would suggest to you that the ground held in London
by the Athenaeum, Literary Gazette, Leader, and John Bull
is altogether unoccupied in New York, and my experience
teaches me that good and independent book reviews, in a
first-class journal, are not only the most valued by the pub-
lic, but also the most productive of advertisements.
"Hoping that you will favour me with a reply, I remain,
gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
"EDWIN J. DICKENS.

"Messrs. J. L. Smith and Co."
Mr. Dickens was a distant relative of Charles
Dickens, the famous author. He arrived in this
country some six weeks ago in the ship Isaac Bell.
So far as we could learn, he came here with a lean
purse, and without letters of introduction. He ar-
plied for employment, and received several commis-
sions from this as well as from other journals. The
articles which he engaged to write for the Tribune
were not furnished, and we lost sight of him for
some time. But last Tuesday afternoon he called
upon us and remained until after four o'clock, ap-
parently in excellent health and spirits, and desi-
rous of acquiring information in regard to this
country. His conversation during his visit was
not indicative of any morbid melancholy, but rather
the contrary. The reason which he assigned for his
failure to furnish the articles ordered was, that he
had accidentally taken cyanide of potassium, which
had nearly cost him his life. He said that this was
the second time he had made this almost fatal mis-
take. _ .

Inquiry was made for Mr. Dickens at the Astor
House, when the clerk stated that he lodged there
—he was sure that Mr. D. was still there. On
referring to the chambermaid, however, she stated
thal Mr. D. had been away from his room for two
or three nights, but his trunk and a portion of his
wearing apparel still remained in the apartment.
At the American Hotel, Jersey City, we learned
that which confirmed our suspicious. Tho clerk
stated that the deceased came to the hotel on
Tuesday evening about five o'clock and registered
his name as " Henry Anson, England." He asked
if dinner was over, and, being informed that it
was, desired to know when the next meal would
be ready. He was told in half an hour. He then
went to his room, the clerk omitting to demand
payment, in advance, as is the custom of the house.
If he had done so the poor gentleman could not,
as it subsequently appeared, have met the charge.
When the supper hour came Mr. Dickens did not
appear, and he was not seen for the remainder of
the night. About 9 o'clock next morning one of
the chambermaids discovered him lying on, the
floor. A physician was called in, who pronounced
him dead. In his pocket was found a bottle of the
solution of cyanide of potassium, sufficient to kill
100 men, two dimes, a three cent piece and two
cents, and on the table were two bottles labelled
laudanum, but containing weaker preparations of
the cyanide. The body was still warm. It was
evident that on awaking in the morning Mr.
Dickens had taken the poison, and in the convul-
sive struggles which ensued had rolled out of bed
upon the floor. In his death agony he had bitten
his nether lip quite through, and the blood had
flowed over his beard and besmeared his shirt.

The coroner showed us two letters, written in a
fine Italian hand, addressed to the deceased. Ho
had carefully torn away the signature of each
They were •evidently written in England, and by
the same lady. Both were without date. They
ran as follows :

"Wednesday Evening.
"My dear Mr. Dickens,—Your letter has indeed sur-
prised me. What shall I say to you ? Will you tome to
me about six o'clock to-morrow instead of two, as I think I
shall have to visit the , theatre in the morning. If so, I
could not see you so early.
" I hope the change will not inconvenience you. I have
prepared everything for Saturday. Pray don't disappoint
me. I thank you very much for writing to Mrs. Briggs,
and shall feel delighted if she will only bring Marion with
her. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. C. Dickens will favour mo—
at least, I hope so.
" With regards, I remains my dear Mr. Dickens, yours."
" Friday Afternoon.
"My own dear Edwin,—As 1 told you, I wrote to Mrs.
Briggs, and to-day I have received an answer, inviting me
to dinner on Sunday. I cannot see you till.then, Edwin,
so will call about one o'clock, or a little before. lam very
poorly, pet, to-day, but I hope to be better by Sunday, for
I must not disappoint Mrs. Briggs again. Have you
thought of me since, dear Edwin—perhaps not; I am so
low-spirited to-day, I want to see my pet ; but I cannot
until Sunday. I hope you are well, pet.
" With kind love, believe me yours affectionately."

In company with the coroner, we then waited
upon Mr. Archibald, the British Consul, who stated
that he had just learned the melancholy fate of Mr.
Dickens, and had sent the Vice-Consul to Jersey
City to ascertain the facts. Coroner Morris then
made him acquainted withthe circumstances which
had come to his knowledge. Mr. Archibald stated
that the deceased had recently been in embarrassed
circumstances, had borrowed money of him, which
he cheerfully loaned, as he was very favourably
impressed by his frank manly tone and bearing ;
and, being. anxious to furnish his paper with
topics of interest, had introduced him to the
Commissioners of Emigration. Mr. D. had made
himself well acquainted with the workings of the
emigrant system here, and was about to prepare a
series of articles upon the subject for this journal.
In the course of his acquaintance with the Con-
sul he casually remarked that he was an amateur
photographer, and inquired where he could purchase
the best chemicals. Subsequently he went to board
with Mrs. Horner, at No. 1, St. Mark's place,where
he appeared to be very comfortable. But some ec-
centric proceedings of his while there caused Mrs.
Homer to make inquiries of the Consul about him,
and subsequently to request him to find another
residence. When he received this notice it is be-
lieved that he attempted to destroy himself, but did
not succeed. Mrs. Horner told the Consul that he
had been very ill, and she believed that he took
something to produce the sickness in order to avoid
removing from her house. On the 20th of this
month he left Mrs. Horner's, it appears, and with a
portion of his effects went back to the Astor House,
where he had lodged on his arrival in the city. Mr.
Stetson states that while there he appeared to be
very much of a gentleman, and commended himself
to every one with whom he came in contact by his
pleasing manners.
The Consul and the coroner went to the Astor
House to find some further clue to the cause of his
death. Mr. Stetson courteously showed them the
effects of the deceased. The trunk was half full of
letters, from various parties in London and other
parts of England to Mr. Dickens. From these it
appears that Mrs. Briggs alluded to in one of the
letters was his sister ; and in another of the letters
his wife was mentioned. There were also manu-
scripts in various stages of completion.
The British Vice-Consul stated that the deceased
had shown him numerous letters from Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean, and also from other distinguished
theatrical people. There were also letters from

persons in authority under Government, and a
large number of cancelled cheques, drawn by Mr.
Dickens upon the house of White and Co., No. 11,
Haymarket, London. For some time at least, as
appeared by the address on the letters, Mr.
Dickens resided at No. 31, Argylc•street, London.
It was apparent that if poverty had -led the unfor-
tunate man to suicide, he had at some period not
very remote been in easy circumstances.
' Mr. Archibald requested the coroner to have the
deceased buried in a respectable and Christian way
in the New York Bay Cemetery, at his expense.
Coroner Morris kindly consented to carry out the
wishes of the Consul, and handed over to his keep-
ing the wearing apparel and papers of Mr. Dickens.
It is understood that the Consul and some English
and American friends will follow the remains to
their last resting-place.

ceased so to draw the cord as to produce death, and
leave the cord and marks as they were found. The
cause of death was undoubtedly strangulation.
A statement of the prisoner's made before the
coroner to the effect that his wife had several times
attempted to hang herself, was here repeated.
_ _

Mr: Cobbett ha-ving addressed the cury on the
part of the prisoner, urging upon them the proba-
bilities of suicide, and the danger of relying too
much upon circumstantial evidence, his lordship
summed up, and the jury retired to consider their
verdict. Shortly after ten o'clock they returned
into court, and wished to know whether the cake
could bQ made out one of manslaughter. His lord-
ship said he had endeavoured to explain the law to
them, that if a man killed another in hot blood,
under the head of passion 'upon provocation and
without thought or contrivance, that was man
slaughter ; but where one used thought and con-
trivance, and procured a deadly instrument, then
that was murder. If, in this case, death was occa-
sioned by the mode in which the surgeon sug-
gested, which indicated so much thought and
contrivance, he did not see how they could say it
was done under the influence of passion and in hot
blood. Therefore he had great difficulty in seeing
how they could, according to law, make this out to
be a case of manslaughter.
The jury again retired, and in about ten minutes
returned. They announced, amidst breathless
silence, a verdict of " Wilful murder." Thoyre-
commended him to mercy on account of his having
been drunk.
His lordship, having put on the black cap, ad-
dressed the prisoner, and then pronounced sentence
of death.

-The prisoner, in an agitated manner, knelt down
in the dock, and, holding up his hands, said, " I can
meet my God to-morrow that I am innocent."
He was removed.
His lordship informed the jury that he should
forward their recommendation to the proper
quarter, but without much hope. In this country,
as they had seen during the present assizes, drun-
kenness had been the cause of nine-tenths of the
crime.

The court rose at a quarter to eleven o'clock.