The Sun. — 1844-07-11 (London, England)

SUICIDE BY A FRENCHMAN. Yesterday morning, a Frenchman, who, from all the accounts which have been learned of him, was named  Felix Em, committed suicide in one of the state-rooms of the barque China, in which vessel he had taken his passage from Liverpool for Quebec, by shooting .himself through the head with a loaded pistol. The deceased seems to have been a man of highly respectable appearance in dress and manner. He had, a short time since, _ _  doubloonswelt e ring inan dh i so t hb lo odc yi coin s toe fr yd, t vwaol übe a gosf arrived in Liverpool from Genoa ; - and at the time he containing af9intinn dg 1,0001. were discovered upon his person. An inquest was was held upon the body shortly after the occurrence took place; and from the examination of the several witnesses, full particulars will be gleaned. Win. Worthington was the first examined. He stated that he was a pilot, and that he lived at 37, Burlingtonstreet. On Monday afternoon he went on duty on board the barque China, which is outward-bound to Quebec, and at present lying in the river. The deceased, with whose name he was unacquainted, was a passenger on board, and had a state-room to himself, for which he had paid 151. On the morning of that day (Tuesday), a little before nine o'clock, witness was in the cabin. The deceased, who was a Frenchman, and unable to speak English, was walking about at the time. On going down to the cabin in four or five minutes after, witness heard the report of fire-arms; accompanied with a strong smell of powder. He immediately got up and went to see what was the matter, and on passing the state-room of the deceased, he perceived smoke issuing from the crevices in the. door. He then tried if the door was fast, and found that it was not ; but he was only able to open it a little. He saw marks of blood on the floor. He called to the mate to send some one aft, and a seaman came ; and on forcing the door, which they did with difficulty, as the deceased was lying against it, they found him on his back, and blood flowing from a wound on his right temple, through which his brains were protruding. As he was still alive, a boat was sent for a surgeon ; but in a few minutes after the latter arrived, the deceased breathed his last. A pistol (here produced) was lying on his left side. The deceased never left the vessel from the time she went out of the dock, and from that time up to the period of the suicide he saw him frequently, and, so far as he could judge, he appeared to be perfectly collected. He did not observe anything strange or peculiar about him. Witness does not understand the French language. Mr. Samuel Allerton stated that he was a surgeon, and that he was called to see the deceased that morning on board the China. He found him in a dying state, and in about a quarter-of an hour after, he breathed his. last. He had a large wound on the right temple, which penetrated his skull, so that a man could pass his finger to the full length into the brains. Captain Wagstaife deposed that he lived in Templecourt, and that he had known the deceased fora fortnight or more. Their acquaintance commenced on Saturday fortnight, when witness was sent for to act as his interpreter. Witness continued with him from that time until Friday. He told witness that he was a native of France. He was unable to speak English. He purchased some articles which he said were for his sister in Quebec; and he shipped on board the China for that destination. Witness was not aware of what had happened until an hour after it occurred; but he had since seen and recognised the body lying in the dead house. He thought there was something wrong about the deceased, and his reason for thinking so was, that, when he was first sent for to him, he said he was indisposed and suffering from fever, and that he would not go out. He appeared to be very timid and afraid to be seen, and he had a brace of pistols by him, which he said he kept loaded for his own protection while travelling. Witness took them to have the charge drawn and reloaded. The pistol now produced, and which was found in his state-room, is one, of them. The letter found in deceased's pocket, was inclosed in an envelope, containing a lock of black hair, and was written in the French language. The envelope was addressed in French, to " Mr. Felix, traveller, postoffice, until called for, Genoa, Italy." The letter appeared to be signed by the sister of the deceased. At this, stage of the proceedings, the inquest was adjourned to nine o'clock this morning, for further evidence.—Liverpool Courier of Wednesday. •  , [