The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-09-30
SUDDEN DEATH.

A coroner's inquest was lately hell in
London, GA the BODY of Sampson Perry,
Esq. gentleman who formerly was con
nected with public press, in the situation
OF proprietor and editor. Itappearcd from
the evidence that he had latterly become
rather deranged in circumstances but al
though considerably in debt, bis creditors
entertained the highest opinion of him he
was obliged To go into Whitecross street
| prison, and while he remained there his
affairs were placed in a way Of settlement
aud on Tuesday Last he was ordered To
attend in tie insoyent debtors court. On
| his way Ia Westminster for that purpose
the turnkey who accompanied him allowed
! hun 10 call aud see his wife, an aged lady,
lI'ng IN Southampton street, Bloomsbury,
where hr had held a house for % YEARS.
| Having taken some refreshmpnt, he pro
ceeded to the court, and no opposing cred
ltor appearing, he was declared entitled To-
his discharge. lie returned from the court
IN exceedingly good spirits, to Sonthamp-
ton street, merely To dinner, as the officer
who accompanied him was ordered To take
him back to prison, from whence on Wed
ncsday, he would have been discharged,
had he lived. Mrs. Perry had prepared
| some dinner, to which he sat down, laugh
ing and making some humorous observa-
| ton but llst as he was conveying some
| food to his mouth, he fell back in his chair,
cxclaiming, Lord have mercy upon us !"
and instantly expired. Surgeons were sent
for, bat Of 40 avail, the vital spaik had fed :;
l. on examining the body internally, II was
discovered thai his death was oecasi0ncd
| by the rupture Of the main artery Of his
hrart. He was 10 years ofagc, and gen
trman stated to the jury that his life was
full Of vicis9tude he had been opulent, g.
extremely poor he had had friends, aud
was berelt Of them aud he had had many
narrow escapes with his life, in situations Of
imminent peril, aud times Of great danger,
one of which the gentleman lustanced.-
During the french revolution, he was con
! fned nine times IN French prisons and
during the reign Of Robespierre, he was
confined With Thomas Paine, and was, by
the ierocious assassin, condemned to death,
without the thea thought unnecessary form
of trial. He escaped his dreadful doom by
the following singular fortunate clfcum
stance Ills prison or cell door was hung
upon a swivel, aud by the least motion
would turn round any way. The custom
was to mark with red chalk the doors Of the
cells of those who were condemned to
death, and his door was marked but the
turnkey leaving the cell in the morning
appointed for execution, accidentally let
the door turn round, not observing by this
motion the door was reversed, and the
mark of death" was inside instead of be
| ing out, and before he noticed the cirrum-
stance, the officers of execution arrived,
and took from every cell marked with red
clalk the victims OF revolutionary fury and
perceiying Mr.. Pcrry's cell not marked,
| they passed 1t, and when the gaolcr again
came round and opened the door, he was
thunderstruck ON finding Nj. Perry aud Mr..
! Paine alive: but ere he had time to apprise
Fany person, he was shot by SOME of the
nfuriatrd mob who had Just burst open the
prison, and who liberated the captiyes Just
as the monster Robespierre was led bleed,
iug to the scalfod. The Jury returned a
verdict of 3" Died by thr visitation of God y
Mr. Perry 5 widow e. JET. in very great dis.