The Statesman. — 1823-08-21 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  An Inquisition was taken yesterday afternoon, at fotir o'clock, before Mr. HIGGS, Deputy Coroner for Westmin. ster, at the Bell, Cecil Court, St. Martin's Lane, on the body of Win. Henry Mears, aged 40 years. Mr. John Morgan, surgeon, Great Newport Street, departed, be was called upon between three and four o'cknic on Tuesday to attend the deceased ; witness went immedi. ately, and found hint lying across the bed in a two-pair hark room of No. 19, Cecil Court, almost in a state of nudity; he was very faint, and had a wound just above the ands of the left foot, about three-fourths of an inch in length, peaetrating in an oblique direction. The auterine artery W 45 dividrd. Witness asked why he did the art 'tt He replied, he was a distressed Mall, and by that urged on to do it. lie was sensible, and aitswered collectedly. he perpetrated the deed himself. Witti-tss dressril h;s wound, hat had a very faint hope of his recovery. About six o'clock. witness was again sent fur, and went about seven ; he had hem then dead about ten minutes, and certainly dird from the aforesai•l wound. No other mark of violence appeared on hi r person. William Turner, 19, Cecil Court, deposed ; the Herds-. 4 occupied a room in his house, and worked for Mr. 4;7 ';i. sell, a figere maker, in the Strand ; he always appearal to witness to he a singular sort of man. On a Sunday he would lock himself in his room, always about 2 o'clock, and would not be seen by any one; at other times lie world lay a-bed for two or three days together, that he wonl4 , a spree: he never went to church, but would call lock. ling himself up on a Sunday going to church. About /iv. weeks ago lie came into witness's room to see a child, of which witness's wife had just bees delivered. He thew observed, " Turner, why dont you pat a striag round that chill's neck, and put it out of the world." Witness never considered him insane, hat a very eccentric character; he bay been with witm as twelve mouths.  Juror.—ln that twelve months have you sees so •rn:p. toms of inPanity ? Witness.-1 have net.  Coaoreca —Did you ever converse with him on reli;:icous subject'? Wit .ess.—No, he o'ce lent my wife a book,eutitled Gait, a ilfistery; which she offered several times to reiiirn, and as onen he requested her to re•+d it again, saving she profit by it. When he entered the room et the derea.effs wiimss said, " Oh, my God! what Is tVe. yoa done:'• The deceased answered, " Oh, nothing!" and aidc.of witness to take a parcel to Hunt's Court for him; a frakilre 1,4% lying by him, with which he appeared IQ have committed tl:e set.  Elijah Debille, of Hunt's Court, St. Lane, posed he received a letter from the deceased about Owes o'clock on Tuesday, which letter purported that the witness shod,' receive .mine money due tcat.n a Benefit Snarly, ms account of his borial, and reTtes:ed that he might Se hurie I very humbly,• and the surplus arising therefrom to be ap. plied to the liquidation of some debts he owed. It C,14• eluded by atlvertinir to the ca•e of a young womin with whom he had been i:.timate, and in a great dearee tended to boor° his dissolution, in consequence of some bickering that had taken place. Ile bequeathed his property to the witness, and then bade hint an verlastingt farewell. Witness thought h• had a;tneareti 10,. and dejected of bite, anti considered his mental I:twill:les in saint degree affected. Mr. Thomas ;teeascli, Strand. deposed the deceased Ind been in his employ eig!ti yerrs: ha hattbeen very itret,tilar for the last foGr or fire years in It's attentioo'to bushiest: the o•her Farts of his evidence were immaterial. The Jury cotifotiteil h,r some time together; sad then returned a verdict of —" I it-unity.'