The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-24 00:00:00

PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
J. Job, T. and W. W. Bailey and W. Jones, Liverpool
(so far as regents W. W. Bnlley)—T. Mearbeck and W.
Bellamy, Sheffield, corn-millers—J. Hubbert, 80C14114. and
T. Early, Halstead, Essex, woollen-manufacturers—J.
Thompson, W. Day, and R. Hudson, Halifax, bombazine-
dressers—T. Weldon and W. Ilinsirelwood, Lisle-street,
Leicester-square, tailors—J. Maidley and T. Chevrey. City
Wharf, Ul.;.er Thames-street, lime-merehanta-8. Fisher
and T. Williams, St. John's-street, West Smithfield, printers
—J. Gardner and .1. Price. Hentiah•buildiogs—T.Middleton,
J. Brocklebank, W. Irlorriy, J. Penny, R. Mordy, D. Mid-
dleton, B. Waite and J. Brown, Maryp,nt. ship-huilders—L.
Cheesrean and W. Backshell, St. Mary•-street, Portsmouth,
grocers—T. and J. Simpson. Eceleston-street, Pimlico, en-
gine-makers—W. Jones, J. Cropper, R. Benson, T. Crop-
per and W. Laird, Liverpool (so far as regards W. Laird
and T. Cropper)—W. Strong. J. Strachan and W.A.Strong,
Long-acre, varnish-makers—T. Hope and R. Q. Thompson,
Easton-street, Euston-square, grocers.

_
HORRIBLE CASE.
Yesterday evening an inquest was held at the sign of
the Green Dragon, Maddox-street, Hanover-square, be-
fore Turmas Htoos, Eaq.. Coroner, on the bodies of
Thomas ilonrard Griffiths, Esq., aged 60; and- Abel
Griffiths, his son, aged 22, who came by their deaths
under the following dreadful eircamstinces
The jury being sworn, proceeded to take a view
of the bodies, which lay at their house, No. 4, Maddox-
street. , The bodies of the slecea,A lay in the drawing-
room, and presented a most awful spectacle. The floor
of the apartment was covered with blood ; the father lay
prostrate on his hick in one corner of the room, and the
son was lying about seven yards from him. They re-
sembled each other very much, and the greatest interest
was excited on the occasion. Crowds of persons assembled
round the house and jury house.
On the return of the jury to the Green Dragon, Mr.
Hunter Nicholson, assistant to Mr. King of Conduit-
street, surgeon, being sworn, said, that be was sent for
at half-past 12 o'clock yesterday afteimoon. A person
called in great haste saying that a gentleman bad shot
himself. Ile went immediately, and arrived at the house
five minutes after the circumstance had taken place.
Witnesss was shown into the drawing room on the first
floor, where he found the two bodies, one near the door
and the other near the fireplace. The father was dead,
but the son was not quite so, but insensible. lie died
in five minutes after his arrival. Both the deceased had
their clothes on. On examining the head of the elder
deceased, he found a wound proceeding from a pistol
ballond a large quantity of blood had flowed there-
from, and witness had no doubt hut this caused his death.
There were no other marks of violence on his person.

The body of the deceased Mr. Griffiths, jun., lay near
the fire-place. lie found a wound on the right temple,
evidently from a pistol ball. which had entered the
brain. The brains of the deceased were scattered. about
the carpet. This wound, in witness's opinion, was the
cause of his death. There were two small pistols in the
room—one on the table, and the other on the tlosr.
There was a discolouration on the fore finger of the right
hand of 51r. Griffiths, jun., which causes witness to be-
lieve he fired off the pistols. The hands of the other de-
ceased were perfectly clean. lie had his gioves on, and
his umbrella and hat lay close by him, as if he was on
the point of leaving the roam when shot.
.1. Heaviside, Esq., sworn, corroborated the testimony
of the above witness.
William Wade, a min of colour, being sworn, said,
that he was servant to the deceased, Mr. Griffiths, sea.,
whose son occasionally visited the house. ifs family
resides at Southampton. He called five or six times late-
ly at the house No. 4, Maddox-stree', Hanover square,
where his father lodged when in town. The deceased,
Mr. Abel Griffiths, was studying for the law, and resided
ia.Tetuple-lane ; his father did not usually see him when
he made his visits. lie did not seen him the second visit
he made ; when he first called, his father was not at
home. lfe saw him the second time be called ; witness,
on opening the door, went up stairs and informed the
father that his son was below. He gave orders fur him
to walk up stairs. They were not on friendly terms ; the
deceased is not.tbe only sou ; there are brothers, and his
mothe& is living.. The fourth call she deceased son made,
he left his card for his father, and left the place. He
call again on Saturday last.
Had you any reason to believe they were not on friend.
ly terms ?
Witness.—Yes. The father had told me to deny him
when his sun called. On one oaasion when he called,
he requested to have an interview with his father ; and
on witness answering him, be was req•ieste 1 to walk up
to the drawing loons, but witness could not tell what
transpired between them. The last time lie called was
yesterday noon about half-past twelve o'clock, when wit-
ness was up stairs, He was informed by, a boy in the
house that a young gentleman was below, who was de-
sirous of seeing Isis (witness's) master. Witness went
down stal{s, and saw Mr. Abel Griffiths standing in the
passage. He had his arms folded, and appeared melan-
choly and dejected. He said be wanted to see his fa-
ther, and asked if be was at home; witness answered
" that lie was," on which the deceased asked, " might be
go up stairs ?" 'Witness said '• no ;" he would go, and
he accordingly proceeded np stairs, and informed the fa-
ther, who consented to see him. Witness conducted
him into the.drawing room, on which he bowed to Isis
father, who returned it. The father was going out at the
time, and hail previously announced his intention of do-
ing so to witness. They remained in the room shout 20
minutes ; they at first spoke very low : witness heard the
father say to his son, " that he knew very well what
would be the end of it ; he (the son) would not feel sa-
tisfied, until a gaol had picked his up." He also said,
"I allowed you a certain sum of money, and that would
hit's kept you very well. You ought to have stayed
where you was." He did not hear the deceased repeat
the spec.:fied sum which he allowed him—nor did he
know where his father wished him to have remained.—
)Vitness also beard the father say to his sun, " I must go
out."
Coroner—Did you hear the son threaten him?—l did not.
Juryman—Were there ever any letters received at the
house Irons the deceased youth? Witness could only
speak to one, the cements of which he knew nothing
ahotit. His mast♦r appeared vexed with his son while
in the room. They bad not been there dung when wit-
ness heard the reportbf a pistol. He went to ascertain
the cause, and a lady of the house was near the door:
they shortly after beard the report of a second pistol, and
on opening the door, they saw the old
.gentleman lying out
the door, and bleeding very much:
Do you think your master was shot by his son, the de-1
Based.?—l suspect so.
A getidecianliere suggested that evidence ought to be:
produsced relative to the son's state of mind. de bad!
chambers at Mr. Stwerd's, No. 5, Temple-lane, who, no
doubt, could give evidence to that effect. The eldest de-
reaard ass a planter at Barbados's.
Mary Knight, who lino in the same house, and Sarah
Gould, servant to the deceased Mr. Urithths, len., corro-
borated the testimony givee above.
The Coroner, us order to rive time for the produe
tion of further evidence, edjourned,the inquest until fourfi
o'clock this days