Glasgow Courier. — 1846-01-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUICIDE OF COLONEL GURWOOD. BRIGHTON, DEC. 29.—0 n Monday morning, Mr. Gell, one of the coroners for East Sussex, held an inquest on the body of Colonel John Gurwood, on the unattached list, who, after a short sojourn at Brighton, first at the residence of Sir Henry Webster, in Brunswick Square, and afterwards at lodgings, which he had taken for his family at 120, King's Road, terminated his earthly existence on Saturday, by cutting his throat. The deceased was greatly distinguished in the Peninsula, was on the staff of the , Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo, afterwards private secretary to the Duke of Wellington, and he has lately completed a task on which he had been for many years engaged, as editne ot the Wellington .Despatches. He wore the Waterloo medal, and another decoration; and he filled the office of Deputy-Constable of the Tower of London. The inquest was held at the house where the act was committed; and the following evidence will show the circumstances under which the unfortunate gentleman  ended his days : Sarah, wife of George Collins, a lodging-house keeper, of 120, Ring's Road, deposed that, last Tuesday morning, Colonel and Mrs. Gurwood, and their three daughters, came there to reside. They brought no servants, and in consequence witness waited on them. Last Saturday they took lunch at 1 o'clock; soon afterwards she went up to clear away, when she saw Mrs. Gurwood dressed as if she were going out for a walk. At a quarterpast 2 o'clock a boy brought the newspaper as usual; and witness carried it up into the drawing-room. She coughed at the door, and no notice being taken, she went in and stirred the fire, and was then going down stairs, when, as she glanced her eye towards the dressing-room, she thought she saw the Colonel's legs lying on the floor. In consequence of the high wind, the deceased and his wife had slept in this room during the last night or two. Soon afterwards, while at work in the kitchen, she mentioned what she thought she had seen to her husband. It then occurred to her that she might have been mistaken, as she now thought it very strange for a gentleman to be stretched along the floor. She accordingly went up, and no notice being taken when she coughed at the door, she went in and stirred the fire. She then pulled the door of the dressing room epen, and saw the deceased on the floor in a pool of blood, arising as she supposed, from his having broken a blood-vessel. She had previously arranged with her husband that if everything was not right she Would ring the bell. Accordingly she rang, and her husband came up, and immediately ran out for Mr. Furner, a surgeon, who immediately returned with her husband. Mr. E. J. Furner, the surgeon, residing on the King's-road, deposed to finding at the house of last witness, a gentleman, who he was afterwards informed was deceased, Colonel Gurwood. He was lying on the floor of the dressing-room in a pool of blood. Witness raised him, and found a razor tightly grasped in his right hand, and a wound on the left side of his throat, four inches long, and from an inch to an inch and a half in depth. Coroner—ln your opinion did that wound cause death ?—Yes. Have you any doubt of it 9—No; and I think that the death must have been instantaneous. Sir Henry Webster was the next witness—He stated that he is a Lieutenant-Colonel In the army, and resided at 44 Brunswick Square, Brighton. He had known the deceased for nearly thirty years. About a month ago he heard from the medical attendant of deceased that he was ill, and he with the sanction of the medical man suggested that the Colonel should come down to Brighton, and stay at his house as long as he liked. Deceased came accordingly, and remained with him a few days, when (being joined by his wife and three daughters) he took a lodging in the King's Road. While deceased was at witness's house, witness and his family endeavoured to divert the Colonel's mind as much as possible by lively conversation, and by getting him to walk as much as convenient. Coroner—Did you form any opinion as to the state of Colonel Gurwood's mind? Sir H. Webster—l judged from his general conversation, including politics, that he was in a desponding way. Do you know any cause for It? I have no doubt that it was caused by the relaxation of the nervous system, in consequence of his great work, The Wellington Despatches, being concluded. How long had you noticed an alteration 9--As long ago as a month. Dr. George Hall, of Old Stevne, deposed that he was called in some time ago to attend the aeceased. lie prescribed for him, and the deceased rallied. Since that he had again fallen into a very desponding low way, and witness treated him accordingly, and had great hopes that he would get better. His despondency, however, had again returned, Do you believe that such despondency was Buticient to cause temporary insanity 9—l do. After a brief summing up from the coroner, the jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary insanity, caused by mental relaxation." The remains of the unfortunate gentleman are to be removed to London for interment,