The Sun. — 1822-12-23 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.-(SUICIDE.)  Saturday night an Inquisition was held before Taos. HIGGS, Esq. Deputy Coroner for 'Westminster, at the Spotted Dog public-house, in Strand-lane, on the body of Mr. John Heath, late of Norfolk.—Mr. Thos. Phillips, proprietor of the New Exchange Coffee-house, in the Strand, stated, tha he had known the deceased for some time ; he had resided in his house since the 26th of October last, and dined with his family every day. He was related to a family of the ~e-reatest respectability in Norfolk ; and having quarrelled with his father, he came to London. For some weeks he had been in a low desponding state, and would walk in the passages and rooms in the dark, for hours together, with his hand to his head, in the most dejected manner. In the course of the last fortnight the deceased had come home twice at six o'clock in the morning, without his coat, and the account he gave of his loss was, that he had slept out, and having no money; his colt had been detained. He (witness) wrote to the deceased's uncle, to inform him of his nephew's situation.— On Thursday night was the last time he saw the deceased ; he was then melancholy, as usual ; he slept. at his house that night; and went out about twelve o'clock in the morning ; he refused to take any breakfast. The deceased left a razor in his bed-room. His father was a commander in the navy, and a man of fortune. He had expected remittances for some time from his friends, and was greatly distressed in consequence of their non-arrival. The apparel in which he was found after death, witness had lent to him. The deceased had spent a great deal of money very foolishly, in a short time ; and haymg no money, when meal time arrived, he would get out of the way, and frequently, when asked to partake of food, would excuse himself, by stating that he could not eat, or he did not eat, or he did not want any. He believed the deceased's embarrassments had produced temporary derangement. Richard Carter, a waterman belonging to the Thames Police, stated, that on Friday night, about eleven o'clock, he went on board the police vessel lying in the Thames, opposite the end of Norfolk-street, and was informed that a hat, 'a handkerchief, and a knife, had been found on the steps of Waterloo-bridge, and that it was suspected some man was drowned. On his way, as he was rowing alon the shore, he was directed by the officer to look out for the body, and as he came near SomersetHouse stairs, he saw something near the water's edge, and exclaimed, " That is the man !' On going up to the spot, he found the deceased lying on his face, without his coat, in the mud, he turned over the body, and a deep wound was Ibund in his throat. The body was conveyed to Strand-lane watchhouse. Thomas GI-Ay, another waterman, corroborated the above evidence, and, in addition, said, that on searching the clothes of the decearied, nothing but a metal button was found. Edward Type, a waiter at the New ;Exchange Coffee-house, stated that the deceased came from the same place_ as himself, and witness was much attached to him. On Friday morning, about twelve o'clock, he informed him that he was going to his uncle, who was a salesman in Smithfield-market, and should receive a good deal of money. Witness -advised him to take care of it, as he had spent a good deal of money_ very wastefully, and people had imposed upon him. Deceased was of a very mild disposition. When he came to London first, he had a great deal of money, and such was the extent of his wardrobe, that he had not less than sixteen pairs of trowsers, with coats and other things to correspond. He was then full of life and spirits ; but, having spent his money, and being disappointed in his expectation of a supply from his friends, he had become very desponding. He was daily expecting remittances, and such was his dejection within the last few days, that he (witness) had stated that he should not wonder if he put an end to his existence. The deceased had often spoken of a female to whom he was much attached, and that in consequence of the lowness of his finances, his hopes were destroyed, and lie believed that it was from disappointment in the object of his affections, that had, with other circumstances, affected his faculties.  The Jury expressed themselves satisfied that the deceased had caused his own death, when labouring under mental derangement; and a verdict of " Insanity" was recorded.  An Inquest was held on Saturday evening, at the Light Horseman, Orange-court, Castle-street, Leicester-square, before Mr. iIGGS, Coroner, on the body of Charlotte Lewis, a woman of the town, who was wandering about in great distress, and who was first taken to St. Martin's watchhouse, and afterwards to the workhouse. Verdict—" That the deceased came by her deans through excessivedrinking, and the inclemency of the weather." .