The Sun. — 1830-09-21 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF SUICIDE.  On Saturday afternoon a lengthened inquiry took place at the Rising Sun, Water-lane, Hackney, before THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., Coroner, touching the death of Lawrence Johnson, of 15, Retreatplace, Ilackney, late clerk to Messrs. Robert Flynn and Co., anchorsmiths, at Shadwell, who committed suicide.  Mr. Thomas Greenwood, of Aldgate, surgeon, for the last twelve months had known the deceased, who was in the habit of calling to see his assistant, Mr. Watkins. On Wednesday evening he called at witness's shop, and he then appeared dull, but not unusually so. lie had two glasses of wine with witness; and, on going away, he gave witness's assistant a handsome silver snuff-box and a sovereign, desiring him to take care of them until the following morning. Witness did not then know that the deceased was a married man,but he had since learned that such was the fact, and that he was paying his addresses to another female. On. Thursday morning witness went. out, and, upon returning, about ten o'clock, he found his assistant greatly distressed, in consequence of a letter received from the deceased, dated from No. 15, Retreat-place, Hackney, though', his residence with his wife was at Shadwell.  The witness then begged leave to read the letter, but hoped that, as a young lady's. name was mentioned in it, who was highly respectable, and whose family were in the most poignant grief, owing to the misconduct of the deceased, it would be sufficient only to call her by her Christian name-Eliza. The letter was then read; it breathed sentiments of the most ardent attachment to " Eliza," whom alone the deceased said he could love ; that he had•been unfortunately united to a woman with whom he was miserable ; but that his previous marriage having become known to Eliza's friends, they had ac4used him of villany, and threatened to kill him; that he was now miserable, and intended to destroy himself. Mr. Thomas Robinson, of Green-bank, Wapping —Knew the deceased, as clerk to Mr. Flynn. On Tuesday he was at Mr. Flynn's country-house, at Ilford, when that gentleman showed him some letters which he found in his office, and said that he was fearful his clerk was corresponding with a young lady, which would be her ruin, and desired witness to make some inquiries upon the subject. These letters were from the young lady to the deceased, proving a great attachment on her part, and that she expected shortly to be united to him. The witness knew the deceased to be married, and to have two children ; besides having great reason to believe that he had another wife and child in the city. Upon seeing the young lady's (Eliza's) relatives, heleurnt that the deceased and she were to meet at a party of friends, on Wednesday evening, and witness got himself invited to the party, that he might the more effectually expose the deceased's ittrocioutconduct. Accordingly the party met, and, upon the deceased entering the room, witness, in the hearing of them all, asked how he was, and how his wife and children were ? The deceased became agitated, and the young lady's relatives (she 'herself having been prevailed upon not to go to the party) were extremely indignant. Iler uncle threatened to shoot him; another gentleman was for throwing him out of thicvindow viind witness, for some time, kept the door to prevent his escape, which he wished to effect; but at last he was allowed to depart. The young lady was only 18 years of age. The deceased brought her from a bearding-school to town, in a post-chaise, the previous Saturday, and on Tuesday he took her, her motiter, and another friend, to take tea et his new house, at Hackney, which was intended to be their future residence. It was well furnished, h,aisndu,,afgreosmwtelrieel style of extravagance in which he lived, it was mysterious where ho found money, as only 325. per week. He had been clerk to Mr. Flynn for several years, iLid was much respected by his employer, except as regarded his intrigues with females, and Mr. Flynn had done all he could to reclaim him. The deceased's wife was a very amiable woman, but broken-hearted from his tyranny and bad usage. A few days ago his wife, after drinking some beer for supper, felt very ill, so much so as to require the attendance of a doctor, and she requested the deceased to go for one, but he refused. One was sent for, however, and he found it necessary to use the stomach-pump, -when ke gave his opinion that poison had been given to her I Mr. Robinson concluded his evidence by stating that, if necessary, ho could relate many more cases, in which the deceased had nearly succeeded in seducing females. The Jury thought it WAS unnecessary, and they were obliged to him for what he has stated. The Jury, after a long consultation, returned a verdict, " That the deceased poisoned himself while in a sound state of mind."  The Colton:it then issued his warrant to bury the deceased according to the Statute, without reading the funeral service, and declared that all the deceased's property was forfeited to the King', whose collector would. immediately take possession of it. The jitry.expressed their readiness to assist the widow, who was {gently distressed, in petitioning tha Lords of the reasury to allow her what the deceased died possessed of,