The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-06-24 00:00:00

INQUESTS.
An Inquest was held yealerday, by the Nap Ml.
Gees., sen. and jun. at the Crown and Aiebor
pyhlic.howe, near Belgeaveeplate Five-fields,
Chelsea, on the body of R. F. A.itiLies Cap a t i sei
Adjittata of the Ruyal Pembroke Fusiliers, who
was fuutol dead, on Thursday morning, in one
of the Five-fields.
The first witness 'unlined was Frederick Burt,
a Serjettut in the 3d 'Regiment of Guards, and
•tesiding in Grace-buildings, Diske.eireet, Men-
, chester.square. Witness, on Thursday morn-
ing tali, about a quarter before five o'clock,
was going over the Five-fields, Chelsea, and
towards Pimlico; there were two •or three
persons near him, going the same way, all un-
known to witness ; one of them perceived, at
about 30 yards distance, a man lying on
Weals; which, being very wet, he observed
• ft was very improper the man should bo
there, for he Milli be in-Heiner ; they all went to
rthtipstt, audfound the deceased stretched on the
greti4 ao4t Ofout; in his Agile hand was a small
pith* and ia his left hand a brown paper parcel ;
Also/ perceived that the man was shot; the ball
bad eutcred. the ri4ht temple, passed through the
head, bet had not come through on the other side ;
deceased hadigis gloves cm, and his cost was but-
toned close to the neck; Dile of the persons present ,
• seerehed his popkets, and found a red pncket-book,
containing suadty papers, amongst them a card, i
superscribed, 44-Capt. R. F. Aitkins, Royal Pten-
•broke Fusileers," a promissory note fur 81. Ss.
payable to the deceased, and signed " Lieutenantl
James James;" also a duplicate of a silver watch,
named Noman, No. 7,,963, and two gold seals,
pledged at Mr. Drury's, In St. Martin's-lane, for
21. 12s. 6d. ; alsu a red silk purse, containing 4s.
6•1. The person who took the papers net of the
•deceased's !osekets, gave them in charge to the
witness, as be was going to the East India House
to work ; witness sent word 'to the !mimic, and'
saw the body brought to the Crown and Anchor
public-house.
Thomas Bishpp, one of the beadles of the pa-
rish of St. Georg-, Hanever.square, said,' he
lived at No. 31, Five.fields, Chelsea. and that
John bl'Dunald, a supernumerary parole, called
trim up about six o'clock oti Thursday morning,
and informed him that a gentleman had MO him-
self in one of the fields, and that there was a
great concourse of people collected near the spot.
Witness gut up, and called
.the landlord of the
Crown-and-Anchor public-house; there being no
board, he took one of the *flutters, and went to
the spot; and, with the assistance of four men,
brought the body to the house. In the coat-Oocket
of the dead min he found a small loaded pistol
—maker's mune, Smith—and similar to the one
he had in his hand ; also a paper parcel, sealed,
and directed to " Christopher Chrishop, Esq.
Solicitor, Child's - place," which puce! wit.
Hess delivered according to the direction ; there
was also a loose letter, written in a gentlemanly
manner, worded as follows :—rd As some inquiry
May be instituted as to the cause of my death, I
think it necessary to state, that it was inflicted by
my own hand, partly from pecuniary embarrass-
ment, and partly from the effect of a strung (set-
tees malady, which is fixed so strong on my spi.
tits, as to.render life insupportable :emu! I de-
sire, that whosoever finds any body, wilt fioavard
the parcel. I wish for nothing more than death.
—(Signed)—R. F. Arrxias, Captain-Adjutant
Royal Pembroke Militia." Witness said, that he
bad seen a person who Pad heard a pistol fired at
taro o'clock that morning.
Sergison, a very elegant man, and
brother.in.law to the defeated, stated, the de-
ceased had but lately been promoted as Adjutant,
and Was Gazetted only last-Tuesday : that he was
Captain and Adjutant of the Royal Pembroke Mi-
litia, a rank which he had long wished for.—Wit.
Hess married the deceased's sister, in 180 e ; and the
first time he saw him was in 1807 ; lie was upon
leave of absence; he observed, at that Mee, an tin_
usual thoughtfulness tbou t him, and used frequently
to rouse and cheer him up; deceased would fre-
quently, se hilesitting in the drawiog-room, be very
'Oka, and appeared as if he had been asleep, and
start up and rub his eyes; he was at other times a
good companion, and was a very sincere friend.
On Tuesday, the 13th instant, deceased came to
town, amid weld to his mother's house, in Great
Portland-street, and remained there until last Sun-
Jay, the 18th, and went away at tep o'clock.—
Be had spent the day with his sisters and nieces.
Witness uas out of town, and returned ou•Sunday
night, but did not pee him, and was very anxious
to speak to him. On the letter being produced,
Mr. Sergison said it Has his brother's hand-writ-1
ing ; he wits so much overcome, he was under the
necessity of leaving the room, and flew up stairs to
give vent, to his grief. The Jury, without hesita-
tion, returned a iseentet of Lunacy.
The deceased was nut 30 years of age, of a must
amiable disposition, and had some estates in Kent ;
he had been brought up tcithe bar, but, preferring
the army, lie entered the Kent Militia. He was
unmarried.
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Another inquest was held, yesterday, at the
White Lion pnblic.house, Market-lane, Saint
James, by ANTHONY GILL, Esq. jun. by virtue
of a Coroner's warrant, fur preventing the inter-
ment of Richard Whitmore, until an investigation
bid taken place, it being maliciously reported that
the deceased had come by his death by being se-
verely beaten on the head with a poker, by his
own soil. The corpse was stopped on Wednesday,
as was carrying it to the grave.
At one o'clock the investigation took place ;
two tuedical Gentlemen came forward, and gave
their evidence.
Mr.II. Scriven, assistant to Mr. Morris, sur..,
geost, N. 19, Great Marlborough-street, and
Mr. SVilkin, apothecasy, of James-street, Hay-
Market, stated, that they saw the body on Wed-
nesday hieit, after it was in the coffin, but in so
putrid a state it could not be taken out, it having
burst.
Mr. Wilkin said, that on Friday last he was sent
to attend the deceased io the morning ; he ap.
peared to him almost strangled ; and, from the

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