The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00


SUICIDE OF A NOBIeRvAN'S BULLER

THLO UGH BE TTIN G.

Yesterday evening an inquest was held' in the
Board-room of St. George's Workhouse, Mount-
street, Grosvenor-square, on the body of James
Mason, in the service of Lord Ashburtou, Bath-
house, Piccadilly, who committed suicide by hanging
himself on the night of Friday or morning of. Satur-
day last:

The jury having been sworn,
Charles Mason, Newbury, Berko, brother to the
deceased, said his brother lived with Lord Ash-
burton, at Bath-house, Piccadilly, as butler, and
had done so for twenty-five years, his age being
forty-five, and he being a single man. He ho.d had
very little communication with Urn of late.

Robert Holland, a carpenter, said he was at
Work in the house on Saturday . Finding ho could
not opea the door he went for a locksmith, but as he
could not open the door he got a ladder, and :law
the deceased on the bed hanging by his neck. By
this time the police had arrived. The deceased was
in a kneeling posture and quite cold, being sus-
pended by his cravat.

Sergeant Dodsworth, 34 C, said he went to the
house on Sunday afternoon and searched the de-
ceased's room, and found memoranda relating to
some horse racing, and in a dressing-table drawer
found a letter, which was as follows :—" Please pay
Mr. Russell the sum of £3 10s. for the King of
Hearts," addressed to Mr. Ambrose, and signed
J,M," He also found some sporting memoranda,;
one saying " Losses, £9.” A letter was also read
stating that there were changes in the house, and
that he expected he should have to turn out at last.
The room was not disturbed in its appearance.
The witness Nobbs said he knew nothing about
deceased leaving.
Mr. James Rouse, of 56, Maddox-street, surgeon,
said he was surgeon to Lord Ashburton, and on
being sent for to Bath-house a little before four
o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and on going up to
Mr. Mason's room he found him kneeling on the
bed, with his forehead against the wail. A silk

handkerchief was round the deceased's neck. Rigor
mortes had taken place. The mark of the ligature
extended from jaw bone to jaw bone. From the
position in which he found the deceased rapid in-
sensibility must have taken place. He believed
that the deceased had received intimation that he
would have to go in consequence of some irregu-
larity. He knew of nothing to cause the deceased
to commit the act, but thought he had been less
steady of late.

By the Coroner—l found in his room sporting
memoranda, and had heard a year ago that he was
in the habit of betting, but never heard that he took
much. I saw him the previous Monday, but did
not notice anything particular. Had since noticed
a mark of a bruise on the nose and eye of some

standing.
A Juror—Was his lordship aware he gambled?

Mr. Rouse said he should think not, and it was
because of his becoming unsteady he was to leave.

The house steward said deceased was a very re—
served man, and he was not aware he betted.

Mr. John Ambrose, the Georges, Shepher6's Mar-
ket, said he first met the deceased last autumn.
Deceased had frequented his house for the last three
months, and he believed he had betting transactions,.
as he asked him to pay people for him, but ho
thought to no amount. He was a man of very
excitable habits, running from house to house. As
soon as he heard that he committed suicide he,

thought it a thing he was likely to do. He had
not seen the deceaseal at his house for a week,
but heard he had received a blow. The money
was to come from Mr. Russell, a betting man up
in the park where they assemble. Heard the de-
ceased had received a blow in a quarrel. Mr.
Russell was not a frequenter of his house.
In answer to the Coroner, it was stated that the
deceased was to leave, being under notice, but
he had an annuity of £2O a year, which he would
not have forfeited.
The Coroner having summed up at some length,
stating that he thought there was little doubt the.
deceased died by his own hand, and that he was
in the habit of betting, and a man of excitable
mind,

After a few minut.'"s' consultation, the jury re-
turned the verdict that deceased destroyed himself
while labouring under temporary insanity.