Star.
London, England, 1831-01-05 00:00:00

Sophia Steer, her servant, left her but five minutes before
she was in flames, sitting in an arm chair by the fire side.
She told the witness she would take a short sleep, for she
had no rest the night before, and the witness left the room
that she might not be disturbed. She waited upon the de-
ceased after she had been burned, but she never recovered
her speech, or became sufficiently sensible to make known
the circumstances of the accident.

No further evidence could be produced, and the jury re-
turned their verdict " Accidental Death."

SHOCKING SU IClDL.—Yesterday, at half-past one
o'clock, an inquest was held at the Cherry Tree,
Bowling-
green-lane, Clerkenwell, before Mr. Sri maw) and a res-
pectable jury, on view of the body of Samuel Shirley, who
destroyed himself by nearly severing his bead from his body.
Charles Bellinger stated, that he lodged in the house kept
by the deceased, at No. 6, Lock's-gardens. He was a
glass-cutter, and, witness always considered him a respect-
able, industrious tradesman. He and his wife occupied the
two parlours, one of which they used as a bed-room. On
Sunday morning, about half-past five o'clock, witness was
awoke by the loud screaming of Mrs. Shirley below. Wit-
ness and his wife ran down, and found the deceased lying
on his face in the front parlour, the floor of which was co-
vired with blood, and his wife bending over him, with her
hands clasped together, and still screaming, or rather groan-
ing. A surgeon was immediately sent for, but he was quit
dead. A razor was lying on the floor. Witness knew of no
cause for his committing the act. He and his wife always
appeared to live very happily together, and she was a re-
markably kind and attentive wife. Witness had beard him
sometimes complain of a pain in his head, which he said was
rheumatic. He looked rather weak and sickly of late.
Mary. Shirley, a respectably-dressed young woman, wt

then (gilled in find sworn, bather grief and agitation so over-
powered her that hit's* some time before she could proceed.
She stated that the deceased was her husband, and at the
time of his death was 28 years of age. For a week or two
previous he had been but poorly, and complained of a dread-
ful sensation in his bead, and fancied that be saw images of
various kinds passing constantly before his eyes. On Satur-
day afternoon be was much worse, and at night witness
thought he looked very wild, and at half-past 12 she went for
a surgeon, who came and bled him, and gave him medicine.
He was very feverish and was very uneasy. He was in bed
when the doctor caw, and witness remained up by his bed-
side until three o'clock, when he pressed her to come to bed
and said he shoeld not be happy unless she did. She at
length laid down, and soon after fell asleep, not having had
any sleep for a week before in consequence of the sudden
death of her own brother, who dropped down dead in a fit,
when apparently in full health. Witness awoke about five
o'clock, and missed her husband from her side, and called
out ; but receiving no answer she got up and struck a
light, and going into the front parlour found him lying on
his face upon the floor with a rasor in his right hand, and
the carpet was soaking with his blood. She screamed, and
brought her lodgers to her assistance, and a surgeon was
sent for. He and ber poor brother were very much at-
tached to each other.
Leonard Moss Goddard, assistant to Mr. Austin, surgeme,
No. 15, Red Lion-square, deposed that he was sent for M
the deceased on Saturday night, and found him in a fever-
ish state, and with symptoms of inflammation of the liver.
He complained also that his head was affected, and that he
saw images passing before his eyes. Witness bled him
and sent him medicine, and the next morning he was called
to him again, and found him with his throat cut in a dread-
ful manner, and quits dead.
The Jury after a few words from the Coroner returned a
verdict of " Temporary Derangement."