The Sun. — 1846-12-18 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF MAJOR R. F. EAMES, LATE OF TILE 47TH FOOT—MADRAS ARMY. Las!: evening the adjourned inquest on the body of Mi.jor Richard Fairfax Eatnes, aged 30, who committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart, on the morning of Wednesday last, under circumstances which were given in this journal of Saturday, was resumed before Mr. Bedford, the coroner, at the Prince Albert Hotel, Leicester-place. Mr. Harnlyn Nott, assistant-surgeon in the Madras service, said he knew the deceased intimately. About 18 months back he embarked with him from India, on board ship. He found him at times highly excited; so much so, that, in conversation, all persons were Obliged to be very guarded. He had retired from the service, having been invalided on account of an affection of the brain. If he took the smallest quantity of wine or spirits he became so excited as almost to amount to insanity. During the voyage he frequently shut himself in his cabin, and was heard muttering and making all sorts of remarks on his fellow-passengers. On one occasion the captain of the ship, in the course of conversation, mentioned " Dutch courage," upon which the major became considerably excited, and said he would not allow such language in his presence, as he was an officer and a gentleman. The last time he saw him alive was about a fortnight back, when he appeared most cheerful, and told him that he was about purchasing a shooting-box near Reading. He was a native of Ireland, and was generally most cheerful. Mr. William Day, solicitor, of No. 1, Queen-street, Mayfair, said :he was applied to by the deceased, who was introduced by Captain White, to negotiate for the purchase of a small estate near Maidenhead. He then appeared of a very nervous temperament. Witness only saw him twice. The night before he committed the act of suicide withers received a letter from him, in which he requested him, if be had not gone too far, to break off the purchase. Inspector Whall, of the C division, produced the following letter, which was found in the room where deceased shot himself. It was in the deceased's handwriting, and was addressed " James Clarke, Esq., Postoffice, Dublin :  " Prince Albert Hotel, Leicester-square. "Dear James,—Long before this reaches, the hand that penned will be closed in death. From insinuations and inuendos thrown out at various times that I have sacrificed my honour and reputation in some way or the other, why I know not, I find this world no longer worth living in, and throw off the mortal and become an immortal. The rest who knows? You must take care how you break the news to my dearest sister, whose fondness and goodness of heart I have so little deserved. On you must devolve the task of breaking it out to all. My things you will find at 61, Jermyn-street, and my body, I suppose, will remain here. I have been suffering much in body and mind for the last three days ; in fact, from fancy or some demon or another, I am more like a man beside himself. Coutts and Co. are my bankers, and the cheque-book is at my lodgings. I have 10,000 rupees ; let 5,000 remain at interest for my daughter. Now, 'God bless you and yours. Ido not know what my poor dear brother Benjamin will say. Kiss them all for the sake of their unhappy uncle. Yours affectionately,  " R. F.