148 ANNUAL REGISTER, 181?«. [Nov 



the body. Some of the reporters, 

 of course, were among the num- 

 ber; but the Coroner prevented 

 the intrusion, by threatening to 

 commit any person who entered, 

 except the Jury.] 



Thomas Bowen said he was 

 footman to Sir Samuel Romilly. 

 He did not see his master from 

 the middle of August last, until 

 Sunday afternoon, when he ar- 

 rived in town from the Isle of 

 Wight. He looked well, and 

 appeared in good health at the 

 time: much better than could 

 have been expected, from the 

 domestic affliction which had 

 taken place, and hearing that he 

 had been unwell, Soon after he 

 came in, he lay down on the sofa 

 in the library, which was between 

 four and five o'clock. Witness 

 beard that the deceased was un- 

 well from the loss of Lady Ro- 

 milly, who died on Thursda)' 

 night last ; he had been unwell 

 for a long time, and had a 

 daughter and six sons; the eldest, 

 the daughter, was about '20 years 

 of age; the youngest boy be- 

 tween 8 and 9. Sir Samuel ap- 

 peared always exceedingly happy 

 in his family ; but the multiplicity 

 of his avocations prevented his be- 

 ing much with them ; he had scarce 

 any time for enjoyment. Witness 

 did not attend him on Monday 

 morning, but knew he was in- 

 disposed and confined to his bed : 

 when well, his general hour of 

 rising was 6 o'clock, and of going 

 to bed 11. Miss Romilly, Mr. 

 WilHam Romilly, Dr. Roget, and 

 Mrs. Davies (sister of Lady 

 Romilly), were in the house on 

 Monday morning, as were also 

 some of the servants (part being 

 in the country) ; he could not 



tell who it was that attended Sir 

 Samuel in his bed-room, with his 

 breakfast on that morning. Wit- 

 ness about 2 o'clock heard a 

 noise, like somebody falling on 

 the floor, up two pair of stairs, 

 and went up to ascertain the 

 cause. The bed-room door of 

 his master was open, and Dr. 

 Roget was standing outside : 

 witness was about to enter, and 

 saw Sir Samuel (as he thought) 

 coming towards the door, in the 

 act of driving the Doctor out. 

 It appeared, however, it was to 

 keep him out, for he raised both 

 his hands and fastened the door ; 

 he was then bleeding profusely. 

 Witness did not then observe any 

 instrument in his hand. The 

 door was instantly burst open, 

 and Sir Samuel was found lean- 

 ing over the wash-hand-stand, 

 his throat being cut, and the 

 blood flowing from him profusely; 

 a shirt and a blanket were about 

 him ; he was quite speechless, but 

 he had made several signs with 

 his hand ; he was given a sheet of 

 paper, and pen and ink. Pre- 

 vious to entering the room. Dr. 

 Roget told witness that the de- 

 ceased had cut his throat. MiS§ 

 Romilly, previous to the fatal 

 act committed by the deceased, 

 had been with him in the room, 

 but he sent her down to the 

 drawing-room, desiring to see 

 Dr. Roget. It was during this 

 interval he cut his throat. He 

 kept a case of razors, in the 

 ordinary way, in his room. There 

 were two beds in his room, in 

 one of which Dr. Roget slept. 

 Witness asked the Doctor if he 

 saw the deceased do the deed ; 

 and he replied, that he thought 

 upon going into the room when 



sent 



