The Sun. — 1826-05-27 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN LAYMAN, R.N.  CIIIMTVTIZAM, MAY Q 5.  The melancholy death of the above officer has created a great sensation amongst the visiters and inhabitants of this fashionable resort ; and although the Coroner's Inquest was last night held before John Cooke,. Esq.,. at the Swan Inn, the cause which led to the act of self-destruction is involved in considerable mystery. The deceased was, it appears, an author of se►eral works upon Naval Architecture, and a brave officer ; his town residence was at: No. 84, Hans-place, Sloane-street,' and he had taken up his abode here at Woodland Cottage. He was about sixty years of age, a married man, without family. A respectable Jury assembled at the Swan Inn last night at six o'clock, and having appointed George Russel, Esq., their foreman, the Coroner proceeded in the investigation.  Mr.-Sadier, the high constable, who had been indefatigable in ecillecting evidence, kc., produced a slip of paper which had been found iwar thebath, in which the deceased had been discoiered with his throat cut, on which was written, in pencil, the following lines, in a strong, steady, and legible hand " Captain Edgetumbe will explain : but should he not arrive before the inquest takes place, the accompanying may be gpened by the Coroner."  John Cloward, one of the guides at the bath, proved that the deceased called at the baths on Monday, and ordered a bath to be got ready for him the following day at four o'clock, at 95. heat. He came punctually on the folloiving day (Tuesday), went into the bath-room, and ordered witness. to let him remain there for an hour; deceased was particular relative to the bolt of the door ; witness was greatly astonished when he went to the bath at five o'clock, and found the deceased in the bath, quite dead, with his throat cut. There was a razor lying on the side of the bath, which was given to Mr. Sadler. The' deceased had undressed himself, and had hung up his clothes in the greatest order. -Jacob Jeremiah Holdship, a Quaker,. affirmed, that he was manager of the baths, and had known the deceased for three year, ; he had been changeable and wavering within the last three weeks. Witness saw him conic to the bath, and he gave witness a note or lettei to take to Mrs. Layman. Witness saw him in the bath in the situation described, quite dead ; he found the slip of paper given to Mr. Sadler (quoted above.)  Coroner—Whst accompanied it? Witness—This parcel. (Witness produced a parcel, direct►d to Captain Edgecumbe.) Witness continued—The deceased was a married man, and lived happily_ together with his wife, excepting on matters of •ookery. _ _  (Here the Coroner opened the parcel alluded to above ; it contained two books, one written by the deceased, and the other the work of A.ccurn, the chymist. It also contained several letters.) Coroner—Here is a letter, or copy of a letter, but I don't know whether I ought to read it or not; it is signed William Layman. Mr. Jones.—l should say that it is in the deceased's handwriting. __  Coroner.--Here is anotber, but they are in different bands.  Mr. Jones.—This does not appear to be in his hand-writing. Mr. Holdship,thought it might be his daughter's writing, be, decided in the negative on looking at it. The Coroner read the copy aloud : it piwported to be a copy of a letter, dated March, 1822, and addressed to Admiral Sir George Cockburn, upon the subject of preserving the lives: of the seamen ; he also read (to himself) the letter which was proved to be in the hand-writing of the deceased. Mr. M. Jones said, he had known the deccaSed shout six months ; he rented a house of him from October, bet had since told witness he could no longer live there, as the cook behaved so badly to him. Witness questioned the cook upon the subjeCt; and 4he could assign no reasonfor having provoked his displeaserei as he (the deceased) had presented her with a sovereign for her good behavour. The deceased, however, still complained of the cook, and witness took her into his own service. Deceased called at witness's house, and paid him what he owed him ; wit.. nose asked him if he intended leaving; and he replied, that he did not know what to do; they wanted hint to be s►►nt to London, but he could not lire there, as it was all dirt and poison. If he went there he should be poisoned, as he could not eat any 'thing in London ; Mr. Accuni was the only man who knew aur thing upon that subject. Cheltenham (ths deceased said) Was the d--st place in all the world, the water was most filthy. Now (said Mr. Jones) it is very well known that. the water ,in Chelten.. ham is excellent. When it rained, the deceased used to send the cook to hold a dish under the aletis to catch the water. Witness was convinced that he was not of sound.mitid at the time be cone. *nutted the act.  • The Coroner and Jury now proceeded to Woodland-cottage to view the body, whither it bad been removed, under the direction of Sir William. Meta* Bert' the chief magistrate. The left side of the throat Presented a c*t of several inches in, length and depth, which must hive oicasioned almost instant death. On the return of the jury to the inn; the Coroner stated that there Wigs letter. (This was the letter which would doubtless have thrown inch a light upon the whole trausastion ; before he read it, he sired the court tabs cleared.) The Jury, after a short v=0;14604, returned a verdict of , " Insanity. de  The Rey. Francis lee, who committed suicide in the Albany, was an M. A. of Cambridge. He was the intimate friend of the Rev. Mr. Colton the author of Lacon. Early in life Mr. Lee married a sister of the Golden .Ball who soon after eloped from him • with Major do 131aqutere. The rep win make a rich harvest by Brother to Twatty's winning the Derby. He was an outside horse, and scarcely thought of, so that no money of any consequence Was laid against him.