Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1852-08-25 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DETERMINED SUICIDE.—On Friday last, the body of a man in an advanced state of decomposition was found in the wood in the corner of a field adjoining the Mumbles and Sketty roads' a short distance from Gorse Cottage, which is nearer Swansea than the Half-way House. The body when found, was so far decomposed that it would be a matter of impossibility to identify the features, indeed the face was entirely gone. No doubt can be entertained from the circumstances under which the body was found, as detailed in the subjoined evidence given at the inquest held the same evening before C. Collins,_Esq., that the deceased came to his death by his own hands.—Robert Morgan, who resided in the cottage, said that he was in the employment of Mr. Vivian, M.P. ; that between 11 and 12 o'clock on the forenoon of Friday, he went into the wood in question, and his attention was attracted by seeing the body of a man lying near a tree. The head had been separated from the trunk, and lay at a shaft distance off. 'do a branch of the tree a handkerchief, secured by a loop, was attached, showing that the weight of the body, after decomposition had set in, must have severed the arteries of the neck. The witness immediately went for two other persons, and on examining the place more minutely, they found, at a short distance off, a hat, inside of which was a small card, on which was written the name " Powell." Ihe deceased had no coat about him ; he wore a dark plaid waistcoat, and a plaid kerseymere trousers, and Cossack boots. The place at which the body was found was about 0 yards from the road, and 200 yards frorc the cottage.—A youth named James Evans deposed that about six weeks ago he was passing that road in the company of Geo. Jones, and on looking over the hedge, he observed a man's coat, which they examined, and then put it back in the place iu which they found it. In the course of a fortnight afterwaids witness was passing the same place, and still finding the coat there, he took it and disposed of it to some itinerant dealer in rags. It was a black frock coat in tolerable condition :—David Lloyd, sheriff's officer, deposed that he had seen the body and he entertained no doubt that it visa the body of Powell, formerly a sub-contractor on the South Wales line at Cwmbwrla, and subsequently at Loughor. Ile could not recognise him by the features, but spoke from his size and the dress. Three or four months ago witness held a process against him. Powell was acquainted with the neighbourhood of Sketty, as he and his family resided there some time since. Witness did not know where his wife was.—ln one of the pockets was a Pottery-bridge ticket, which had been issued about six woeks ago.—The jury found a verdict in accordance with these facts.—After the inquest, two men visited the house, and spoke very pinitively as to the body being that of a pensioner named Hart, who lodged in the house of one of the parties. They added that he had been for some time exceedingly dePremed, and suddenly disappeared as they said " two days after Mr. Vivian had been chaired,"—an °nut that took place on July Bth. They added that Hart wore clothes Of the same description as those on the body, and that he had grey hair, which likewise corresponded to sonic extent with, that of the body.