The Sun. — 1819-03-12 (London, England)

JOHN PAUL, ESQ. A Coroner's Itmest was held yesterday after' noon, before THOMAS SHRLTON, Esq. Coroner for London, at the Committee-room of St. Olave•s • workhouse, Southwark, on the body of John Paul, Esq. a merchant in the City, who. put an end to his existence by drowning himself. ' The deceased %vas a brother of James Paul, Esq. for. merly a Candidate for Westminster, who fought a duel with Sir Francis Bartlett, and who some months afterwards shot himself. Another brother, 'l'. Patd,,Esq., -a merchant of Birmingham, poisoned himself-a short tinge ago. The Jury, being sworn, took a view of the body of the deceased : it was in such a state that, bat for his apparel, his identity would lire been tendered doubtful. John Stevenson, the Mate of rite -Humility sloop, moored near Gunshot-wharf, on the River Thames, found the body on Tuesday morning last, and had it conveyed in a shell to the deadhouSe of St. Olave's, Isabella Brown stated, that she was' house, keeper to the deceased ; he was a merchant, residing at 3, Crescent, Minories. The deceased had been absent. from home five weeks last Tuesday; prior to hi# leaving home he was for tome days in such a state of irritation of mind, and so exceedingly distressed, that she felt convinced that he was not in his perfect faculties : she believed his affairs were embarrassed, and that might have produced the effect upon bis mind. For nights together he would leave his bed, and walk about the room like a person distracted; and when she spoke to him, he would burst into tears, strike his hand in great agitation against his foreh'ead, scream very loud, and appear in great terror ; lie did not like to be left alone, and compelled her to remain hours with him. On Saturday, prior to his leaving his home, he swallowed a great quantity of laudanum ; he afterwards confessed wfiat he had done, and medical alit was procured ; an antiunte was administered, ind he-recovered. On the Tuesday following he appeared much better, and between 10 and 11 o'clock at iiight he left home in a hackneycoach, and stated -that he would go 'and have a warm-bath. Although she believed him not right in hissitead, it did not occur to her that some person ought to have accompoied him to take care of h left 4 children, Heshai 18 months old ; his wife-died 12 months.ago. John Ramsbottom, M. D., of the Old Jewry, stated, that he had attended the deceased, plat found him labouring under disorder, both mental and bodily. A lefrer written by the deceased was found upon his table, addressed to his brother-in-law, Mr. Hewettson, the corn-factor, of Mark-lane, which witness had read, and from its contents he was convinced the deceased had 'Made away with himself. The letter is in the possession of Mr. Hewettson.  Mr. Simllard, assistant-surgeon to Ales!rs. dell, in the Minories, had attended the deceased on the Sunday before be left home,- when be was labouring under the effects of laudanum; with the advice of Dr, Itamsbottom, be sent an aperient medicine, which relieved the deceased ; be thought the deceased was not at times in his sound mind; he talked confusedly and jambe yently. Mr. Carter stated, that he was employed by the deceasvd to put his books hi order a short time previous to his leaving his house ; he found his accounts in great confusion.; and was' compelled to get a nee* set of books ;• he sonietimes request ed the deceased to assist him in 'transferring the accounts -from one book to another,* and upon those occasions the deceased, in the greatest agony of mind, would beat hi, forehead ; when he had taken a seat, he appeared for a time lost in thought, hut in an instant would start up like one. distracted. On the Sunday after the deceased took the laudanion he-saw him, he was very ill, and fell backwards whilst .talking to him in a state of insensibility ; he believed, the, deceased took the latidanum for the purpose of destroying himself be was hourly teased for money by his Creditors; and his embarrassments, iu the opinion of the witness, drove him to commit the act ; he was 35 years of age. It was stated by'a Gentleman on the Jury, that the deceased was formerly a merchant .at Leith ; he came to London about a year ago ; he was the agent in the business of the oil monopoly, and his speculations in that scheme caused his ruin. The deceased was brother eo James Patti, Esq., of Charles-street, .St. James's, deceased, and of Thbrnas Paul, Esq., of Birmingham, 'deceased, both of whom committed suicide.  The Jury retained a verdict, "We are-of opinion, tl►at the deceased was so far insane as not to Ue•accountabl.e for what he did."  Coroner.—Theo your verdict is—" The deceased drowned himself, being at the time in a 'state of insanity."  Foteolitti.—)(-les, that is our opioiou.  It was stated to the Coroner, that a Commission of Bankruptcy had -beets issued against the deceased during his absence, under the idea that he fled from his creditors.  -