The Sun. — 1853-01-21 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF DR. RICE, HEAD MASTER OF CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.  Last night an inquest was held by lt7r. Payne, on the body of the Rev. Edward Rice, D.D., head master of Christ's Hospital, in the board-room. of Christ's Hospital, Newgate-street.  The jury, of which Mr. Deputy Ekgleton was foreman, first proceeded to view tho body, 'which presented the placid and benevolent features so characteristic of the deceased gentleman during his life. On their return to the court-room, the following evidence was taken : Susan Bancroft she was in the service of Dr. Rice, and had known him for the last twelve months. At about a quarter before nine o'clock yesterday morning as she was passing Dr. Rice's bedroom-door, she heard a violent scream, and on going into the room she saw Mrs. Rice there, and Dr. Rice was hanging by his neck at the foot of the bed, and his feet were some distance from the ground. Mrs. Rice immediately cut the handkerchief by which he was suspended, and they lowered him gradually on to the bed. A surgeon was sent for, who had attended him for some time, but he showed no signs of life. She had seen the doctor on the previous night at prayers. Mrs. Rice read the prayers, but Dr. Rice was present. He went to bed soon afterwards. She had seen him low-spirited lately, she might say for four or five months past. She could not tell the cause of his being low-spirited, or had she heard him say himself. Last Monday he went into the 'dining room in this state, when he asked Mrs. Rice if she thought that he was out of his mind. Mrs. Rice replied, "Oh, certainly not." She had for some time noticed that he was very lowspirited, as he scarcely ever spoken when he was spoken to. Mr. Thomas Stone, resident surgeon to Christ's Hospital, said that he had known Dr. Rice for the last 17 years. Deceased was 57 years of age last birth-day. Witness attended him professionally for a nervous fever in May or June last, since which time he had appeared a completely altered man. He was exceedingly desponding and melancholy, and weak in body, which gradually increased up to the present time. He became so desponding in his mind, that witness required to have further advice, and suggested that Dr. Hume or the physician to the hospital should be called in to see him. Witness had taken precautions to have all dangerous things removed out of the way. So strongly were they convinced that he was suffering from derangement of mind that they required him to resign his head mastership of Christ's Hospital, which he did on Friday last. Of late he was particularly desponding, and the most trifling matters he magnified into the greatest importance. So firmly was he (witness) of opinion that he was quite mad, that in consequence of this he felt it to be his duty to inform Mrs. Rice of it, and to request of her that he should not be allowed to shave himself. She did not take his razors away, as she always stood by him whilst he used them. Yesterday morning, when she arose, she left Dr. Rice asleep in bect but in a quarter of an hour she returned to the room, when he still appeared to be asleep, and some time after that she sent Miss Rice up stairs to see if he was awake, but listening at the door, and not hearing him stirring, she went down stairs again, and found him in the situation the last witness has described. He was found at the foot of the bed in his night clothes, perfectly insensible, and pulseless, and quite black in the face, Witness opened a vein in the arm, and obtained a little blood, which was merely that contained in the vessels, and there was no movement, He performed operations for the purpose of restoring respiration, but without effect. He also fomented the body with hot embrocations, dashed water in his face, and'the servants rubbed the body for upwards of two hours, but all was of no avail. He found a mark round the neck, especially at the back part. A part of the handkerchief from which he was suspended is still hanging, and he had no doubt that Dr. Rice died from hanging, and that it was his own act. The day before Dr. Rice told me that his life was a burden to him, and he wished that it might-please God to take him. The Coroner—Do you think the depression of mind was caused by over study ? Mr. Stone—No ; I think it was caused by fever, as I have never seen him well since. The Coroner remarked that he dined with Dr. Rice at the Mansion House on the 29th of Oct., and he then thought he appeared much altered. Mr. Deputy Eagleton bore testimony to the same effect, as did several other jurors, to whom the deceoied was well known.  Mr. Stone said that his worldly affairs were as satisfactory as those of any man living. The Coroner having summed up,r the jurors unanimously returned a verdict " That D. Rice committed suicide while in a state of mental derangment."  8i St. St.  100 St. 6 25 50 20  13k' 20 20 50 St.  20 20 50 20  10 St. 25 25