The Express. — 1864-12-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE OP A SOLDIER IN THE CITY. SINGULAR CASE.  INQUEBT.-(THIS DAY).  This afternoon an inquiry was resumed by Mr. W. J. Payne, deputpeortmer for the city of London, re• wetting the death of James East, aged 28 years, • soldier of the 3rd Buffs, who committed suicide by blowing his head off.  Sergeant Edward Butler, of the 3rd Buffs, stationed at Weeslon, said that the deceased was • private in the first battalion of that regiment. Witness identified the deemed as the same man by the moustache and eyebrow. On Tuesday week be got leave of absence from Major Gardner, until 7 o'clock the following morning. He did not return, and thereby he became • defaulter. He was not • deserter, for his death took place within five days. He was six years in the regiment, he had fought in the China war, and received the silver medal. He was • good soldier and bad the good conduct hedge. He bad • wife. He wished to get his discharge, and be was troubled in bin mind because he would have to pay IS!. for it. He said to witness, " I don't like to pay so much money for my discharge." Witness told him it is optional with you to pay or remain • soldier." He asked for his leave of absence shortly after that conversation.  tiT Sergeant Mitchell, of the Cite police, ea a from inquiries he had made be ascertained that the damaged came up to Loudon on toe day he got his leave of absence. He had received from his wife who lived in the country 181. to buy his discharge. A portion at least of that money appeared to have been spent by him in London upon ayzj woman, whose portrait be got, hut which be had crushed under his heel immediately heforehashot himself. _ _  Mrs. Ann Mansfield said she was the landlady of the China coffee-house hi Rishopegute-street. The deceased came to her house on the evening of Tuesday last. He was in uniform, but he changed his dress upstairs. He was • quiet, sober man. He lived there until Friday night, when be sat down in the shop, and talked about all the passing event, of the day. He wee quite sober, but in going upstairs he fell. He started up and rushed out of the home. He came bark in half an hour. and went to his room. and locked himself in with a key which he had asked for. In five minute. after she heard a load noise, and she went to the door and said, " Soldier, soldier. open the door .." There being no reply the door was burst in. Upon entering the room she saw a dreadful eight. The deceased's bead was completely shattered, and he still clutched • pistol in his tight head. He had shown her during the evening the portrait of • young woman, and he had been somewhat desponding. Charles Ruff, porter at the Chins Coffee-house said— I was called by the minus, who said she had heard an explosion. I rushed upstairs and put my nose in the keyhole because I had • violent cold. I said to the ninasits, "It must be in here; 'smell powder; it's the soldier." When we broke in the door I saw the portrait of a young woman crushed on the floor. The soldier had never brought • young woman to the omfarbonse. _  -Serge.ant Westwood,' City police, said that be searched the room occupied by the deceased. He found, crumpled up and stained with blood, • soldier's pass, dated for the previous Tuesday. There was • ticket of a perms to New York, ft was m follows : "trey and Co., King Williametreet. Ship Webster, Thomas Ashington, aged 25. Paid 31. 15s. for purge to New York. Bought 23rd Nov., ship to sail on the 28th." Alongside this paper lay three bullets, hail a pound of powder, • good cooduct badge and medal. There was • pistol in deceased's hand. Dr. R. Fowler add that when be was celled to the deceased he found the head in a moat shattered state. The pistol barrel was still warm. The pistol most hare been duchand in the mouth. The Dormerasked whether the young woman had been traced, and whether any of the deceased's money had been found.  Sergeant Mitchell said that no money was found on the deceased. Who the young woman was they had not bees able to ucertain.  The Cormier said that the matter would require to be further inveetitated. in order to ascertain whether it was a ewes of felo.de-se. It was possible that after having spot the money given to him for the discharge upon the writer of the portrait he might have Lad • quarrel with her on the night of his death. The court wee then adjourned.