The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-10-17 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  Surer t.—At there o'clock on Friday afternoon an loan:sit:vs was taken before J. W. l."Nwite, Esq. the Coroner, at the :Ship public-house, Flunt-street, Mile-end New Town, on view of the body of a young man named henry Potter, son to the proprietor of the house, whose death was occasioned by taking a large quan. tidy of arsenic. After viewing the body, which lay in the house where the Jury were sitting, and whither the unfonunate demised lied been removed (rota Hackney, where he had swallowed the de. lett-lens draught which terminated his exiscerate, returned to eke jury-room, and the following evidence was submitted for their con. stderation. Hannah Willing, a young and lovely looking female, in an ad. vaned state of pregnancy, was the first witness brought forward. Her testimony was as follows t—l ant a servant, and live in the family of Mr. Howie, at Hackney. I have known the deceased for nearly 7 years. Hr paid attentions to me as a lover, they were constant and unremitting; some time since, in a moment of weak. ness,.l yielded to his solicitations, the amsequence of which was that I became pregnant. I informed him of my siteadon, and re. cora ed him to fulfil his former promises of martin.? ; when I dui so I told him that unless out union took place I must be sacrificed to shame and disgrace, not alone in the eyes of his friends, but also in the opinion of all those who knew me. He became much ale. jectrl at my pressing him on the subject, and replied that by his complying with my wishes he would incur the displeasure of his friends I have frequently renewed my entreaties, but when I did so he used alwayi to introduce something quite incite' to out con. venation. The effects of my pregnancy on his mind were very risible, and from day to day he became more depressed. On Tues. gay last I received a message from him; requesting my attend. ante, I immediately went to where he then was. On entering the room he called to pie to approach near him, I did so, and he said. flannfth, I have taken poison ; I have tut a few minutes to live ; I hope you will forgive me." When he mentioned havieg taken poison I immediately sent for medical assistance. On the following day he etas brought home in a hackney coach, but still very ill. There was also a very great alteration in his marine?' latterly ; I have no doubt but he took arsenic, and am =tinted he was deranged in mind, memory, and understanding. when he did so; he with about 21 years of age. The unhappy girl while delivering her testimony was overwhelmed with grief, her anguish was extreme, and excited the sympathising commiseration of all who were present. Mr. J. Messenger examined.—l reside at No. 6, Triangle.plsce, Hackney • I have known the deceased for some time past ; on I Tuesday last he called at my house, and requested me to go, and have something to drink; I did so, and there was another yourg I man in company. We had some beer at the Wellington public. house ; the deceased went away about ten o'clock, and at halt-past two I heard he had taken poison, and went to a front room in Chat. ham-place. where I found him sitting, but he never spoke utter I entered. lat once procured some castor-oil, and a medical gemh. man Goan arrived ; I was obliged to go to town, and'did not see him again until II o'cloek ; I brought him home to his father's the next morning about II o'clock ; he had been much agitated and disturbed in his mind for some time past, in consequence,sa I believe, of a young woman being pregnant by him ; I have 110 doubt but that he took the poison, and that he was, at the time of doing so. of unsound mind. Mr. Thomas Ravin examined.—Before this gentleman gave his ' testimony, he asked the Coroner whether he was not entitled to a remuneration fur his attendance on that day, particularly as he hail come front Clanton, where he had left his business itnattended to. ' The Coroner regretted its not being in his power to make any order on the subject, aral added that his personal attendance was not required, for that a certificate would have answered all the purposes; if a dissection was necessary. and had taken place, he eoald thin order hint his fees. The conversation here dropped, and Mr. 11. proceeded to give his testimony. lam a surgeon, and reside a; Clapton ; on Tuesday last, about two o'clock, I was called on to attend the deceased. I immediately went, and having ascertaired that he had taken poison I administered strong emetics,. witidi brought up, I believe, the greater part of the arsenic from his sto. mach • but from the length of time it had been in the system (I believe three hours) all attempts at recovery were useless, and he dird io consequence. I afterwards analysed the substance discharged from the stomach, and found it to contain a vast quantity of deleterious matter.  The Coroner recapitulated the evidence, and said that no doubt existed of the deceased's having committed "suicide," but it was for the Jury to determine, whether, at the time of his doing on, his mind was in such a state as to enable him to judge of the criminality of the act. They, without hesitation, returned a verdict u: •' suicide, committed while labouring under insanity."