The Sun. — 1822-12-18 (London, England)

LAMENTABLE SUICIDE.  :An Inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at the Langbourn Coffee-house, Fenchareh-street., before TuomAs SHELTON, Esq., Cdroner, on the body of Mr. Luke Sohn Thomas, aged about 27. Samuel Plumber, waiter of • the Langbourii Coffee-house, sworn.—The deceased came into the. coifee-room about half: past eleven o'clock. on Monday morning, walked very ck up the room and asked witness for a private room. Witness showed him up stairs into the first floor room; he then asked witness for a sheet of, paper, which he- went down stairs to obtain : on coming up into the room again, he found the deceased in the •room weltering in his blood; a noise was heard previously by .the ' _persons below stairs, but it was not thought to be the report of fire-arms ; witness had not left the deceased above half a minute. On opening the door witness found his right hand clinched, and allover blood; witness thought he had cut his throat, and ran down stairs to obtain assistance: he went instantly fot Mr. Pugh, a•surgeon. Mr. Pugh came instantly, and they went together into the room, 1 when two pistols were foUnd • 4 a table ; the deceased was , lying about a yard from 4 . •here the pistols were. He was not quite dead, but f • ' ~.. Off eral sighs ; in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour life was exdnct ; there was a great deal of lalobjaliout the ioon. ; the deceased was quite insensible all the time; there were two wouladikowte on the left bieast,: and th,44thwiligfl below the rieht breast. The pistols were both disiliagßT searching dill 4sesseea, some pistol bullets were fbti V with some cards of address. Witness never sa4l;he eased before. Mr. R:Piigh&Surgeon, Gracechurch-street, stated that he was called in to attend the deceased, and found him lying on his face ; he turned him over, thinking bis throat was cut, and intended to loosen his neckcloth ' . but he found two wounds, one of which had penetrated the lungs, and Occasioned death.-Hedrew about 20 inspirations very deep, but in five or six minutes he died. Witness had known the family for some years; and when he found life had fled, he examined the pockets and found some bullets. It is witness's opinion that both pistols were discharged the same moment. The room was literally in a puddle with the blood of the deceased. Witness did not notice that the deceased 'was known to him, uintil he saw his cards of address', wh'en his features struck him. One of the pistols must have been placed close to his skin to fire it, and the other was fired throughlis waistcoat and shirt. Witness has known the family for five or six years, but has not seen the deceased for the last six months. The deceased was at times much depressed. Mr. Edw. Dodderidge, of Fenchufch-street, surgeon, sworn. —The deceased called upon witness on Friday afternoon for advice, and complained o° a pain in his head, and a great want of sleep at night. He said lie had been in this way for nearly .six months, and had gradually got worse. He seemed to be in a state of great agitation, and he wished witness several times during the conversation to give him laudanum to make him sleep at night. Witness. dissuaded him fromit, and gave him some iiiedicine of another description. He seemed much dejected, but appeared to go away in somewhat better spirits, and promised to call again in about a week, but witness had not again seen him until yesterday, when he examined him. liritness knew him personally for some time. The symptoms shown by deceased might have produced insanity ; when thadeceased left witness's house, he said he felt suds a  lowness of spirits that he could cut his throat. Mr. John Miles, clerk to deceased's brother, Mr. Thomas, N0..3, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street, sworn.—The deceased was a clerk to his brother for several years. He had served his articleship with. an attorney. The deceased left his brother November twelve months t on Monday in last 'week he came back to. his brother, and told witness he felt himself very unwell; he attended the office regularly, but complained very much of his head, as being very painful, and as if on fire. Witness observed that the deceased was very much agitated on Thursday evening, and appeared distressed in his mind; and on Friday he was so had that he went away to go to Mr. Dodderidge's tor some medicine; he returned again, andlsaid Mr. Dodderidge had refused to give him what he asked for, but he would snake up something for him. He went home with his brother. on Friday evening; on Saturday evening the agitation of his mind seemed to be much increased. Witness saw him on Monday morning, nearly eleven o'clock ; the deceased went into the office in a quick, I hurried manner ; he afterwards left the office very suddenly ; previously to which he went to his desk, and took out something. When he was gone, witness went to deceased's desk and found two bags for pistols, and a mould for casting bullets. Witness suspected from his manner that something was the matter with his mind. The deceased had at times expressed his sorrow at not having been much better off than a clerk. The Jury returned a verdict of " InsanitX."