On his papers being
examined, it was found he had set his affairs in order, paid all
his debts, and destroyed a quantity of his letters and documents.
It was then remembered he had been occasionally susceptible to
melancholia--a disease he inherited from his father, who had
perished by his own hand. It was noted some days before that on
which he was missed, he had appeared listless and depressed. It
was known the imprisonment of his friend Coleman had weighed
heavily on his spirits. A terrible fear now taking possession of
his relatives and friends, thorough search was made for him,
which proved vain until the Thursday following his disappearance,
when he was accidentally discovered lying in a ditch, a cloth
knotted round his neck, and a sword passed through his body, "at
or near a place called Primrose Hill, in the midway between
London and Hampstead."
If he had been murdered, no motive appeared to account for the
deed; neither robbery nor revenge could have prompted it. His
rings and money, gloves and cane, were found on and near his
body; and it was known he had lived in peace with all men. Nor
did an inquest lasting two days throw any light upon the mystery.
If it were proved he had died by his own hand, the law of that
day would not permit his brothers to inherit his property, which
was found to be considerable. It was therefore their interest to
ignore the fact that strangulation pointed to FELO DE SE, and to
assume he had been murdered.
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