The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-14 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

The coroner, having taken evidence of the deceased noble-
man being found suspended to the bed-post in his sleeping
chamber at half-past nine o'clock on Wednesday night by
his valet, Manning, and of prompt medical assistance hav-
ing been called in, he proceeded to examine the Hon. John
Parnell, his lordship's eldest son, as to the state of the de-
ceased nobleman's mind. The witness stated that in the early
part of the month of April last, his father had a severe attack
of fever, which brought on delirium, and from that period
his lordship had been attended by Mr. Bolton, a surgeon,
and occasionally by Dr. Chambers. Witness arrived from
the country, and found that it was necessary that a watch
should be kept over his father, and Mr. Bolton desired that
every instrument with which he might injure himself should
be removed from the room. This arrangement was entered
into between Mr. Bolton and the witness's brother before he
reached town, and after the lapse of a few days he found his
father had got considerably better, and left his room. This
was in accordance with his father's expressed wish ; but Mr.
Bolton, upon learning that he had done so, said he could not
allow the deceased to be left unattended. Up to that period,
witness did not know the exact circumstances of the case,
but imagined that the reason his father was watched was in
consequence of his having had a fit. Mr. Bolton gave direc-
tions that the deeased nobleman's razors should be removed,
which was done. After that he appeared to have got quite
over his attack, but not having recovered his sleep, the me-
dical gentleman continued to attend him. His father had des
sired that the instruments of self-destruction should be re-
moved from his reach ; but about a week or ten days after his
attack, he inquired the reason he was being watched, and told
his medical attendants that he had ceased to have those im-
pulses to self-destruction, and he wished to regain his for-
mer habits as soon as be could. The witness added that his
father was very unreserved to him in the statements of his
bodily health and mental feelings ; and he knew, as a fact,
that the deceased had been, out of the last thirty-six days,
nineteen days in a low and desponding state.
By the Coroner.—About a week since, one of the bell
ropes had fallen down, and his father seemed very desirous
to know what it was lying there for, and of what use it could
be, and begged that it might be taken away, and put into its
place. On Tuesday last he appeared to be in a low state,
and witness offered to sit with him in the room, but he de-
clined the offer, and said be would rather remain alone.
The windows of his rooms were never fastened down, nor did
he (witness) believe that the scissors ever were removed—
such articles it was not thought necessary to remove, unless
he himself suggested it, and expressed his alarm. About
three weeks ago, he gave witness a large packing-needle, and
told him to remove it. Mr. Bolton did not suggest that a
person who had experience in the care of insane persons
should be employed to attend upon the deceased. Latterly,
he used to find that his faculties were, in some respects, gone.
He endeavored to read the newspapers, the Edinburgh Re-
view and Blackwood's Magazine, but could not. He did
not request that anybody should read to him, but preferred
being alone. He usually occupied his time by taking walk•
ing exercise. He never recovered his sleep, and was con-
sequently growing more debilitated and weak. He never
complained to witness of any ailment of the head. On one
occasion he was at Richmond, when he swooned away. He
thought that was a fit, and described that the feeling came
on at the heart, and ran up to his head. He sometimes
complained of giddiness in the head, and a rolling sensation
from ear to ear. Latterly he had the whole management of
the house and servants, witness having sonic time ago made
up his accounts, and delivered everything up to his father.
The coroner asked the jury if he should adjourn the
inquest for the attendance of Mr. Bolton, or if they
would like to have the second son of the deceased nobleman
examined? But as they made no reply, he briefly summed
up, and observed that it was their duty to inquire, in all
cases where a person was found hanging, whether it was the
act of himself or not, and after some further observations,
the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."