The Sun. — 1849-08-20 (London, England)

SUICIDE BY A HUSBAND, AND ATTEMPT TO MURDER HIS WIFE. Saturday Air. H. M. Wakley held an inquest in-:V the University College Hospital, on George Morton, a painter and glazier, late of 29, Melton-crescent,': aged 52. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, and upon their return, a juror said was disgraceful to allow them to witness the hideously disgusting spectacle which the body presented, and which was one gore of blood.—Nnother juror: The dissecting•room was like a slaughter-house, nothing but the trunk lay on the table ; the bowels and blood were scattered about.—A third juror : The spectacle has quite sickened me.—Several jurors: We never before witnessed so revolting a spectacle. Nothing would induce us to view it again.—Coroner : Gentlemen, I deeply regret that your feelings should have been outraged. I assure you that bad I been aware of the condition of the body, I should not have allowed You to see it in that state. The conversation here dropped, and the following witnesses were examined : Mrs. Anne Brooke, landlady of 29, Melton crescent, deposed that deceased had lodged with her two months. He came to her house as a single man. Shortly afterwards he brought home his daughter, aged ten. Thursday night his wife, for the first time, visited him. That evening witness, hearing them quarrel, went up and knocked at the door. He said he would not admit her. She listened at the door, and hearing him say to his wife that he would destroy both her and himself, she exclaimed, " What are you about ?" He replied, " Go down, and you will hear no more about it." Witness went down, and during the night she heard no more noise. About ten o'clock the following morning she heard the report of a pistol, but took no notice of it, as she did not think it was in the house. Soon afterwards she heard a scream, the report of another pistol, and on looking toward the hall door saw deceased firing at his wife as she rushed into the street, he following her. After pursuing her a hundred yards he returned, saying, " Where is she ?" and asked permission to go up to his room. Witness held him, and would not let him go. A Mr. Rose then searched his pocket and took from it a pistol. After which deceased darted up stairs, and, putting his head inside a cupboard, drank a tumbler of poison, gathering the ' particles at the bottom with his finger, and putting them into his mouth. He almost instantly fell to the ground insensible.  .  Mrs. Morton, the widow, a pretty-looking and rather fashionably-dressed woman, aged 27, stated, unsworn, that she married deceased on the 7th of May, and .left him on the 12th of June, in consequence of his violent temper, which put her in bodily fear. She visited him on Thursday, in consequence of a letter he wrote her. (The letter was produced ;it was well written, covered four sides, and expressed the strongest desire for a reconciliation.) The shot struck her shoulder, passing thus (exhibiting her gown) through her dress, and slightly touched her left ear. The slugs did not enter her arm. Mr. Plover, house physician, opened the body, and found sufficient oxalic acid in the stomach to cause death. All the organs except the brain, which was a little softened, were healthy. On deceased's person he found the powder and large swa❑ shots produced, together with some documents. The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict of " Insanity."