Attempt at suicide

ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE- A gentleman, nearly allied to a noble family, entered the Cigar Divan, in King Street, Covent Garden, in a state of great excitement. Being personally known to the proprietor, he was advised, as he appeared unwell, to retire to the garden that is fitted up in the summer-months for the reception of visitors. He did so; and having ordered his refreshment took a seat at the extremity of the shrubbery. His agitation was so great as to render him nearly inarticulate, but this was attributed by the waiter to inebriation; and as he was seated where he could be no annoyance to the visitors of the Coffee-room, the attendants retired and left him alone. In a few minutes the report of a pistol was heard. On the proprietor of the Divan running into the garden, he found the unfortunate gentleman trembling very violently, holding a discharged pistol in his hand, and with a paper inclosing some mineral substance on the table before him.

He said, that he always carried pistols for his personal security, and that it had been discharged accidentally. He was then asked what was in the paper, and he replied, “Salts.” The word “poison,” however, was upon the paper; and, on the contents being taken to a chemist‘s, they were pronounced to be oxalic acid. The bullet struck a tree behind the seat occupied by the gentleman, from which it is conjectured that he had pointed it at himself, but, from his agitation, discharged it over his shoulder. Under all the circumstances, the proprietor determined on detaining him until his friends could be apprized of his situation.

This he resisted, and demanded his liberation, but at length burst into tears, and mentioned the name of a gentleman, who was accordingly sent for. Nearly two hours elapsed before this relation was found, and then the unfortunate gentleman was conveyed away in a close carriage. He appeared in a dreadful state of nervous debility, conversed incoherently, and was frequently in tears.