The Sun. — 1848-09-25 (London, England)

LAMBETH. DISTRESSING CASE.—A case of a peculiarly distressing description was last week brought under the notice of the Hon. G. C. Norton. On Thursday, after the night charges had been disposed of, Mr. Edward Franklin Kerr, a middle-aged man of gentlemanly appearance, was brought from Lambeth workhouse, and placed at the bar on a charge of having made a desperate attempt to commit suicide by jumping out of a wherry into the Thames. Samuel Granby, a waterman, said that on Wednesday afternoon the gentleman in the dock engaged him at the Horseferry-stairs, Westminster, to take him to Lambethstairs, and when about tyro-thirds over, and while he (witness) was speaking to a man on board a barge, he missed him from his boat. In a moment or two afterwards he observed him to rise to the surface of the water, and by a great effort succeeded in saving and taking him to Lambeth-stairs. The prisoner, who seemed overwhelmed with shame at the position in which ho was placed, declared he felt truly sorry for his conduct, and should not again harbour the idea of repeating it. Dickson, the constable, here handed to Mr. Norton three documents found on the prisoner, all of which were in his own handwriting, and all proving the most deliberate intention to destroy himself. The first of these documents was headed, " A Synopsis of the chequered Life of Mr. Edward Franklin Kerr, setting forth a few of the most remarkable events that have happened to me from my birth, intended to serve as an antidote fur the severe reflections which will be passed on the impious and rash act I am about to commit, and for which I hope and trust my blessed Redeemer will make atonement," and went on, as it purported, to give a brief history of the prisoner from boyhood up to the moment ofhis attempting the rash act. The second document was a letter to the Coroner of the district in • which the body of Mr. Edward F. Kerr may be found, written from No. 49, Hide-place, Vincentsquare, Westminster. From this and the former document, it appeared that the prisoner had been compelled to quit Boulogne in consequence of the events of the last French revolution, lie had held a public situation in that town for 25 years, and heing unable to obtain employment in England, after many effects for that purpose, had determined on committing suicide. Mr. D''nny, the prisoner's I inilord, was present, gave him a high character, said he had used every means possible to obtain employment, and expressed it as his perfect conviction that it was distress alone that drove him to attempt the rash act. Mr. NORTON on that occasion allowed the prisoner to go home with his landlord, and desired him to appear before him again on Saturday. To the poor number of 'day Mr. Kerr attended, when there was present a gentlemen who knew him in prosperity, and who poke e of his character in the highest terms. Mr. NORTON thought that under all the circumstaces tusn's case was one deserving of sympathy, and if made public, as he thought it would be, he also hoped hse Norton) rt,t for r) but that something would be done for him, particularly by his present thoseN in the literary world. The poor-box, he (Mr. wheaswsoourrlay orderto say waassovveerrye sovereign aw to in bfeu funds The unfortunate use. gentleman attempted to express his gratitude to the magistrate for his kindness, but his handed to were so intense that he could not utter a syllable Having been relieved by a copious shower of tears, he implored Mr. Norton to recommend his deliverer to the consideration of the Humane Society.