The Sun. — 1852-10-15 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE AT ST. ALBAIV'S HOTEL. An inquest was held at the St. James's workhouse, Poland-street, yesterday, by Mr. Langharn, the deputy coroner for Westminster, and a jury, to inquire into the cause of the death of Henry Joseph Bradfield, who committed suicide three days ego, in the coffee-room of the St. Alban's Hotel, Charles-street, St. James's. The following witnesses were called : William Frindley, Peckham—l have been in the army, and WAS a magistrate in the West Indies. I knew the deceased Henry Joseph Bradfield. I don't know where he was living of late. He had, some time ago, a lodging in toe Waterloo-road. He had been educated as a medical men—he told me so ; and was a surgeon with Lord Cochrane in Greece. After that he was in the Belgian service, in the Hussars ; but I knew nothing of him till 1835, when he went out with me to Trinidad; we went in the seine ship, and I have known him since. I left him, at the time the magistrates were dismissedata moment's warning, in Trinidad. He was not a magistrate then, but he was a magistrate up to that time. I don't know on what ground he was dismissed. We were all dismissed by the Governor, Sir George Hill, at a moment's notice. I did not see or hear of him for some years afterwards. I understood he went to Barbadoes afterwards as colonial secretary. I saw him afterwards in London. He was not pursuing any profession, but I understood he wanted to be restored as a magistrate in the colonies. He then had an appointment in St. Dominica, under the Governor, Colonel M'Donald. I saw nothing of him from that time till this time twelve months. He called on me at my house. He was then doing nothing, and I understood he had been very ill, and was trying to do the best he could. He was then in distressed circumstances, and living on his friends. His wife and child followed him to Trinidad. I saw him frequently within the last twelve months. He generally came to me on a Sunday, more than once a month on the average. I saw him last on Monday morning, about half-past one ; nothing particular took place on that occasion, but he was very much depressed in consequence of the injustice done to him by the Colonial-office, and he always laboured under that impression. He dined and slept at my house on Sunday, and he appeared much depressed. When he lived in the Waterloo-road his effects were there, and they were kept for rent which he owed. He told me so himself. • He never made any observations to me to indicate that he was likely to commit suicide. He was mainly supported by a friend, and he went out for four months to Belgium, to see the King of the Belgians, who know him well. Upon his return I saw him for a few Sundays, and I learnt afterwards that he had been to Osborne, endeavouring to see the Queen, who had some knowledge of him. [A. packet of papers was here produced and opened. In the packet were several poems and other works of the deceased. One of the books had on the cover, " To her Majesty Queen Victoria," and on another, "To H. M. the King of the Belgians."] The gentleman who was in the habit of assisting him, Mr. Winstanley, put an end to himself on the .Friday previous. Several papers were identified as in the handwriting of the deceased. I know that the deceased had published several works. I have seen the paper with the name of Lord John Russell in his possession. I do not know that he had lived in Park-street, Grosvenor-square. I have never before seen the letter dated from Downing-street produced. I think that is all I have to state. I did not see the deceased after Monday last. On Monday, October 11, he wrote to me a letter from the Junior United Service Club. In the letter he accused the Colonial-office of murdering himself and me. This paper contains a statement of his case, drawn up by another person. h (The packet of papers was addressed to the coroner, to Mr. Charles Dickens, Colonel M'Donald and Captainand Griis gallant friends ndley.) I cannot answer whether he had any means of support but from the gentleman who destroyed himself. On Monday I recommended him to go out to Australia, and to go to Westminster with the view of obtaining a passage. When he left me on Monday I bad no notion that he was going to destroy himself. For some time he was not himself; in fact, he was insane, and had been at one of the hospitals, as I understood. The CORONER said it was right that the documents should be laid before the jury. One of them was from Lord John Russell, and dated 28th August, 1841, to the Governor of Trinidad, stating that the deceased had made charges against the authorities in Trinidad, and that an inquiry into the charges should immediately be instituted; and saying that if injustice had been committed, the deceased should be reinstated in his office. The coroner read to the jury a long statement published by the deceased of his case, containing a correspondence with Lord John Russell, the Earl of Derby, Sir John Fakington, and a number of other distinguished men, and an article in a weekly paper setting forth his case. Mr. George Godwin, 24, Alexander-square, Brompton, architect—l did not see the deceased, and never saw him. I received from the summoning officer a letter addressed to me, on Tuesday evening last. [The letter was in the handwriting of the deceased.] The letter was written at my house, and addresses me as an intimate friend, and refers to the cruelties perpetrated against him, and the desertion of his wife. He wishes to be buried by the side of his mother, in St. Margaret's Churchyard. He disposes of his works—mentions the names of gentlemen who assisted him—and states that he bad two boxes containing