THE GENUINE THING, OR THE LAST OF THE COCKS, OR CATCHPENNIES.

week ago. He had been an invalid for a long time.
The affection under which he laboured disturbed his
rest. He was desponding about his future-his general
conversation led me to think that he very much feared
poverty, but on the whole he was a taciturn man. I
did not think he was more desponding during the last
week than he had been previously. He did not tell me
much about his affairs, but I understood some small
source of income had recently ceased. Last Saturday
he brought in two eggs for his dinner, and he provided
nothing for Sunday. That was unusual. I asked him
on Sunday morning what he was going to have for din-
ner, and he said he only wanted a knife and fork. I
think he had a small pie for dinner, but I don't know.
There was a bag on the table containing 6d.-that was
all the money that has been found. Two of the letters
produced were found on the mantel-piece-they are in
the handwriting of the deceased.
The Coroner read the letters. The first was addressed
to his brother, and was as follows:
"You will regret dear Charles my untimely end. I have not the
heart to say more than love to all. Your affectionate brother
JOHN."
"You will find in the deal box my rent book-2 weeks rent is
due, a trifle to the laundress, and 10s. on Mr. Verrall's acc't-that is
all I owe."
The second letter was in the following terms:-
16 St. George's St
"Augt 23-1869.
"to the humane,
"let my body be taken direct to the receiving house of the
parochial cemetery I wish to be placed in the earth at the least pos-
sible expense and inconvenience at the inquest this writing will shew
that I caused my own death, being, at the same time quite serene
and composed. I wish my remains to be placed in a deal coffin,
and when the darkness of night has closed in to be intered (sic) in
the catholic burial ground the catholics are larger and warmer
hearted than protestants, I trust and hope these my wishes may be
conceded and fulfill'd
"JOHN BALDEY
"aged 70 years 37 days."

In answer to further questions,
Mrs. Colwell said-I don't think the deceased went
to any place of worship. He was not a drinking man
-he never drank to any excess.
Mr. W. Hamilton Brown Ross, retired surgeon-major
in the Indian army, said-I live at 149, Upper Lewes
Road. Yesterday morning, soon after six o'clock, I was
called by a policeman. I dressed as quickly as possible
and came to this house. I found the deceased in one
of the lower rooms, and from the appearance and tem-
perature of the body-the coldness of the body and
limbs, and the general surface, and the surface mark
round the neck, and the ecchymosis or extravasation of
blood round the mark, and the parchment-like appear-
ance of his shrivelled skin, the cadaverous rigidity of
the limbs and neck, usually denominated rigor mortis, I
am decidedly of opinion the man must have been dead
six hours or more. The expression of countenance was
haggard and depressed in the extreme-it had altogether
a worn and wretched appearance. The characteristics
of hanging were so strongly marked, so apparent, that I
considered a post mortem examination perfectly unneces-
sary, and the more so as the morbid appearances of the
brain had been so much modified by the long period the
body had been suspended, that any indications of con-
gestion, or other brain disease, would have been merged
in those produced by hanging so long. I have heard the
evidence hitherto given, and the letters read, and I say
this,-that, although nothing could be more deliberate
and determined than the act of suicide, I am of opinion

o 2

that his mind was so overcharged and thrown off its
balance by the dread of approaching inevitable poverty,
that he was driven in a moment of despair to put an end
to his existence; and, therefore taking all these things
into consideration, I am further of opinion that he com-
mitted the deed while labouring under an attack of
suicidal monomania. I think that suicidal monomania
is consistent with his having written the letters which
have been read, for it is a peculiarity of that disease to
be quite sane on all other points.
P.C. Bassett said-I was called to the deceased, and
found him lying on the ground in the unfinished house.
He was quite dead. Part of the rope I produce was
round his neck. I searched the body then and there,
and found in the left-hand coat pocket the letter I pro-
duce. It is addressed to Mrs. Colwell.
The Coroner read the letter, which was as follows:-
"Mrs. Colwell,
Dear Madam,
"I have long felt should I outlive my means and be reduced to
want-I could not have the heart or know how to plead poverty,
that state of things has come to pass, with my health and strength
utterly prostrate my heart sinks with despair, as I am unworthy and
but little known. I feel I have no claim on society or to be sup-
ported by others, the thought of the future has heavily overcome
me. I end my days rashly and sadly, do not censure me, but make
allowance for the frailties of human nature, consider it to be an act
of weakness and want of manly fortitude.-Your's truly with best
wishes.
"JOHN BALDEY.
"August 23, 1869."
P.C. Bassett further said-In the right-hand waist-
coat pocket I found the small bag produced. I
afterwards removed the body to this house.
Superintendent Crowhurst said-I had known the
deceased a good many years-by name and by sight. I
knew Dr. Baldey, the brother of the deceased, who
lived in Bartholomews, and was a parish doctor twenty-
four or twenty-five years ago. He committed suicide
by taking prussic acid. There was no inquest, but an
inquiry by the police.
Mr. Charles Baldey said-I am a grocer, and live in
Chichester Place, Kemp Town. The deceased was my
brother, and was seventy years of age. I last saw him
alive last Wednesday. He came up to my house and
dined with me. He appeared rather low, and com-
plained that nothing had passed through him for a long
time past, and he suffered great pain in consequence;
and that he must go to the doctor. That morning, at
three o'clock, he had suffered extremely. I asked him
whether he would take any ale. He said he dared not
-he had not taken any for two years. He had about
half a glass of gin. He received a sum of £10 about
a couple of months ago. He sold a reversion three or
four years ago for about £150 or £170. We-my
brother and myself-knew he was in poor circumstances,
and intended to provide for him. We were only wait-
ing for him to come to us. Nothing had ever directly
passed between the deceased and myself as to his
poverty. He was a man of few words, but very excit-
able, and we were obliged to be careful what we said to
him. He had not been to my house previous to Wed-
nesday since Christmas. I remember my brother, Dr.
Baldey-it is true he committed suicide about twenty-
four years ago. I don't know what religion my brother
was, for I have seen so little of him, but we are not a
Roman Catholic family.
The Deputy-Coroner shortly left the case to the jury,
who, after consideration, found that the deceased des-
troyed himself while suffering from " suicidal mono-
mania."-Brighton Daily Hews.
50