The Sun. — 1831-09-13 (London, England)

JACQUXLINE.  SUICIDE OF JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ., M.P.  Last night at eight o'clock, J. H. GELL, Esq. and a highly respectable Jury, assembled at the dwellinghouse of John Calcraft, Esq. M.P., to investigate the cause of the death of that gentleman. George Renuison stated—l am footman to the deceased. Had been in his employ nine years. The deceased had been only three months in the house, No. 17, Whitehall-place. On Sunday afternoon, about four o'clock, I was in the kitchen when Miss Arabella Calcraft, the daughter of the deceased, came home from church, and went, as I thought, to the drawing-room, but not finding the deceased there, she called me and asked," Where is my father ?" I replied, " I suppose he is in his bed-room." She then inquired, " How long it was since I had seen him ?" I replied, " Three quarters of an hour." She then proceeded to his bed-room door on the same landing-place, and knocked, but it was fastened and she received no answer. She then proceeded to his dressing-room, which adjoins his sleepingroom. I followed her, and we removed some things which were placed near the bed-room door, which enabled us to enter it. On going into the room Miss Calcraft shrieked out, " George, George," and we advanced about two paces into the room. I then saw the deceased lying on the floor, with his face downward, in a complete pool of blood. Miss Calcraft threw herself on the body of the deceased, and cried out, " Father, father," five or six times. She then directed me to run with all possible despatch and fetch somebody. I went instantly, leaving her kneeling by her father. When I left the house there was no one below but the footman, the porter having just gone out. As I went down stairs I met the footman coining up, but did not speak to him, and proceeded out in search of assistance, and in the course of a few minutes Mr. Freeman, a medical gentleman, arrived; but prior to his arrival I had returned and got into the house, having the precaution not to shut the door. I went instantly into the bed-room of the deceased, and found Miss Calcraft still kneeling over the remains of the deceased, screaming and crying. She requested me to lift the body on the bed, which I was unable to do. I think I was absent about two minutes, and when I returned the footman was in the hall. As soon as Mr. Freeman arrived he proceeded up stairs to the deceased's bed-room. Miss Calcraft was still there, and it was with extreme difficulty that Mr. Freeman prevailed upon her to retire. Mr. Freeman then examined the body, and said that the deceased was quite dead, and consequently he could do nothing for him. Whilst the examination was going on Miss Calcraft again entered the apartment, and reluctantly quitted it again. As soon as she was gone out, I and Mr. Freeman lifted the body on the bed. On lifting him up I saw a dreadful gash in his throat, and he had a bloody razor firmly grasped in his right hand. The deceased was attired in his dressing jacket, black waistcoat and pantaloons, stockings and shoes, his cravat was on the bed, and his watch lying on a small dressing-table. It is my own conviction that he committed the act himself.