Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-28 00:00:00

PAINFUL CASE OF SEDUCTION AND DEATH.

On Tattersday Mr. Carter opened an itquest at Mr.
Price's, the Wellington Arms, opposite the South Western
Railway Station, London, respecting the circumstances
attending the death of DI ary Ann 1331,7CaM, aged 19 years,
who had been seduced and who died in a house in the
neighbourhood of the railway station, after leaving a house
in which she acted as housemaid at the West End, unknown
to her father. The jury having been duly sworn, and a fore-
man chnsen, the learned Coroner said that he had felt it his
duty to call the present jury together, in consequence of
this female, whose death they had met to inquire into,
having come to this neighbourhood, that whilst there she
had complained of some affection ; that Dr. Menzies had
seen her, but did not feel justified in certifying. inasmuch
as he could not tell the cause of her death. There, was,
therefore, no altoroatise but to bold the present inquiry.
1 Thomas Boweam, who was much affected during his
evidence, said that the deceased was his daughter. On
Sunday week he last saw her alive in the company of
another young female. He was sent for to see the deceased
at the house where she died by a pollee officer. He was
told by him that she was dead. He went the next .414,
and upon entering the house found that what he had
been told was correct. He had received no letter from
her to account for her death. He sent on the Saturday
previous to the house she was in service at, and ascertained
that she had left her situation tteat evening. Elizabeth
Tamer said she was the wice of a musical instrument
maker, and resided at No. 2, Charlotte-street, Waterloo-
road. She was in the habit of letting lodgings. She
knew nothing of the deceased until last Saturday week,
when she came to her house at nine o'clock at night. A
porter, who stands at the railway station, brought her
luggage, and deceased inquired whether she could have a
lodging. Witness replied in the affirmative. She com-
plained of being cold, and witness asked her into the
kitchen, where she warmed herself. After that she got
some ate, and, after (Linking it, she went to bed. She
remained in the house the next day until between two and
three o'clock, when she said she was going out to meet her
husbanl, and she asked if she had any one who would
like to take a walk will her. She said that she had a
young woman dawn stairs, and she wont out with her.
The deceased returned home at five o'clock, and had tea.
After that she went out again, and returned about nine
o'clock. A male person came, whom she supposed was her
husband, and they had breakfast together. They remained
together about an hour and a half. There was no quer-
i elling between them. When she went to clear the
breakfast things, she said that her husband would not
return until the next day. She then appeared very com-
fortable, and not at all excited. The same gentleman
came again on the Tuesday, between three and four
o'clock, and he and deceased had tea together in
the parlour, when the man esked what he had to
pay, and she replied 7s 6d, which was paid. He then
inquired whether he could Imre the bedroom and parlour,
at he would be frequently there. She sensed to let them
have the two rooms for 14s a week. They slept in the
same room that night. She called them up at six o'clock
the next morning, as he wished her to call him early. She
saw her at breakfast time, when she seemed as usual. In
the middle of the day she complained of headache, but she
did not attribute it to any cause. The gentleman slept in
the same house for three nights. Oa Sunday she com-
plained of a pain in her chest. The gentleman sent to Mr.
Brooks, and got a mixture for her, and she went upstairs to
bed. Witting was not disturbed during the night, but the
next morning she went upstairs and foenti that the gentle-
man wee not there, but the deceased was outside the bed,
undressed, and cryiug. She asked what was the matter,
and she said she was very bad in the head. She fetched a
cup of tea. and lifted her into bed as well as she could.
She called for vinegar and water, and bathed her head and
temples. She then seemed helpless, and as she was attend-
ing to her, the gentlemen returned, and the deceased w:s
insensible. She told him that he had better have some
advice, and she sent him to Dr. Menzies, who attended in
about a quarter of an hour, and he asked her some
questions, but she was unable to make any replier, and he
Qerit her some pills and a draught. She again sent for Mr.
M-Ir ziee, who came directly, and she died in his presence.
Mr. Robert Menzies said that he was a surgeon in practice,
and resided at No. 86, Upper Stamford-street, Lambeth.
On Tuesday last he was sent for to see the deceased,
and on his arrival found her ou a bed at the house of the
1 ist witness A gentlem in, whom he was given to under-
stand was her husband, and Mrs. Turner were present.
The deceased was then is a comatose state, and he supposed
her to be suffering from hysteria. He ordered cold app'i-
cations to her heal an 1 warm water to her fee' ; but he
must confess that he had not the least apprehension of her
death at that time. The surface of the body was cold and
the pulse irregular. He saw the medicine which had been
procured from Ma Brooks, which she had taken a portion
off ; it was a prop_r mixture tor a cold, and net at all in-
jurious, if the whole had been taken at once. He was sent
for in an hour and a ha'f after, and found Mrs. Turner an I
the gentleman present. He sent for a lancet, and tried to
bleed her, but no blood flowed, and she ceased to exist.
By the Coroner: I have since studied the case in my own
mind. I cannot give an opinion as t 3 the cause of death.
The case, I must say, is one of an extraordinary character.
The learned carnner put it to the jury whether they were
a itisfied with the evidence that the deceased had died a
natural death, or whether it would not be more prudent to
have the bolas opened. Mr. Benbow (a juror) : To see
whether she died from poison ? The Coroner : Exactly.
Tee inquiry was then adjou-ned. The man who seduced
the deceased is said to be married, and has a family of five
chilli en, and holds a high appointment in a public insti.u-
lion.