The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-23 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday, at four o'clock, a lengthened inquiry took
place at the White Lion Inn, Barnet, for the purpose of
investigating the circumstances attending the death of
Thomas Townshend, aged fifty-two, late post-master at
Barnet, who, was discovered at an early hour on Saturday
morning last, lying in the main road at Kitt's-end, a short
distance from St. Alban's, in a dying state, with such con-
siderable marks of violence on his person, as to lead to a
strong suspicion that the unfortunate man had been robbed
and murdered.

Mr. Bdward Buckle, of the firm of Newman and
Buckle, postmasters, and proprietors of the Green Man
Inn and Posting House, Barnet, had known the deceased
for more than twenty years—during which period he (de-
ceased) had been a resident at Barnet, and carried on the
business of a posting-master. The deceased was a married
man, with a grown-up family, most of whom were provided
for. Witness was in his company on Friday last, when he
was in his usual health and spirits. About half-past five
on the evening of the day in question, he (deceased) left
the Green Man Inn, w;th a postchaise, for Redburn, a
few miles of the other side of St. Alban's ; a lady and gen-
tleman accompanied, who were proceeding to Redburn,
and it was the intention of the deceased to return to Bar-
net that night. About half-an-hour after midnight witness
was alarmed out of his sleep by the furious trampling of
horses up the gateway of the inn. He immediately got up
and on inquiring the cause was informed by the postboys
that the postchaise in which the deceased and the lady and
gentleman had left the inn at the early part of the evening
for Redburn had returned alone. The circumstance
created much alarm, and witness despatched a horseman
on the road towards St. Alban's, who returned between two
and three o'clock in the morning with the intelligence that
he had discovered the deceased on the road, a short dis-
tance from St. Alban's, in a dying state, and bleeding from
several wounds on the head. Witness saw the deceased at
his residence between eight and nine o'clock on Saturday
morning, when he was quite insensible, and died about noon
on the same day.
By the CORONER—The deceased was in the habit of
going out with postchaises without any boys accompanying
him. He did so on the Friday evening. He -was a man
of remarkably temperate habits.
By the Jury—l have known of robberies and outrages
having been committed on the road within the last few
months. The deceased was a most cautious driver, and
possessed great determination.
William Archbold, postboy, about one o'clock on Satur-
day morning, was in one of the coach-houses attached to
the yard of the Inn, when he heard the rapid progress of a
veohicelhea iienand on going to the gates he saw a
st
town,furiously towards the Inn. It stopped
postchaise
thedriving
opposite the gates, when witness discovered that it was the
chaise the deceased had left the Inn with at the early part
of the evening. The deceased, nor any other person, how-
ever, accompanied it. Waness considering the circumstance
very extraordinary alarmed his master, who desired witness
to proceed on horseback towards St. Alban's. On reaching
Kit's End, several miles on the road, he heard groans, and,
proceeding to the spot, discovered the deceased lying in the
road, bleeding profusely from several wounds on the head.
Subsequently witness went for Mr. Humphries, a surgeon,
who promptly attended.
In answer to questions from the Jury, the witness stated
that the situation in which he discovered the deceased was
very lonely.
The Jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased died
from injuries of the head, but whether from personal vio-
lence or accidental causes there was no evidence to prove."

IRON VSSSEL.—The largest vessel yet constructed
of iron was completed, last week, at Birkenhead. She is
destined to ply on the American rivers, and has been ship-
ped for that country.

CARNARVON MUNICIPAL ELECTION.-It will
be recollected that an attempt to interfere with the freedom
of election was charged upon Lord Newborough. A pe-
tition praying for the provision of five or six distinct polling
places was forwarded to Lord John Russell on Wednesday
last. It appears that " the Returning Officers have shewn
themselves to be ;ealous and restless partizans." Lord
Newborough's party, under the command of Col. Macgre-
gor, have got up a Complimentary address to his Lordship.