The Press. — 1856-02-23 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. SADLEIR, M.P.  'NE melancholy death of this unfortunate gentleman has created a deep sensation throughout the town. From the evidence adduced at the coroner's inquest cn Tuesday, it appears that on Saturday evening last, smut seven o'clock, Mr. Sadleir unexpectedly came home (Gloucester•place, Hyde-park) to dinner. While the butler was laying the cloth, Mr. Sadleir, giving him a sovereign, requested him to take a paper ti Maitland's, the neighbouring chemist in Chesterplace, and pay for what was ordered. This paper ontained the following words :—" Get from Maitland a bottle of the essential oil of bitter almonds. I do not know the quantity wanted, but Kenyon writes to me to bring 1/. worth. Pay my bill at Maitland's." The butler went as desired to Maitland's, and left the order. About half-past nine, the bottle of oil not having arrived, Mr. Sadleir desired the butler to go fa. it. The kitchen-maid was sent, and the butler took the bottle in to Mr. Sadleir. About a quarter to one a.m., the butler came upstairs to lock up, and observed that Mr. Sadleir had gone out. From that time nothing more was heard or seen of him till half•past eight on Sunday morning, when Joseph Bates, a labouring man, discovered the deceased lying on his back, close to the rails behind Jack Straw's Castle, on Hampstead-heath. On the right side of the body was a silver cream-jug, containing a small quantity of essential oil of almonds ; and on the left side an unstoppered bottle, labelled, " Essential Oil of Almonds. Poison. John Maitland, 16, Chester•place, Hyde-park Square." The hat of the deceased was off, his eyes were open and glistening, and a few slight indentations, marking the convulsions of death, were observed in the turf under his heels. Within reach was an open razor - case. Upon searching the pockets of the deceased, a few lumps of sugar were found, six sovereigns, one 3/. note, some loose silver, and a pair of razors. There were no letters or documents, but one simple slip containing the deceased's name and address written in a bold legible hand. Elwyn, the butler, identified the cream jug at once as the property of his late master, and the police•co:rstable, together with the man Bates, swore to the discovery of the body. Dr. Nicholl, of Hampstead, who was immediately sent for on Sunday morning, made a postmortem examination, and at the inquest stated his opinion to be that the deceased had incontestably died from the effect of essential oil of almonds. The coroner here remarked that nothing could be plainer than that Mr. Sadleir's death was caused by poison, and that it was administered by his own hand. The only question for the Jury to decide was the state of mind of the deceased at the time he committed the act.  Mr. Norris, a solicitor, stated that he saw Mr. Sadleir on Saturday, about eleven p.m. He was engaged in great commercial speculations, and seemed borne down by the extent of his undertakings. He talked about those affairs, but said nothing that induced Mr. Norris to anticipate any such thing as happened : I noticed (said Mr. Norris in evidence) as I was leaving the house that his eyes were bloodshot, and that he was restless and not in his usual temperament. I had never seen him in the same state before. Hitherto he was always cool and collected.  Mr. Manning stated that Mr. Sadleir had several appointments with Mr. James, a solicitor, on Saturday, but be seemed to shrink from keeping. them. The butler, on being recalled, said that Mr. Sadleir had left a paper in the hall, on Saturday night, with three letters, ordering that they should be delivered on Sunday morning if he did not return home by nine o'clock. Mr. Norris further stated :  Oa Saturday afternoon I had an interview with Mr. Sadleir, when he said :—" I would rather that yon would not come to see me to-night, as I want to get my papers together, but come to-morrow at eleven o'clock." lint in consequence of receiving a letter from Ireland which concerned Mr. Sadleir, witness went there. Mr. Sadleir was walking about the room, which was very unusual, and appeared surprised at witness going there. When witness weni in he noticed a remarkable peculiarity about the eyes, as though be had been weeping. On the following morning at eleven o'clock be called at the house again and he heard that he was dead. The CORONER : \Vas the intelligence von conveyed to him of a distressing character"  Witness: No. It had reference to the events which had pressed upon him since the previous Wednesday. I found on going to the house that Dr. Nicholl had been to the house and taken away a letter addressed to me for the purpose of conveying it to my private residence. The CORONER • Have you got it with you? Witness : No. The CORONER : Did you leave it behind designedly ? Witness: No. I was so confused that I forgot it. In answer to a question suggested by Mr. Manning, Witness said : I made a remark to Mr. Stevens at Mr. Gurney's office, on Saturday afternoon, relative to 3lr. Sulkies reverses. The remark J made was. AI should not to surprised if Sadleir were to shoot himself." Mr. Sadleir