Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-12-16 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SUICIDE OF A GLAMORGANERIRI MA GISTRATE.—A shocking case of suicide occurred at the Imperial hotel, Malvern, on Monday morning, under circumstances which will best appear from the evidence we subjoin, and which was elicited at the inquest held during the day, by Mr. Hughes, coroner. Mr. John S. Gibbon said he resided at Newton-house, near Cowbridge, Glamorganshire. Deceased was his brother. His name was David Samuel Gibbon, and he had a house at Bonviletone, near Cardiff. He was thirtj five years of age, and unmarried. Deceased was independent, and travelled a good deal; he was always of an excitable temperament, but had been more so lately. Witness knew of no great calamity which preyed on his mind. Lately ho had indulged in drinking, and bad had several attacks of delirium tremens. Ile had been staying with witness for the last two months, chiefly on account of a recent attack of illness. They came to Malvern for a change, arriving on Friday evening last. Deceased seemed rather worse on Sunday ;he suffered from frequent delusions. For the last few weeks he had been tolerably free from those delusions, but having had a bad night on Saturday he was worse on Sunday—believing that "people were after him." There was no ground for the supposition. More than once deceased had said, whatever be might I do, he would never commit suicide, as he trusted in ' God and his Savionr. They never felt it necessary to use any caution as to keeping deadly weapons from him; they kept his razors from him about a month ago, but that was from mere precaution. Deceased occupied a room by himself. Witness sat up with him in his room for more than an hour on Sunday night, after deceased Was in bed. He was then rational, excepting occasional delusions. When witness got up to go away, deceased asked him to sit up a little longer with him. Wituess left him about eleven, and when he Was undressing, deceased came to his ro ;in and said, "Am I safe ?" He seemed very nervous, and witness assured him he was in no danger whatever. Before getting into bed, witness went to look at him, and found him in bed and apparently very comfortable. ' Shortly after deceased came again to witness's room he Was still possessed by fears as to his safety. When deceased left, witness told him to go to his room and keep quiet ; but if he was not comfortable he was to come to him again. He said he would, and left ; that was about twelve o'clock. Before daylight on Monday morning, about six o'clock. witness went into deceased's room to s.;e how he was. The door was ajar. He saw deceased lying across the bed, surrounded by blood. He immedialely ran for assistance, and one of the porters came. Witness sent for a doctor, and Dr. Williams came. Deceased had apparently been dead some time. Witness was afraid he had brought about his owa death. Deceasal had spoken to a medical man in London, who said he feared softening of the brain was going on. Deceased, when found, had a pocket-knife open in his °lend:Lea hand. The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide while in a state of insanity." Deceased was a county magistrate for Glamorgan.