Page:Facts, failures and frauds- revelations, financial, mercantile, criminal.djvu/257

FACTS, FAILURES, AND FRAUDS, 215 seldom saw him. I had sometimes fetched pills from Mr. Maitland's for Mr. Sadleir, but not laudanum or opium.

A gentleman present said, the letter to Mrs. Sadleir, being posted after post hour on Saturday night, would not reach its destination until this (Tuesday) morning.

The Coroner then asked Mr. Manning if he had any evidence to offer?

Mr. Manning said he had not, nor did he wish to interpose in any way as to the evidence which the Coroner might think necessary to establish the cause of death.

The Coroner said, nothing could be clearer than the cause of death. Any inquiry after that was much to be regretted, seeing that it might extend to matters which might distress the feelings of relatives. He thought the law in that respect was most unsatisfactory. The letter written by the deceased to his sister-in-law appeared to be a document that ought to be produced, in the opinion of some of the jury near him. He (the coroner) had no desire to see it. It was perfectly clear to him that the unfortunate gentleman had died by his own act. Nothing could by any possibility be plainer. It was much to be deplored that facility was afforded to him to obtain the poison in the way he had done; but, judging from his carrying a couple of razors in his pocket, it was clear that if he had failed in destroying himself by taking or procuring the essential oil of almonds, he would have done it with a razor. The only question for the consideration of the jury was as to what was the state of his mind at the time he committed the act.

A juryman said, it was with that view only that the jury wished to see the letter produced.

Mr. Manning said, Mr. Norris, a legal gentleman, was present, who was with Mr. Sadleir till a late hour on Saturday night, and probably the Coroner would wish to have him called.

The Coroner said, it was very desirable that that gentleman should give evidence, if he had any to tender.

Mr. Anthony Norris was then called, and, in reply to questions put by the Coroner, said,—I am a solicitor, practising at No. 2, Bedford Row, and was intimately acquainted with the deceased. I saw him last alive, shortly before eleven o'clock on Saturday night last, at his house. There was no one else with us. I had no appointment with him, but I went up there to see him, and was with him about half an hour. I had known him since 1813, and had frequently transacted business with him. He was engaged in several public concerns. He was Chairman of the London and County Bank, and of the Royal Swedish Railway Company. I believe he was also connected with several other companies, including an Irish bank, of which he was a director. He appeared oppressed by his undertakings. Latterly he seemed rather haggard. During the last week particularly I had noticed