The Sun. — 1845-12-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE. saw some blood on Dunsdon's smallclothes when he came Last Saturday, Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at down stairs. I did not see any blood upon any part of the Percy Arms, Percy-street, Pentonville, on the body the bed-clothes. I said nothing to Dunsford when I met of Mr. George Graham, aged forty-nine, late of the firm him on the stairs. of Messrs. Graham and Adams, warehousemen, 11, By Mr. Waite, the solicitor—Mrs. Dunsdon was lying Cheapside. The deceased speculated extravagantly in flat upon her back when I went into the room. There railway speculations, and was on the point of forming a was no other person in it when I went in. Mr. Dunsdon matrimonial alliance with a highly accomplished and had on his working clothes when I went into the yard. beautiful young lady, when he committed a determined I afterwards saw the razor in Mr. Dickens's hand, and act of self-destruction. found it afterwards on a shelf in the back kitchen, be- Agnes Walters deposed that she was housekeeper to hind some dishes. Mr. Banham was making inquiries deceased, who resided at 11, Cheapside. For some time after it when I found it. I took it from the shelf and past he had been in a low desponding state of mind, in gave it to him. There was a little blood upon the blade, consequence, as she understood, of commercial embu. very little indeed. I quitted the service of Mr. Duns- rassmeuts and unfortunate railway speculations. On the don on Thursday, the day after the inquest. I had been 23d ult. she was sent to attend deceased at 24, Great in his service about nine or ten days. He gave me no 'ercy-street, where she found him in bed with a dreadful particular directions respecting Mrs. Dunsdon not being wound in his throat. lie was sensible but could not allowed a knife or other instrument. He never told me speak, and expressed in writing his wishes and wants. that he apprehended she would do herself harm. She When she entered his room he covered his face with his appeared always very comfortable, and gave no signs of hands. He lingered until last Wednesday, when he eccentricity. I never noticed anything to lead me to expired. suppose that she was a person of unsound mind. I never By the v ei oltoNEß—lie never threatened to destroy saw Mr. Dunsford shave at home, or saw the razor in himself ; on the contrary, he invariably expressed great any room in the house uutil I saw Mr. Dunsford bring pity for suicides. it down stairs. Mr. George Brace, solicitor, who watched the proMr. Cotton—Did you see any blood upon his waistcoat I ceedings for the creditors, stated that the firm appeared as well as on his smallclothes ? Witness—Yes, I mean among the bankrupts in the Gazette on the previous day. the waistcoat by using the word smallclothes. Mrs. Matthews, of 24, Great Percy-street, stated that Mr. Griffin here rose for the purpose of cross-examin- deceased and a friend of his dined with her on the 23d ing the witness, upon which all the magistrates retired ultimo. After dinner he took two glasses of wine. For for the purpose of considering whether they would allow months his manner was greatly altered, and he was so him to do so not. On their return, melancholy that she mentioned the circumstance to his Mr. Cotton said Mr. Griffin could ask the witness any friends. On the day in question be was particularly questions relative to her evidence, but they could not go low. spirited. About eight o'clock he asked permission into the defence. to rest himself on the bed, which she allowed him to Mr. Griffin—Were you ever in the service of Mr. do, in the hope that it might soothe him. lie was not, Turner. of Barking. however, many minutes in the bedroom when she heard Mr. Cotton—We can't allow that mode of cross-exa- I a scream, and, on entering it, saw him standing over the urination. wash-hand stand, blood flowing from his throat into a Mr. Griffin—l have a right to put such questions to basin while in his right hand he held a razor firmly test her credibility. grasped. She instantly called for assistance. Mr. Cotton—l have the right to say that you shall not Mr. Lewes Steuart hearing the last witness cry for cross-examine at all. . help, rushed into the room, and saw deceased in the poMr. Griffin—Then a person of the most infamous sition described. He attempted to wrest the razor from character may come forward and give evidence without f him, but had a hard struggle before he succeeded, a hen that evidence ben tested. But I must submit. deceased instantly fell down. Surgical assistance was Mr. Cotten—You must submit, because you can't help procured without delay. yourself. , . Mr. Fogarty, surgeon, was in attendance upon deThe witness was then cross-examined at considerates ceased, whose case was hopeless from the first. He was length, from which it appeared that Mrs. Dunsford had sensible, but could not speak, and stated his feelings in suffered much from illness, and was frequently compelled writing. His death was the result of the wound, after to 'seep b,r bed. Witness was cross-examined from the de- the infliction of which he was quite sane. positions of the coroner, and her anwers were principally to Air. Adams had been in partnership with deceased the following eilesti—l did not tell the Coroner that she for five years and a half. Deceased latterly speculated