The Sun. — 1847-04-22 (London, England)

ICIDE OF SIR 11. WEBSTER. Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, and a jury of 19 inhabitants of St. George's parish, assembed at the deceased's private residence, for the purpose of investigating the melancholy affair. Mr. Weston, of Fenchurch-street, was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the family of the deceased. The jury, after being sworn, proceeded to view the remains of the deceased. The body was lying on a mettrass in one of the front rooms of the second floor— the same apartment ordinarily occupied by the deceased es his b. d ro on; it presented a ghastly appearance.— a jagged wound extending across the left side of the throat. The proceedings commenced with the examination of Robert Filson, footman in the service of the deceased, who said—l saw my master last alive on Sunday night, when he retired to rest. At 7 o'clock the next morning, in obedience to my master's instructions, I went up stairs and knocked at his bedroom door. He asked who was there? I told him who it was. He made re) reply. and as he sometimes did not like to be distui bed I went down stairs again, In about 20 minutes I went back and knocked at the door. I asked him if he had taken his medicine? but I got no answer. I went up again as near about half-past 8 o'clock as possible. At this time Lady Webster came out of her room, and asked me how Sir Henry was, and whether he had taken his medicine? I told her I had been to the room three times and could get no answer. She then went herself and knocked at the door, and asked him to let her in. He muttered something, but we could not make out what it was, and then she said the door must be broken open. Sir Henry and Lady Webster generally occupied separate rooms. I broke open the door in Lady Webster's presence. On entering I found Sir Henry lying on his face on the ground, near the foot of the bed. I pulled up the blind, and on turning round saw that - Lady Webster was in the act of coming into the room. I immediately prevented her. I saw blood on the floor as soon as I entered; there were tracks of it nearly across the room from the direction of the window. I took a pillow from the bed and placed it under Sir Henry's bead. He spoke only once after I saw him, and then merely said " he was cold." I saw a small knife lying on the floor near Sir Henry—a clasp knife. There were two doors to the room in which Sir Henry slept; both of them were tried, and found fast before we attempted to break open the one. On Sunday night Sir Henry appeared in his usual health. We had only arrived from the Continent on Friday evening last, having been travelling for the last seven months. About seven weeks ago, while in Paris, I first noticed a differ. ence in Sir Henry's manner. He then appeared to be unusually excited, and was more free than usual in his manner. He afterwards became very unwell, and suffered from lowness of spirits. He kept his bed while in that capital one day, or a day and a half. I never recollect his having done so before. A Juror—Have you heard, or do you know of your own knowledge, that the deceased had lost a very serious sum of money by a recent steeplechase ? Witness—l have no knowledge of any such circumstance. A Juror—Had you any knowledge of the knife with which the act was committed? Witness—l never saw it before. The CottoerEn—Did you ever hear the deceased threaten to commit suicide? Witness—Never. John Ashburner, M.D., of 30, North Audley-street, examined—l have attended the deceased Baronet professionally for some years. He has been during that period subject to attacks of gout and disorganization of the digestive functions. On February last he suffered from great depression of spirits, which I attributed to the state of his health. Dr. Holland and myself saw him together on Saturday last for the first time since his return to this country. He was then suffering from great lowness of spirits. We gave him medicine calculated to relieve his loaded venous system. On Sunday we saw him again. Dr. Babington met us on that day. We found he had not taken the medicine we prescribed for him on the Saturday. We urged on him the importance of his doing so. He said his bowels had been acted on without the medicine, and, thereforeehe thought there was no occasion for it. On Sunday afternoon I dined with the deceased, and before leaving him, about half-past nine o'clock, I gave him a calomel pill myself. He was in better spirits on Sunday, while I was dining with him, than I had seen him for some time. About eight or nine years ago he suffered from a similar depression of spirits. At that time he was occasionally greatly excited. On Saturday, after our consultation, we gave directions to the family and servants that Sir Henry should be watched, as we considered his state of mind required it. We, at the same time, desired that he should not be controlled in any way. The