The Sun. — 1853-06-08 (London, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE AT DARTFORD.  An appalling act of self-destruction was committed early on Wednesday morning last, by a gentleman who had taken a bed over night at the Bull and George Inn, Dartford. The deceased, whose name was Henry Lavender Culmer, was manager for Messrs. Saunders and Otley, publishers, Conduit-street, London. He was single, and 34 years old. IL appears that he went to the Bull and George about 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, but nothing peculiar was observed in his behaviour. He was writing during a great part of the day, and went to bed at about 11 at night, having first smoked a cigar with Mr. Meyers, the landlord, and asked the servant to call him at 7. She did so, but received no answer, and her attention being called another way she did not proceed to call him for another hour, when she went again and knocked at his door, but received no reply. She imagined that he was writing, and did not want to be disturbed, as she had seen him writing so much on the previous day. However, she went again about 10 o'clock, and still receiving no reply, she communicated the fact to her mistress, who instantly told Mr. Meyers her apprehensions that something was wrong, a recollection flashing across her mind that early in the morning she had heard the report of fire-arms without knowing whence it proceeded Mr. Meyers immediately sent for Brandon, the superintending constable, who proceeded to the deceased's bedroam, and finding the door locked they burst it open, when a horrible scene was disclosed. Deceased, partly dressed, was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his head literally severed from his body, nothing but the vertebrae sustaining it. Close to his head was a razor ; a pistol recently discharged laid on the table covered with blood, and also another likewise covered with blood, loaded, but having no cap on. A hole was discovered beside his ear, which had received the contents of the pistol, but it is supposed that the first discharge not proving effective, he had taken up the second pistol, but could not discharge it in consequence of the cap being off, and that he must then have resorted to the rum. Mr. Meyers instantly sent for Dr. Culhane, but life had been extinct several hours.  An inquest was held on the body on Thursday even• ing, before C. J. Carter, Esq., coroner, when it appeared from the evidence of Dr. Gill, deceased's medical attendant, from London, that deceased had been subject to palpitation of the heart, sometimes to an extent bordering on insanity. Witness had received a registered letter from the deceased, enclosing three others to the de. ceased's employers, but he had not brought down the letters. The deceased stated in his letter to Dr. Gill that he was in a depressed state of mind, and concluded by saying that before he received his letter the hand which wrote it would be closed in death; His father had committed suicide about twelve years ago, and the deceased had mentioned this fact to Dr. Gill, and expressed his abhorrence of the act. From the uncle of the deceased, who was also present,,s,,, liaatst t ecworanlsy. deceased's elicited had beenmatters hiial dt preyedhe habit In eufehon the making satnanatlllyowwalcteintgo htois mholitnhefro,rwmhoo,nneeyv,eratnhdelehssa,d threatened to expose him to his employers if he did not give her more. This letter seemed to excite him very much, and to prey on his spirits, as there we re no grounds for any exposure, deceased being highly trustworthy and enjoying the full confidence of his employers. There was another source of trouble to the deceased. a youlig la beenr res peol engaged de to on He offe thhaedoo consequencedy ,of whot li thefrequently inpe property, einiacde , that deceased broke n Some other facts were stated excited state of his mind. character, and the jury 'returi porary insanity." show will, and bore an unimpeachable led possesseda verdict someof ~rrpermo -