Afflicting Suicide.
The Times, 1824-10-04T00:00:00

An inquest was bolden at the Mloor's Ilad, Wandswort-., on Saturday, on view of the body of Alr. Samuel Crosthwaite, who came by his death in conseqeclmce of swaUowing a quantity of )au. danum on the Thursday night previous. Mr. Louis Cole, of Northampton-strect, NoTthampton-sqaare (brothcr.in4law to the deeaed), stated that air. Crosthwaite was a native of Carlisle, and had latterly carried on the business of a cot- t0n--pinner at Paisley to very consideralble extent: in consequence of some losses in trade, it became necessary for him to comne to Lon- don to effect an arrangement with his creditors.and in which he very h%PPilY succeeded, with the cxception of one person to whom he (deceased) stood ind,ebted to a large amount, and who refasd to gire any acecommodation whatever. On Tuer0ay )1., a letter renahed Lonidon, infornring deceased that a distress was put in on his preinises at the suit of the above-mnentioned in- ivi Udl. Th3s intelligence had an immediate and most powerful influence ois the spirits of Mr. Cresthwaite, who, after reading over the unwlcoame letter, emphaticaUv repeated-" It is all over now, `7 rrext step will be into the Gaz:ttet..and, after that, there is no- ding fcr me bat desoation and ruin-Ged help my poor cildren." On Thursday morning, he rose rather before his accustomed time, ordered breakfast in his own apartment, and on leaving his lodgings, l! ti'IYhat he should not sleep at home, as he was going a little wa&Y`.,r of town he then went into the city, where he transacted mine business with one of his creditors. and in the evening walked ou: to an acquaintance at 'andsworth, from whence intelligence was brourzt to -itness on the following day that he was no more. Mr. George Alford, of Wandsworth, stated, that the deceased cnae to his house on Thursday afternoon, between the hours of five anld Six o'clock; he appeared greatly exhausted, and witness pressed hinm to take sonme refreshment, but deceased said, in rather a hurried Manner, "No, no, nothing at pres1ent; I have already drank too mnuch." tWitness petceiving that he had not the least sign of liquor, repeated the words " Too muclh ?" and said " Yu certainly ave not drank anything since you left town ?" '-'Yes, but 1 bave," was htS repl, "ecncugh, quite enough-perhaps too much." However, in a short time after, he took some tea and a toast; smoked a rgrar, drank a gKlas or two of ale, and at his own dc- *Sre waS Fuffcred to retire to a rooM prepared for him, much earlier than his friend, could have wished, for he wasr generally a well-in- finrred man, anti, when in better spirits, a mostpleasing companIon. Ol the following morning witacis, who was to accompany the de- casetl to town on very urgent business, tapped at his rooni-door -hen breakfast wvas ready. N'o answer being returned, he entered the apartmnent, and, to his grea t surprise, fonnd deceased still in his riorhes, and seated in a great chair. apparently in profound sleep. Clser inspection, howvever, convinced rwitness that it was the sleep ofdeath: the limbswerestiff and cold-the eyes glazed-the lips ccdoairleas..he was no more-and had evidently ceased to exist for reveral hours. l\lr. *Vheatley. surzeoR, examined the body, by desire nf his frends, on Friday. Nearly one otsnce and a quarter of laudanum a-as lodeed in the stomach, and had unquestionably been the imme- diare cause of dissolution. 'he Jurr, after a short consultatinn, returned a verdict of in- s-nitv, produced by escessive relaxation of the aninial splirts. The utnhappy man wras, under more fortunate circumstances, dis- tnogui,hed by an uncommon soundness of mind, and was greatly esteemed ,'er the posenion of variousI talents. He was said to be only in his forny-tburth year, though, from the action of the drug, the isage V;Ore the liseainents ofmuch mnore advanced age. AFFLICTING SUJICIDE.