Star.
London, England, 1830-10-25 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

DANGEROUS STATE OF BLIERPRIARS-BRIDGE.--An inquest
was held before T. Palms, Esq. and a jury, at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, on the remains of J. Smith, late a waggoner in the employ of
Mr. Elmore, a coal-merchant. It appeared that on Wednesday week,
while the deceased was passing over Blackfriarsbridge with his waggon,
which was heavily laden with coals, he overlook a child belonging to a
neighbour, and wishing to give it a ride, he took it and placed it on top
of the sacks of coals. From the effort which he used to reach the top of
the waggon, he lost his balance, and fell between the wheels of the
waggon and the steps of the foot-pavement—the former being quite close
to the latter, crushed the unfortunate man against the edge of the foot.
pavement. He was removed at once to the Hospital, where he lingered
until Wednesday, when he died. 3lr. Bulmore, one of the house sur-
geons, deposed to the death of the deceased having been caused by the
injuries ; and the jury, slier expressing themselves in strong terms on
the present state of the Bridge, returned a verdict of " Acciden-
tal Death, caused by the present dangerous state of the Bridge
—the foot-path being such an immense distance from the carriage-
way."
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—An inquisition.was yesterday afternoon
taken at the Shakspeare Tavern, Great Marlborough-atteet, before Mr.
Hulas, on view of the body of William Salle, aged b 3, the landlord of
the above house.—Mr. Joseph Seclie, a son of the deceased, stated that
about twelve months ago he had the misfortune to lose his mother, which
circumstance affected his father's mind to such an extraordinary degree,
that he frequently burst into tears and wished himself in Heaven with
his dear departed wife. In consequence of his not coming down at his
usual time, and his door being locked, a panel was broken in, when the
deceased was seen hanging against the door on the inside, having sus-
pended himself by tying his handkerchief and a towel together, which
he threw over the door, and fastened one end to the lock on the other
side.—Verdict of " Temporary Insanity."
MYSTERIOUS DEATH Of T. KINNEAR, Bsct.—On Thursday
evening, at seven o'clock Mr. Stirling, the coroner for Middlesex, and
a jury composed of gentlemen of the highest respectability in the neigh.
bourhood, assembled at No. 8, Cornwall-terrace, Bevil:l;pr to in-
quire into the circumstances attending the death of Kinnear,
Esq. late the occupant of the house in which the inquiry was held.
A rumour had gone abroad, that there was some mystery oanneeted with
the sudden demise of the deceased ; and when the coroner and jury had'
assembled, great anxiety was manifested to keep the proceedings as
secret as possible.
Dr. James Patterson, of 16, Queen-stmt, May-fair, had been called
in, by a man named Thompson, to his master; he found him dying. ,
There were no peculiar indications of the cause of death, and he thought
a minute examination of the body necessary.
Thomas Thompson deposed that he had been servant to the deceased
since the 16th of February last. On Tuesday evening last the deceased
came home at five minutes to nine o'clock. He took off his boots and
overalls at the foot of the stairs, as was his custom; and he asked
whether Mr. Jaques (a tradesman in the neighbourhood) had been
there, and was answered in the negative. The dinner things were
prepared for him, but he said he should not take any, as he hail died
at the club. He told witness not to call him in the morning, twit Ito
would ring the bell when he wanted him. He then ordinal a illy Ms.
cult, and witness left that and half a bottle of sherry and Iwo on the
table in his bed.room. About live minutes before 12edesh, whams
who slept in the kitchen, beard a footstep-:above stairs, and beard the
bolt of the window fall, and he thought that strangers were in the
house. He got it light and went up stairs, and as he reached the Rent
door, he saw his master going up stairs. He asked witness how it was
that he had come in at so late an hour, and witness said he had not been
out, but had come up, thinking that he beard a noise, and that strangers
were in the house. The deceased said, " you may come up and see,"
and he went to his bed-room, and before I could enter after him, he was
in bed, and covered ever with the clothes. He had no light, and was
undressed when witness saw him on the stairs. Witness went into
the library, and finding no one there, he returned to his master's
room, and asked, " Are you asleep, Sir ?" and receiving no answer,
closed the door gently after him. He then went to fasten the dining.
room shutters. These had been fastened at nine o'clock, but had
subsequently been loosened by some one, he could not tell by whom.
When witness was coining down the last time, after fastening the win.
dow-shutters, he heard his master open the door of his bed-room,
and he sited him whether be should get him a light or leave his
own, and 3lr. Kinnear said, " Leave me yours, if you please." Witness
did so, and when he got to the kitchen he heard his mas-
ter again leave his room and go to the upper part of the house.—
He was quite po'aer when he came home, but witness thought he had
been a little unwell for a day or two before. There were workmen in the
house, and it was witness's practice to call his master every morning at
seven o'clock, but on Tuesday be desired he would not do so. He was
under 40 years of age, had a wife and eight children, who were at Brigh.
ton. Witness saw nor heard no more of his master until half.past one
on Wednesday afternoon, when having knocked repeatedly at the door,
and failed to obtain an answer, he procured the attendrtnce of Mr.
Trotter, an intimate friend of the deceased, and a ladder being
procured, witness got in at the bed-room window, and let air.
Trotter in at the door, when the deceased was found lying on the bed
to all appearance a corpse. Medical assistance was procured as soon
sa.possible.—By Jurors: Witness and his master were the only persons
who slept in the house. Witness made his master's bed.
Mr. Alexander Trotter, of 16, Usnaburgh.street, Regent's-park, said,
he was the intimate Mend of the deceased, and saw hint last alive oa
Monday evening, when he spent the evening with hint. The deceased
then appeared perfectly healthy and cheerfid.
Thomas 31•Carthy and George Whitfield, workmen on the pre.
miser, stated that they were alarmed on Wednesday morning by 31r.
Kinnear not rising, as wu his habit, to superintend the work. At ten
o'clock they asked Thompson to call his master. but he refused; and at
twelve they urged him to break time door open. or permit them,
but he refused, stating that his master was very particular. They
looked through the keyhole and saw the covering of the bed
move as though a person was breathing very heavily ; and they also
heard the deceased make a low moaning noise. At half-past one they
heard the same noise, and then Thompson went for Mr Trotter.
Both witnesses were certain that the deceased was breathing three
minutes before the room was entered by Mr. Trotter. The wit-
ness Whitfield stated that he heard Thompson say that his master
told him he was going to take a composing draught oa Tuesday
night.
'Thompson was called in, and he declared most vehemently that be
never said any thing of the kind.
Whitfield—l declare that you did.
Mr. Lovegrove, the surgeon. said he was called in. and found Mr.
Kinnear quits dead. He could form no judgment as to the cause of
death.
The Coroner and jury proceeded to view the body, and on their re-
, turn. Dr. Patterson was again questioned, and said, there was no appear..
sum width could possibly enable any medical man to state the cause of
, death. The sees *bearable might have been produced by ea.
or rious moral • I
The mom was then cleared of all but the jury, and the result al
their debilities' • was declared In a written paper, in the' follow's%
earasa_.4 That the jurymen were of opinion that the body should. be
opened in the presence of Dr. Paterson and the parish and any
mho:medical mace whom the family might choose to as;prtil." •
A tolidtot, who had been present from the commencement of the
proceedings, sad bad taken copious notes, here arose, and in an ad.

dress of considerable It.ngth and earnestness, protested against tilt
termination of the jury being carried into execution, and contended .Ir•.
the Coroner alone had the power to direct the dissection of the bid) ;
and he submitted to that officer whether there was anything
which could call for or warrant such order ?

The Foreman of the Jury (Edward King, Esq. of Baker-di:
Portman-square), said that he and his brother jurymen were asseml,l«i
to inquire upon oath into the cause of Mr. Kinnear's death, and 1.,
humbly conceived they were entitled to demand the best evidence.
else could they satisfy their own consciences, or the ends of i. 1,1,
justice ?—The solicitor again urged that in law the Coroner slon.• •
the right to order the dissection, and begged he would withhold tl
order in the present instance, as it was not proved to be necessary.
Mr. fivratistra said, that if it was the unanimous wish of the jun
he certainly should not withhold the order, and he finally ditected tip
body to be opened ; and the inquest was then adjourned until Satord. •
evening at eight o'cloek.—The inquiry did not terminate until 1141."
past eleven o'clock. The presence of a reporter was objected to at p
commencement by the solicitor, but the coroner refused to interfere.
•We learn that five medical gentlemen present at the post r/..rt
examination of the body of the late Mr. Kinnear, have signed an
report that " death was occasioned by the rupture of a blood.vcosi ,
the stomach." The names of the gentlemen were Drs. Hamilton, p
tenon, Lovegrove, Ake.
Saturday sight, at seven o'clock, the inquest upon this gentletn,
was resumed, at his mansion. No. 8, Cornwall.terrace, Regent's Patti
when Dr. Paterson presented the report of the examination of the the
by himself and five other medical gentlemen, among whom was Maj„
milton, the Demonstrator of Anatomy to the London Hospital, an
this report stated' that the deceased died of the rupture of a blond Vf,.
sal ()tithe stonaach,—A conversation took place amongst the jury, of n
importance as it respected the question at issue, and a verdict was
turned" That the deceased died by the visitation of Gon."