The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-26 00:00:00

SUICIDE.

An inquisition was taken on Wednesday last before James
Powuall, Esq., oq,e-of the coroner sfor the borough, on view of
the body of Roger Peel, a person lately employed at the
Liverpool Mercury office, as a collector, who destroyed himself
by taking poison.
Margaret Parlen, a lodging-house keeper, residing in Plea-
sant-street, stated that the deceased,for the last ten months, had
lodged with her. When he first came he was collector'for the
Mercury newspaper, and remained in that situation until about
seven weeks ago, when he was engaged in a similar capacity by
Mr. Vale, a paper-dealer, in Williamson-square. He had not
been more than a week in his new situation before he was taken
ill from cold and obliged to leave, and Mr. Johnson, the sur-
geon, attended him. A few months ago deceased received in •
telligence of his mother's death is London, which appeared to
affect his spirits, and since his removal from the Mercury-office
his circumstances were not so good as previously, which tended
much to affect his mind. On Friday night last deceased ap-
peared particularly dejected, and witness observingin his hand
a small blue paper with white powder in it, she asked him what
it contained, and he replied " sugar." No further notice was
taken of the circumstance. On Saturday morning deceased
left the house between six and seven o'clock, returned and got
breakfast, and went out again at eleven. About two o'clock he
came in again looking eery ill, and shortly began to vomit.
Witness wished to send for a surgeon, but he would not con-
sent ; but as he grew worse towards five o'clock be desired that
Mr. Johnson should be sent for and told to bring the stomach-
pump with him. Deceased was asked if he had taken anything,
and he said, "Nothing but ginger beer." Mr. Johnson arrived
at six o'clock, and was of opinion that deceased had got the
cholera. He ordered some medicine, which was given to the
deceased ; went away, and returned at seven o'clock, bringing
some more medicine with him, which was also administered.
The deceased afterwards got worse, and a little before nine
o'clock he died. On Saturday night, before deceased died,
witness searched his pockets and found a quantity of the powder.
Two or three months ago deceased used frequently to talk about
the easiest method of dying, and latterly ha had renewed that
kind of conversation.

Mr. George Johnson, surgeon, of Mount Pleasant, stated that
a mouth ago he was called in to the deceased, at a house in
Pleasant-street. He complained of a cough and pain in his
side. Witness bled him and ordered medicine, and continued
to visit him for a fortnight, until he got well. Between 5 and 6
o'clock on Saturday afternoon last witness was called in and
found uecessed in a state of insensibility on a sofa. His skin
was cold and there was no pulse. He revived a little, and wit-
ness was informed that he had vomited, and had also been
cramped and purged. These symptoms induced witness to be-
lieve that deceased had the cholera, and the people of the house,
on being questioned, Stated that be had taken nothing to their
knowledge but ginger beer. Witness administered some
- brandy and laudanum, and had deceased reinuved to a bed.
Witness then left him, and returned about seven o'4loc, having
—previiinsly ordered hot bottles and heated salt to, his feet. On
calling again at nine wituess found that he was dead. The body
was opened in the presence of Mr. Lockwood, the surgeon.
Mr. Thomas Lockwood, surgeon, stated that he opened the
body of deceased in the presence of Mr. Johnson. The stomach
appeared inflamed, and there were patches of inflammation in
different parts of the intestines. There was a pint of fluid in
the stomach, which, being put to the test, proved to contain
arsenic. The powder found in deceased's pocket was arsenic
and witness was of opinion that arsenic was the cause of death
Verdict, insanity.