Bell's Weekly Messenger, No.1829, Sunday, April 17, 1831.
On Tuesday an inquest was held at the Red Lion, Shoe lane, on Mr. Macpherson, a woollen draper on Holborn hill. The body was found in a sitting posture, on a chair, one pistol grasped in his left hand, another lying on the ground at his feet, and his face and shirt deluged in blood. In the forehead was an orifice of considerable extent, from which the blood had flowed The following evidence was adduced:—Mr. Robson, a Blackwell-hall factor, deposed that the deceased had, for a number of years past, speculated to a considerable amount on the Stock Exchange, in which be lost and gained large sums of money. At an early hour on Monday he received a visit from the deceased. Witness, previous to seeing him that morning, had received a letter from him, requesting the loan of from 4001. to 8001.; but on walking out with him, be said, " It would be of no avail; that he would not rob him by taking the money," and at the same time made some allusions to his intention of committing suicide. Witness, at the moment, not exactly hearing the words be had uttered, took no notice of them, and having in some degree roused him, left, promising to see him again in the course of the day, when probably he would bring him the sum requested —8001., or, at all events, he (witness) would lend him 4001. himself. They parted at the end of Princes street, near the Bank, and witness proceeded to his broker to get the money, and in the evening went to the deceased's house, where, in his counting-house, he communicated to him his success in having obtained the money, and again endeavoured to rouse him, knowing that his affairs were not of that nature to create towards his creditors any anxiety, and requested (aware that he kept pistols) that if he had any weapons to give them up to him. Deceased replied, "You need not apprehend any harm, "and while witness was in the act of leaving the room, deceased, turning up a portfolio which lay on the desk, took from underneath a brace of pistols, and, as he supposed, placing both to his forehead, shot himself, and instantly fell back on a chair, before witness was aware of his intention. Witness here produced the letter alluded to, which related to pecuniary matters, and requesting witness would he one of his executors, ending with the emphatic words, "Pray do. Don't refuse me " A young man, many years a confidential clerk in the deceased's employ, deposed to his being called into the counting-house previous to witness's appearance, and receiving from the deceased two notes of 5l. each, as a testimony of his approbation of his general conduct during the time he had been in his service, adding, that he had lost and made immense sums in the Stock Exchange; but that the losses he had lately sustained had broken his heart He then said, "You have been a faithful servant; take this book (handing the Bible), and swear that you will be a friend to my children, faithful to them as you have been to me." Witness did so, and afterwards the deceased appeared more comfortable, but repeated again the circumstance of his having lost immense sums on the Stock Exchange. Verdict— Insanity. The deceased has left two children, orphans, his wife having died about three months ago.