The Sun. — 1841-06-10 (London, England)

THE LATE SUICIDE AT CHELSEA  CHURCH.  Cottwines IsQuEs'r.—An inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon before Mr. Wakley and a Jury, in the Board-room of Chelsea workhouse, on the body of Thomas Lloyd, aged 51, who precipitated himself from the tower of Chelsea new church on Monday afternoon. • . Mr. John Simmonds, the steeple •keeper, stated that abut half-past three o'clock on Monday, the deceased expressed a desire to go up the steeple to see the bells. Witness said, though it was not a usual thing to admit persons up the steeple, he was wiiling to Co'biluet him up, thinking that he had been sent by some of the parochial authorities. He ascended as far as the bell chamber, where he inspected the hanging of the bells, and then said he should like to go up to the top of the tower. Witness told him that part of the steeple was not in his charge, but in that of Mr. Crosier, but if he (deceased) would wait in the belfry he would go and ask Mr. Crosier to show it him. Witness then went and procured the key of the upper part of the steeple front Crosier, whereon they ascended to the summit of the tower, upon gaining which the deceased exclaimed, " What a delightful prospect ! Can you see Westminster Abbey from here ?" Witness assured him that he might, and crossed over to the east side for the purpose of pointing it out to him ;. at the same instant deceased went over to the west side of the tower. Very shortly after this witness called out to him, " Here it is, you can see the clock quite plain." 'I he moment he had done speaking he heard some one exclaim, <<lt is all over with me ;" and upon turning round, he saw the deceased's fingers, which were clinging to the parapet, disappear. Witness immediately ran down, and found the deceased lying on the gravel walk, about twelve feet from the base of the steeple, quite dead. In answer to questions by the CORONER, witness observed that the deceased appeared quite sane and collected, but seemed in a hurry to get to the top of the tower. Mr. John Jones, warehouseman, 15, Lloyd-square, Clerkenwell, deposed that he had known the deceased for the last five years. lie formerly kept a china and glass warehouse at Leamington, in Warwickshire. During the last ten days he had been residing with some friends in Lawrence-lane, in the City. fle was, when he last saw him, greatly excited, complaining that he had left a good business in the country for an uncertainty in town. His appearance on this occasion decidedly indicated insanity. He attempted to poison himself some time back at Leamington, after which he was placed for a short period in a private asylum near Warwick, but was released from it about three weeks ago. Witness hail been told by his wife that, since his confinement in the madhouse, he had frequently threeened to commit. suicide. His circumstances were by no means embarras ed, yet he was always apprehensive and miserable, lest his family should be reduced to poverty. '1 he deceased's medical attendant, who cupped him on Sunday, stated that he laboured under a disease of the brain. Police constable Grosse, 184 V, who saw the'tleceased preeipitate himself, produced eight sovereigns and two shillings which he found in his pockets ; also four letters sealed, one to his son, another to his daughter at school, and the others to persons at Leamington. Tire Coroner suggested that one should be opened, as it might enlighten the Jury as to the deceased's motives for destroying himself; the friends of the deceased, however, seemed averse, and the four letters, unopened, were ordered to be conveyed to the widow in Lawrence-lane. The Coroner said. from the statement of Mr. Jones, it was evident that the unfortunate deceased was not in a sound state of mind, therefore it was useless to examine more witnesses on that point; and the Jury returned a verdict in consonance therewith. The deceased has left a widow and six children.