The Sun. — 1855-01-09 (London, England)

TIIE FOLEY-PLACE TRAGEDY.  CORONER'S F.L'.TQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)  This morning, at ten o'clock, Mr. Wakley, the coroner for the western division of Middlesex, opened an inquest at the Devonshire Arms Tavern, Foley-place, Regent street, respecting the death of Mr. Joseph Latham, aged 44, who was murdered on Sunday last, in Foley-place— particulars of which appeared in The Sun of yesterday. Mr. Henry John Latham, of Erith, said that he had been a clerk in the Stock-office of the Bank of England. The deceased was his brother. He had not been in any employ for some years past. He had held a situation in the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, but at present lived independently. He had seen the body at No. 5, Foleyplace, and could identify it as that of his brother. By the Jury—I know nothing of the death of my brother except what I have seen in the public papers. By the Coroner—He bad been married 20 years, but was separated from his wife.  By the Foreman—He had been separated from his wife eight or ten years.  The Coroner—My brother passed by the name of Lambert, and had done so for some years past. A Juror—By what name did the female pass ? Witness —By the name of Lambert. A Juror—Are you aware whether or not his wife troubled him ? Witness—l think not. I believe they lived apart by mutual arrangement. The Coroner—And you are ono of the trustees Witness—Yes, I am. A Juror—Did his wife ever ask him for money ? Witness—l think not, as she had some property settled on her.  The Foreman—Did you ever hear the husband complain of the conduct of his wife, or the wife complain of the husband ! Witness—l never heard of any complaint on either side.  A Juror—Are you aware that he passed by the same name when he went to live in Dean street ? Witness—l am not, sir.  Mr. Alexander Bridges said that he was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and was in practice at No. 19, Langham-place, Regent-street. He had not seen the deceased before Sunday last. He was called that evening at 25 minutes after nine. He proceeded to No. i, Foley-place. He saw a policeofficer there, and found the deceased is bed, on the ground back room ; the door, when opened, led him to see the deceased at the back of it. By the Coroner—When I went into the room I saw not the slightest indications of life, and I found that the deceased's shirt was covered with blood.  The Coroner—How was he then lying I Witness—He was lying on his right side, and his chest was completely covered with blood. The Coroner—Had he at that time any pulse that you are awai e of ?  Witness—l felt and found he had not the least pulse, and a female was lying at his side in bed. The Coroner—Was she at all injured Witness—l saw that she had blood on her arm, and I handed her out of bed. She is at the present time under the care of Mr. Norman, a surgeon. I made a post mortem, examination of the body. I examined closely the neck, and found in the wound the bullet I now produce. The cause of death was this bullet passing through the first and second vertebrae of the neck, passing completely through the spinal marrow, leaving the bullet there, and lodged against the process of one of bones, perfectly flattening the bullet on one side. Death must have been instantaneous. I did not examine any other part, but the brain was uninjured. I have no doubt that the division of the spinal marrow by the bullet was the cause of death. The shoulder of the shirt and the neck were very much singed.  By a Juryman—Did the female say anything to you! Witness—No, sir, she was very confused. The Coroner—Who is the next witness ? The Beadle—Sophia DeVeaux, who let.the man in on ;he Sunday morning. Coroner—You are not attending the female, Mr. Bridges l