The Sun. — 1861-08-01 (London, England)

BULLER  THLO UGH BE TTIN G.  Yesterday evening an inquest was held' in the Board-room of St. George's Workhouse, Mountstreet, Grosvenor-square, on the body of James Mason, in the service of Lord Ashburtou, Bathhouse, Piccadilly, who committed suicide by hanging himself on the night of Friday or morning of. Saturday last:  The jury having been sworn, Charles Mason, Newbury, Berko, brother to the deceased, said his brother lived with Lord Ashburton, at Bath-house, Piccadilly, as butler, and had done so for twenty-five years, his age being forty-five, and he being a single man. He ho.d had very little communication with Urn of late.  Robert Holland, a carpenter, said he was at Work in the house on Saturday . Finding ho could not opea the door he went for a locksmith, but as he could not open the door he got a ladder, and :law the deceased on the bed hanging by his neck. By this time the police had arrived. The deceased was in a kneeling posture and quite cold, being suspended by his cravat.  Sergeant Dodsworth, 34 C, said he went to the house on Sunday afternoon and searched the deceased's room, and found memoranda relating to some horse racing, and in a dressing-table drawer found a letter, which was as follows :—" Please pay Mr. Russell the sum of £3 10s. for the King of Hearts," addressed to Mr. Ambrose, and signed J,M," He also found some sporting memoranda,; one saying " Losses, £9.” A letter was also read stating that there were changes in the house, and that he expected he should have to turn out at last. The room was not disturbed in its appearance. The witness Nobbs said he knew nothing about deceased leaving. Mr. James Rouse, of 56, Maddox-street, surgeon, said he was surgeon to Lord Ashburton, and on being sent for to Bath-house a little before four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and on going up to Mr. Mason's room he found him kneeling on the bed, with his forehead against the wail. A silk  handkerchief was round the deceased's neck. Rigor mortes had taken place. The mark of the ligature extended from jaw bone to jaw bone. From the position in which he found the deceased rapid insensibility must have taken place. He believed that the deceased had received intimation that he would have to go in consequence of some irregularity. He knew of nothing to cause the deceased to commit the act, but thought he had been less steady of late.  By the Coroner—l found in his room sporting memoranda, and had heard a year ago that he was in the habit of betting, but never heard that he took much. I saw him the previous Monday, but did not notice anything particular. Had since noticed a mark of a bruise on the nose and eye of some  standing. A Juror—Was his lordship aware he gambled?  Mr. Rouse said he should think not, and it was because of his becoming unsteady he was to leave.  The house steward said deceased was a very re— served man, and he was not aware he betted.  Mr. John Ambrose, the Georges, Shepher6's Market, said he first met the deceased last autumn. Deceased had frequented his house for the last three months, and he believed he had betting transactions,. as he asked him to pay people for him, but ho thought to no amount. He was a man of very excitable habits, running from house to house. As soon as he heard that he committed suicide he,  thought it a thing he was likely to do. He had not seen the deceaseal at his house for a week, but heard he had received a blow. The money was to come from Mr. Russell, a betting man up in the park where they assemble. Heard the deceased had received a blow in a quarrel. Mr. Russell was not a frequenter of his house. In answer to the Coroner, it was stated that the deceased was to leave, being under notice, but he had an annuity of £2O a year, which he would not have forfeited. The Coroner having summed up at some length, stating that he thought there was little doubt the. deceased died by his own hand, and that he was in the habit of betting, and a man of excitable mind,  After a few minut.'"s' consultation, the jury returned the verdict that deceased destroyed himself while labouring under temporary insanity.