The Express. — 1862-09-16 (London, England)

ALBANY BARRACKS.  CORONER'S INQUEST.—(THLS DAY.) Dr. Lankester held au inquest this morning at the Canteen, Albany Barracks, Regent's-park, on the body of William Gamble. a private in the god Life Guards, and servant to Colonel Yyse, who committed suicide under circumstances given in the following evidence. The jury proceeded to view the body and the place where the tumble deed wu committed. In the women's water-closet, attached to the officers' quarters, on the seat lay a portion of the jaw of a man with three teeth entire, the wall and sides of the closet being bespattered with blood and brains. In the deadhowie at the Barrack Noepita, to which the body itself had been taken, a fearful spectable presented itself, the entire front of the head being blown away with the exception of the right eye, that organ being the only means of recognition by his features. He appeared to be about 35 years of age, and • remarkably well-proportioned man. William Colbourn, of 36, Edward-street, Regent's Park. shoemaker to the 2nd Life Guards, said just before II o'clock on Saturday morning last he was at the barracks, and on his going into Colonel Vyse's stables to see deceased for payment of • little bill, he &mid he was not there, and then went to the officers' quarters. He then heard* report of a pistol, and on looking round he and Captain Ewart's servant, observed smoke coming from the water-closet at the back of the mesa-b 00.,. They went that, and Stamp, the servant looked in, and said to witness, " Oh, Bill, there's a man dead!" He was sitting upright. His face was shattered, and a portion of his jaw, containing teeth, was upon the floor of the closet. Dr. Kerin, the surgeon of the regiment, was then called. Witness, who had been in the regiment, had known deceased for eighteen years, the whole time he bad been in the service. Witness knew nothing of the circumstances of the deceased, and knew nothing of his habits that would cause him to commit an act of this kind.  Rebecca Ba 'lentils., of 75, Mornington-road, wife of a policeoonstable, said deceased had lodged with her since the beginning of April last. His wife had lived with him until nine weeks sines. She left to take charge of Colonel Wyse's hones daring the colonel's absence. Deceased often complained of he wiles sbsence, and gave way to habits of intemperance, and latterly was invariably intoxicated. Oa Friday night last, about half-pest 10, he came home and left the street door open. He woke witness through hie talking, and she heard him afterwards come down stairs and shut the door. He got up at half-past 5 the next morning and went out. The corporal-major afterwards came and told her he was dead. He appeared at timer to be wandering during the last three months. Frederick Geo. Boris, surgeon to the regiment, deposed that he had known amble for two years as • man of intemperate habits, and had cautioned him more than once. About six weeks ago, during his master's absence, he saw him intoxicated and reproved him. He had no I doubt that this suicidal act was the result of intemperate habits producing an unsound state of mind. He was called about 12 o'clock on Saturday last tosee dooremed. He pushed the door open with his foot, and saw the deceased, who was dead. (Witness produced • double-barrelled pastel, which was in the closet by the right hand side of the deceased ; also a flattened bullet.) Witness said that Colonel Vyse bought the pistol during the Chartist riota, both barrels being of the UMW bore as the regimental carbines. His opinion was that deceased placed the pistol in his mouth and discharged the right barrel. The pistol was covered is blood. There was no cap on the second barrel, which was rusty. . . . . . .  John Webster, a jprivate in the 2nd Life Guards and servant to Captain Woodgate, maid he saw Gamble on Saturday morning about 11 o'clock. who asked him for some caps, then having the pistol in his hand. Witness told him be bad none. The cap used by deceased was a regimental carbine cap. The jury returned a verdict of " Suicide while in an unsound state of mind."  Colonel Vyse was present during the latter part of the proceedings, and stated his impression that for some time past deceased had been in a deranged state of mind.