The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-02-04 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE IN LIVERPOOL  CORONER'S INQUESTS.  On Saturday the coroner held an inquest on the body of a person apparently about 28 years of age, whose name was supposed to be iVilliam or William Henry Moffatt, a native of Newry or Drogheda. The case at present is involved in some mystery, but it is supposed that the publication of the following facts may reach some of the unfortunate man's friends, so that the affair may in some measure be cleared up. It appeared that on Thursday night the deceased arrived in this town, but from what place no one at this moment can tell. He went to lodge for the night at a boarding-house in the neighbourhood of Queen-square. lle talked mildly and seemed to be labouring under some strong excitement; he said he was about going to America or Australia, but he could not tell which. He accused himself of being a bad man. He had not much luggage, but was well dressed, and even in his excited state, his manners and language were those of a gentleman. He left on Friday, and took lodgings at the house of Mr. Hallwell, No. 1, Bridport street, saying he was about going to Australia, but he could not tell when. In a conversation which he had with Mrs. Hallwell, he said he came from Newry, and was a very wicked man and had been spoiled by his parents; that he had left a young woman in a state soon to be a mother; and that his conduct generally had broken his mother's heart, and he could not bear it any longer, so he ran from there and was now on his way to America or Australia. Mrs. Hallwell tried to compose him ; and he went to bed about half-past nine o'clock much quieter in his deportment. He requested to be called at an early hour in the morning, (Saturday), for the purpose of going to Manchester by the train, to do some business there. He was called and got out of bed, but he was excited and said he was ill, and not able to go out. He was advised to get into bed again, and he did so, and Mrs. Hallwell sent him some tea. He requested to be called again. The lady of the house went to call him again, when she found him lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and his throat cut with a razor, which was also on the floor. She raised an alarm, and sent for a surgeon and the police. Police-constable William Ward, 248, arrived very soon, and raised up the deceased, who was then alive. He asked him " who did this ?"and the deceased said, " I did it myself," " why did you do it ? " inquired the °Neer. " I don't know," was the answer, and he died immediately after. His trunk was found to contain some respectable clothes, and in his pocket there was a copy of " Punch's Almanac," and his name with some figures. In the pocket of the book were three letters, two black envelopes, and a bill of the Australian ship Mermaid. One of the letters was a testimonial, signed by several gentlemen in Drogheda, and amongst these, the rector and curate of the Established Church. The document spoke strongly in his favour, and expressed a wish that he should obtain the appointment he was seeking. It was a general testimonial, not addressed to any one. The next was a letter from the secretary, or some official belonging to the Drogheda railway company,referring to some inclosed testimonials which were. returned to the deceased, and regretting there was not a vacancy in the office that he could fill at the time. The third letter had some unintelligible (at present) reference to the Canada railroad, and the sappers and miners. A small brass plate, such as would be found on a hat ease. was discovered, on which the following was engraved— " The Rev. C. J. Moffatt, navy." There was no money found about the deceased. These were all the facts that could be collected at the inquest, and the jury returned a verdict that deceased died from the effects of wounds inflicted by himself, whilst labouring under temporary insanity. The Coroner held the following inquests also -On the body of a child, named Samuel Hulm. e that was accidentally smothered in bed. Verdict accord.' ingly. On the body of John Curry, a labourer, twentyeight years of age, who died In consequence of injuries received, by falling into the hold of the ship Plymouth, while he was at work on Thursday. Verdict accidental death. On the body of a boy, named Edward Owens, eight years old, who died suddenly. The child had not been in good health for some time past. Death was the result of natural causes. Verdict accordingly. On the body of a child, named John Nyland, three and a-half years uld, who died from injuries received by his clothes having accidentally caught fire. Verdict the same as in the previous case. On the body of Michael Grady, a labourer, thirty-four years old, who was killed on board the ship John Cottle, by a bale of cotton falling on him. Verdict accidental death.