The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-27 00:00:00

she wanted him and his wife to be punished for calling her
out of her name.
Mr. CHAMBERS—We cannot prevent ladies abusing one
another. If she called you bad names you must gn to
another Court. Now, John Kitchen, what do you say to
the charge ? Defendant—l am ready to 'meet the case.
I'll state nothing but what is necessary, and I won't occupy
your Worship's time by saying one word more than I ought,
because I know that your Worship's time ought not—
Mr. CHAMBERS—Come to the point at once. Defen-
dant—Certainly I will. You'll find I'll be as brief as pos-
sible. About last October twelvemonth, me and my wife—
Mr. CHAMBERS—What has this to do with the charge ?
Say at once why you threatened this woman. Defendant—
I deny the threats. Never said so, or anything like it. I
heard that. Mrs. Harvey had been backbiting my wife, and
that, you know, sat heavy on my stomach.
Mr. CHAMBERS—On your stomach, did it ? Defendant
—Yes it did. And as for Bob Hirst, I deny that I said
anything but what was true.
Mrs. Harvey (handing in a paper)—Here's a proof of
my character, your Worship.
Mr CHAMBERS (looking, at it)—Why its a certificate of
your virtue, signed by your landlady. Here take it back,
and take care of it. You hear the defendant don't mean
to put his threats in. execution, so I shall discharge the
warrant, on payment of the expenses.

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.

An inquisition was held before Mr. GELL, at the Albion
Tavern, Beak-street, Regent-street, on Wednesday after-
noon, on the body of John M'Kerrell, Esq., a gentleman of
large property, formerly holding a high situation in the civil
establishment of the East India Company at Madras.
Dr. James Johnson had attended the deceased profes-
sionally for the last four years, and always for the same
malady—namely, an extraordinary state of delusion under
which he laboured every alternate day, accompanied by
most dreadful horrors and depression of mind. He did not
feel himself at liberty to mention the precise delusions under
which the unhappy gentleman had laboured, as he had made
a solemn promise, prior to their being professionally made
known to him by the deceased, that 4 would never divulge
them to any human being. He migFf, , however, state that
they had not the remotest reference to any act of moral
guilt, or to any circumstance in which the community could
have an interest, but turned on an idle circumstance, equally
unimportant to himself and to others, but still were capable
of producing a most extraordinary horror of mind. He last
saw the deceased on Sunday, the 15th instant, which was
one of his " good days," for the deceased used to designate
the alternate days ".his good day and his:bad day ;" and it
was a most singular fact, that the veg_day on which he
committed suicide was one of his " goO days." On his
" bed days* he would not see -any on't; not even wit-
ness. The deceased occupied 'apartinents at Mr. Vie- -
kery's, 154, Regent-street, where, when at home, he led
a very retired life. He had latterly been absent at
Cheltenham, and it was Wordy after his return thence
that witness last saw, him,.,.when he enjoined witness not
to call again until' the. tenth day ne*t ensuing. The
act of suicide was committed on the very day before the
10th. Yesterday morning, in consequence of Mr. Vickery
calling en him and making a communication, witness went
to the deceased's apartments and found him lying with his
clothes on in the :sitting room, with his face downwards,
and quite dead. There was an empty phial, labelled,
" prussic acid," and an empty wine glass standing on a
table close by. Both had evidently recently contained this
deadly poison, and from the appearance of the body he had
no doubt it was the sole cause of the deceased's death.
The delusion was a species of monomania, leaving him on
all other points perfectly sane at all times. The malady oc-
curred with undeviating regularity every alternate day ;
whether travelling by sea or by land, or however circum-
stanced, the deceased declared his attacks were always pre-
cisely the same as to the period of occurrence and dura-
tion. They commenced Is hen he woke, and never left him
all the day through. The deceased described the disease
to have had its rise about four years ago, immediately-after
the first election for the Borough of Paisley, when he was
a candidate for its representation, but was defeated. It was
not so severe at first, but has been gradually increasing in
strength ever since. The deceased was a highly educated
Gentleman, of very superior intellectual powers. He bad
seen very few men equal to him.
Doctor Robert Lee, physician, of Golden-square, was
called in after the deceased's death, and saw him about
seven o'clock the same evening. He had no doubt
death was caused by prussic acid. An empty phial and
wine-glass which had contained this poison were lying on
the table, and by their side was a sealed letter, addressed
to Mrs. Vickery, which Mr. Vickery took up and broke
the seal, in the presence of witness, and read.—The let-
ter was here produced. The following is a verbatiM
copy

" 154, Regent-street, Nov. 24.
"My dear Mrs. Vickery,—My mind is so completely un-
hinged by long suffering, that I have at length determined on
committing suicide. I have written to my family to inform
them of my intention, and my brother will probably proceed to
London as soon as my letter is received. Keep my keys in
your possession till his arrival, and then deliver to him my
effects. He will settle all my accounts. I wish you and Mr.
Vickery health and happiness, and that your family may pros
per. I am, truly yours,

" J. M'KERRELL.
" P. S. As I wish my body, if possible, to be removed to
Scotland, do not let it be buried before my brother's arrival."
The CORONER expressed his opinion that this was a most_
important letter, and very difficult to be reconciled with the
evidence of Dr. Johnson.
Mr. Vickery had never any reason to suppose the de-
ceased insane, except from his strange conduct respecting
two projected journeys to Scotland. Witness had been in-
formed by Major Winbolt and other friends of the deceased
that his fortune was not less than 40,0001. a-year. Deceased
was a man of rigidly temperate habits. ,
After some time had been spent in consultation,
The CORONER suggested taking the opinions of the Jurors
seriatim, for lunacy "or felo de se, when there were found to
be 15 fora verdict of lunacy, and five for felo de se.
A verdict of suicide, during a state of temporary lunacy,
was then recorded.