The Sun. — 1842-03-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF THE EARL OF MUNSTER. INQUEST ON THE BODY. Last evening, at seven o'clock, Mr. Higgs and a Jury of 17 Gentlemen assembled at No. 13, Belgrave-street, Belgravesquare, the residence of the Right Honourable George Earl of Munster, to determine the cause of the death of that nobleman. A gentleman, addressing the reporter, said, " I am the solicitor and friend of the deceased, and it is the particular request of his Lord hip's family that no gentleman connected with the Press should be excluded during the inquiry, because it it the wish of his Lordship's family that no portion of the evidence should be w ithheld from the public." Two pistols lay on the table in the inquest-room-4belme was,a pocket. pistol, the other a duelling-pistol, withithersorl of the Prince of Wales on it, and which had been made a pre: sent to the:deceased by George IV. when Prince of Walei. The Jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body o the decease, which lay on the Library floor, on the basement story, between the door and the end of the table, where his Lordship usually sat. The face and head were severely and extensively mutilated, and the right hand was wounded and covered with bloOd, Deceased was lying on his right side; the pocket pistol was on the floor near him, and the duelling-pistol lay on the table, near the chair, where it was presumed his Lordship had been previously sitting. The following was the evidence taken upon this lamentable occasion : Robert Dale Smith, footman to the deceased Nobleman, said—Last night, about half-past eleven o'clock, I was undressing, and about to go to bed below stairs, when I heard very indistinctly what I thought was the report of a pistol. The ibrary bell rung immediately afterwards, and his Lordship came out of the library, and he called out " Robert, Robert r and I said, I am coming. Then his Lordship called out twice " Miller, Miller! '1 have shot my hand." His Lordship came into the pantry immediately aftersiards, desiring me to go and fetch 11r. Hamilton, the surgeon, of Piccadilly, immediately, adding; " I have met with an accident, and shot my hand." He then said, " Robert, skew me a light, and I followed his Lordship up stairs to the library with a candle in my hand, and found him at the library table, near where a pistol was placed. He was in his dressing-gown, and he then told me again to go for Mr. Hamilton. The Coroner—Did you see his !hand then? Witness-1 did see it. It was his right hand; it was bloody; it was completely covered all o'er with blood. Exaniination in chief resumed--In order to go for Mr. Hamilton the surgeon, I left his Lordship's room immediately, and ran down the kitchen stairs to tell Mr. Miller, his Lordshipls valet, that he had shot himself. Just as I got to the bottom of the stairs, I met Mr. Miller, and heard another report, and then I said his Lordship had shot himself again. By a Juror—When I heard the first 'report I was coming out of the pantry, and then heard his Lordship's bell ring, and in an instant afterwards his Lordship came down into the pantry. By the Coroner—The second report took place in about two minutes after the first. I, Mr. Miller, and the under butler, ran up into the library, and there we found his Lordship lying as he is now, on hit right side, with his face shattered to pieces. I saw a pistol lying ott the floor near his right hand. His Lordship was bleeding then, and he died immediately afterwards. I then went for Mr. Hamilton, the surgeon, and he came with me immediately. By a Juror—For the last fortnight his Lordship has been in a very desponding state ; I think through illness. When I Stela Into the library, after the second report, the candle was out, but the lamp teas burning. His Lordship was not in the habit of leaving pistols In tile library. I did not conclude until I heard the second report that his LOtellthip had shot himself purposely. The Coroner (taking up the duelling pistol)—Do you know if this is one of his Lordship's pistols? Witrieq.:=-I do not know; I never saw it until last evening. fly a iiirof-His Lordship was under medical advice, and Mr. Hamilton and Dr. Chambers gait him on Sunday evening. By the Coroner—l have, not tile Meet doubt at all but that death was caused by an act of his own hand. When after the first report I took the candle into the library his Lordship said t hate done a pretty thing for myself by playing with ' piatalS " Dr. William fret:fetich Chambers, M.D., of Brook-street, Grosvener-square, examined—l Lids fent for: yesterday to see his Lordship, and saw him for the first tithe In my medical capacity, yesterday evening at 9 o'clock. I found tam sitting in his library, and Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Mr. Hamilton, slid hadt Manster was in the room with him. I was told that he had W'en In tl depreSsed state throughout the day, and 1 feared that he- was both tut* and mentally very low. Examined into his symptoms generally, &el received rational answers from him, but he spoke rather hastily, rind his general thinner wis hurried. After I had examined him sufficiently, 1 reqtrested Hamilton, his ordinary medical attendant, and who hid seen him for seeeral days past, to retire with me into the. next recoil that we -might consult together en the case. As soon is Vie itere alone in ;fie room tee both exclaimed at once " Surely Ire i 8 galifi Mill`," i then wrote a prescription for quieting medicne and some egoling , clraOghts, and then we came to the consideration of the questlof hew his Lordship should be treated as to any restraint which should fie tee upon him, as he had not committed any overt act of maillity. It was clef tO its tinder the circumstances that it would nsl be expedient to treat hitt as an insane person, although we thought' it right to communicate onr fears as to the state of his mind to his family. Another question Witt es to whether he should be allowed to sleep alone, or whether it C'e'ild be e±pedient that Lady Munster should be with him all nigiff: Wit determined en the latter.  NEW WORK BY LADY BLLSONG/DN• Just ready, in 3 vols. post Bvo.,