The Sun. — 1845-11-27 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  Yesterday forenoon, William Carter, Esq., the Coroner, bell an inquest in the board-room of Newington workhouse, Walworth-road, on the body of Isaac Drew, aged forty.five years.  James Harding, of Brandon-street, Wal worth, deposed that he had known the deceased for some time past, as occupying a small shed in the same yard, belonging to Mr. Riddle, a cab-driver. The deceased was a breeder of pigs, and was well-known as a most eccentric character. On Monday morning last, between six and seven o'clock, whilst witness was in the yard, he observed the door of the shed wide open, and on looking in he saw the deceased suspended to one of the cross beams. Witness raised an alarm and sent for Inspector Collier, of the P division, who cut the deceased dawn. He was placed in a shell and removed to the workhouse. Witness slept in a van the night previous,at the end of the yard, and in the middle of the night the deceased came home very much intoxicated, and caused great annoyance by knocking at the side of the vehicle with a large hammer. He forced in the panel:of the door, but was subsequently persuaded to go to his bed, which was made of a blanket placed at the end of a large pig-sty. The deceased was of very filthy habits, and was very evidently in a deranged etate,and generally spoke in an incoherent manner. Inspector Collier, of the P division, stated that he was called by the last witness to the deceased, whom he found banging by a rope, which was fastened to a beam over a pigsty. The place was in a horrible condition; and how any human person could exist in such a dreadful den, he could not conceive. The deceased sold his pigs on Saturday for 51. There were only 6s. and a few coppers in his pocket. Hannah Drew, the wife of the deceased, said that she had been in the workhouse of St. George's, Southwark. The deceased was formerly a master butcher, in a large way of business, in High-street, Southwark, but from his dissipated habits had been much reduced. About three weeks since he called to see her at the workhouse, he was then in an excited state.  Sarah Drew, the daughter of the deceased, was next called, and said that she was in service. The deceased called to see her on Sunday last; he was dejected, and appeared very ill. He told her at be bad sold his pigs, and showed her about five sovereigns, which he placed in a dirty stocking, and put in his pocket. He left, saying, "If anything should happen to me, you will know where to find them." He then left the house, and she did not see him alive again. The deceased attempted to drown himself some years past by leaping into the water at Blackfriars-bridge, but was saved.  Isaac Drew, the son, stated that he saw the deceased on Friday last in Trinity-square. He was then in a state of great nervousness, and wanted witness to take 41., as he was going to make away with himself. Witness remonstrated with him, but he replied, "I must, I must do it !" He then left the deceased, and did not see him again until Monday, when he was dead. Witness thought he had destroyed his own life, but could not make out what had become of the money which he had in his possession on the night before his death. He was of (minion. fh.t he h.a heen empty' stocKing in wnicn ne carried MI money was lying in the pigs-sty after his death. • Inspector Collier said he had ascertained that the deceased left two sovereigns with a publican, and probably he had placed the other portion which was missing in some individual's hands to take care of, which he had been in the habit of doing for years past. The jury returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased had destroyed his own life, being at the time in a state of temporary mental derangement, brought on by his habits of intemperance."