Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-03-04 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SWANSEA. On Wednesday evening last a very melancholy suicide was committed in Swansea Mr.ftichard Howard, managing clerk to one of the shipbroking firma in Somerset- I place, was found in his bedroom with his throat cut. He was quite dead, although he WKS discovered almost immediately after the act was etxmnited. Of course there cannot be any doubt that the fatal wound was inflicted by the unfortunate man's own hand, but happily the evidence taken at the inquest gives the most satisfactory reason to believe that the act was committed under the influence of temporary insanity. We subjoin particulars of the inquest, which was held at the house of the deceased, Somerset-place, on Thursday evening, before Edward Strick, Esq., coroner. The following gentlemen composed the jury: Mr. Watkin Hurndall (foreman), Mr. James Couper, Mr. W. S. Eaton, Mr. John Brader, Mr. Thos. Cory, Mr. W. Burrows, Mr. S. Lewis, I Mr. J. Boulanger, Mr. It. Crocker, Mr. W. Lower, Mr. I T. J. Evans, M. Eugene Wigdahl, and Mr. D. Davies. The following evidence was taken:— Edward Howard: I am the brother of the decased He was a shipbroker. I believe he was about 26 years of age. For the last three or four or five weeks lie has been low-spirited, and unwell. Ile has been under medical treatment, more or less, for the last two or three months. I enquired of him what was the cause, and he replied, " I don't feel well." The cause he gave was that business was dull, and no ships coming in. He was not in business for himself, but was the managing clerk of a firm. I last saw him alive last night about five o'clock. I had had some conversation with him half-an hour before. He did not seem depressed then, just the contrary. He was in better spirits than usual. I received information of his death between 6 and 7. When I came here, I found my brother dead, with a wound in his throat —By a Juryman : I left my brother in the office, and he was then with two French captains.—By another , Juryman: On Monday last he was to have dined with I me, but did not come. I searched for him, but could not find him. On Tuesday morning he came in, and lie was perfectly insane. I sent for Dr. Hall. Ile was up to his knees in mud, and all I could get from him was that he had been walking in some fields, and could not get out of them again. I know of nothing to account for his depression, except an idea of the dulness of trade, coupled with ill-health. Sarah Turner: I have been a servant here since a week last Saturday. I saw the deceased every day, but did not notice anything peculiar about bins. I saw him last night between 5 aunt 6 o'clock, and after that he went up-stairs. Soon after that I heard a noise in his bedroom as of something falling. At the same time my taistreas's bell rang, and when I went up to her else asked we where Mr. Richard was. I said I thought he was in his bedroom, as I had heard something heavy falling there. Mrs. Howard said that Mr. Howard had gone out, and asked me to go in with her, and when we went in we fitund him. Ile was lying on the floor on his side, and all in blood. Ido not know whether he was dead, but we both ran out for assistance at once. I went to Mr. King, and be came in directly, and went  up-stairs. Alfred King, Somerset-place I live next dor to this house, arid son a woollen draper. The last witness came to me last, evening, and fetched me here. I went into the room. It was almost too dark to see. I saw the deceased on the ground, and I raised him. I desired them to light the gas, and I found that hie throat was cut. It was then a little after six. There was a razor lying on a table, covered with blood. The cravat was • low one, and had not been removed. Mary Evans : I am servant to Mr. Thomas, to ' whom the deceased was cashier and business manager I frequently saw the deceased, and have noticed for the last few weeks that he was depressed and low spirited. He would cry sometimes. Last night Mrs. Howard earns for me and ;asked me to go to her house, saying that her husband had fallen into a fit. I went into the room, after Mrs. King, and founll the deceased with his throat cut. I then went for Mr. Hall, the surgeon. Mr. J. G. Hall said: On being sent far to the deceased's house I found him lying on his left side upon the floor in his bedroom. There was an immense quantity of blood about. He was quite dead, and Lie throat was cut with a deep gash about four inches in length. I had been in the habit of attending the deceased. I saw him on Thursday last, and he was then in a low desponding *tate. Ile appeared haggard and careworn, but not more peculiar in his speech than would nitwit from extreme depression. I have no doubt, after the evidence I have heard, that at the time of his death ; the deceased was in a weak state of mind. He was of such a temperament that very little would effect him L' and prey upon his spirits. From the position of the body and the nature of the wound I have no doubt it I was inflicted by the deceased's own band. The coroner very briefly summed up, remarking that this was the most distressing ease which he had yet met with in his experience, but he thought no one could doubt after the eeidence which had been given, that the unfortunate man had committed the rash act whilst labouring under such infirmity of mind as rendered him incapable of knowing what he was about. The jury returned a verdict of" temporary insanity."  MARRIED By TELeuuseit.—The other day a lady in Syracuse was married to a soldier in a fort near Washington. The parties were about four hundred miles apart, and the vows were spoken by telegraph. Tho officiating minister on this occasion was the chaplain of the regiment to which the happy man belonged, lie didn't kids the bride. It took two hours to do the work up complete, and the telegram from the chaplain to the lady, announcing that she and the soldier were man and wife, is the brides marriage emtiheate.—Neto York Times.