The Sun. — 1847-04-17 (London, England)

SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF CAPT. G. B. DOWNES, R.E melancholy occurrence took place on board the General Steam Navigation Company's ship Ramona, plying on the armouth station, during the last trip made by that vessel. he Ramona left Yarmouth at five r.m. on Wednesday evening, under the charge of Captain Dawson, with a general cargo of merchandise and several passengers, among whom Was Captain Downes, of the corps of Royal Engineers. The ~night turned out rough and squally, a heavy sea rolling 'Luring the early part of the passage; but nothing particular occurred calculated t• direct the attention of those on board Ah to ftther leaving Yarmouth Officer whose death this paragraph announces. Yarmouth he took tea in the chief cabin, at e same table with several other passengers. Mr. Wood, the steward of the vessel, believes that he partook of no other refreshment during the evening ; but about half-past one o'clock on Thursday morning he observed the Gallant Captain parading the deck and smoking a cigar. Shortly afterwards he addressed the steward's boy, requesting . to make up his bed for the night on the sofa. This WAS the last that was seen or heard of the unfortunate gentleman. Some two hours subsequently one of the sailors discovered a hat lying in the starboard fore aponson, and on conveying it into the cabin it was shortly ascertained to have belonged to Captain Downes. A close Search was immediately made for the Gallant Officer, but it !gas soon found that he was not on board the vessel. The first impression was that he must have thrown himself overboard shortly after having been seen by the steward ; and this presumption was afterwards strengthened by the fact of his manner having been remarked to have been particularly reserved during the voyage by several of his fellow-pas. sengers. His carpet-bag was opened by the captain, to discover his identity, and in it were discovered three letters, which gave the desired information. The only other things contained in the bag were a night-shirt, and a brush and comb. On the arrival of the Ramona off the 'Custom House on Thursday morning information of the melancholy occurrence was given at the office of the company by Captain Dawson, and we understand, from inquiries which have been made, little doubt appears to exist, that the Gallant Captain must have thrown himself overboard while labouring under mental alienation. The weather, it should be- stated, had moderated before the Gallant Captain was missed, and there was scarcely any swell on. The spot is supposed to have been near the Meuse Light, twenty miles below Gravesend. THE LATE Loss OF LIFE UT FIRE IN MARTLEscam—Yesterday Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the St. Marylebone Workhouse, on the body of Anne Wilson, aged 74, the unfortunate female burnt to death In her ben un the morning of Wednesday last. It appeared from the statement of Henry Wilson, a little boy nine years of age, that he resided with the deceased, who was his grandmother, at No. 10, Marylebone-court, and slept in the same bed with her. On the night of Tuesday last, when they went to bed, the deceased, as was her custom, placed her lighted candle on a chair near the bed-side. About twenty minutes after twelve on the Wednesday morning he was awoke by a sense of suffocation, and on getting up and finding the room full of smoke and the bed on fire, he ran to the door and called for the assistance of the lodgers, but before they arrived the bed and bedding was in flames, and his grandmother still lying upon it. The candlestick was found under the bed, and it had, no doubt, fallen from the chair, and having ignited some articles under the bed, (mused the conflagration. Other evidence showed that before the unfortunate deceased could be rescued from the bed she was burnt in a frightful manner in various parts of the body. She was conveyed to the infirmary of Marylebone Workhouse, where she expired from the injuries received about three o'clock the same morning. Verdict, "Accidental death." Bonne uizo.--Yesterday's Government Police Gazette contained inf mation of the following robberies : Stolen from the shop of Mr. Myers, silversmith, &c., No. 27, Edgware-road, between the hours of eleven at night and ix in the morning, 58 valuable gold watches, about 20 secondhand watches, of which no description can be given several silver milk-pots and sugar-basins, a variety of gold guards and other chains, &c. A reward of 1001. has been offered. On the 14th, from the house of Mr. Dippie, No. 4, Little College-street, Westminster, a cash-box, containing 22.1. in gold and 2/. in silver, an I 0 U for 91., and a variety of bills and memorandums. Absconded from the service of Mr. Skinner, Great Warren-street, Clerkenwell, the potnian, taking with him 20 sovereigns, and some silver moneys; and .from the Person of Mrs. Gray, of No. 6, Watt's-buildings, Ki.ngslandroad, a silk purse, containing a 51. note and some silver. THE UNCERTAINTY or HUMAN Lim—Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. Carter, at the Fentimore Arms, Fentimore-road, Clapham-road, as to the death of John Hensler, Esq., aged seventy six, which occurred in a most sudden manner. It appeared that the deceased was a gentleman of independent property, and resided at 4, Fentimore-road. He bad not enjoyed good health for some time, and on Monday. Morning, having staid a considerable time in the watercloset,,ei young man of the name of Cartwright went after him, and found him apparently dead. A surgeon was sentfor, but it was discovered by him that life was quite extinct. Verdict, " Natural death."