The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1867-02-08 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

SUICIDE AT THE SALISBURY HOTEL. Much .00naternation was occasioned on Friday morning at the Salisbury Hotel, Fieetetteet, owing to a report that one of the visitors had committed suicide. It appears that on the previous night a gentleman named William Davenport called there with his luggage acd took up his abode. When first seen in the morning his manner appeared somewhat strange to the servants, who reported their observations to the proprietor. From what they had noticed it occurred to them thet his intention was to throw himself out of the window, and woordiugly a medical gentleman was sent for, to whom the facts were told. On hie arrival Dr. Wilson, of Fleet-street, made his way to the unfortunate gentleman's room, the door of which was thou looked. He then advised the proprietor to have mattresses laid down in the back yard, into which the mysterious visitor would fall, if he acted as was thought he would. This was done, and no sooner was it suggested that the door should be forced open than a loud "thump" was heard, and it was discovered that the unhappy man had jumped from the window on the fourth story (a distance of about 40 feet) into the yard at the back of the building. He had only his shirt, trousers, and socks on at the time, and in the descent his head struck the stones—the mattresses only proteoting hie body. His head was completely smashed, and one of the eyes had been forced out of the socket. Medical aid being of no avail, the body was conveyed to St. Bride's dead.houee. No oases can be aissigeed for an rash an sot In the of ternoon of Friday a brother visited the dead-house, and identified the body of the deceased gentleman. To show the determination evinced, it may be mentioned that on an en. trance being effected the room door was found to be substantially barricaded, a cheat of drawers having been placed against it, on the top of which was placed a portmanteau and other articles. A. loaded pistol, with several caps affixed, was lying on a table in the room. From several letters found on the person of deceased it seems that he had been engaged in business pursuits in Hamburg, and that knee his arrival in England he has been staying at Manchester, whence he proceeded to London, taking up his abode, as already stated, on Thursday night. The Inqueet. Mr. Deputy Payne opened an inquiry on Monday at the Barley Mow Tavern, Salisbury-court, Fleet. street, on the body of a gentleman named William Davenport, who committed suicide on Friday morning last by throwing himself from the window of a second-floor bedroom at the Salisbury Hotel, Salisbury-square. Sophia Paulet, a housemaid from the hotel, said that the deeeased came there about six p.m. on Thursday evening last, and ehe showed him to one of the second door back bedrooms. He had a large quantity of luggage with Mm. She supplied him with some hot water, and did not see him again till 10.30 p.m., when he rang hie bell, and complained that there was a lady confined against her will in the room on the opposite side of the passage, that there was a medical gentleman with her whom he had known abroad, and she said she would aoream if he did not let hor out, but he milled her month. There was a gentleman in the room but no lady. Deceased then *eked for some luoifer matches, which were refused. He then looked his door, and witness saw him no more till he wee lying in the yard. Ho apneared calm when talking to her. Richard Sexton, a porter from the hotel, corroborated the eke* evidence, and stated that he saw deceased next morning Maine on the windowsill, on his loft log, with the right hanging straight down outside, and looking down into the yard. The head porter came and threw a mattress into the yard for ' him to fall upon. Deceased fell iota the yard no his back, and his head Memoir on the fags. Witness fetched a policeman. A. doctor was also sent for, who arrived within a few minutes, and pronounced life extinot Joseph Trewley said he lived at 35, Wildernesslane, which was situated at the bank of, and overlooking that part of the hotel. On Friday morning last saw deceased sitting on the window-ill, without either oeat, shoes, or braces on. I sent for a policeman, who, after seeing deceased, went to the hotel, and informed them of the position in which he sat. Altogether he remained Reding on the windowsill about three-quarters of an hoer. He seemed considerably agitated, and kept stroking his chin and forehead with the palm of his head. When be fell he slid gently off the window-sill with his few to the wall, and caught hold of the sill with his fingers, and remained stapended for a few seconde, and then I fell without uttering any cry, with his arms above , his head. No one called out to him, and there was no I doubt het what he fell purposely. Mr. Lewis, manager of the hotel, gave oorroborative *widow., and said that no one went to his room door , or called out to him, for fear they eheuld frighten I him and induce him to throw himialf from the window. I If he had dropped straight down he would have fallen lon the mattraes. He moat have struck one of the I window sills underneath, whiela threw him oat of the iaange of the mattes'. Upon going to his room after , he had fallen from the window it wee found to be rlooked. He bolted his door, and also placed his port. mantean and a °beet of drawers against it. The room was in a state of great confusion, and on a chair by biabedeide was a six-barrelled revolver, lorded and "fedi. 4. Davenport said deceased was his brother. . He was 32 years of age, and a bachelor. He was. merchant, and kid been abroad six veers, daring which time witnees bad not *mei hire. Deceased had , been in •England about a fortnight, and witness was daily meeting to see him. Shortly before be same over to England he had an attack of brain:fever, bat Ameba quite recovered. Witness knew of nothing to konlaa ina: mind. He wee generally aMA of calm Misdeed temparatethahlte- . The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a werdiet of temporary insanity.