The National Register.
London, England, 1823-05-11 00:00:00

1

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.

(From the Berg Gessette.)
On Saturday wonting (the *I instant) this town was-
thrown into a state of *limn and agitation, from a report
that a murder and suicide had been conisnitted its the
night, at a house in the School-hall lane. We Wend, on
lowary. that a man named John Spring, who had. for
some Neonate bees eoltabitiag with a girl of-the toonrone
Mary Gooch, bed procured poison fur their outset des.
structiou l that they had taken it at the same time but
that poly tke girl had fallen a victim, as, front limiest
swallowed leo large a rectum, his stomach bad ejected
the draught, and Ise bad subsequently cut Isis throat, but
was still alive. Tea proper authorities,. Isavinseeceived
notice of the dreadful occorsestee,. the body of deo de.
ceased was removed to the Bridevsell, its the market, add,
a coruesse• inquest immediately summoned. -It the ale-
moire of the coroner, the chief magistrate, J. P.Caseyi
Esq. presided; and Use Jary having been swine, pro-
ceeded to view the body, after which theyeetaroed to
the Guildliall,aed received the following evidence
:
Mr. Dalton, surgeon, had hems fur souse time atteadiug
Miley Gooch, the &crassest, who was subjects to fits;—
was employed to do so by Jubo Spring—sae called in by,
the brother of the deceased about half-past ten on Ride,
night ; saw Spring lying en the bed, end observed the
body of the deceased es the ether side of .the bed, partly
dressed, mid colic deattand DISE
Mr. Moulage knew John Spring; knew be lived with
Mary Gooch, bet did slot know her. About half past seven
o Friday morning, Spring came to winteas and said
" the girl had been very ill all night with fits." Spring
looked very unwell he said, "be had- been up all night"
-assaw Spring ballots hoer altar, when be mak " 'rise ell
Is dead, and 1 shall stow go to hard work." •
Asses Webb live* In Sclossof-hall-lare,oud lets lodgings
kiefessetrestos was occupied by Mary Gooch, the des
vowed—lives up stairs himself—lobo SpliagJived sad
slept *lib deceitied--tbey had the apartments entirely to
thessweleee—saw the deceased ou Thursday might lost,
shout let, then alive.-else appeared-well, hut said,. • she
was ass mattes;" she went to bid with Spring—the
motbee of deceased was in the room at Ike time, and-kft
Use boom; dllirtg witness to come down mud luck the
door after hen; witness went to week at half.put 541 go
Friday asornieig--eame back at eight—Spoils( then stood
at the door, wad reviewed whams to lesail.bita
crown—witness feat his two shilliugs--Spitiag then went
out and returned in twenty 'einem% after, cemplaining
of alums, and asked for a cup of tea—Spring said nodding
about Miry Gooch about ten same morning witness
asked Spring how Mary dish—(knowing she was subject
to fit.—Spring said " Ole had been ill during the nights
bat was then asleep ;" witness worked in the yard till 3
o'cluck, but did not see Spring, who had fastened the
door by placing t •chair between the bed and door--wit-
mess tried several tissues to get in, but could uot—at nine
et slight Use suollter of deceased cause to Ilse. door and
knocked--Spring said," Who is there?' Spring let the
mother is—soott after which Ise had heard some person
cry ; heAlseis went its, mod saw the mother of the deceased
anti her youngest daughter crying—saw the deceased
quite dead, lying wills her Mood ou Spring's arm; whams
beard in Use morning that she was dead, blot Spring told
hien that she bad only some of her fainting fits—told
/spring daring the day he heard she was dead—Spring re-
plied," Nonsense, she is only fainted, and is now asleep".
witesess asked Spring if she wanted any • gestel--ke•said
"Dior she it mods better; at four o'clock witness left
home, and was absent three or foar hours.
Mr. Lreltou re-examined—Observed appearance on the
skin which induced him to think the death of the de-
ceased was occasioned by narcotic poison.
Mr. Sabine proved the purchase of fear ounces of lan-
dau" at his shop by Spring.
At five o'clock the business. was adjourned. Monday
morning Use Jary again amentbled, and the Coroner, 0.
It. Oakes, Eel. having renamed, the inquest was taken
before bins, and all the former witnesses repeated their
testimotry.
Anu Iktywprd lives is Garland-street ; saw Mary Gooch
oe Thursday last ; was .eat for by deceased tropledge a
gown at Mr. Weston's, abut four or flee o'clock ; the de-
ceased said, To-morrow two years my father was killed.
Witness pledged the gown for as. WI., and gave deceased
the roomy; appeared in bad spirits, and talked about her
father; witness did not see Spring; the deceased was
alone; did not see any alteration io her manner; knew
deceased was subject to Its.
The evidence of Spring being deemed admissible, the
Jury went to his house, where he still liee,and he deposed
as follows :
John Spring said. that he knew Mary Gooelt, the de-
ceased ; that he was present in bed with her when she
died; that she stied about seven o'clock on Friday MOM.
log ; that she did not die in agony ; that on Wednesday
evening the deceased and witness came to an agreement
to buy sour landannot to take together, that they might
boils be found dead together in the same bed; that tat she
'/Isstrsolay morning he went to the chymist's Red bought
some laudanum, he thinks four minces; that after he hull
bought the poison, he went with Mr. Martin in his break
to the tollgate, and then to Fondant and back; and
Mountain sat him doves at his gate; that he gave Moun-
tain his stick, and said he shoot/shave inmate use for It;
that when lie came In.. Mary (Loath said, " Your heart
has failed yms, yon have not boaght it for me." that she
gat up and felt the witness's pocket. 'l'he deceased said,
You have got something .here."' Witness replied," Oh,
that will moon do our business, if we take it." She said,
" Have you any money left of what I gave you to buy it
with?" Witness said, " Yes, there are some halfpence."
The deceased said she would purchase some oranges wills.
them, to take otter It, and wools' send for them. That plae
scut a buy of Webb's, who relented with two oranges ; .
that she took two wins-glasses on the shelf, and placed
bet's on the bes,and said,'` Now let us take it;" that she
peered.lsalf our glass, and half into another; cum
glass she kept herself, and the other she gave to witness.
'She deceased said, " Let ns take hold of melt 011110.'0
bands." Witness said, " No, my dear, if we do, we shall
not take, it; let us turn back to back and take it." The
deeeasest tied winces' turned their backs to one another,
anal drank the contents of the glassesu after they had
drank the lquelannsW, the deceased said, " What Shell we
de with the bottle?" witness said be would go and throw
' ft away 1. ibie said site would in the mean time wipe np the
glasses. He threw the bottle into the privy,and the des
•••••d bad wiped the glasses by the time he cause back
Ikons the privy.. The deceased said," Let ns go to bed ;"
that they both went to bed together; the deceased after.