The Sun. — 1839-02-27 (London, England)

WAKLEY'S FIRST INQUEST.  Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, Mr. Thorrns Wel:ley, M.P. (the newly-appointed Coroner for the Western Division of the County of Middlesex, in the rwin of the late Thomas Stirling, Esq., deceased) entered up ~n his most important duties by holding his firs• inquest at the King's Arms Tavern, High Holborn, on the body of Mr. Peter Spencer, aged 69, who was found dead under circumstances detailed in the evidence subjoined. It is worthy of remark that the protect (Mr. W,.',-.ley's first case) was held in the parish of St. George, Bioorns-bury, in which he himself resides. The Jury, eighteen in number, having been sworn,  Mr. kVAKLEY addressed them Upon the importancn of the melancholy duty they were called upon to perform, and the nee,2ssity of attending to the evidence, that th /11H,t, elucidate the real cause of a fellow-creature's death. The Coroner having accompanied the Jury to the residereside::c> of the deceased, and entered into a strict external oxaltination of the body; the evidence was proceeded with a- toilo:Vs, the depositions being tzken down by Mr. Bell, hoc Clerk to Mr. Stirling, who fills a similar situation ;older his sticcesscx.  Mr. William Spencer, of No. 133, high Hdl feither and bedding manufacturer, deposed that dvcc was his father. and usually tesided at Clieltcullail  about at a twelvemonth sinct; came to reside with wi  He usually enjoyed a good state of lii-alth,but for ttic two or three days previous to his death, he cbinplaincd (if a pain at his chest, which way supposed to be occasion, d by an old asthmatic complaint. No medical aid ii.iti'eal!ed as deceased objected to medical men altogether. • Saw deceased last alive between eleven and twelve o'clock on  bl Saturday night last in, bed, left him there, and nothing more of him during the night. About (-I:zl.' o'clock on Sunday morning witness was informed by in his employ, that deceased was lying on the floor cf apartment. Told him to take deceased up a cup of cofFo, (which was the lad's usual custom). He did so, but imnic diately returned, saying he could not wake deceased Witness was in bed at the time, but instmnth  n! up  stairs inehis night-clothes, and discovered decea-ett on the floor by the side of the bed, endeavoured to rous him, hint life appeared quite extinct. -Sent for nu heal aid immediately. A surgeon attended and opened veias in both arms, but with rio effect. Found no cup or plii4l in the room. Had no reason to suspect he bad taken Tolson. The Coroner's Clerk questioned the witness as to deceased's general habits with regard to sobriety. The witness, who, throughout his evidence, was much affected, said that he was not sure that he was temp:lied to answer such questions. The Clerk disclaimed any intention of wounding the witness's feelings. • Mr. %VAKLEY considered the question strictly relevant. They had assembled to inquire into the circumstance: at_ tending the death of the deceased; and it was impw.sible for the Jury to deliver a conscientious verdict without bearing all the evidence that might possibly relate to it. The witness in answer to several questions pit by the Coroner, stated that the deceased had such an abhorreucc of medical men, that if he knew one was coming to sei. hirehe would conceal himself. He ate stewed eels for his dinner on Saturday, and took gruel for his supper. About 7 o'clock on Saturday evening, deceased took a spoonful of " Powell's Balsam of Anniseed," and afterwards rubbed his chest with hartshorn and oil, after which lie complained of the pain being more intense. He sometimes complained that he could not get sleep towards morning. The Coroner inquired if the Jury wished to hear any farther evidence ; there was, in his opinion, nothing before them to shew the actual cause of death, whether by break_ ing a blood-vessel, or a disease of the lungs, in fact they ought to know the ordet of a disease to return a proper verdict ; he, however, was willing to leave the case in their hands, and abide by the decision they thought prover to come to. The Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of " Natural Death, by the 'Visitation of God." Ma. \VAKLEY said, before the Court broke up, be was desirous of offering a few observations with respect to the important subject of medical evidence. The object of law' generally, was not in his opinion formed so much for the thatdetethatits Coroner's recurrence. q \t'ew'i,,ttas crime,he w a seled toto prevent believe, from their first institution were of the first importance, in a ectoionnvicotfior, moral point of view, as regarded the administration of criminal law. In his opinion, even with respect to the case they had just decided upon, a port mortem examinetion was truly desirable, although there was no discrepancy in the evidence. It might transpire that an individual, heir to property, might wish to get rid of a second person who stood between the former's speedy possession of it, and for that purpose administer to him morphiate (the principle of opium), and cause death. To detect if such had been, done, it was' necessary in all cases of sudden death thee a post mortem examination should take place ; but not. vc much so, in cases resulting from known accidents or pal.: pahle instances of suicide. He-intended to put the cotter to as little expense as possible—but he should feel it his duty when no judgment could be fairly formed front an external appearance of a body always to order a post mortem examination.—(hear, hear.) The Jury having expressed a desire to "drink" Mr. Wakley's health, this being his first inquest, %r. Waklcy presented the Foreman with two guineas, remerking. That as he wanted to be an old horse, he styposed he must be first coltcd."  Sedentary occupations, close application to husi cress, continual reading and writing, colds, fevers, nervousness, use of bad and improper spectacles and eartrumpets, and intense study, all conspire to injure those best of natilre's gifts, the human sight and hearing. It, will, however, be a solace to individuals who, from either of the above causes, are labouring under deafness or weak, and defective eyesight to know that the skill, and long (lA_ tensive practice and experience upon the sight and I).eat•ing, of Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, 39, Albemarle. street, Piccadilly, have enabled them to construct a new form of spectacle lens, which will be found to enable aged as well as young persons with weak and imperfect vision, either by day or candlelight, to attend to the most minute employment with the greatest case and comfort. The Alessi's. S.'s Operative Voice-Conductor, for deaf persons, are the size of a seven-shilling piece, fits into the cavity ovnot h; eo ol:aa least t perceptible, and the faintest assembly is heard with distinctness. c