Coroner's Inquests.
The Times, 1824-08-12T00:00:00

Yesterday an inquest was held at the Antchor and Hope Tavern, Lower-strect,lslington, before TO31AMt STIRLING; Esq.,_Coroner, on the bodly of Mlr. Edward Hart, aged sixty vears, a gentleman of roperty who resided itn thc New-toad, Islington. ,Ihc case excited considerable interest, in cotleequence of an ex. traordinarv mental delasion under which the deceased laboured, and several individuals of a sect to which the deceased belonged, denominating themselves the " Amicable Christian Society," at- tended tbe investigation. William llall, being sworn, deposed that he had knoown the deceased for several years. lie was about sixty years of age, and was living on his property at his residence New-road, Islington, in which neighbourhood Ihe had several freeliold houses. On Sun- day morning last witness was in bed at his lodgings, next hotuse to titat where the deceased lived, when he was awoke out of his sleep (the time being about three o'clock) by Mrs. Lord, a female who had been nursing the deceased, calling out that "1 M1r. Hart was in tke water-butt." Witness instantly got out of bed, ani after alarming anotlher lodger (Thomas Allen) out ot' his sleep, they proceetled, together with Alrs. Lord, into the deceased's bac -yard, where they perceived his legs protruling front the waiter.butr, and he head- ftoremost in it, which contained about four or five feet deep of water. They released hitn front his dreadful situation, but he ap- peared quite dead; notwithstanding, he sent for a surgeon, but it was useless to apply remedies. The deceased was a widower, and had no children. Vitness is connected with a religious sect in the neighibourhoodl. to which the d,ceased was introduced some time ago; atnd during the period of bis attendance, whiich was very punc- tual, at all thelir nicetings, he portrayed the strictest devotion. and was much respected by all the members; but latterly the deceased became afflicted with the rheumatic gout, which caused him to re- main at h'ome, which interfered materially vrith the performance of his religious duties, and seemed to prey upon his mind so as to have in ured it considerably, anct despair had full poasession of his mind, which originally posessed ease and coinfort; and when. ever witness met hini, he would express a desire for death, saying he was troubledl with devils, and that Satan visited him every night. Witness endeavoured to remove this miserable delusion, by render- ing him every catnsolatory adlvice, and requesting him to drive the delusion froin his imagination; but the deceased contended that his inagination had not been imposed upon-that he had too strong proofs that the Devil hiinselfm had visited him, which he was iQ the constant habit of doing every night. Witness frequently heard hirn talking to Satan during the night, as he could hear him through the partition, and requesting hirA to go away. The dc. ceased described his Satanic liatjesty, and his visits, as follows:- That wshen he retired to bed, his attention would be attracted by distant son(ds. shortlv after which Satan would make his appear- ance at the window, through whtich he wotuld cnter the room, and advance towartds the bed, while the deceased (as may be iniagined) lay tremnbling With fear, Tihe Deril would then mount the bed- stead, and sit upon his stomach, and breathe dowa his throat with such violence, that it had the effect of depriving hin of liis breati - after this, the deceased would say the Lotd's Prayer, and beg of the l)evil to leave him. After a short time, he would rush through the window and disapear. Witness heard the deceased frequently re- peating the Lord s Prayer, and speaking as if to the Devil, durimg the night; acid he (witne8s) asketd frequently to pray by him, and read the Bible. The deceased used to dritik a considerable quan- tity of water, sometimes a pint and quart at a time. Does not sus- pect any body threw him into the butt, believes it to be his own act, whether by aecideat or intention, it was impossible for himL :o say. He had two cuts over the forehead when taken out of the wa. ter-butt. and had on his greatcoat, shirt, breeches, and stockings. Mrs. Alary Lord, an elderly widow lady, deposed that she had been acquainted with the deceased for the last fburteen years, dur- ing part of whicii tIne his mind appeared to be aflected. In con- sequence of his illness, he requested witness to attend at his house, lo prepare a tew necessaries, to which she consented. He used to tell witnesg that the Devil was in the habit of calling on himn under the tnost frightful circumstances when lie was alone, 'but remained away wMhen any body was with him. WVitness remained with him during the whole of Satuirday night last. The deceased went to biet, and witness occcasionally lay down outside the clothes in her apparel to sleep. At a little before whree o'clock in the morning sIte avoke out of a trifling sleep, and felt for the deceased, who was then in bed; she shortly afterwards awoke again, and on putting her hand across tile beti, the deceased was ntissing. Sc arose in the greatest alarm and ran inito the yard, vwhere, after searching for him, she observed his legs protrudting from tie water.butt. She Instantly alarmed the last witness, who came and toek himi out. He was quite dead. Ilenry Hall corroborated tbte above evidetice. There being no tlirect evidenice to prove by what means the de- ceased got into the water-butt Thte Jury returned a verdict...." That the deceased wa- fountd tdrowned in a water-butt, having been previously in a state of tem- porary derangemetit." - Anotber inquisition was bielil yesterday afternoon, at the Three Mlariners' public-house. Fore-street, before TItIOMAS Sxcgt.TON. *sq., on view of the body of Edward Hanville, who came to his dteathi by talling from a three-pair window, on Mlonday night last. It appeared, that the deceaseti was a iarpenter by trade, and a ni- tive of' Blauidford in Dorsetshire, where he has left a wife and two children: about i t weeks since h`e came to tow-a, and got immediate employinent. On 1Monday dight last, about 10 o'clock, lIe camite home to his lodgings in Fore-street, in & state of extreme intoxita- tion, and retired witb a light to liis roamn, where he was ob- served in a short time afterwards by the persolia from the street leaning out of the windlow in etecim a way as to excite their fears for his safety. The persons in the lhouse were apprised of its but no ome was there but women, who were alraid to enter into the room ftom the state ot intoxication lie was in. In a few minutes he fell tloul the window to the pavement, so close to a Wonlan that had an ovster- stall on the spot, as to knock ofl l'er cap and.bonnet. His head casne with such violence against the flags, that lila brains were strewed all about the place. The jury returned a yerdict of" Accitdental Deathi." One or the jury addressed tie Coroner, atid wished to know from lint, whose duty it was to appoint the places of lolding the inquest? The CO RONER said, it was tile duty of thie chiureliwardens, but w ivas geiterally done by thie beadles. The Juryman said, his teason for asking the question was^ that the body was in the first instatiee talten to the Three Mariners pub- hc-house, but the landlord refused adtmitting it into his house; it was then taken to tie Green Dragon, a house occupied by a poor widow wotnan, who took it in, and who was at great ttouble and ex- pense in cleaning the apartment in which the body was deposited; and if it was in the power of the Coroner, lie hoped he would Award something from the parish for her trouble. One of the Chutch wardens was present, who said there were no fuilds for defraying stuch expenses t the oniv thing they could allow was 8s. to the Jury for their attendance 1 this, he said$ was generally spent, but they niight dispose of it as they thought proper. The Jurynian wished to ask the Coroner, if publicans were eb hfd to take bodies under such circumstances ? '1 he COn.ONER raid, they had no mnore right than anyother indi- CORONER'S INQUESTS.