The Sun. — 1823-05-08 (London, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE.  --•~ . • An Inquisition was taken yesterday before Mr. STIRLING, the Middlesex Coroner, on the body of Thomas Elliott, Esq. a gentleman of fortune, and a great patron of the prize-ring,.sports, the turf, &c. The inquest was held at the hoot of the deceased, 39, Hunter-street, Brunswick-square. Thomas Spencer, footman, to the deceased, stated that his master went to bed between one and two o'clock on Wednesday morning, and about eight o'clock a person called, asked if Mr. Elliott was within, and sans.eeremonie followed up stairs into the gentleman's bed-room, and he was soon followed by another—'These were a sheriff's officer and his man. They soon after retired below, and Mr. Elliott gave witness directions to procure a pen and ink for them to give a discharge to a writ of 331. 'ln a short time after witness heard the report of a.pistol, and he found his master had shot himself on the left side the abdomen with a horse pistol, which from excessive charge had ' nearly forced the lock off: Mr. Evans, surgeon, stated, that he was called in soon after eight o'clock yesterday morning, and he found the deceased dead, but warm, reclining in a chair with his shirt on only. There was a considerable would and laceration on the lower part of the' stomach, the effect of a discharge of shot. The charge passed through the heart and the lungs, and must have causedinstantaneous death. The pistol laid three or four yards from the body, and there was a short belt and • powder flask upon the bed. Mary Western had lived a year anti a halt in the service of deceased. II e was subject to pains in the head, and did not seem to know what he did or said. He used leeches upon his temples and medicines, agreeable to his own fancy ; he had been worse since a recent shock at the death of his mother, after which he kept his bed-room, and said every thing seemed to be going round ; he had lately been at Brighton, bat got worse, he drank freely and was irritable, and witness had often put razors and other instruments of destruction out of his way, fearing he would kill himself. His skull was fractured when a youth. The executor to the will of the father of the deceased proved that the deceased was not of sane mind ; he had been coerced formerly by a strait waistcoat, when young, and had been twice under the care of a keeper. The Jury expressed themselves satisfied, and returned a verdict of Insanity.  On Sunday forenoon, as a clergyman was passIn g along the Skinnersate, Perth, to his church. he was shocked to hear the sanctity of the day broken by a shrill pipe whistling "Up and waur them a', Willie." Ills own name is William; and his first thought was, that some profane boy might be mocking him, as the children did the prophet of old. *vent day he ascertained that the unconscious offender was beyond the reach either of spiritual censures or the police court. The musician was a blackbird. At the worthy Minister's sug. gestion, however, the sooty songster is on future Sundays to be confined to a back.rooin.—(Seutch paper.) Tuesday night, a shopman to Mr. FORBES, linen-draper, in Tottenham-court-road, put a night-cap on a .barber's.block, which he laid in the maid-servant's bed ; the maid going to bed last of the family, and seeing the appearance of a man's head in her bed, was so frightened that she dropped the candle, which set fire to the sheets, and the blaze communicated to her gown and apron. She ran down stairs in flames, and her cries alarmed the family, •who hastened to her assistunee and extinguished the fire in her clothes by rolling her in a carpet, and throwing a pail full of water over her; they then ran ,up stairs, and found the room all in flames ; with the assistance of some pails full of water, they succeeded in 'putting out the fire, but not before the.bed-and bedding and, principal part of the•furniture. were &strayed. The- unfortunate , girl was dumb.. burned. ip Oe.taga and 'ball&  SARACEN'S HEAL) and UNEQUALLED TRAVELLING, F 0 Li R INSIDEDOVER,,NrBi.se.,ysIe gstlr.apDAAtlAL, COACHES AND RAMSGATE, KE EISPI AGROGOADT f',:r, I NIA NE D, Canterbury,s:. ,)iti. 1 ko INN,D' rti nt o:FELeaNsßvot fr:TaNr 1 siN quarterD): eNac laluNEi IN,,i t. 1 ta. st lila: la, Rids t sgEsaaCEl et 1 : rodr:w., n Margate,i e SNOW'o c, iul i ce Check, rirlpi,r,suai deisit,E:o 11 o w ing