The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-04 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.
DREADFUL SUICIDE.—Last night an inquest was held at the
Bud Tavern, Sherborne-lane, bombard-street, on the body of Mts.
:Margaret Clifford, who committed the act of self-destruetton.
. Hancock, of No. 12, Sherborne-lane, coal dealer. deposed
that on Sunday morning, soon after eight o'clock, he was informed
Ales. Clifford had hung herself in her bed-room. He went to her
apartment immediately, and found there Mr. Benjamin Stocks
and the deceased's husband. She was suspended by the neck from
a large nail in the wall by a handkerchief. Witness held bet in his
arms whilst Mr. Stocks cut her down. She was quite dead. but
Mr. Price the surgeon was sent for. lie bail knows her many
years. Her husband was in the Post-office. She was about thirty
years of age, and latterly had appeared very strange in her manner,
which he attributed to her being addicted to drinkles.
Benjamin Stocks stated that he lived in the same house as
the deceased. On Sunday morning, Mr. Clifford, came down
stairs and aroused witness's wife, who went up stairs, and then he
heard a shriek. Winless ran up stairs, and found the deceased
hanging as described by last witness. He cut her down imme-
diately, but she was quite dead and cold. She was very fond of
liquor ; and when drunk, which was frequently the clue, was like a
madwoman. Witneu always considered that the deceased aid her
husband lived happily together.
Mr. Price, a surgeon, residing In Cannon-street, stated Slat the
husband of the deceased fetched him Shout half-psat eight on Sun-
' day morning; and when he arrived he found that she bad been cut
do wn. She was quite dead and cold, and had been se an hour and
a half. There was a ligature round her neck, and he had no doubt
she died from strangulation.
A young gentleman, an assistant to Mr. Price, stated that he
• had attended the poor woman for some time, and very lately sh:
bad complained of an affection in the head, and she had frequently
told hint that she was sometimes so bad that she was usable to pur-
sue her ordinary business.
Mary Arnold knew the deceased, and considered that she bad
been of nniound mind for some time past.
Clifford, the husband, stated that on Saturday night .he and b s
wife retired to bed about ten o'clock, Sbe was then much in I
' About six o'clock next morning she got up and left hint
bed ; he reaesined asleep till about eight, and when be arose 1 v
discovered her banging by the neck, and quite dead. Witness lust
observed a very great change in her manner lately, and she had
given herself up to drinking to excess.
The deceased had tied, first, a handkerchief round bet neck very
tight, and then the end of another handkerchief vas &Mend to
the one about her throat, and the other end to the nail in the vie.
She had then mounted the table, and, having attached the end 1,1
the nail, threw herself off, and left herself suspended, with her
feet about two feet from the ground.
The Jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased banged Inc-
self in a paroxysm of mental derangement."

DARING ATTEMPT AT HIGIIWAY ROBBERY, ANO t
COE.—About 8 o'clock on Friday evening, the Uxbridge w•iggo t
stopped at the Swan, at Bayswater, a few minutes, for the purpo%e
of watering the honest at the time there were 9 persons in the tap-
room. The waggon then left to proceed to town, when, on risia.t
the hill, three fellows made their appearance, who knocked the
waggoner down and threw him into the ditch. The thieves then
got Into the waggon, for the purpose of plunder;but were oheerc,sl
by three persons, who succeeded in taking them into costmirt hut
' before they could secure their prisoners, the remaining six.wlus hat
lain m ambush, came up with a crow-bar, and knocked down Oa
Wien who had the thieves in custody. Scme persons coming up at tr.e
time, the villains ran across the fields, leaving behind there a crow.
bar and. 2 hays; all trait WM lost of them on tbsir dressing the
I;dg ware. road.