The Sun. — 1817-10-14 (London, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDES.  CORONEA'S IN GUEST.--An Inquisition was taken yesterday afternoon at the Griffin,-coruer of atkestreet and Villiers street, Strand, before HUGH Law's, Esq. Coroner, on the body of Lieutenant George Bryland, who put an end to his existence by taking opium. • Thomas Smith said, be was formerly the deceased's servant; but quitted about eight weeks ago, and by his recommendation was taken in o the. service of Mr. Higman,, the proprietor of the Griffin, as waiter. -The deceased often visited at the Griffin, but never slept titcre anti} last night. He came into•the bonse t hat night ,about 1 1 o'clock, much intoxicated.; he sat at the bar about half an hour, andoppeared verydejected; he said he did not like to go to sea again. tie .went to bed about 12 o'elOck,and requested witness to call him up at 6 on the- following morning. Witness. went at six to Call him, and fOund his curtains drawn round his bed; he called," Mr. Bryland," and receiv' ing no answer, he suppose#l he ,was :asleep, and. went down, stairs about an hour afterwards, he went again, and called- him severaLtimes; as be did not answer, he itudrew the curtains, and saw -him lying. in, the bed v;iith nothing on but his night clothes, quite dead and cold. He called up Mr. Higmap, and Mr. Illingworth, surgeon, Buckitigham-street, was sent for, who came, and pronounced him past recovery: The deceased informed liirn.a short time ago, that he had been appointed first mate On board a•vessel' going to the West Indies. Last night the deceased said that be had been the two last days working on board the vessel, and had blistered his hands; he said that such hard work would not do for him. The deceased was .11 single young man, about 21 years of age. He and Mr. Higrnan. examined his pockets, and foiind a letter and four boxes, which contained opium pills : be was certain it was the hand-writing, of the deceased. :The letter was not dated, it ‘vaS addressed to a lady as follows : " My good, my Eliza, for the last time, the most heartbreaking misconduct of existence, I address you. May every happiness attend you. The last request is never to have any connection with any of the family of Tom, if you ever do, my dear you--. Adieu my Eliza—your George. ' On the back. of the letter was added the 'following postcvipt—" My curses with them if you ever know—your precious life—and farewell. Bryland ; adieu my only love, heaven and you have conspired—and life is of no avail, bless you for ever, but ooruethues think of your George."  . . Mr. William Illingworth, surgeon, No. 19, Buckingham-street,. Strand, said he was sent for that morning to the Griffin to attend the:deceased, he found him quite dead. There -were no Marks of violence on the body. Ire had been informed that-the deceased was poisoned, but that he could not ascertain from the external appearance.-:—[The Coroner and Jury requested the witness to open -the body, which when -he bad performed he came hitt" the Court and gaVe' the following additional evidence.]—He had opened the.deceaked',s stomach, and V)und mixed v.'ith tOO., a quantity of opium, sufficient to have caused his death. He did .not believe any surgeon or apothecary ,would sell any person so large a quantity, as fottrboxeS of opium pills at one time, hethought be must have purchased them at dilierent slops, TheCorner'asked if there'was.anYperson of could spscak, hts stateatemina- siben,.be com mitted the act.  Severiil9fficers,,friends3f the, deceased, stated, that,thOleciasFd_had liecm *rounded in his head, that 'he had :fought:in, several Actions, and that, when lie drank a few glasses of wine more than, usual, he was totally_ bereft of his senses. They attributed his .conducti—when liaebriated, to the wounds,in his head. Thy believed that he was insane when he committed the act.  The J❑ry, after a short consultation, agreed to the fallowing Verdict---" Died from taking opium when in a State of intoxication, which produced temporary insanity."  Yesterday morning Mr► Lester, a baker, very much resPected, who resided in Snffolk-ltreet, Higii-stfeet,_Borough, put - a period to,his 'existence by suspending himself by a cord, from abeam