The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1826-03-04 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  A Fr cc T c sus Sum t nt.—Yesterday evening, at four o'clock, an inquisition was held at the Old King's Arms, Chelsea, on the body of Mr. Jonathan Bandon, a gentleman of the age of who tenninated his existence under very peculiar circumstances. Mr. J. Bunion, the eldest son of the deceased, stated that his littler had for thirty-me years been a partner in a silk house in Paul.street, Aldersgate-street. but had dissolved partnership about rine months since, and lived with his family at Binterse,. About four months ago he was prevailed upon to embark 17.outa. in an undertaking upon the faith of another individual, whisk un. dertaking had failed through the shameful conduct of that indivi, dual, who had quitted the country. Juror—Pray what was the nature of the speculation? Mr. Bandon—The Company, is still going on; it relates to a speculat:on in Spain, which latterly seems to have failed, and as there appears some prospect of ultimate success, I must decline. for Private reasons, particularly as this inquest may get into the public papers, of stating the name of the undertaking, or even its nature. Mr. Christie, • Juror—lce that not opposite to your declaration in the first part of your evidence, that the speculation had failed, to the ruin of tile deceased, through the "'Many of another I who had fled ?  Alr. Bandon—l did Ray No, but that only related to t!:e fraudu. lent disposal of my father's shares by that Individual. My onect tion to naming the Company is simply for the sake of the family, as I contemplate making an application to the police, It' something be not done before next week. A Juror observed that it perhaps was not altogether their province to inquire into private 'natters. but all that related to or caused ttse act into which they were inquiring, he conceived, should be unre. serredly stated. .  The COROX rn said they were only to inquire into the state of mind of the deceased before the act ; the* province was not to in. quire into private affairs. 51r. Bandon said he had nine witnesses who could depose to the aberration of mind of the deceased, but he begged di,tinctly to be understood as not meaning to withhold any evidence from the Jury necessary to the inquiry. On the contrary, he would give every consistent answer in his power relative to the deceased and his affairs. The deceased about three or Nur weeks since received on intimation that by the failure of a portion of the speculation 6.0001. had been lost of his money, and the remainder had become in very great jeopardy, which had been increased by the most unexpected defalcatiort and disappearance of the person in whom he bad eon. tided. This had worked so much upon his mind that lie became despondent, and yesterday morning, during the temporary ab. sence of a female appointed to watch him, committed suicide by severing the windpipe, in the bed-room of his house in King-street. This, the witness said, was the whole of the circumstances Click he knew relating to the act. A Juror asked if the deceased had not a large family ? The witness, who scented much affected, replied, " fiesta children."  31r. Jones, surgeon, of Sloane-place, attended the 4cceand, and found him partly lying on the bed, which was covered blood. He was quite dead, having completed the act by the Cid 'attempt. Three other witnesses deposed to the desponding state of the i.e. ceased for the last four weeks ; when the Jury expressed them. selves satisfied, and having viewed the body, which indeed pte. sented a pitiable spectacle, returned a verdict of •• Insanity." The third son of the deceased, a Midshipman in the navy, it WA% said by a letter received by yesterday's post, was drowned at Lisbon while bathing.