The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-18 00:00:00

PH

ADJOURNED INQUEST.—THE VERDICT.
Potersmourn, Jute. —.The inquiry relative to the death of
the late Mr. James Alexander Seton was resumed before tlee Co-
roner for the borough, this day, at the Guildhall.
Mr. Payne (Coroner for the City of London) stated that he at-
tended on that occasion for the purpose of proceeding, at a proper
time, to produce the evidence of Mrs. Hawkey, and urged that
her evidence was most important, inasmuch as it would go to show
that the provocation was so great that should Mr. Hawkey ba the
guilty party, the offence would only amount to manslaughter.
This proposition was acceded to by the Coroner.
Isabella Frances Hawkey was then called, and sworn—l knew
Mr. Seton. The first time I saw him was in the month of April
last. I was introduced to him in the month of May. He said to
Mr. Hawkey that all his acquaintances had left the rooms, and lie
wished to be introduced to me. My husband did so, and I danced
with him on that ocaasion. lie went away then. He expressed a
wish that I should call on Mrs. Seton. I saw him once afterwards,
when I went to hear the band play, on a Monday. Shortly after I
went with Mr. Hawkey to Gosport I saw Mr. Seton. He said
that he had called on me with his friend Mr. Pits. He said he
had left a music-book for me at my house. He said he would
cone again in half an hour. My husband did not then go
out for a ride, as he wished to be at home when Mr. Setoo
called. I called on Mr. Seton by engagement. As I was sitting
on a chair by the sofa, about a week or fortnight after the first in-
troduction, he opened a desk and showed me some dice. lie
showed me also a ring out of the desk. I stayed and spent the
evening. As he handed me a glass of wine he said something I
have forgot. He asked me if I would be at home at twelve the
next day, if he called and brought the book. I was always at
home till two, when I used to walk out with Mr. llawkey. Mr.
Seton asked Mr. Hawkey to let me go with Mrs. Seton to see the
drill next day. Mr. Hawkey consented, and told me to go. Mr.
Seton called the next day about two o'cicck. He remained at my
house nearly an hour. That was on a Thursday. I forget the
date. I made an observation as to Mrs. Seton waiting for me. He
replied be did not care. I never took Mr. Seton's arm in my walk.
It came on to rain. I went to Mr. Seton's, but not to the drill.
They engaged me to dine with them on the next Saturday. He
offered me his arm on that day. I declined it ; and he said, "If
one lady does it another may—my wife is walking with Mr.
Maugin." I said my husband did not like it. We went into
Portsmouth that afternoon. I know Mr. Tattnell and Mr.
Cleveland. Mr. Seton left me because there was not room
for us all to walk together. He did not say anything. I
saw him on the afternoon of the following day. He said
that Mrs. Seton and Mr. Maugin had said to him that he ought
not to be turned out by any one, much less a naval man. I think
he said so, because I spoke to Mr. Tattnell. The day after the last
transaction Mr. Seton came to my house. On Monday Mr. Seton
called, and said he knew my husband was out. Mr. Tattnell came
in, and Mr. Seton said he was not wanted there—he might go. My
husband came in, when they both left. On the Sunday, the day
before, as we were going to church we met Mr. Seton, who said
something I have forgot. On Tuesday he called, and asked me if
my husband was going to Soberton races ? I said, " Yes." He
said that he intended to go, but that if Mr. Hawkey went he
should not go. He said he had a great deal to say to me, and
would come again on that day. My husband did not go to drill
on that day. I know Mr. Pym. He came to lunch wattle's on
that day. Mr. Seton came in while my husband and Mr. Pym
were in the room. He was not announced by the servants. Mr.
Hawkey and Mr. Pym were sitting behind the door. Ido not
think he saw them when he first entered. He started back when
he saw they were there. It attracted Mr. Pym's and Mr.
Hawkey's notice. I saw Mr. Seton on the following Monday
at the soiree. He made me a present of a bouquet of flowers,
for which my husband thanked him. He danced with me
several times. On one occasion he called on me when Mr.
Hawkey was at drill, and said, " It is no use humbugging with you
any longer," and he asked me if I intended to give him an oppor-
tunity or not. He said he knew Mr. Hawkey to be a quarrelsome
fellow. He said he knew he should have to go out with Mr.
Hawkey in the end, and that he should not go out on the common
for nothing. If he gained his point he would not mind. I cannot
tell the date of this conversation. There was a knock at the door
at the time. He said, " Good God, here is Hawkey." He ran to
the table for his hat, and said, " Can't you let me out ?" It was
Mr. Pym that came in at that time. Mr. Hawkey noticed on that
afternoon that I was silent, and asked if Mr. Seton had annoyed
me ? On another occasion he offered me something, and said if I
did not accept what he offered he could not have any tie over n.e ;
and said, " Perhaps you do not think it of sufficient value." I told
him not to insult me any more by such offers. He said place your-
self in the position of some one whose name I do not know, and
with the colonel of our regiment. He said that Lord Cardigan had
given that person 1,000/. worth of jewellery. He said, " Would
that be any inducement to you ?" I said " No." He said, "If
those are your ideas, a man has no chance." I remonstrated
with him, and told him be was a married man. lie said, " I
don't care about her nor she about me, we both please our-
selves." I forget whether Mr. Hawkey came in at that time. I
did not relate the conversation to my husband at that time. I
told Mr. Pym. I said, "If he continued to annoy me, I should
go home to my mother's, at Rochester." He said he wished I
would, it was all on his road to Maidstone. My husband is very
tenacious, and therefore I did not tell him. I afterwards saw Nr.
Seton, when Mrs. Seton was gone to London. He. tolcruie he
had just seen her off. There was a soir'ee on'that evening. I
went to it. Mr. Seton was there. He said to me he was very
unhappy, and that if nothing else would make me like him, sym-
pathy ought. I saw Mr. Seton two days after. He called with
Mrs. Seton. I recollect going to the rooms with Mr. and Mrs.
Seton. Mr. Pym and Mr. Hawkey joined us there. My husband
said he was much displeased at seeing me with him. I did not
know my husband was aware of Seton's attentions to me until the
Sunday before the duel. Mr. Hawkey, on that day, said he
had something to say to me. I went to Anglesey with him
in the afternoon, when he told me he was angry at my not
telling him what I told Mr. Pym, and that if I told him
all he would not take any notice of it. I then told him
several things about Mr. Seton's conduct to me. He did
not say much, but did not seem at all pleased. I met Mr.
Seton on Monday, the 19th of May. I bowed to him, but Mr.
Hawkey would not let me stop. I afterwards saw him at the
soiree the same evening. I had promised a week before to dance
with him. When he asked me to do so I said I could not. He
said if I did not dance with him it must be Hawkey's fault, and
that he would ask an explanation. I told him to do so, and that
most likely he would give him one. I asked Mr. Hawkey what
I should do ? He said " You may dance a quadrille." That was
all I danced with him. He asked why I passed Mrs. Seton, and
said, "If you do not know her you do not know me." He said,
on the same evening, " Whatever your husband says to me, I
shall not go out with him; it is impossible for a cavalry man to
mix himself up with an infantry man." My husband wished to
sit down by me, but Mr. Seton would not move. My husband
said to him " May I have a private word with you ?" Mr. Seton
said "An explanation I have long wished... They went Into a
private room. On corning out, Mr. Seton asked me to take his
arm, and said " For God's sake, settle this matter, or there will be
such an exposure I" I went away with Mr. Pym. On an occasion
of a review of the 59th, Colonel Jones offered me his arm. Mr.
Seton said " This lady is under my protection." I said it was no
such thing, and left the common and went home. Mr. Seton said
lie should like to drive me in a cab in London, and asked if there
was a chance. My only object in not telling my husband was for
fear of the consequences. Mrs. Pym and Mr. Hawkey both re-
quested that I would not dance the polka. Mr. Pym was a par.
ticular friend of my husband.

William Ellis, master of the royal yacht, living at Stoke.cottage,
was next examined. The Coroner having cautioned him as to any
evidence he should give that was likely to criminate himself, he
proceeded to state : I had no knowledge of the duel until it had
taken place. I can say nothing about it. I had no reason to be-
lieve a duel had taken place. Mr. Hawkey and Mr. Pym came to
my house on the 28th of May, between seven and eight o'clock in
the evening. Mr. Pym wished me to see him in my private par-
lour. Mr. Hawkey was in my drawing-room, and came in with-
out my knowing he was there. Mr. Pym told me an unfortunate
affair had laken place between Mr. Hawkey and Mr. Seton, and that
a gentleman was wounded, naming the place where he lay in Stokes
Bay, Mr. Pym requested me to give any assistance I could. They
had left persons, with him. I had known Mr. Pym from a child;
that was the reason he came to my house. Mr. Pym said he had
been the friend. I understood him to mean a second. He told me
nothing of the circumstances.
Three snore witnesses were examined, but the only additional
evidence was that the place where the duel was fought was in the
parish of Tichfield, and not in the parish of Alverstoke, as alleged.
When the examination of these witnesses had closed, the Coroner
summed up the evidence, and the jury retired into another room to
consider their verdict.

The jury, after having been absent about half an hour, returned
into the Guildhall, and, by their chairman, Mr. Grant, returned
the following verdict :
" We find that the immediate cause of Mr. Seton's death was
the result of a surgical operation, rendered imperatively necessary
by the imminent danger in which he was placed by the infliction
of a gunshot wound he received on the 20th of May last, in a duel
with Henry Charles Morehead Hawkey, of the Royal Marines.
We, therefore, find the said Lieutenant Hawkey and Lieutenant
Edward Ppm, as well as all the parties concerned in the said duel,
Guilty of Wilful Murder.
" The jury would further express their unanimous conviction
that everything which the best professional skill, the greatest atten-
tion, and the utmost kindness could suggest, was rendered to Mr.
Seton by his respective medical attendants."