The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-12-13 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  DREADFUL AND DETERMINED SUICIDE. Yesterday afternerp, at four o'clock, an inquisition wan held at the Goat tavern, in Stafford-street, Bond-street, before H. Geld, Eeq. the Cozener, on view of the body of a line young man named Thome Bridge. aged 21 years, who coin/flitted the following act of self.destruction The Jury hsving been swan, proceeded with the Coroner to the house where the deceased was lying. The body presented one of the most appalling spectacles we hare for some time witnessed, the head being literally severed from the shoulders. Jame Sedgwick, of No. 42, Carnaby-street, Holden.square, stated, that he was in the service or Mr. Cullum, the wholesale butterman„ at No. 44, Old Bond-street ; the deceased was in the same employ, engaged in the ont-dror department. \Fitness had', known him for the last four Team, and always knew him to enjoy good health and spirits till the last two or three weeks, during which period be had complained of a continual weight and pain in his head, and always seemed in low spirits, but hie mind did not appear to sue:kr in the least, nor was he disabled from attending to his business, which he always did very properly. Witness could not say that he ever,eaw any things* incoherent in his manner, that he could undertake to state on oath that he believed him to be of unsound mind. On Saturday morning last, between nine and ten o'clock, was the last time he saw him alive; he then seemed much the same as usual, and went about his business with his usual ac. cavity. Witness saw no more of him till between nine and ten at night, when he went down stairs to look for him ; and. not finding him where he expected, he went into the yard, and finding the privy door shut, he considered that he was there, and called him by his tame; but receiving. no answer, he pushed the door open a little, and saw him welterir.g in his blood. He was kneeling, and his head lying on the sent. Witness caused en immediate alarm, and several persons came to the spot; and it was then discovered that the deceased had cut hia throat, from ear to ear, with a penknife. which was afterwards Imiod, covered with gore, underneath his corpse. lie was quite dead. The deceased was in good circum! 'nieces, a single man, and witness had no reason to doubt but he committed the deed himself.  Mr. John Spooner, clerk in the house of Mr. Cullum, said that he was in the habit of seeing the deceased young man almost every km in the day, and from Ms observations he felt perfectly satisfied in hts own opinion that he was of unsound mind, and had been so for the last three weeks or a month ; his appetite failed very much, and he would frequently fall into a deep reverie, front which witness has frequently roused him. It t: a: his conviction that the deceased was decidedly an insane person, and that he committed the itteadlul dead whilst labouring under that malady. He ap. peared mote dejected on the Saturday than on any preceding day. Juror—Do yon know of anything that preyed on his mind, that might cause the dejection you speak of ?—Witness !Laid he did not; he had formed' a very ardent attachment to a young female, and whether or not there had been any quarrel between them he knew not. The deceased was so very private with his affairs, that he opened his mindlo no person or friend. The medical gentleman who was called in to the deceased said that he had examined the body, and found two dreadfully deep wounds in the neck, which had divided the great artery and the windpipe, and had produced almost instantaneous death. He naves in all his life saw such a determined suicide.  _ - ...... Beadle here said that the family of the deceased wished the young female with whotu the deceased kept company to be examined, but The Coroner and Jury were of opinion there was no necessity for it, as enough had beeri proved to show that the deceased was insane at the moment he committed the rash act ; under these cireumstanees she was not called, and a verdict of " Insanity" was recorded by the Coroner. Drtemm•rit. Suter oa.—Yesterday morning, about nine o'clock, Mr. James Smith, theproprietor of a coffee-house, situate No. 4.1, Foley-street, Fitsroy-square, put a period to his existence by hanging himself, at Ida residence. The unfortunate man. it &P-pests, had been in a moNt melancholy state ever sines the death of his wife, which happened about two months ago, and it was found necessary to haves friend to remain with him in the house. He at. tempted to tut his throat CO SOnday •i`ht last, sad yesterday morning he left the room under some pretense, sad was shoetly aria found in the kitchen, auespeoded by a cord, gaited/ad. The. Wad, lies for a Coroner's infest.