The Sun. — 1853-10-29 (London, England)

ARTFUL SUICIDE OF LIEUTENANT BASSANI;  OF THE SARDINIAN ARMY.  Yesterday afternoon Mr. William Payne, coroner, of London, held an inquest in the vestry-room of St. Saviour's Church, Southwark, on the body of M. Graffinno Bassani, aged 37 years, formerly a lieutenant in the Sardinian service, who committed suicide at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-bridge, under the following circumstances. The inquiry created great interest, and amongst those present to watch the proceedings was Mr. William Carter, the Surrey coroner. Mr. Thomas Houghton Burrell said that ho was the proprietor of the Bridge•house Hotel, London-bridge. On Thursday morning last, between seven and eight o'clock, his attention was called to the dressing-room attached to the bath-room, by hearing the discharge of fire-arms and cries from the deceased. He went to the room, and found the door unfastened. On going in he saw the deceased lying on the floor ; he was on his right side, and his left arm was thrown behind his back. A pistol was found at his feet, and another was on the bed. Mr. Hill and Mr. Callaway attended immediately. The deceased was then alive. Witness proceeded upstairs, and found a note written in French, which stated : " London, Oct. 26, 1853.  "Sorrow and misfortune of several kinds, which I cannot resist any more, have determined me to this fatal resolution of suicide. From respect to my relations and toy position, I beg that neither my name nor my city b© published in the papers. My last thoughts are for my dear family and unlucky fatherland." There was also a postscript to the letter, which stated :  "Enquire at Messrs. Folco, Brothers, in Paris, Rue Boisne."  He (witness) also found a passport in the possession of the deceased, granted by the Sardinian Government. He telegraphed to Messrs. Folco at Paris, and received an answer to the following effect :  " Sir,—Since posting my letter yesterday, I received in the evening a letter from the unhappy suicide, dated the day before, in which he announces his fatal intention, declaring that he would not execute it in Paris, to avoid giving greater pain to his family, of whom he was a friend of four years standing." The letter sent also stated that the deceased was a banister at Bongo, until the revolution of 1848, which induced him to take arms against Austria. He acted in two campaigns as lieutenant in the army of Sardinia. Personally exiled from the country, he came to Paris, where he lived peaceably in the lawyers' offices, till he heard that several of his countrymen had made their fortunes at the Exchange, and he had the misfortune to be dragged into it, and there he lost 50,000 f. In spite of advice he again lost 15,000 f. He thought to acquit himself of this debt, when the decree of sequestration of the Austrian Government made it impossible for him to do so honourably. Nothing in his manner disclosed the tragical end which he meditated. He was to have dined with M. Folco, on Tuesday, but when dinner was ready he said that important affairs called him to London, and that he intended to go immediately. He then said that he would write instantly, and if his affairs succeeded he would let M. Falco know. He embraced his child, shook hands with M. Falco's wife, and departed. Mr. Charles 'Wells, surgeon, of No. 4, Wellington•street, said that he was called on Thursday morning last at 20 minutes to nine o'clock, and found the deceased in the room adjoining the bar. He was alive. He observed two wounds, one between the fifth and sixth ribs on the left side, and another an inch and a half further back. He was in a state of collapse. He partially rallied, but became worse, and hemorrhage coming on, he died at 20 minutes after ten o'clock. One bullet was found in the left side, which was quite sufficient to account for death. He saw the pistols, and found that they had both been discharged. Mr. Burrell stated that he had waited upon Baron Rothschild, the Sardinian and Austrian ambassador, as to the disposal of the body. The learned coroner having summed up, The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity.