The Sun. — 1845-02-19 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. L. BLANCHARD. CORONER'S INQUEST. On Monday evening Mr. Carter and a highly respectable jury assembled at the Spread Eagle Tavern, Canterbury-road, Lambeth, to inquire into: the cause which led the late Mr. Laman Blanchard, the well-known contributor to the metropolitan periodicals, to commit suicide. The jury, upon being sworn, proceeded to the late residence of the deceased, No. 11, Union-place, Canterbury-road, to view the body, which was lying in the bed-room. Upon the re-assembling of the jury, The CORONER stated, that what they had to inquire into would be the state of the deceased's mind at the time he committed the act of self-destruction, and upon the evidence adduced they would find their verdict accordingly. From the statement of the nurse, it appeared that about twelve months since the wife of Mr. Blanchard was attacked with illness, which, in the end, terminated in insanity. At different periods Mrs. Blanchard's disease became more confirmed, when, about two months since, while sitting in the drawing-room, she exclaimed to the deceased that she was afraid she was attacked again, and shortly afterwards her intellect disappeared. On that occasion Mr. Blanchard carried his wife up to her bed, from which she never rose. From the period of the death of Mrs. Blanchard up to last Friday evening, the deceased had been observed to labour under a great depression of spirits, and that to such an extent that he was afraid to be left alone of a night, so that when the nurse departed, his youngest child, a lad about eleven years of age, slept with him. The result of the loss of Mrs. Blanchard, acting upon the susceptibility of thee mind of of the deceased, created a disorganisation, which ended in h prostration of the nervous system, and Mr. Blanchard became subjectedt to fits. In the course of last Friday lie sustained two attacks, both of which he recovered, and at the usual whichhour, from nine and ten, he retired to his bed-room, accompanied by his son, and was between attended by the nurse. The deceased, s as performed his devotions, which he concluded the Prayer,intellects. and at that time he appeared to be in the fill'hs usual custom, enjoyment Lord's o his The nurse, on the termination of the evening prayers, left the room, and within three minutes afterwards ftem the throat of his parent,deceased committed suicide. The boy, on seeing the blood gush sprang towards him, and catchingfe hold of his hand, exclaimed, "Oh, fell, father !" when the deceased and In all probability died. Medical aid was called in, but the de ceased had ceased to exist. It was further stated that since the death of Mrs. Blanchard. and, although the deceased had been most desponding, giving existence to those charming pieces which pleased all who read them, he sinking under a most painnd state of mind. wag ciaioNsa, at this stage of the proceedings, remarked that the son of the deceased who, it appeared, had slept with his father since the death of Mrs. Blanchard, was in attendance ; but from what had couldcome to his knowledge, he felt satisfied that no additional Information be aed at. The jury said they were perfectly satisfied, and returned a verdict, " That the deceased destroyed himself while labouring under temporary insanity." It is to be regretted that the deceased has left four children to lament his untimely loss.  THE HOUSELESB Poon.—The asylums in Playhouse-yard, East Smithfield, and Ogle-street, continue crowded with unfortunate visitors, men, women, and children, although the Committee are daily engaged in indeavourlng to procure admittance for the applicants to their several parishes. The influx of destitute per!°l,3 18 So great, that the benevolent individuals engaged in conducting the affairs of the charity have been obliged to make a pressing appeal to the public for assistance in saving their fellow-creatures from perishing. They have relieved this season upwards of 10,000 persons, at an expense of 1,500!., and their funds have become frightfully diminished.