The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-21 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Wednesllay and Thursday last, an Inquest was
taken by the Coroner of Portsmouth, on the body of
Lieutenant John tbgnell, of the 1U i ..nes, who was
Mortally wounded in a duel by Lieutenant William
Stuart, of the same corps, on South Sea-common, on
the morning of Thursday, the Bth instant, of which
wound he languished until Saturday, the 10th, when
he died.

Thomas and Jane Haines deposed, that the de-
[ceased was brought to their cottage, and that a pistol
I ball was extracted from him by a surgeon. Ti:e ball
entered the right-side, near the arm-pit, and was
taken out of the left shoulder. Lieutenant B. was
subsequently conveyed to his lodgings in Ilambrook-
row, in a post-chaise. Whilst he was proceeding to
the cottage, he said to the gentleman who assisted
him (Lieutenant John 011anlon), " John, he never
i came back to say he was sorry for it." The gentle-
; man answered, No." When lying on the bed, he
said, " I am sorry for you, Jack ;" and they both
shed team lie also said, 6' I discharged my pistol,
didn't I?" to which Lieutenant O'llaidon replied,
I " Yes, you did."
A. Aubell, who nursed Lieut. Bagnell, deposed,
that she had much conversation with him, and that be
said he had been wounded in a duel with Mr. Stuart,
and that he would hate made it up on the ground,
but Mr. Stuart was not agreeable.
Lieut. Day, of the.Mariaes, deposed, that baring
received a message from Lieut. Stuart, who wished
to tee him, he waited upon him. Ae met him at the
if door of his lodging-hoese, it. Stone-street, and was
instantly saluted with the following words, or to the
effect—" Day, I am the most miserable wretch !"
After Eicut. Day had expressed his sorrow on the
occasion, Lieut. Stuart entered into the particulars
of a dispute which had recently taken place between
him and the deceased. lie stated, that as he was
about to leave Mr. !lapel', at his lodgings, he
(Stuart) observed that he should make a call on some
one (a fernak zchwn thu bah visited is here alluded
o), and Mr. Bagnell immediately answered, " You
' will not be received." That Mr. S. then said, " How
do. you know I shall not be received.?" Upon
which Mr. B. replied, that he would not allow him-
self to be impertinently catechised. Mr. S. rejoined,
, that he would not allow himself to be bullied.
Bagnell then exclaimed, " What ! call me bully in
my own house I—walk out of it." That Mr. S.
thereupon went towards the door, and Mr. B. fol-
lowed him, with his hand touching, or nearly touch-
big, his great coat. This induced Stuart to say,
" Doe% touch me, Bagnell, for that never can be
made up ;" and when he had got into the street,
Stuart told Bagnell he should hear from him ; that
• Bagnell, moving his hand to and fro, said, " Go
along, go along ;" that Stuart, in the course of his
conversation with Lieut. Day, said, he was very
glad to hear Bagnell's wound was not tnortal,,and
that he was likely to recover. Stuart also said, that
Bagnell's first ball had passed very near him.
Lieutenant Jessop, of the Marines, deposed, that I
on returning to his lodgings on Friday afternoon
last, he found them occupied by Lieut. W. Stead,
who appeared very much agitated, and said, " Jes- !
sop, am not I a wretched fellow ? 1 never shall en-
joy
a moment's peace of mind as long as I
That, after Lieutenant Stuart had told him the cause
of the quarrel, he said, Baguetl must blame himself
for what had happened, in being obstinate, and re-
fusing to make an apology : that Stuart, however,
chewed great distress of mind ; he said it should be a
lesson to him as long as he lived ; and that, in future,
whatever atirout he might receive, or even if he was
struck, he would not be induced to fight a duel.
again ; but would rather verify the text in Scripture
that if he received a blow on one cheek, he
would offer the other to be struck also." This de-
ponent was part of two days in the house with Lieut.:
Stuart, And lie constantly evinced his great distress I
of mind and sorrow for the state of his poor friend!
Bagnell, as he called him.
The Jury adjourned its proceedings until Wed- I
nesday. Lieutenant Batmen was in the 30th year!
of his age. Ile married a daughter of the Rev. Dr.
Ashe, of Chippenham, where she now lives, and
by whom he had two children, who died. The par-
ties were the most intimate friends previously to this.
dispute.

One thousand rockets, invented by Mr. CON.
°arra, have been sent from the dept at Dover, ou
board one GT the ships in the Downs. to be employed,
it is supposed; de some secret service.
.'Ac : a.