The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-31 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OP A LADY IN THE

REGENTS CANAL.

INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning an investigation was held at the
Rose and Crown Timer°, Cambridge Heath. South flacksey,
by Mr. EL Reales Waltbew, the deputy coroner for East
Middlesex, touching the death of a lady unknown, appa-
rently about 80 years of age, who lost her life in the
Regent's Canal last Monday eight, under extraordinary cir-
cumstances.

Mr. E. Hulse, 2, Park-place, coffee-house-keeper, said
that at a little before 10 o'clock on the night in question a
gentleman rushed into his shop in a most excited state,
vociferating that a female was in the water, and wanted to
be got out. Witness had since been informed that the
gentleman was a lunatic, and had been recently liberated
from au asylum. Witness went to the banks of the canal,
and maw deceased struggling in the water under the bridge,
when he gave au alarm, and she was brought on shore by
means of the drags. She was still alive, and did not appear
to have been five minutes in the water altogether. A
doctor was sent for, and 'be was brought to the Rote and
Crown, end oo the way she gave a groan and expired. She
was very respectably attired, and seemed to be about fifty
years of age. Witness lost sight of the gentleman above
mentioned, and did not now know where he could be
found.

Police-constable Itavenstock, 493 N, said that deceased
was a highly respectable-looking person, attired in a black
silk bonnet, black dress, and kid leafier boota. In her
pocket he found Is. 4d. in money sad two packages of
poison. One package was labelled "Sugar of lead—
poison ! Dudley W. Smith, Southampton. street, Cam-
berwell;" and the other " Oxalic acid—poison !" Deceased
was totally unknown to the police of the district, and
though a full description had been circulated over the
metropolis, no clue had been obtained u to her identifi-
cation._

The Coroner said that it would be moat important to have
the gentleman spoken of b► the first witness produced so
as to ■soertaia under what circumstances; deceased came
into the water.

Police-constable 19 N said that the polka hall been
unable to trace the individual, but from the inquiries that
had been instituted it was found that he had beau for some
years au inmate of the Coloey Hatch Lunatic Asylum, and
that his present condition was such that his evidence
would be wholly usclea.

Dr. E. Smart' said that he was called to the deseased,
and used every effort to resuscitate her, but without suc-
ossa The immediate cause of death was suffocation from
drowning.
By the Jury—Neither of the poisons produced would
cause instantaneous death. Oxalic acid is used for domestic
purposes, cleaning gloves, icc. It was perhaps possible
that deceased had taken some of the poison, and then in
her agony jumped into the water.
The Coroner in summing up remarked on the singular and
mysterious features of the case, which left it impossible to
arrive at any decision am to the manner in which the unfor-
tunate deceased had met her death.

The jury returned a verdict ';That deceased was found
dying in the Regent's Canal, but by what means she came
into the said canal there wee no evidence to show."

Next week's aquatic fixtures stand thus :—The
London Rowing Club oa Tuesday ; the Norfolk and Suffolk
Yacht Club cm 'Thursday ; and the City of Glasgow Flag
Regatta, the Clyde Model Yacht Club, and the Royal
Thames Yacht Club cutter match on Saturday.
BANQUITZ AT TES MANSION-BOONE TO ass
MAJWITT'III JODOWL—Tbe Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress
gave their annual banquet to the learned judges yesterday
evening, at the Mansion-house, when a numerous usea-
ble", was present. Among those present were—The Lord
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and lady Rile, Lord
Chief Bares and Lady Pollock, Lord Justice and Lady
Knight Brune, Lord justice and lady Turner, Vice-Chan•
oellor sad Lady Kisdereley, :Vice-Chancellor and Lady
Stuart, VionChaaoellor and Lady Page Wood, Justice and
lady Wiglarnea, Justice and Lady Vaughan Williams.
Ryon end lady Channel, Juslica and lady Ryles, Justice
Blackburn, Jodie, sad Lady Keating, Justin and Mrs.
Mellor, Commissioner Goultairn, Commissloass
Attaraey4leasral and Lady Atherton, ho.

ISONDAT.

N. Barrpi.l7o7 I* N., flab

to moderate.
IMatame.—W.S.W. to N.N,W.,

straw to moderate
CznitAL.—& W. to N. W., fresh

MONDAY.
N.W. to N.&, moderate.

N.N.W. to E.N.E., moderate.

&bowers.
C000r.7W.9.. W. to N. N.W.,

W.S.W. to N.N.W., moderate
to hoe.
W. to N., fresh.

moderate, fine.
S. KNOW/.—W. to N., mods. W. to N. and L, moderate to
rate. from

HEENAN IN THE RINo AGAIN.-011 Friday morn-
ing the well-appointed equestrian troupe of Howe's Ame-
rican Circus gratified the public with • display of their
steeds and their own gay dresses, by a parade through the
streets led by the gay baud carriage, the band playing inspi-
riting airs, and the rear brought up by a state carnage,
containing the redoubtable Heenan, drawn by four hand-
some horses, the noachmao and servant on the foot-
board wearing cocked hats and scarlet liveries. At
the morning performance in the large marquee at the
Cattle-market, there was an immense crowd of spec-
tators, who were un inestimably highly delighted with the
—in many respects novel, and certdoly unique—perform-
ances of all the art,des of the nrque. Of course the
greater proportion of those who were present bad been
attracted by the announcement that Heenan, the
brave American pugilist., would " show " in a set-to
with the "Lancashire Sampson." This affair warn
eagerly looked for, especially by the numerous American
agents, captains, sailors, and others in the port. Th.
general public need not be told that Heenan is • syn.
metrically-formed and somewhat handsome young follow
despite the inverted bend of his nose, the cartes de nisi/
published of him having made all men familiar there
with. Lancashire Sampson, who is • veritable giant
towering far above Hamm, is au untnitigably ugly fellow
of stolid expression of countenance, half humped back
trembling " pins," and the general form of a Caliban.
bottle-holder was Johnson, the clown, by no means • amal
man, except when looking up to the face of his friend, whic
face was then • long way off. The " manly art of sell
defence" was exhibited by the two pugilists in • becomin
manner, the American champion being, of course, the far(
rite, and " going in" to his huge antagonist in wondrous)
clever style till the giant's face presented the appearance
• large cut of raw beef through the incessant shower
blows rained in upon it from the left hand of Heenan. TI
set-to lasted nearly • quarter of an boor, during +hie
Heenan never ones allowed his big friend to saute him 4
the cheek or proboscis, or elsewhere, though the giant a
palliated as we have described.—Bristol Memory.
The floods in the Mississippi have this yea
reached • greater height than has been known durie
the present generation. At Louisville, recently, tl!
water was 29 feet 6 inches above low water mark. A'
the lower part of the city is submerged. A Caro corn
iindent writes that the greatest calamity from below ,
the entire inundation of the Lower Mississippi, which
over its banks on both shores on the levees from Matoph
to Natchez. All along from Natchez, Grand Gulf, at
Vicksburg, up to Memphis, the cattle are standing in tl
water and perishing, while steamers can only land peals
gers and freight at the points named, unless flatboats a
brought alongside of the steamers. The destruction of pri
party is immenae, incalculable. The overflow is attribut4
to the breaking, and in many cases to the cutting, of 1.11
levees. Plantation after plantation is submerged, and a
the stock drowned or swept off.by the flood, and the pt.*
dads destroyed.