The Express. — 1865-05-03 (London, England)

THE  BANKER.  Yesterday an inquiry was held by Mr. W. Cartier coroner for Surrey. at Clarence-house, Hallmantoo, relative to the death of Mr. William George Prescott, aged 64 years. Mr. Barnes, solicitor, attended to watch ; the proceedings oa behalf of the friends of the deceased. Colonel Arthur Prescott said be was an officer in her Ma. jesty's service, and was colonel in the Bombay Cavalry. The deceased was his brother, and was • member of the banking firm of Prescott Grote, Cave, sad Co., of Loadoe. : He ass unwell recently, and on Friday last wither came down to remain with him at his residence at Roehampton. In the evening witness walked out with him in the park in front of the mansion, accompanied during portion of the time by Mrs. Prescott. He was very taciturn, and would nos enter into conversation. His manlier was quite altered, and he theniedquite dedespondmg. He kept kicking the ground es be wialeed Wither said to Mrs. Prescott, " How dreadful my brother looks." His general manner made a stroog impression on witness. On Saturday morning, at 10 o'clock, deceased, Mrs. Wmoott, and witness, were standing at the door, preparing to go into the park, when Mrs. Prescott suddenly missed deceased. She went op and called out to him. He answered and said, "lam corning." Al be did not come at once, Mrs. Prescott went to God him. She came down again directly and beckoned to witness, telling him that deceased bad locked himself in the bath-room, and would Five no answer. Witness ran up and tried the door, calling out " William," but no reply was given. He went round to another door, and by pushing away a wardrobe gained admittance to the room. His then sew his brother with hie bead leaning over the bath and his throat cut. The blood bad flowed into the bath. His hat and the razor which he bad used were both at the bottom of the bath. Witness lifted him up and found that be was quite dead. Witness sent for • medical man. Witness believed than deceased's leaving him and going up and destroying his life was a sudden act. Coroner—Do you believe that anything connected with the bank acted apoa his mind? Witness said that he did not know what doomed might have said to others. but he told witness nothing. Mr. E. Parker Wolatonholni, a barrister, of Lioooln'eion, said that Mrs. Prescott was his sister. Os the bth April, whoa witness was going to Scotland, the deceased turned away his bead and gave his hand behind his back. He scarcely spoke a word, and seemed so desponding that witness said to his sister that Mr. Prescott ought to be watched. Witness would have thought in any other ens that a person so conducting himself would be likely to commit suicide. At the railway station he spoke of penury ; he said be could not do the work of the bank, and that he could get no moony. He stated that from the way he had made his will he had ruined himself. He said, " Ob, if I had only • mill residue left." Witness knew that this was all an hallacioatioa, sod often argued with him about the will which be bad before spoken of. Witham had given him even a legal opinion upon the affair of the will to show him be maid sot be rained by it. When he got into his carriage there was a great alteration in his • and be mid, " Don't speak to roe, I am vary tired, and going to sleep." Dr. Richard Haawall, c 1 Mitcham, said that dowsed had ' inflicted • very arteries wound in his throat with • razor. All the groat arteries and vessels were eat completely through. Death must have been instenteneoes. Withers had been in daily attendance on him fee several weeks past. ' He ass stifferieg from debility, the consequence of a °old, which had produced tethehitie, and acted on his nervosa system. He became so desponding of late that last Wednesday witness advised him to leave home and visit his ' brother, which be promised to do. A butler soma Scales deposed to the recent despondency ei the deemed. The Coroner then summed up, and left it to the jury to ; say 'bather the 01110 was Goo of fele de se or one in which the deceased bad loth ream when be committed the act. The jury, after delilassatiog, returned a verdict "that deceased committed nisi& wills la a state al temporary dersagerssat."  Miss*TorarAir Buz Flospruz, DITOWIINTRIF swum, 0117.—The marepts umber of Winds wawa during the wok sailine April 0, wa—Mitikkal, 993; oforestle 725 ; Mak 1,711; ebbe NO NM mow emela