The Sun. — 1838-05-02 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  Yesteterday afternoon an inquest was held in the Board-room of S'; George's Hospital, Hyde-park-corner, before Mr. Higgs, on view of the body of Mr. John Kennedy, aged 2(1, who committed suicide by swallowingn quantity of laudanum. William Sherlock, police-constable of the A division, No. 125, on Saturday afternoon was on duty in Kensington-gardens. In going his last round, about five minutes before 7 o'clock in the evening, witness saw a gentleman lying on the second scat from the bridge that divides the gardens from Hyde-park. No person was near the spot at the time. On going up, witness discovered that the individual was in an insensible state. A phial produced, was partly out of a side pocket, on which was labelled in print " laudanum—poison," as also, " 40 drops for an adult." Witness found two other phials on the person of the deceased, as likewise, a case bottle, a drinking horn, a razor, besides cash, and other property. Witness sent to the Royal Humane receiving-house, for the stretcher, being at the time fully convinced, that the deceased was labouring under the effects of laudanum. The messenger returned with Mr. Pritchard, the superintendent, when the deceased was conveyed to the receiving-house.  Mr. Hammerton, the house-surgeon, saw the deceased on his ad. mission. Great exertions were made to rouse him, but with only slight success. He gradually sunk, and died about five o'clock on the following morning.  Mr. Clarkson—l presume you have opened the body. Mr. Hammerton—l have, and found all the organs of life in a perfectly healthy state. The deceased was a remarkably Moe, muscular young man. Mrs. Clarke, 28, Holles-street, Cavendish-square, deposed that the deceased and his mother occupied apartments in her house ; the former, who was a single gentleman, possessed considerable property. Witness is utterly at a loss to account for his committing suicide. By Mr. Clarkson—The deceased and his soother lived upon the most affectionate terms ; they were never separate. On Friday night, I heard a noise in the deceased's bedroom ; • he appeared very restless, and walked up and down hisroom. By the Jury—l never observed anything in the deceased's manner to lead me to suppose that his mind was affected ; he was a mild, gentlemanly man. Mary Pring, servant to Mr. Kennedy, had lived in her situation 1S months. Her mistress and the deceased were most affectionately at. tached to each other. Witness had not observed anything particular in the manners of her young master. She was aocustomed to take him up cocoa in the morning. On Saturday morning, on her entering the room, he started up, and exclaimed, " What hour of the night do you call this ?" He appeared very much alarmed at the time. He went out in the afternoon. About six o'clock in the evening, her mistress received a letter by the post, which greatly shocked her, and she left home immediately. Mr. Hamilton, of Brunswick-square, Regent's-park, had known Mrs. Kennedy and her son (the unfortunate subject of the inquiry) for a number of years ; the latter had an income of about 1,500/, annually, left by his father and grandfather. On Saturday, between six and seven o'clock, Mrs. Kennedy came to his house with the letter she had received from her son ; she was in a state of distraction; he (Mr. Hamilton) instantly started for Kensington-gardens to avert, if possible, the catastrophe, but was too late.  By the Jury—l am not aware of any circumstance that preyed upon the mind of the deceased. He possessed every worldly advantage a mortal could desire lam not aware that he had been disappointed in his affections. He was a most geaCemanly, amiable man.  Mr. Clarkson should wish the jury to be put in possession of every fact connected with the untimely death of the unfortunate young gentleman. The fact was, that he laboured undec an unhappy delusion ; he imagined that he was in a declining miserable state of health, when the very contrary was the case. The surgeon's evidOce stated that there could'not be a more healthy robust body.  The Jury observed it was a most extraordinary and distressing case. The letter written by the deceased to his mother was here handed to the Coroner by Mr. Clarkson ; the following is a verbatim copy  " Ilolles.street, Cavendish-square, Saturday, 2 P.M.  "My dear Mother—l write you three lines to account for my absence, and in order that you may know where to send for my body. Er 2 this reaches your hands I shall be no more, and I am anxious to thank you a thousand times for your affectionate care of an unworthy son. You will find me in one of the seats in Kensington-gardens, close to that part of the Serpentine which roaches up to Hyde-park. I rely on your strength of mind to bear up against this shock. I regret that your feelings should be so harassed, but I find my existence an insupportable burden, suffering as I do from lowness of spirits, oppression of mind, and lassitude of body. You will find in the table-drawer of my room the keys of my trunk, in which my will is placed, with other things. Sn God bless you with kindness and love. I hasten to subscribe myself, your affectionate son. "