The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-11 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF VISCOUNT 101Z111.

We have to record the suicide of the Viscount
Forth, which occurred at Gloucester on the Bth
inst. The late Viscount was the only son of the
Earl of Perth, and was born at Naples in 1834.
As will be remembered, his name figured conspi-
cuously in a divorce ease, which appeared in our
columns some months ago, in whici: some sad re-
velations of the deceased nobleman's habits of life
were disclosed by the Viscountess Forth in her
examination before Sir Cresswell Cresswell. The
deceased nobleman came to Gloucester in July last,
and took up his abode at the Spa Hotel, under the
name of Captain Drummond. Ho was accompanied
by a lady about his own age, who passed as Mrs.
Drummond. On the 19th ult. the lady gave birth
to a female child, but afterwards became very
and' was attended by Drs. Evans and Greaves.
Their skill, however, proved of no avail, for she
expired at five o'clock on the morning of the Bth
inst. The deceased nobleman was with her at the
time of her death, was very much grieved, and
wept bitterly. Soon afterwards he commenced
drinking brandy, and appeared like a madman. In
this distracted state he continued for several hours,
after which he commenced packing his own and
the deceased lady's clothes, and in doing so he took
a small roll of paper up, saying " This belongs to
me." He then left that. room (in which were the
nurse and landlady) and proceeded to another op-
posite, followed by the nurse, whose suspicions were
excited by his conduct. He asked what was the
matter, at the same time putting a bottle to his
mouth. The nurse exclaimed, " Good God, he's got
hold of the laudanum bottle I" The landlady seized
the bottle and succeeded in wresting it from. him,
but net until he had drunk nearly half. He said,
" It's only a little port wine," and descended
to the sitting-room. A doctor was sent for and
soon arrived ; he found his lordship walking
up and down in the room, and was just in
time to prevent him from cutting his throat
with a knife. The deceased nobleman continued to
walk up and down the room, until at last he ex-
claimed, " Oh ! how funny I feel," and became in-
sensible. The stomach-pump was used, but without
success ; it was found impossiblq to restore him.
An inquest on the body of the deceased was com-
menced yesterday afternoon.

James Coyte, solicitor, of 21, Lincoln's-inn-fields,
London, identified the deceased as Lord Forth, com-
monly called Viscount Forth. Believed he was 27
years of age. Saw him alive about two months
since in London. The deceased was the only son of
the Earl of Perth.

Mrs. Holland, landlady of the Spa Hotel, deposed
that the deceased first came to the hotel a fortnight
before the Summer Assizes as Captain Drummond
with a lady whom he called his wife. They re-
mained for a fortnight, and then went during the
assizes to an adjoining house, and then returned to
the hotel. Mrs. Drummond died on Tuesday morn-
ing, having been confined three weeks previously
with a child which is now living. The deceased
had not been in bed for three weeks, and on Tues-
day morning witness went into his room. Mr.
Greaves, surgeon, took a knife from him. The
deceased afterwards began to pack his clothes, and
appeared almost out of his mind. He said he had
left something in the other room, and he must fetch
it. He then went into the bedroom where the
deceased lady lay, took something out of a drawer,
and put it up to his mouth. Her servant, who was
nigh, said, " Good God ! he has got the laudanum."
Witness went up to him and took it from him. He
said it was only port wine. (The bottle, with the
remainder of the laudanum in it, was produced ; it
bore a label, "Laudanum—poison," and had been
purchased for the lady from a local chemist.)
Witness sent for Mr. Greaves, surgeon. The
deceased said he was sure it was port wine he had
taken. This was between two and three in the
afternoon, and he died about eight o' clock the
same evening. The deceased had drank a great
deal since he had been in the hotel—principally
brandy, but witness never saw him intoxicated.
He was dreadfully distressed at the lady's death,
and said he should go to London and take the child
with him, and commenced packing his things.
Daring her illness she called him so often that he
remained in her room every night with the nurse.
When witness was watching him and following
him about, he said there was no occasion for her to
watch him, as he never intended to make away
with himself. He told witness the lady's father
would pay the bill. After deceased had taken the
laudanum he begged witness not to leave him.
During the whole of the lady's illness he was much
agitated and distressed. They appeared much at-
tached to each other. Dr. Evans and Mr. Greaves
were in attendance on her.

Susan Hale, a dressmaker, deposed that she was
sent for by the deceased lady a fortnight before her
confinement, and she had had the care of the infant
since. Witness confirmed the evidence of the pre-
vious witness as to the circumstances under which
the deceased had taken the poison, adding that the
deceased on entering the room said he was going
to see the dead body of the lady, and that on get_
1 ting into the room he locked the door, and on wit-
ness and Mrs. Holland trying to get in he unlocked
the door, and then they saw him drinking the
laudanum. He had drunk about three parts—ofa
pint of brandy at a draught soon after the lady
died, and cried and raved about the room. Half
an hour before she died she begged him not to cry
for her. As soon as she had died the deceased_ told
witness she must go with him to Londonwdi askedth the
infant. Before taking the laudanum he
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Witness left the deceased lady on Sundaya morning
last, believing she would go on well,r
gentleman drank a good deal. The deceased
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appeared
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much attached to each other. The bottle produced
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the deceased lady, but it was taken from a smaller
bottle. Witness was obliged to leave to attend on
another lady.
Mr. Greaves, surgeon, stated that be attended the
deceased lady from the end of July, and also the
deceased gentleman. Witness had heard the latter
was Lord Forth. On Tuesday morning witness was
requested to attend the deceased lady, and on his
way to the hotel he met the deceased in a most ex-
cited state. He said, " Greaves, my dear fellow, I
believe she is dead ;" and lie cried most bitterly on
the way. On arriving at the hotel witness found
she had just died. The deceased threw himself upon
her and sobbed bitterly, and after kneeling at her
bedside and crying for some time, he rushed to a
table on which was a bottle of brandy, and drank
nearly half a pint, witness taking it from him. Wit-
ness accompanied him downstairs, he being still ex-
ceedingly excited from grief and excess of stimulant
—he was perfectly insane for a time. On entering
the drawing-room he seized a knife on the chimney
piece and attempted to make a gash across his
throat; witness seized his hand and took the knife
from him. He then sat down and said, " What have
I done ?" Witness told him he had done a very
cowardly act. He said he did not intend to do it.
Witness told him it was useless for him to preserve
his incognito, as it was known he was Lord Forth,
and reasoned with him for some time, and on leaving
gave directions for him not to be left alone.
The inquiry was proceeding when our parcel was
despatched.

SINGULAR PROCEEDINGS OF A
CONVICT.

Among the prisoners who have just been removed
from the gaol of Newgate to the Penitentiary at
Millbank, to undergo their sentences of penal ser-
vitude, was a man named Thomas Quilter, whose
career appears to have been of a somewhat extra-
ordinary character. It seems that this prisoner
was formerly in the Irish constabulary, and served
in the same district with Mullins, who was executed
for the murder of Mrs. Emsley, and he left that
force of his own accord, and came to London, where
he obtained an appointment in the General Post-
office. He had not been very long so engaged when
suspicions were aroused regarding his honesty, and
the usual steps were taken to test his conduct,
which resulted in his detection, and he was com-
mitted to the Central Criminal Court to take his
trial upon a charge of letter-stealing. At this time he
appeared perfectly healthy in mind and body,but very
soon after he had been in Newgate he refused his
food and exhibited apparent symptoms of unsound
mind. He was of course closely watched by Mr.
Gibson, the surgeon of the prison, and also by the
warders who had the charge of him, and the result
they arrived at was that he was shamming -mad-
ness, in the hope, probably, that his trial might be
postponed, and with some vague hope of ultimately
escaping the consequences of his crime. When the
time arrivedfor the prisoner to be tried he was
twice placed at the bar to plead, but on each occa-
sion ho refused to do so, or rather stood mute, and
made no reply when called upon to plead.
The facts of the case having been communicated
to the Court, together with the strong opinion en-
tertained by Mr. Gibson, the surgeon, and Mr.
Jonas, the governor of the prison that the
conduct of the prisoner was assumed, directions
were given that a jury should be empanelled to tr,
the question, according to the ancient form pre•
scribed by the law, whether the prisoner, when
called upon to plead, was mute of malice or by the
visitation of God, and upon the evidence laid before
them the jury at once found a verdict that the pri-
soner was mute of malice. Upon this finding the
Court directed a plea of not guilty to be entered, and
the trial of the prisoner proceeded, and he was con-
victed and sentenced to four years' renal servi-
tude. During the trial the prisoner did not utter
a word, or take any part in the proceedings,
and after his conviction and sentence, for a
considerable time, he continued to endeavour
to make it appear that he was mad ; but at
length, finding that the authorities of the prison
were not to be imposed upon, and that he had no
chance of succeeding, the prisoner resumed his ordi-
nary demeanour, and admitted that the whole of his
conduct had been a sham. In order to prevent any
chance of the prisoner doing himself any mischief,
he was strictly watched, but it appears that, not
withstanding the surveillance to which he was sub-
jected, he upon one occasion attempted to suffocate
himself by placing his head in the pan of the water-
closet in his cell, and it appears he held it in that
position until he became insensible and rolled to the
ground, and when the warder entered the cell he
had only partially recovered his consciousness. It
is stated that since the prisoner has been at Mill-
bank ho has conducted himself very well, and ap-.
pears resigned to the inevitable result of serving
out his sentence.

00UN7RY MARKETS.

111ANCIIESTER--Our. 10.
English wheat was in free demand, at an advance of is
to 2s per qr. ; American held for 4d to Gd per 1001 b over
former rates, which checked sales. The sales made in
English and foreign flour were at about is per sack and
barrel higher, but a limited business. Oats unchanged.
Oatmeal 6d cheaper. Beans and Indian corn again held
for an advance.