City & Liberty of
Westmr . in the County
of Middlesex }

Informations taken this Seventh day of
March 1774 at the Parish of St. George Hanover
Square within the Liberty of Westmr. in the
County of Middlesex upon an Inquisition touching
the death of James Claxton< no role > lying dead in the said
Parish Liberty and County.

Robert Bristow< no role > a Lodger on the First Floor at
Mrs. Elizabeth Gibbins< no role > at Brompton in the Pairsh of
Kensington Gardiner on his Oath saith That the Deced James
Claxton< no role > was a Gardener and has worked with Dept. but
Deced about a fortnight ago reced a hurt in his Hand
and was sent to St. George's Hospital to be Cured, Says
that the Deced's Hand was Much better, Says that
on Wednesday, last (March 2d.) the Deced was Seized
with a Shivering, and on Thursday grew worse, and
was very Feverish Says that on Friday Evening he
was with Deced who lodged upon the Same Floor with
Dept when Deced shewed him a Bottle of Physick
which he said he had got from St George's Hospital , Says
that the Deced was then very Feverish and in great
pain, being then in Bed where Dept. left him above
Says that the Deced about Twelve o'Clock that Night
called to Dept Wife saying that he was dry and Cold who got up from Dept. and gave
Deced some Tea and Bread and Butter and came back
to Bed to Dept. Says that about six o'clock on Saturday
Morning (Mar 5) he went to Deced in order in order to give
him his Physick, when he found Deced leaning
with his Head over the side of the Bed Bleeding from
a wound in his Throat, Says that on asking Deced what
he had done to his Throat, Deced answered that he had been
outting it and Dept. found a Penknife Bloody and open
upon the Bed Cloaths with which Dept. believes the wound
was given Says that the Deced looked very wild, and
on being asked what made him do it Deced answered
the Devil, Says that he called Mr. Hewit to Deced, and
that Deced then told him that he Dreamed he had a Child
in Bed with him which he killed, and being to be Hanged for it
he thought he might as well cut his own Throat, That he
"had seen that night all the Kingdoms of the World [..] and had been lifted up and down
in his Bed" Says that the Deced on Friday Night appeared to be low Spirited and
Dept. believes that he was not in his Senses.

Robert Bristow< no role >