The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-05 00:00:00

SUICIDE-MR. MONTGOMEP. f.

On Thursday afternoon Montgor,gery employed
himself in writing several letter,, 011 e of which
was addressed to Mr. Edwa-A.
Gibbon Waketiel.l,
and at a late hour the Re
Mr Cotton, as is the
',dm the celebrated sermon of
usual practice, read to
the late Dr. Dodd At the hour of lockimg up on
Thursday "irtlat, about half-past nine o'clock, Mr.
larris, ttn
there er:. whose care he was, searched him, and
was not the least circumstance, nor any appear-
a':.ce to warrant a supposition, either that self-de-
struction was contemplated by the unhappy man, or
that his health was so impaired as to lead to the imb-
gination that his sufferings here might speediiy ter-
minate by natural means. The last thing he said to
Mr. Harris was—" Shall I see you in the morning?"
Without waiting for a reply, he continued—`' If I
do not I shall leave a letter for vou." He then
Shook hands with Mr. Harris, and was left appa-
rently as comfortable (if comfortable a Mall can be
under such circumstances) as usual.
Yesterday morning at six o'clock the door of his
cell was opened, and on his bed, stretched at full
length, lying on his back, was seen the body ofJoht:
Montgomery, quite cold and breathless.
Mr. Sheriff Spottiswoode arrived at Newgate at
an early hour. Every possible investigation was
made, but no due whatever was discovered to lead
to a suspicion that poison had been conveyed to the
deceased.

The body of Montgomery has bee►► opened, and
part of the contents of the stomach has been analv7-
ed, and it has been ascertained that death was oc-
casioned by poison, which is believed to have beer►
Prussic Acid.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The unfortunate man seemed to have adopted, on
his conviction, a fatal resolution, and he became more
calm than usual. It is supposed that he had about
his person ever since he had commenced the prartie
of passing forged notes, what he looked upon as the
" antidote against disgrace," and he must have beel4
most ingenious in concealing the poison, as he bad
been frequently most closely searched. As long
as he was permitted to mix with other prisoners,
he confined himself to the society of Wakefield, in
hour he found an intelligent and social companion.
To that person he addressed a letter the night before-
his death, stating his readiness to exchange for ano-
ther world, but not intimating his intention to an-
ticipate the gallows. He also wrote a letter is
Mr. Box, the surgeon to the prison, bequeathing to
that gentleman his body for the use of the public,
and expressing a hope that the profession would be
benefitted by the dissection. His object in t',ltz
giving his body to a surgeon, was to give all the
facilities in his power towards rendering some benefit
to the community as a retribution for the offences of
which he had been guilty. He begged that Mr.
Box would have the goodness to preserve his heart
in spirits,-and give it to a young female to whom he
had been long attached. As for all the rest of his
remains, he did not care what should be done with
them ; but
he certainlyand
wished that they should.
be anatomized, he
hoped that no obstacle
would be thrown in the way of that good object. lie
had been locked up at the usual hour on Thursday
,
night,and when the customary attendants went to hi's
room at six o'clock yesterday nievning for the put.-
pose of administering the. Sacrament, &c., they
fonna him stretched on I.s.is back on the bed with his
eyes and mouth °peal, and completely deprived of
life. Ile had stripped himself, and was quite cold,
every where, except about the small of the back.—
It was conjectured that he must have been dead up-
wards of three hours. For some time it was be-
lieved that he died in consequence of the te:rible
agitation of his feelings, as, although a stomach
pump was applied, nothing of a suspicious in,.t ore
was discharged. A small bottle was, heavever,
found near the body and a few drops of Prassie acid
were perceived on it. Upon further investiga-
tion, it was ascertained that he. had taken as
much as would have killed a horse in a few
minutes ; aad it was evident, from the composure of
the features, that he had not suffered much
Those who knew him expected that he would die
by his own hand rather than (as he used to say him-
salf) " dangle like a dog." Those in the adjoining
cells beard him, between two and three o'clock, give
a deep sigh, and immediately all was silent. Aft
Inquest is to be held on the body this day. Mont-
gomery was about-45 yew's of age. He. was a man
of some address, but of very little acquirement, and
he was known at all the gambling-houses and flash-
houses about town. Some years ago, he very nearly-
succeeded in getting the hand of a young lady of
immense fortune, upon whom, as well as upon
her father, be passed himself off as a Colonel,
a rank which he supported by dashing about in a
coach and four horses. His design was frustrated
by a gentleman who saw him walking with his in-
tended bride and her father, and intimated to them
both that he lived by his ways and means, and that
die highest rank he had ever attained in the army
was that of ensign. Montgomery received notice
next day, that there was no occasion to go to the
expense of bridal garments, and that the young lady
and her father would no longer be at home. Ile
could tell a lie with a wonderful appearance of sin--
verity. He was constantly in the habit of frequent-
ing a respectable tavern near St. Paul's, Covent-
garden, where he was always treated well by the
company, although they knew that he made his
livelihood in no very reputable manner: Whatever
he might have d I
one as other places, it seems that
he paid all tavern demands with great liberality.

WESTMINSTER REGATTA.—Thursday was
the day appoiuted for the Rowing Match for the Third
Annual Prize Wherry, given by the inhabitants, Ladies,
ind Gentlemen, of the parishes of St. John and St. Mar-.
•aret's, Westminster, but was undecided in consequence
if fouling each other in the grand heat. To attempt to
lescribe the confusion that followed would be itteless. It
..vati the most untair and disgraceful tumult ever witnessed,
And we regret to say that several boats took active parts iu
the affrayi

JOHN MONTGAIMERY.
INQUEST THIS DAY IN NEWGATE.

This morning Mr. Shelton, the Coroner, assembled-
a most respectable Jury, to inquire into the cause of,
3lontgomery's death. The inquest was held in the
upper condemned room.
After the Jury had been sworn, they proceeded
to view the body, which had been removed for con-
venience, from its cell to a larger room below.
The mouth was still open, as when it was found.
Nothing appeared unnatural, except a slight . dis-
colouration under the right ear. The body had been
opened.
James Harris, the principal turnkey, saw the- de--
ceased at about a quarter before ten on Thursday
night. It was his duty to see all the prisoner's lbcked
up for the night. He then appeared composed.
Did not see him again till about six o'clock on
Friday morning. He was then dead. His hands
were quite cold, but his back and his feet were
warm. Witness directly sent for -.Mr. Box, junior.
Prior to last Sunday he was in the Infirmary. Had
seen him every day since his committal nn the 17th
of April, and his appearance and temper were al-
ways the same—perfectly composed. Never saw
any thing bordering on derangement in his coadtter.
By a Juror—lt is generally the custom of the
gacl to leave prisoners in their cells alone the night
previous to their execution. There was nothing
,:bout the cell remarkable. Witness kept the keys
all night, and no one could have entered his cell. Jr
was not by his own request that he was left alone;
it is customary. When taking leave for the night,
deceased said, " if I should not see you in the
morning, I shall leave a letter for von as a keepsake."
When searching the room on the night before his
death, witness searched his portfolio, anti asked him
to give him his penknife. He replied that he had
given it to the son of another turnkey, and added.
" I would not deceive you Harris, by G—d, and
;that is better than the honour of a convict."
Witness searched the cell very minutely, and left
not sung, as he supposed, by which he could destroy
Mr..ioi;" Box, son to the surgeon of the gaol.—
Is a pupil of .NA father's, and student of St. Bartho-
lomew's hospital. Saw the deceased at about twenty
minutes after six. _tie was then dead in his cell.—
Saw no extraordinary `slinptoms about his person.
He appeared, on examinat.:nn, to have been dead
about two hours. There was no external appear-
ance of his having taken poison. HE::1 seen deceased
daily till the Recorder's report came C.l'3" G 4 Sa-
turday. He had the appearance of a person' af'deeP
with his eves open. He always appeared perfek-tIY
rational and sane. Opened the body with his father.
The stomach was in a highly inflamed state. The
ve,•els were gorged with blood as is generally the
case in persons who die a violent death. When
he first saw deceased in the morning he brought
ith him the stomach pump. He injected
..vartn water, and extracted the contents of the to-
mach. The contents have been distilled at a pr:-
sate still at Apothecaries' Hall. About a dram and
hair of Prtt sic acid produced was distilled from three
ounces 8f the contents.

Wm. Hutchinson Box, the surgeon of the gaol,
stated that he examined the body with his son;
the lungs and heart were much gorged with blood.
This witness confirmed the description of the stomach
given by his von. The contests which remained in
the itornach were strongly impregnated with Prussic
acid. The quantity which then remained in the
'tomaelt would have caused death in a few minutes.

By a Juror—He might have lived about four
minutes after taking it. Had known the deceased
for some years. He seemed to bear his situation
with very becoming fortitude. It was impossible
for the deceased to have taken it before he was
locked up at night.
..Mr. Box, jun. re-examined—After the examina-
tion of the body witness found a small phial about
two incYies 10.. g -..aler the edge of the flock bed in
the deceased's cell. It hail been pasted in blue
paper, and the cork covered with leather to prevent
the power evaporating ; there was about half a drop
of Prussic! Acid in the bottle when found. Ex-
-meted the contents from the stomach when deceased
was in the cell. When witness entered the cell he
saw ,ome letters and a portfolio lying there. The
portfolio and letters were here produced ; the former
was sealed and directed to Edward Gibbon .Wake-
field.
Harri!,, here deposed, that he searched deceased
in the turnkeys' room. The prisoners are always
searched before being locked up. They are never
stripped, but are felt about the pockets, the neck-
i!loth, and down the thighs. The prisoners under
5..->ntettee of death are only allowed to converse with
their friends by speaking through two grated doors,
that they cannot convey any thing to them, the
lornkeys' room being between.
Thomas Brown, a turnkey, having special charge
of the condemned cells, deposed that be went into
Montgomery's cell at about a quarter before six
o'clock, and found him dead on his back, he was un-
dressed and in bed, Witness ;an anti fetched
Harris. Witness thought when be 4,tst saw him,
that deceased was lying in a state of stupor, staring at
him. He shook him and called him by name, and
not till then discovered that he was dead. 'Mutes:,
received the keys from Harris. It was wit-
ness's ditty to search the beds, he searched deceas-
ed's bed during chapel service on Thuraday, Mr.
Wontner gave strict ciders to witness to prep
strict watch over the deceased, and never let him go
oat of his sight. Witness could mo.t think or suspect
how he had obtained the phial. Hai not searched
his clothes since his death to discover where he had
concealed it. He shook hands with witness tics night
before as composedly as he had ever done.
(Brown here spoke to the handwriting of Mont-I
gomaery. The letters appeared both to have been
by hint, and witness believed that they were.)
The portfolio was sealed, and directed to Mr.
Wakefield.
The letters were li4itten apparently a hasty
hand. One of them was addressed to the well- '
known E. Gibbon Wakefield, with whom he had
formed some intimacy from exercising in :he same
yard, while in the infirmary, and to whom 42 ap-
peared much attached. It was written apparenti
white in a state of great agitation ; in some parts it
was hardly legible, and the Coroner read it with
some difficulty to the Jury.
" Thursday Night, very IWar Twelve.
And so even you I dared not confide is---how dread-
f;ll hove been ray fears—how torturing' my hopes. The
bitterness of refl.ction, that even my inestimable, moat
devoted friends, who would love done and thing to save
my life, 1 dared not trust with my hopes of death. And
pc-or Montgomery obliged to die a hypocrite ! hut if you
.;an estimate my feelings, you will know u:',hat has operated
no make act thus. I think it for the better. My pour
friend
the wreteh with whom I souzkt an interview to-day, to
have acted the butcher with one in Ida senses, and who is
oandentned to death by the obstinacy of that superficial
parvenue. Attend to my r&pests. I know you and
say it might he worse. I w1:1,1 mot trouble
person of whom we spoke: It was a solemn request that
the name should never transpire withaat her consent; and
I think even now I ala bound to respeLt it. flow little I
have I been known Bat for your note—but fox .the
pressure of your hand last Saturday evening—would have
aided the dreadful tragedy. The enclosed two letters tc..be
transmitted by post; and I wish my portfoiM to be in your
charge till Miss applies to you by letter, ar person,
for it. Remember my requests to P..ox. And Qod
you ! Facon de parler.
" May you find a friend such as your heart deserves.—
The last dying speech and confession !! ! Surely I canna
be wrong."
In order to explain some of the allusions con-
tained in the above, another letter was produced by
Mr. Nyontner. It requested permission to see
the executioner, and ran as follows:
" Condemned Cells, July 8, 1828.

Sir,--I hoped I should not he again obliged to trespass
nu that kindness of dispriiition to which I am already so
much indebted. I now dread the possibility of your mis-
taking the motive which prompts me to the request, that
you will permit me (if not wholly invongiz.tent with your
regulations) to have an int.rview with the Executioner in
the course of this day. I think it Inci to Dr. Cotton to
irate, that I yesterday intimated to him my intention to

LONDON,
SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 5,

It appears that the report of an express having
arrived at Dublin, on Wednesday, with the close
of the Clue Election, was unfounded. Mr.
FITZGERALD had ;I.,Qt resigned the contest, but
polled 194 up to Tuesday, foui• o'clock, when Mr.
(MONNE t. r, was six above him, the totai n4mhers
being '2OD and 194 ; but the Dublin Papers
say, that Mr. O'CDNNEL L would have polled
2,000, were it not for the interruptions offered
1.,,; hi s voters. There was no doubt eilort4ined of
Mr. O'CxSNELL's return. We must, however,
do Mr. FITZGF.4.V.D the justice to say that his
speech was marked by
.4 great deal of good
taste and sound discretion. He appears to be
an amiable man, and has completely Yin.4q.tg4
himself from the chargft of seeking or ret4ini,lig
office merely as a source of progt emoingtent.
In any other cause we could have with
him :;;recess--and even in this, but fur the
hope that. the zotrn of Mr. O'CONNELL, in op-
position to the power L,f.
,!he Government, may
impreas more strongly upon our )4.4. ministration
the neressiitil of quieting Ireland, by setting the
Catholic .Question rit rest—in the only way
which it can eyer I>e s?,tisAletorily disposed vf—
granting the boon of EtnaßciptiP4?

The 1-147...ette de France dated Thursday con-
tains a std-teinent
,of the force of the Turkish
armies in Europe and 444; 7Allid) do not
amount in all to more than 177,000 me4.----,a
nurithcr wholly inadequate, if on the European
side of the ii42spont, to oppose an effectual
resistance to the combined ;reties of Russia.
It was supposed that Brailow was t4.ep by
storm on the ksth or 16th of June. It was said
on the same authority, that a column 45f Turks
i,1444. passed the Danube and attacked 4 Russian
corps at Calafali, but were repulsed with loss,
and recrossed tie river. We do not believe this
statement.

We have news from Oporto to like W)th
at which time every thing went favourab'y with
the Patriots. The Junta hard delegated, a depu-
tation of.. its own members to proceed to the
army of operation at Coimbra, in order to stimu-
late its movements. Indeed, we understand, that
on the 23a the Constitutional army was at Caldas
(la Rainha, nine leagues from Lisbon, on its

march to that city. By Monday we may be
enabled to announce its arrival there, amd the
consequent downfal of the usurper MIGUEL and
his infamous Government.
The Galatea frigate left the Tagus on the
20th to raise the blockade of Oporto.

We have to announce with much regret that
accounts have been received in town from St.
John's Newfoundland, to the 10th June, of
the loss of his Majesty's vessels, the Acorn
sloop of war of eighteen guns, the Contest
gun brig of 12,,and the Sappho sloop, of 18
gulls, with every .soul on board ! They were
foi4t in a tremendous hurricane between Ber-
muda and Halifax. The Tyne, twenty-eight
guns, was in company with them, but wea-
thered the stonn. We- had beard, about a
fortnight ago, that there were great fears enter-
tained for the Acorn. Her Captain, EDWARD
GORDON, was-a most gallant young officer. He
was only twenty-six years old, and was wounded
in six different places, at the attack on the
Greek pirates in Hydra. lie had scarcely re-
covered of his wounds, when he was or-
tiered of to the American station. Tt is a
singular circumstance, that a letter had been
sent off to him with the news that he
had been posted, when accounts
.had been
received from the Admiral on the station of
the reported loss. of his vessel. The officers. on
board the- Acorn were, Captain EDWARD GOR-
DON, Lieutenants ED. WAVRLL, JOHN BLISS,
W. C. PLTRVER, Master ; PETER M‘DOII-
G ALL, Surgeon; ANDREW R ANKINE, Assist-
ant ditto ; and JAM-E 8 WHITE, Purser. On
board the Contest, Lieutenant EDWA RD
PLAOGENBoRG, Commander, A. W. BAXTER,
Acting-Master, and JAmEs SMEATON, As-
sistant-Surgeon. The names of those on board
the Sappho are not mentioned.

We have great pleasure in directing attention

to the reports in another column, of the public
meeting held this day at the Freemasons' Tavern,
in aid of that national enterprise—the Thames
Tunnel. The Duke of WELLINGTON was
present, and did himself high honour, as well
by his sensible speech as by his generous
donation of five hundred pounds. His Royal
Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE was also
present, and subscribed a similar stun. Indeed,
the Meeting was altogether of the first order,
and fully supported our national character
for liberality and enterprize. We have all
alon said that the. spirited Directors of
the Thames Tunnel deServed the countenance
and support of Government, and we are now

happy to see both realized in an eminent degree.
Under such auspices, and guided by such intel-
ligence, the undertaking must succeed, for it
truly deserves it,

The Accounts of the Revenue will not he
made up till a. late hour this evening, conse-
quently none of the reports in circulation possess
any real value.

It will be seen by the Debate oflast night, that
the first recommendation of the Finance Com-
mittee has been sent to the right about— the
motion for the reduction of the office of Lieute-
nant-General of the Ordnance being rejected, by a
majority of 204 to 95. So much for retrenchment

We perceive by an advertisement that that

liberal and well conducted Paper the News is to
be greatly enlarged, so as to keep pr.ce with the
stirring march of intellect. We congratulate
its readers upon this circumstance, for no
journal of the present day has been so uni-
formly the staunch and undeviating friend
of the people as this popular publication.
One circumstance redounds highly to the vary
ability of its liberal Editor, that amid the con-
tentions of political fictions he has never been
prosecuted for libel—but has happily weathered
the storm by an honourable course of straight-
forward consistency, creditable alike to his ow❑
character, and the red)}#tatiot► of his Journal.

TUE FUNDS--(THIS DAV).

CITY, TWITLFR 0' CLOCK.

The arrivals this morning are very scanty, and of no im-
portance, except one from St. John's, NewtOundland, of the
:It:44lte, at the North and South American Coffee-house,
stating tluit chip Tyne has arrived there in
three days from Halifax, and ioringz the tirtpl4;:_sholy intelli-
gence of the loss of his Majesty's ships Contest, Sappho,
and Acorn, in a hurricane between Bermuda and Halifax,
and that every soul on board the different wet,els perished;
qv Tyne was in the gale but weathered it. The Consol
Market has e:;zpeyiyrteed a decline of a- per cent., having
left off yesterday at fitii .he ;;!..2m!t., opened at 891,
and immediately receded to 88i ii11110:1i1 are
alluded to as the cause of this tall—O'Connell being re-
turned Member—part of the sinking fund going to be
done away with this year—and the defeat of the Finance
Commitiee {ay Ministers last night. But the most important
report i 3, a qeficie pry pr :ha Consolidated Fund this year
of one atipion and a lull,
711kgE px.
con,Tels, bpyers. No business, or any news.
FOUR O'CLOCK.—ULOSING PPYES.
Consols I Danish (12
Do. for Ac. 88-i 9 • 1 Greek, 1825 18
Brazilian Bonds \ Mexican, 1825 41
Ayres 01 Peruvian
Chilian 100.. 1 Ruejao
Columbian, 1824 241 i spanial, 11a i

DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF UXBRIDGE.
;..07qpllii)'8 villa. at Twickenham, on Thursday,
3d of July, Etiluoite. Pott,r4ct,s. of UXIMIDGE, in the
30th year of her age, aver a severe. and lingering
which she bore with the greatest patience and resignation.
Her Ladyship was the second daughter of Colonel and
R r.ineTTir.,4 4C;;;; n
treti, wiltnleclm niece troem theoved from
Duke iof
Nei
Twickenham on Tuesday morning, for i4tei-raei,-st iz
Lordship's family vault in Lichfield Cathedral. ' '
DREADFUL CATASTROPHE IN HIGH LIFE.
__We have just been informed that an afflicting affair has
occurred in Nei ;,:ify. A young gentleman, the son of a
Wealthy
.COMmoner, suine Pew days ago ied to the char a
beautiful lady, the daughter of a Peer ; after the ceremeni,
the happy pair left town" tor the coitutr'y, to spend the
k.,,v,ey-moon, but which we are sorry to hear was of short
duration. It io, nodfratand, but: ten days since the
Duptisja took place, and a few.elayit Oer the gentlemen
rose from his bed in a frantic warner, and, seizing a razor,
said he would cut' his wife's throat. The lady, ahienied,
liik.d;,p. the' no' slow, and jumped out i the violence 4014
fall produced iPtieulibility, and it was some time before any
appearaoce 4 )4:e war diaper:olr. The surgenniy, who
were in attendance as anon as possible, found that she had
received some dreadful contusion/. She then related tke
cause of her having thrown herself out of the window; hut
what steps were taken respecting the gentleman we are
riot at present in possession of. This ;norning we have
heard that the unfortunate young lady expired yesterday.
The parties are related to fUlliv of the first families of dis-
tinction in England,