Inquest On Count Schulemb...
The Times, 1824-04-01T00:00:00

Yesterday iLfternoon, at half past two o'clock, a most respectable jury assembledat the One Tun Inn, Chandos-street, Covent-garden, before T. HIGGS, Esq., deputy Coroner, to inquire into the cause of the death of tle above-named distinguished Hanoverian. On the Jury beinghworn, they repaired to the Count's apartments to view the body. On their return the foUowing evidence was entered into Mr. James Wilcox, wine-merchant, of Bishopsgate-strect with- out, stated, that he, about tbrce weelks since, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, was passing through Chandos-street, when he perceiyed a gentleman's carriage coming in the direction from St. *Ilartin's-lane, and nearly at the same molnerC the deceased at- tempted, and indeed wns crossing the road, and vwas knocked down by either the pole or horses, who went over himn, as did thefirst wheels. Witness called out and the coachman immediatelv pulled up; there were somae ladies n the coach: on the witness seei~ng him dlown, the hind wheels were very near his head; he was Instantly released, and was found to be insensible; he was carried into the s;hop of Mr. Mlorrisc. The w itness was of opinion not the slightest blame is attached to the coachman. Juror.-Did you desire himn to drive oD ? XWitness.i-Merely to release the body; the man seemed inclined to remain; he appeared shocked at the accident. On giving his mas- ter's address, he was suftered to proceed. Mr. Richard Pilkington, of Chandos-street, butcher, deposed, that at the same time and date described by the last witness he per. ceived a gentleman's carriage driving along Chandos-street, and at the same time the coachman's head was turned round to the right, and he was making some remarks to the footman ; the witness noticed this at the timre, judging it most improper conduct; within a very short space of time afterwards, hearing an outcry in the street,he ran out,and saw the carriage was stopped, and the deceased was lying on the ground senseless; lie was instantly removed. Coroner.-Did the deceased recover in your presence, so as to niake anv observation ? XVitness.-No, Sir. On his being takcn into Dr. Morris's, the doctor was much affected, and said, " Dear me, the Count ! he has only left my house five minutes." I had often observed the deceased, but never knew his name befose. A gentleman said, that it might be necessary for him to cxplain the cause, as he had learned, of the coaclinan's turning round. He was driving to an eminent jeveller's, Ml r. Salter's (who had removed from his house near Charing-cross to the corner of the Adelphi), and on his nirning into Chandos-street, the footman called out tosay he was going wrong, not knowing of the removal, when he turned his head tOsy he was going in the right direction. Ar. Richard Kepp described the accident in the same terms as the other witnesses, declaring that not the slightest blame could be attached to the coachman. He thought the Count must have been knocked down by the near horse. John'Field, Esq. nf 49, Devonshire-street, Queen-square, saw the accident, and also declared no blame was at all imputable to the coachman. Evidence was here adduced as to the owner of the coach and horses, it appearing to belong to a gentleman named Garrand. Alr. Thonias MVIorris, surgeon, of Chandos-street, said, he had known the deceased Coint for some years ; he was above 80 years of age, and enjoyed very good health for his time of life. On the 16th of March he was brought to the witness's, coveted with mud; he, on examination, was found to have been wounded or. the right temple; he was cleansed, and the wouid dressed; other surgeons were summoned. He lingered until Tuesday, at twelve o'clock in the day, when he expired ; he had never recovered his senses, hav- ing remained in a kind of stupor since the accident; the witness at- tended him most unceasinglv, and every possible attention was paid him; his death was caused by the accident, which produced a con- cussion on the brain. Leigh Thomas, Esq., surgeon, of Leicester-square, was then called, and said, his opinion differed somewhat from that of Mr. Morris, as the Count had been labouring under deafness, anel had a seton in his nerk, and several times had been cupped for a deter- mination of blood to the head; these might have produced death; and indeed this accident, accelerated by these facts, would have hastened his death, when in other cases a recovery might be possible. Mlr. Salter, the jeweller, said, from what he had heard and seen, he was convinced the Count had unfortunately been accidentallv killed, every attention had been paid the Count that humanity and gentlemanly feeling could dictate, and money was directed to be drawn from the bankers for his use; but it wras unnecessary, as the Count's finances were those of a gentleman of fortune. The first surgical advice was summoned. Sir Astley Cooper and other eminent surgeons were in attendance; but he hoped thejury, fbr the satisfaction of themselves, woald make the fullest inquiry, as it was desired by all parties. A juror thought it extremely strange. that the footman had not made his appearance. The gentleutan who had previously spoken said he had ordered him to attend;* asd to remove every imuression that it might be sup- posed he had prevented him, he should take care that the man shoutd appear when nnd as often as the jury pleased. MIr. 5-elton, one of the jurors, said he wished to check, if possi- ble. such careless driving; and he could not give his opinion unless he had the footman in attendance for further examination. After some further conversation, the inquest was adjourned until this afternoon, at three o'clock. IArQUJEST ON COUNT SCHULEMBOURC.