The Sun. — 1849-12-15 (London, England)

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY  DREADFUL SUICIDE.  On 'Thursday, the 6th instant, a respectable man named Robert lie,ndall, Letween 50 and GO years of age, by trade a geld and silver burnisher, residing at No. 15, Hatton-wall, Hatton-garden, Holborn, committed self-destruction under the following distressing circumstances:—lt appears that the deceased (who, had formerly been in very prosperous circumstances, and had brought up a Y large family in credit and respectability), has for some time past been labouring under an attack of nervous weakness, so much so, that it was with great difficulty he could perform the work intrusted to him to do, or with steadiness raise any food to his lips. This misfortune seemed to weigh heavily on his mind and spirits, he fearing that he should ultimately be rendered incapable of working at a3l, and that his business, which had lately been very slack, would altogether leave him, and his wife (who also assisted in his business) and himself come: to want. There was, however, no foundation in the impression that those who employed him would withdraw their business from him, for at the time, of his unfortunate death his trade was becoming brisk again. It seems that he has been within the last few weeks in an exceedingly depressed and desponding state, which caused greet uneasiness to his family, though there was no reason to suppose that he would do himself or others any injury. But on the afternoon of the day abavestated, the deceased, while at his worli*top at Hatton-yard, took the opportunity, whilst:dais wife'a,lafola was turned towards him, to drink a qualgity ofTe!kiiil of vitriol; which was used in his busiaieSOindavo. iia.a:hottle. The wife hearing a sutNeiskhiiikA447atiffeirned round, and asked tue detettied whet he hid done. He re plied, "1 ita,ve drank it (referring to the oil of vitriol) to kill. myself directly." The deceased's wife who was h.orror-struck, immediately procured assistance, andl he was conveyed to his residence, anel medical aid sent for, when Mr. Gibson, surgeon, of Holborn-hill, promptly attended, and. did everything that medical skill could devise to alleviate the intense agony the unfortunate deceased was suffering from the burning poison, but all human effo9rts were unavailing to save his life, and he expired, aaer lingering in great torture about four hours from the tin e of his committing the rash act. He was sensible: at intervals, and stated that he took the poison to 'kill himself, believing he should die immediately lifter drinking it, but did not think he should suffer :such dreadful agony, as he was being burnt to death.  The decease J, it appears, about an hour previous to his going :to his workshop, made an attempt to destroy hirivr,ell with a knife, but a son (a young man who is unfortunately deaf and dumb), who was present, percas.:ving the cbjcct of his parent, interfered and suemeded in wresting the knife from the deceased's hen d ; and, to prevent a repetition of the attempt, immediately hid the knives, &c., from his father's sight.. The afflicted son, on afterwards being informed by members of he family, in that silent, but expressive and intelligilale language peculiar to the deaf and dumb—by signs—of the fatal act committed by the deceased, explained also by signs the painful scene he fr,ld a short time l'efure been a witness of.  An inquest: .was held on the body of the deceased (who was murb respected) before the Deputy Coroner and a respectable jury, at the Rose Tavern, Hattun-garden, on Tuesday last, the 11th instant, when the jury, after viewing the body, and hearing the evidence of the witnesses, confirming the facts above detailed; from which it was apparent that the deceased was labouring under temporary insanity at the time he committed the dreadful act—returned a verdict to that effect.