Mystery death of 'style guru'

The death of the man seen by many as the guru of style and good manners remains a mystery after a coroner recorded an open verdict.

John Morgan: "elegant, fastidious detail"

John Morgan, 41, the author of Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette, died from multiple injuries after falling from his third floor flat in Piccadilly in July.

At Westminster Coroner's Court, an inquest was told that Mr Morgan suffered from depression and had attempted suicide in 1999 when he took an oversdose.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Dr Paul Knapman said he found it difficult to see how Mr Morgan could have fallen from his small bathroom window, as it would have involved walking along the bath.

In addition none of the items on the windowsill were disturbed.

Good manners are purely and simply a way of showing consideration and sensitivity towards others. Everyone deserves kindness and respect."

John Morgan, Debrett's Guide to Modern Manners

But he did concede that it was possible Mr Morgan, an asthma sufferer, was trying to get some air.

It was not, therefore, conclusive that he had been about to commit suicide.

He said: "John Morgan played a significant part in encouraging good manners at the present time when this seemed not so fashionable unfortunately.

"Sympathies must be extended to the family and he will be missed not only by those who knew him personally but also by those who felt they knew him through his written words in all their elegant fastidious detail."

Bachelor Mr Morgan, who lived in Albany Court, Piccadilly, in central London, wrote a weekly column on manners in The Times, and was the style director for GQ magazine.

He is also credited with persuading Conservative leader William Hague to abandon wearing baseball caps.

After his death, the police found 300 tailor-made shirts and 60 Savile Row suits in his flat.

His Debrett's book brought the title up-to-date with such things as the etiquette of e-mailing.

Friends told the inquest it would have been totally out of character for him not to have left a note if he were going to commit suicide. He had left a note when he attempted suicide in 1999.

Money worries

His broadcasting agent Francine Fletcher, who had dinner with him the night before he died, said he had been very worried about whether he would be able to meet the mortgage repayments on a new flat he was buying in Cadogan Square, in London's prestigious Knightsbridge.

His friend Jean Maby said his earlier suicide attempt had been a "dramatic cry for help".

He had been found wearing a silk dressing gown and drinking champagne with half a box of chocolates beside him.

William Hague's short-lived baseball cap phase, August 1997

She said: "It was too elegantly shown to be serious."

Another friend said he had leant out of her car window to get air during a previous asthma attack.

His body was found in the flats' basement area.

Mrs Fletcher added: "I think knowing John he wouldn't want to take his own life. Even when he panicked he was very strong inside.

"All people knew he was quite vain about his appearance. If he was contemplating taking his own life he would want to be dressed in a dignified way."