The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-15 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.

An inquest was held last evening, in the Board.room of the Work-
house belonging to the tipper Liberty of St. Andrew's, Holborn.
by TztoBIAS STtaLt NG. Esq. Coroner for Middlesex, on view of
the body of Elizabeth S)lrester, who put an end to her existence
by poison, under the following distressing circumstances:—
Sarah Dutton, sister to the deceasetl, stated, that on Tuesday last
she had a conversation with ber sister Elizabeth, who at that time
appeared to be much depressed in spirits, in consequence of her si-
tuation. About four months since she had married a sailor, who

was afterwards obliged to go abroad, and though he made her a
monthly allowance, yet it was not by any means adequate to her
support.. She tried to get into place as a servant, but found no-
thing but disappointment wherever she applied. This weighed
heavily on her spirits; and to complete the sum of her misfortunes,
she found herself pregnant. The knowledge of this latter circum-
stance had a very powerfal ; and she. within the last fortnight,
entleavoured to shun the soviet y of her family, and the witness,
fearing that she had fallen into bad company. spoke to her on the
subject on the morning of the day on which the rash act was com-
mitted, but there was nothing angry in the interview.
Margaret Jones, another slater, deposed that deceased came to
ter house In Tash-street, about one o'cloct on Tuesday ; she re-
membered seeing her drink something out of a cup which
left a whitish mark on the lips. In two hours after, de-
ceased told winaiss, that she had bought an ounce of arsenic at
Air. Cousins's shop, in Gray's inn-lane, and that she hail swal-
lowed it. Witness went to Alr. Cuusins, and aske.l him if he had
sold poison to any girl on that day. ? lie replied the.: he had, an
ounce of arsenic. Then, said witness, she has drank it, for
God's sake, sir, try and du something for her. Mr. Cousins re-
plied, it was impossible; if she had swallowed Mi. 'Witness treat
away, and 31r. Cousins (the elder) followed her to the house, but
did nothing to relieve deceased. who was then very bad, merely re-
ronni.ettling them to seed for the parish surgeon, and then went
away. N itness ran to the work-house, and asked for assistance,
which saes iintuediately granted, but deceased expired the same
evening.
Dr. Fernandez. the house singer, stated, that being ehmtnt
when the last wi.ness called, two or his pupils, both vet) coatte-
tent, had visited the deceased, artd administered the nett d

dotes, which dislodged the drug, but from its extremely deleterious
property, the coats of the stomach bed be,.l previously
The matter discharged by the emetic he had analysed, and it
proved to be arsenic in rent quantity.
!limos. James and Thomas Syntiwon (Dr. Fatalities's pupils)
deposed to the same effect.
Thomas Jones. father to the deceased, described her to have
been labouring under extraordinary depression of spirits for w, me
time previous; her husband had left her in a week or a fortn:gla
after their marriage.
The Jury, arta a short ennsultattori, returned a verlict, that
" The deceased came by her death in consequence of havieg swal-
lowed potson, whilst in a state of temporary dcr.agea.set ut"
lect."

One of the Jury mused Mr. Conslns's um to he I,nt for, and
oink:. very warmly to him on the tatpropriety of sating to weC.
known a poi4on to a young female. .

Mr. tutisms reuturc,' he refused to serve her at first. but
she told inin it was fur her brotkv, who ins an liosilet in Gray's
Inn-lane, and that he wanted it to destroy rats; he then :,,,uve it,
marking " poison" on the paper.
borne others of the Jury said, titre was greeter culyability at-
taching to Dr. Cousins himself, at whose shop the po:son had beer
sold, in neglecting to Apply an antidote, without referring the eels-
, tires to the parish surgeon.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

INSOLVEN7 DEBTORS COURT.
TnunADAT, 0cT.14.

Ile:fure Mr. Coormissiutter HARRIS.

Several unopposed cas„-s were disposed of ; and then came the
case of T. Nl'hittington, late of Cross, Somen'eti innkeeper, who
was opposed by two of his el.:Ai:ors, named Fry and Crandon.
It apperired front the estaininai ion of the Insolvent, that he took
the New Ini nt Cross, in the month of May last, from Mr. Fry,
promising to pay him a reital of Mi. a-year. Mr. Fry had *tired
on some the furniture of the insolvent's predecessor, of which the
insolvent purchased to the amount of 1701. to be paid by Instal.
ments at the different times en which the rein became due. This ,
furniture, together with all he had before, wore placed in the Inn,'
wheru insolvent had not been more than two months, before Fry
put in a distress warrant for 1,1.11. odd shillings, alleging that sun,
to be due for rent, betbre Whittington entered the premises. This
procedure ltd him into considerable difficulties. Ills wile had 6,./.
a-year, hut he had not the slight,* control over it.
The opposition of Mr. Crandon rested principally on the state-
ment made by the insolvent to Mr. Parker, the purport of which
was, that he (ihe insolvent) would put Mr. Crandon to every pos-
sible expense. There was also an affidavit, purporting hit an
arbitration was also refused by him.
The (tonal regretted that any amicable means of settling the
matter should have ben refused, but still considered that the con-
duct of Fry was of such a nature, as not to have his opposition lA-
tended to.
The Insolvent was then discharged forthwith.
The Cottax next sits on the bth of November, at the New
Court, Portugal-st.cet, Lincoln's Inn-fields.