The Sun. — 1836-09-13 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS.  An inquest was held yesterday at the Bricklayers' Arms, Southampton-street, Camberwell, before W. CARTTAR, Esq., Coroner of the County of Surrey, on the body of C. W. Chapman, late a stockbroker and collector of taxes in the City, who committed suicide. William Hewitt deposed—l am boots at the Spread Eagle, in Gracechurch-street. On Wednesday evening last the deceased came to sleep at the Spread Eagle. In the morning I went into his room to leave his boots. He then paid me his bill. He gave me a sovereign to get change, and then he paid me. He did not leave the house until seven o'clock at night, but he was in and out of the bedroom all clay. He had no breakfast. I thought he looked ill, and I asked him how he, felt ? He answered " Very poorly." I advised him to go down stairs, and have something, but he would not. He went out at seven and returned at ten o'clock. He then had a glass of ginand-water in the coffee-room. He slept at the Spread Eagle that night ; but I did not see him again until half= past six o'clock on Friday evening. The room in which he slept was engaged every other night, and the housekeeper sent me to get him out. He was then in bed. I went to his bedside with a candle. I asked him what was the matter? He said he was very unwell, and I thought that all was not right. A white froth was running from his mouth. Turning round, I saw a bottle on the washhand-stand ; I took it up, and saw that it was labelled  " laudanum." It was empty, and I now produce it. I ran to inform the house-keeper, and then went for Dr. Brookman, who returned with me immediately, and applied the stomach-pump. We tried to keep the deceased up, but be became fainter and fainter every moment. On Saturday morning, about five o'clock, I saw him for the last time. Mr. Hugh Brookman, surgeon, on Friday evening, about seven o'clock, was called by the last witness to atteud upon a gentleman at the Spread Eagle, who was supposed to have taken poison. On going into the bedroom where the deceased was lying, the first thing he observed was the laudanum bottle now produced. He accused him of having taken laudanum, and the deceased admitted it, saying, .‘ Yes." He then asked him how long since ? He answered, " Two hours." Witness applied the stomachpump, and, after some resistance, the contents of the stomach were drawn off. They smelt very slightly of laudanum. If the bottle had been discovered an hour sooner his life might have been saved. The deceased's papers were examined by the housekeeper to ascertain who lie was. His name was found to be Charles William Chapman, and, from a letter addressed to his wife, it was conjectured that be was the person who had bepn mentioned in the reports of the proceedings at the Mansion House on Thursday, in connection with some Stock Exchange transactions. The Jury returned a verdict that " The deceased destroyed himself, being at the time in an unsound state of mind."  Yesterday evening an inquisition was held in the Board Room of St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark, before Mr. PAYNE, on the body of Mrs. Ann Richardson, aged 35. The deceased was the wife of one of the cuppers of the above hospital, and resided at Mr. Evans's, linendraper, No. 56, Union-street, Southwark. On Thursday night last, between the hours of eleven and twelve, the deceased was seen going out of the street door of her residence, enveloped in flames. Several persons immediately went to her assistance, and after considerable difficulty they succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The deceased was conveyed to the above hospital in an insensible state. About an hour previous to her death the deceased explained to her husband the cause of her accident. She said that on the night in question she had an occasion to go out for some articles, and placed a lighted candle on the staircase till her return. In a few minutes after, however, she forgot something, and went up stairs. In passing the candle the tail of her gown caught fire, and before she was aware of it, the fire communicated to the upper part of the deceased's garments, and she was soon in one body of flames. She said that she ra❑ down stairs into the street. The deceased died of the injuries she had received, on Saturday morning. The Jury returned a verdict of---" Accidental Death."  Since our last the weather has been unpropitious for harvest operations. The neighbourhood of Lanark was visited by a severe thunderstorm, and consequent deluge of rain, which has wrought much destruction on the crops. On one farm a number of cows had a narrow escape from being drowned, the torrent from a neighbouring hill having rushed into the byre with such unexpected impetuosity, as nearly to fill the steading before the cattle could be removed. The storm, however, itis to be regretted, was not unattended with fatal consequences. A farm-servant of N. Stevenson, Esq., of Garbraid, in Carluke parish, while working in the barn with another individual, was killed by the lightning. His sudden death has produced a melancholy feeling in the district where the distressing event took place. A female who was employed on the same premises was also injured by the electric fluid, but not dangerously. —Glasgow Courter.  EFFCiS OF