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

Informations taken this Twenty fourth day
of January 1784 at the Parish of St. James
within the Liberty of Westmr. in the County
of Middlesex upon an Inquisition touching
the death of Godfrey Johnson lying dead in
the said Parish Liberty and County.

Joseph Hodgson< no role > Day Watchhouse Keeper of the
Parish of St. James Westmr. on his Oath saith, That
Godfrey Johnson< no role > the Deced used to come frequently into
the Watchhouse in the Day time to Warm himself
That he came there yesterday about three o'Clock
in the Afternoon, Says that about four o'Clock this
Dept. had occasion to go out and Deced said that
he would stay there until Dept. came back if he
would give him leave, to which Dept. agreed, and
went out, Says that Dept. returned in about
three Quarters of an hour and found the Watchhouse
Door Locked as he left it, Says that he opened the
Door with his Key, and looking around he saw the
Deced Hanging by a Cord which was about his Neck
and fastened to an Iron Ring fastend into the Brass
Says that he immediately called in a Main who
cut the Cord by which Deced was Hanging whilst
another Man, who as called in, lefted up the Body
Says that the Deced was [..] laid upon the Table
Say that there was no Person in the Watchhouse
with Deced when Dept. went out, and believes
that the Deced Hanged Himself. Says that the
Deced has been Dull and low Spiritted for sometime
and was so Yesterday, and that the Deced complained
of some Disagreement with his Wife.

Joseph Hodgson< no role >
[mark]
his Mark

James Shute< no role > of Swallow Street on his Oath saith
That Yesterday about five o'Clock in the Afternoon
Dept. was going by the Watchhouse belonging to St. James [..]
Parish when the Watchhouse Keeper called to him and
desired he would walk in, which he did, and saw the
Deced Hanging by a Cord which was about his Neck
and fastened to an Iron King, drove into a Beam