The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23
THE LATE PRESTON KING.

TIE eAb6 Gu6OtOW NtNQs
Resumption OF the COroner's Inquest
Further Testimony in the Case-Evi-
dcnce to tho Identity OF tho De-
ceased and His Mental Derangement-
The Verdict of the Jury, &c.
The resumption in this amentable OF the inquest
which stood adjourned from Thursday last for the pur
pose of ecitng further testimony the death Of the
Hon. Preston King, lato Collector at this port, took
place yesterday in the Coroners in the Brooklyn
County Court House. At half-past one O'Clock,
Coroner Lynch boug in his place, were also the
jurors. the inquiry proceeded with.
Mr.. Preston K Webster the first witness and
examined He testified as follows-I reside at present
in the city of New York, and am stopping at the Park
Hotel; acquainted well with the late Preston King
and he was relative of mine; the last time him
was in spring 1S4o; / have been absent from home
during the last sixteen seventeen years. the next time
him his dead body at the Atlantic basin In the
water there it brought from that TO the dead house;
II assuredy the body of Mr.. Preston King knew
1t was his body by the clothing features, shapes and
peculiar size of the body he short in statue but
was very lusty man. recollect having exactly similar
clothing to his at home; the members of the family
coincide with me as to the identity of the body;
he had shoe horn and tobacco box which he was part
culary fond OF carry ng about him.
To juror-I am positive that It was the body Of
cousin to the deceased when last at home weeks
before his DEATH understood that he felt much de-
the members of the family could not account for such
change; Mr.. King had been in very poor health for
some weeks prior to his death, and when he was at
home my sister sat up with him; the family physc
visited him, and gave strict directions that he should be
kept quiet; when my sister sitting up in attendance
upon him he would rise in the night hour and walk all
through the house, it then that she began sus-
pect that he was nsane Mr. King brought no consider.
able amount Of money home with him. he had
Regular examination continued by the coroncr-I ex-
amined the body of Mr. King but could not find any
marks of violence il beyond what might be occa-
Honed by the length of time 1t was in the water; the
outside and under clothing were positively his Mr. King
him pretty violent and afterwards quite the opposite
quite genile the way and his friends came to the
knowledge of his insanity was his sharp manner of
conversng, together with his other pecularities
Martin Thatcher sworn and examined he testified
was well and intimately acquainted with the late Mr..
King, and have been so for the last thirty years
more; reside in West Thrtvfourth street. and when
heard Of the misfortune followed the matter up until
went to Hoboken, where identified his hat; this
could not be mistaken in; i knew IL his
the instant IL shown to me; when saw the body
alter ii taken out of the water at recognized
it to be that of Mr. King the features somewhat
dsngred yet not 10 that extent that 1t would lead me
doubt the have often, after his appointment as
Collector remarked him in the Custom House for the
singular aud eccentric manner in which he would
times conduct HIMSELF he had previous to the unforu
act very odd pecuiares; it went far that one
time talked him privately and advised him to take
tour home; the Sunday before his death he my
position asked him what aed him and his reply was,
''well declare do not know he afterwards reqrcst
ed at the Custom House not to speak of his queer
movements and that il did he would 20 home the
| Thursday following be SAID he had purchased his
tickets to go home and that he would go home; Doctor
scrbed medicine for him. but he absolutely declined
take any Of IL; he ordered warm bath, which he
took at my house, and afterwards stopped all night
during the night he could not rest concnted but would
rise and through the house, about three O'Clock in
tho morning he and insisted that should get car.
he'd he
great burden Of his mind owing 10 the fact that
several suits of law had been commenced against him
sometimes he would lean back in the chair and laugh
| and at other times he would appear depressed and
melancholy; he was never done, when in my company,
| telling me that he would 20 home
To uror-I considered him deranged
Examination contnued-The deceased often groaned
heavily IL in deep DISTRESS he complained Of
headache, and would exclam "the light is gone outs"
his first arrangement OF mind was in the year 1898 this
believe was at Hartford Mr. King, pror to his late
panied by DR.. Sherman; the doctor, know the
entire way with him. (The witness here gave a full
which correspondent with that his body when il was
taken out Of the watcr) could not be mistaken in
the hat
To juror-The deceased did not speak Of being at all
deranged; would say that Mr.: King was about sixty
1"s ~ o,nsr w =, a"s h y. :, .y happened
positive that his brain was seriously affected; Mr. King
was good business man, and kept very close to II at
the Custom House; should think that he overtaxcd
his brain with close application he Short stout
neshy man. and at one time weighed two hundred and
adopted the habit Of constantly walking; even in the
Custom House he would not feel contented IL he sat
VIM. II Burieigh sworn-I have known the late Mr.
Kline since the year ls4s and have repeatedly met i'm
since that time. know nothing whatever Of his death
only by hearsay. however, saw his body when IL
taken the watcr and have no hesitation in pro-
nounclng Il 70 be that Of MI. King When talked TO
Mr. King never noticed anything peculiar about him.
He told me At time that his mind was quite over
taxed and that he kept too close 10 his business den-
/ REM ID in arf,c
were the same az those which Nj. King had invariably
bean accustomed TO wear since had first known him.
This witness testimony concluded the inquiry
Mr. Elias Lynch Coroner, thon addressed the jury
detan with any remarks In regard the evidence
given before you on this inquest One thing may be
fact that Mr. King came BY his death In The manner de
tailed before you. rhas n his body which found
admits Of no manner Of doubt The chain OF evidence
addressed before you fully vees this need not make
any reference TO the evidence further than TO say
plain and convincing II is not my province direct
you in the matter, will arrive n correct concu.
sion from the testimony you have patiently and
attentvey listened 10. Therefore satisfied tina,
you WILL intelligent jurors discharge your duties 70
the full satisfaction Of the public and friends Of Tho
deceased. leave the In your hands and you sir
now proceed to ycur room to consider your verdict
rHE VERDICT.
The Jury retired for about nrtecn minutes and rc
turned with the following verdict" dnd that the
late Preston King came 70 his death by jumping from
the feryboat Chancellor Livingston into the North river
and drowning himsclf on the 18th OF November 1886
while lAboring under state Of temporary insan,y.n
CoRoSER-Gentlemen, permit me 10 thank you for the
assistance have rcnded In this case you are
now discharged.
The Aflanthus and its Pernscious Effects,
We have received the following communication in
respect 10 the injurious effects Of the aanthus tree on
the human system o well as on plants, &c:
TO THE rprroR or THE HERALD
i Am Constant reader Of your paper and have
been for twelve years. i appeal 10 you TO urge
the Board OF Heath 70 have all the aianthus trees
In the streets ant yards Of the city clipped before
blooming All physicians will tell you how very I'M
healthy thoy Tor years my family and many others
In the city have ben Frustrated by illness during that
period To give you idea Of the poisonous influence
Of that tree. no flower will keen perfume In lie