The Sun. — 1848-03-28 (London, England)

MARCH 28, 1848.  MYSTERIOUS AND TRAGICAL. OCCUREEN CI; IN ESSEX. Much sensation has been created i❑ the c, noty of Essex, by an occurrence of a very tragical nature, which took place at Rayleigh, on Thursday last. -It appears that on the previous evening Mr. Thomas Roberts, a tradesman of that place, who was the nephew of the Mayor of Rochester, returned home about twelve o'clock at night, after playing a rubber of whist with some friends. He appeared in excellent spirits, and having smoked a pipe with his assistant and apprentice, they all retired to bed. Mr. Roberts went into the bedroom of the two young men partly dressed, with a candle in one hand and a pistol in the other, and, in a hurried manner, desired them to get up, and call in some neighbours, for there were seven or eight men in the house, who declared they would have his money or his life. They immediately ran out, and upon returning, they found Mr. Roberts on the stairs, with the pistol lying by his side, and his brains blown out. A surgeon was quickly brought in, but life was quite extinct. There was not the slightest appearance of any forcible entrance into the house, but in the sitting room a candle was turning, and eight wine-glasses, each containing a small quantity of gin, were standing on the table. Nothing was missed from any part of the house. A Coroner's inquest was held on Friday last to inquire into the circumstances of this very mysterious affair. The CORONER, upon the opening of the case, said that the first account he had heard of the occurrence impressed him with the idea that the deceased had destroyed himself, but since his arrival in Rayleigh, he was induced to think it might be the result of accident. Several witnesses were examined, who detailed evidence to the effect already stated. The CORONER, having read over the depositions, observed that the strong presumptton was, that the deceased, when he spoke of robbers being in the house, must have been labouring under some extraordinary mental delusion, for after the most searching investigation nothing had been detected at all calculated to justify that assertion. It was very difficult to assign any rational motive for such an as. sertion, even had the deceased contemplated suicide, there being nothing to prevent him. The case was involved in mystery, which no further inquiry was likely to dispel. It was probable that the wound which caused death was the result of accident ; at all events, the safest course to adopt would be to return such a verdict as would leave the matter open to further inquiry, should fresh evidence be obtained. The jury, accordingly, returned a verdict, " That the deceased, Thomas Roberts, came to his death from a pistol wound, but how or by whom inflicted there was no evidence to show." The CORONER then granted his warrant for the Interment of the body, and the proceedings terminated.  •The will of the late Thomas Duncombe, Esq., of Copgrove, in the county of York, was proved in the court at York, on the 29th ultimo, and in London, on the 6th instant. The personal property within the province of Canterbury alone paid a duty on 60,0001. The will is dated the 19th of February, 1840, and the executors appointed therein are Lord Feveraham, the nephew (then the lion. William Duncombe), and the Rev. Edward Duncombe, a son of the deceased, and who alone proved the will in the respective courts. The testator has be qucathed to his eldest son, Thomas Slingsby Duncombe, Esq., a legacy of 501.; his mansion, and all the messuages, lauds. and hereditaments in the township of Aldborough, Yorkshire, he leaves to his son Edward, and his lu irs for ever. The estates which he held on lease  under his Grace the Archbishop of York, situate at Monckton Naine, he leaves to his son Henry John Duncombe, together with the tithes arising from the said estates, and devises to him for his own use the messuages, cottages, lands, and estates in the parish of Burton Leonard, in the township of Brearton, Yorkshire, and all other his real estates, whether in possession, reversion, remainder, or expectancy, and over which he held any power of disposition, and not specifically given or devised. Leaves in trust to his son, the Rev. Edward buncombe, and his son-in law, the Hon. and Rev. John  Venables Vernon, so much capital as, when invested in the Three per Cent. Consuls, will produce the annual dividend of 5001. sterling, to apply such dividends to the use and benefit of his son, George Duncombe, for his life, and after his decease shall fall into the residue of the personal estate. Directs that his diamonds, jewellery, pictures, paintings, busts, statues, library, his wines, furniture, carriages, and horses. shall be shared equally among his sons, Henry and Edward, and his daughters, Emma Dawkins, Frances Barbara Vernon, and Harriet Vade, and appoints them residuary legatees. ENORMOUS Sow.—Mr. Gray, farmer, Auchterneed, has a sow which measures in length, from the snout to the tail, about five feet nine inches, and in girth about five feet. It is computed to weigh nearly 5001bs. This huge animal is only fifteen months old.—Ross-shire Advertiser.