The Sun. — 1830-06-29 (London, England)

DREADFUL SUICIDE.  The inhabitants of the Vauxhall-road and its cinity have been thrown into the utmost state of excitation and alarm, in consequence of the following tragical event, which took place on Saturday ,last :—A Mr. Ambrose Proctor, a gentleman well known in the sporting world, and who held a responsible situation in the service of the East India Com. parry, came, about a fortnight since, to reside at No. 74, in the Vauxhall-road. Mr. Proctor was, it is said, much addicted to the vice of gambling, and was a constant frequenter of the sporting houses in the metropolis, where he cut a gay and conspicuous figure ; but latterly, it is said, he had become divested of his usual gaiety of disposition, in consequence of having lost large sums of money in betting and other gambling transactions. Ott Thursday night he made his appearance at a well-known sportling house in Bond-street, kept by James Burn, when [termed good deal of what, in the language of the fancy, is [termed " chaffing," took place upon the subject of  his recent unfortunate speculations : this seemed to cut him to the quick, and he went home exceedingly mortified and dejected. The following day his conduct was observed to be very strange and wild by his neighbours ; but still no one supposed that he meditated self-destruction, and he retired to rest at his usual hour on Friday night. About nine o'clock on Saturday morning, Mr. Dennison, the landlord of the Lot d High Admiral public-house, next door but one to the house occupied by Mr. Proctor, happened to be standing at his door, when, to his horror and amazement, he beheld that gentleman rush out into the street, with a carving knife in his hand, which, after brandishing about for a short time, he drew twice across his throat, and inflicted a severe wound. Mr. Dennison, seeing the blood rush from the unfortunate man's throat, ran up to him for the purpose of wrenching the destructive weapon from his grasp ; the wretched man, however, defended himself in such a resolute and determined manner, that Mr. D. deemed it prudent to desist. The alarm becoming general, several police constables were attracted to the spot, who drew their staves and attempted to disarm the unhappy man, who made several cuts at them ; but, finding himself closely pursued, he retreated into the house and ran up stairs, followed by the constables, when a most desperate scuffle ensued, in the course of which several large looking-glasses were shivered to pieces and most of the furniture in the room sprinkled with blood, or destroyed; it is impossible, indeed to give a description of t he sanguinary scene, and it was not until the unhappy man was quite exhausted, from loss of blood, that the officers succeeded in overpowering and disarming him. A surgeon was then immediately sent for, and, in a short time, Mr. Hastings, of the Vauxhall-road, arrived, who sewed up the wound, and the unfortunate patient was then put to bed. Having recovered himself a little (the wound not being mortal), he inquired of one of the constables if it was true that his Majesty was no more ? The constable replying in the affirmative, the wretched sufferer exclaimed, " Then I am determined not to survive him Upon his appearing more tranquil and composed, the attendants withdrew, having previously searched the room and taken every thing away which they considered dangerous. On going to his chamber again, between four and fire o'clock, to see how he was, nothing could equal the surprise and astonishment which prevailed on beholding the unhappy man stretched on the bed, with his head nearly severed from his body, and quite dead. A bloody razor was found by his side, which he had concealed in some part of the room, and with which it appears he completed the sanguinary deed.