The National Register. — 1813-06-06 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF NICHOLSON. Near one o'clock, when the Coroner (Mr. Martyr) was reading over the depositions to the several itnesses for their assent and signature, an alarnewas excited that Nicholson had cut his throat. He had been in the custody of two officers. of Bow-street, and of the City, and had been permitted by them to enter a watercloset in the passage leading to the servants'-hall ; the moment that he was released, he cut his throat with a razor, which, it 'appears, he had concealed in the front of his bseeclus. The gash was so deep and dreadful in appearance, and he bled so copiously, that it was supposed he could not live many minutes. The wound was so large,. that an hand might have been inserted in it i the head seemed almost severed from the body. Fortunately, Mr. Roberts and Mr. liot, Surgeons, of Bromley, were in attendance ; and the latter Gentleman immediately rushed forward, and stizieg the gushing arteries with both hands, and, with gredt presence of mind, contrivet'. to stop the blood with his mere grasp and pressure, till more regular means could be applied. An express was sent to Mr. Ashley Cooper, who arrived in three hours ; and it was the opinion of this Gentleman, as well as of the surgeons of Bromley, atter the dressing of the wound, that the man would recover. At seen o'clock on Wsdnesday evening, he was in a favourable state. lie had, for some hours, been able to speak. though he had said'very he would make no confession, nor give any explanation, but persisted in declaring his innocence. To a question put to him by Mr. Angersteiu, jun. in the presence of Mr. Bonar, whether he had any concern in the horrid murder? he looked in the face of the en' (piker, whom he seemed to know perfectly, hut moved his head slightly as if denying all knowledge of it. He appeared calm and composed during the whole period that he was sensible ; but there was a fixedness and determination in his countenance, from which it may not unfairly be interred, that lie would, if possible, repeat his attempt at suicide. Very stlict precautions, however, are very properly observed to prevent such a result. lie lies down enveloped in a strait-waistcoat, his arms being likewise held by two persons, one on each side of him ; his head also is kept in a steady posture, to prevent any motion which he might make to open or increase the wound. An officer of Bow-street and servants are always in the room to watch him. Mr. Bonar was there during the whole of the night. As he had stated that he was a Catholic, a respectable Gentleman, a Priest of that persuasion, was sent for, who was at the house the same afternoon : but Nicholson had made no declaration. He states -that his parents were Irish, his father a Protestant, his mother a Catholic : he pretends to be in doubt as to the place of his birth, but says he has lived chiefly in Ireland, where he was brought up, and where his friends live. His accent, according to the statement of a Gentlemen of the family, and the domestics, is decidedly Irish. He is a man about the middle height, not bulky, but well fixed and muscular. Ills countenance bears in it a decided resolute character, but his features are neither nnfavourable nor unpleasiug. His age is t 9 years. The Jury, after a long and patient investigation, found a verdict against Philip ^Nicholson, for the Wilful Murder of Mr. and Mrs. Bonar. We apprehend, that one passage in the evidence before the Inquest is not stated quite so clearly as it appeared in delivery. It refers to the remarkable fact, that each pair of shoes, those found on Monday morning, by Lavender, by the bed-side of Nicholson, and also the pair discovered in the closet by Foy on Tuesday, were all of them bloody. We re-state this circumstance, because we learn that there has been some misapprehension as to this striking feature of tire case. The poker, of which the appearance is so peculiar, may be seen at the Office in Bow-street. The inspection- of it may perhaps tend to produce further facts confirmatory of the present general Opinion as to the author of the murder, and iu corroboration of the verdict of the Court of luqueit.  in o'c wi 'tl fai cu 3111 Sc. of 111  NU-NE 6.  THE NATION  This monster has recovered the use of speech, but neither the Catholic Miuistcr, nor his medical attendants, have induced him to open his lips, except to own " that he has been a great :darner." He lies on a truckle bed in the butler's room, adjoining the pantry. 'wherein two men and a police officer are in constant attendance. He passed the night of Thursday in a very tranquil state, and t'regreatly dozed, but it was observed, that he opened his eyes at all times. when any mention was made by those about him of the murderous weapon used, or any allusion to the badness of his temper. He eyed attentively every stranger, and particularly noticed one of the coachmen, who went into his room after the funeral with a silk bat-band. Mr. Eylett, the surgeon, who sewed up the wound, remarked particularly his determined conduct at the moment ; lie never winced, nor made an inclination to retract from the operation. He lies constantly on his back, with his head raised by pillows, and so fixed is it, that lie cannot move so as to give the arteries any play ; or, in other words, to prevent their motion connecting them again. kr. Conant, the Magistrate, arrived aboat ten o'clock, oil Friday, at the house, and investigated the proceedings as far as they went: hilt nothing arose to give any further aloe to this horrible ' transaction. We might mention here au idle report of two men, of onspicions appearance, belug seen in a gravel pit at a very early baits. in Cie morning of the dreadful.transaction, but which we could lot trace to any authentic source. The Catholic Clergyman has never been alone with the culprit ; his right arni, and left thigh, betray evident marks of having received violent blows in sane way! missing his blow with the poker, which fell upon himself, is suppor-ed to have inflicted the latter &nixes. Whether he really meant to rob the house or not, cannot be ascertained, but one thing is certain, lie gave no indication of such an intention, for even the gold watches, suspended at the head of each bed, were not touched ; indeed they still remained in the same situation yesterday. The Clergyman who has visited him says he is not an Irishman, but a native of Chester. On Thursday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bonar were interred iu a new raised vault at Chisleburst. •