The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1835-06-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE.  An inquisition was taken on Wednesday last before James Powuall, Esq., oq,e-of the coroner sfor the borough, on view of the body of Roger Peel, a person lately employed at the Liverpool Mercury office, as a collector, who destroyed himself by taking poison. Margaret Parlen, a lodging-house keeper, residing in Pleasant-street, stated that the deceased,for the last ten months, had lodged with her. When he first came he was collector'for the Mercury newspaper, and remained in that situation until about seven weeks ago, when he was engaged in a similar capacity by Mr. Vale, a paper-dealer, in Williamson-square. He had not been more than a week in his new situation before he was taken ill from cold and obliged to leave, and Mr. Johnson, the surgeon, attended him. A few months ago deceased received in • telligence of his mother's death is London, which appeared to affect his spirits, and since his removal from the Mercury-office his circumstances were not so good as previously, which tended much to affect his mind. On Friday night last deceased appeared particularly dejected, and witness observingin his hand a small blue paper with white powder in it, she asked him what it contained, and he replied " sugar." No further notice was taken of the circumstance. On Saturday morning deceased left the house between six and seven o'clock, returned and got breakfast, and went out again at eleven. About two o'clock he came in again looking eery ill, and shortly began to vomit. Witness wished to send for a surgeon, but he would not consent ; but as he grew worse towards five o'clock be desired that Mr. Johnson should be sent for and told to bring the stomachpump with him. Deceased was asked if he had taken anything, and he said, "Nothing but ginger beer." Mr. Johnson arrived at six o'clock, and was of opinion that deceased had got the cholera. He ordered some medicine, which was given to the deceased ; went away, and returned at seven o'clock, bringing some more medicine with him, which was also administered. The deceased afterwards got worse, and a little before nine o'clock he died. On Saturday night, before deceased died, witness searched his pockets and found a quantity of the powder. Two or three months ago deceased used frequently to talk about the easiest method of dying, and latterly ha had renewed that kind of conversation.  Mr. George Johnson, surgeon, of Mount Pleasant, stated that a mouth ago he was called in to the deceased, at a house in Pleasant-street. He complained of a cough and pain in his side. Witness bled him and ordered medicine, and continued to visit him for a fortnight, until he got well. Between 5 and 6 o'clock on Saturday afternoon last witness was called in and found uecessed in a state of insensibility on a sofa. His skin was cold and there was no pulse. He revived a little, and witness was informed that he had vomited, and had also been cramped and purged. These symptoms induced witness to believe that deceased had the cholera, and the people of the house, on being questioned, Stated that be had taken nothing to their knowledge but ginger beer. Witness administered some - brandy and laudanum, and had deceased reinuved to a bed. Witness then left him, and returned about seven o'4loc, having —previiinsly ordered hot bottles and heated salt to, his feet. On calling again at nine wituess found that he was dead. The body was opened in the presence of Mr. Lockwood, the surgeon. Mr. Thomas Lockwood, surgeon, stated that he opened the body of deceased in the presence of Mr. Johnson. The stomach appeared inflamed, and there were patches of inflammation in different parts of the intestines. There was a pint of fluid in the stomach, which, being put to the test, proved to contain arsenic. The powder found in deceased's pocket was arsenic and witness was of opinion that arsenic was the cause of death Verdict, insanity.