The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-19 00:00:00

SUICIDE AT PECKHAM.

On Fridayafternoon an inquisition was taken at the
Globe Tavern, Peckham, before RICHARD CARTER,
Esq., Coroner, and a very respectable Jury, on view
of the body of Mrs. Diana Baylie, aged 24 years, a
lady of great personal accomplishments, wife of W.
B. Baylie, Esq., who committed self destruction,
emanating from the most distressing circumstances.
The dreadful affair has produced the greatest
agitation and grief in the minds of the inhabitants,
vtith many of whom the unhappy deceased was
upon intimate terms, and her amiable qualities en-
deared her to all who knew her. During the time the
Coroner's inquest was sitting the neighbourhood
was. kept in the'utmost state of uncertainty as to
the reknit of the inquiry, as many very unpleasant
and (ascertained to be) unfounded, rumours had
been in circulation relative to the notions the unfor-
tunate lady had imbibed, and which were supposed
to hive induced her to perpetrate self murder.
After the Jury had been sworn, they proceeded
to the late residence of the deceased, for the pur-
pose of performing the unpleasant duty of viewing
the body. They first went into her bedchamber,
where she had committed the sad act. On her
toilet lay a razor, covered with blood, the toilet and
dressing-glass being also deluged, and the floor
where the deceased fell was likewise in that state.
The Jury next proceeded into the servant's bed-
room, where the body lay in a coflin, and shrouded.
Upon the lid being removed, the Jury were struck
with the placid and youthful appearance of the un-
fortunate deceased, and many of them, who knew
her in her lifetime, shed tears, and described her to
be a most lovely young creature. After fulfilling
this part of the business, they returned to the in-
quest room, where the following evidence was
received

Mary Selwyn examined—l live servant in the
family of Mr. Bayne, residing at No. 3, Hill-street,
Peckham. I was engaged about six weeks ago as
lady's maid. My mistress was an excellent lady,
and was much beloved. I saw her lust alive at
about ten o'clock on Monday night last, she wai
then in the parlour, engaged with Miss Dorrity,
friend. Shortly after Miss D. left the house, and
my mistress took the candle, and went up stairs, and
almost immediately after a double knock came to the
door: it was Mr. O'ConnOr, my mistress's brother.
in-law, who had been in search of my master the
whole of the day. I showed him into the parlour,
whilst I went up to inform my mistress of his arrival.
When I entered her bedroom (here the witness was
absorbed in grief), I found my poor lady lying on
the floor with her throat cut, and apparently dead.
The ruzor with which she did the deed was grasped
in her right hand. I shrieked out, and Mr. O'Con-
nor came up stairs, but on beholding the corpse he
ran out of the room immediately. I ran for Mr.
Brett, the surgeon, who came on the moment, but
his attendance was of no utility, as she was quite dead.
CORONER—HOW long had the unfortunate lady
been up stairs before Mr. O'Connor arrived, and
you went to acquaint her ?--Not more than three
minutes.
Juror—Can you account for the violence done to
the door of your mistress's chamber Sir, I
cannot, it was done before•l came into the fartiily.
The lock hue been forced off by violence, and the
pannels splintered, and appears to have been ef-
fected by a poker or hammer.

.
A gentleman present, 'aid that the manner in
which the door becaMe In that State would pre-
sently be shown to the Jury. Witness continued.
CORONER—Are you aware, yourself, how the
door became so, injured? My mistress told me
that she had locked her, husband out of her bed-
room for his conduct towards her, and that he had
broken it open with a poker.
Juror—ln what profession is your master ?—He
is one of the Principal clerks in the Ordnance de-
portment in the Tower.

When did your muter leave home last P--lie
left home at about eight o'clock on Friday morning
(yesterday week).
Wu that his usual hourof proceedingto his ditties
at the Ordnance Office ?—lt was rather earlier than
his usual hour. •

Did he appear to be in anger with his lady when
he left home did, and when my master went
out my mistress followed him in a state of much
embarrassment, and I saw them talking in the fields
together:'
How long was she absent from home before she
returned P—About ten minutes; and when she
came in she showed much uneasiness in her mind,
cried very much, and said Mr. Baylie would not give
her a positive answer. I advised her to lie down a
bit, which she did.
CORONER—Did your master return home to din-
ner P.—No, Sir ; dinner was on the table at five
o'clock, the usual hour, but he never came.
When did he come home P-lie has not been
home since.
A gentleman said, Mr, Baylie was in the house,
and was ready, should his presence be required.
Juror-Do you know whether or not your mis-
tress heard -from him during his absence '1
—She
hever heard from him to my knewledge.
Did she appear unhappy in her mind at his ab-
sence from her P---Particularly unhappy, and was
very jealous at his-not returning home. On the day
after he left home she. became frantic, and left the
house with her person disordered ; but I followed
and brought ker back again, and kept a, watch over
her actions lest she should destroy herself, but un-
fortunately I had neglected to bide the razors.
How long had they been married P—About two
years.

CORONER— Were they in the habit of quarrel-
ing ?—Yes, Sir, they lived very unhappily, she-
laving formed a jealous opinion of him, which I bc-

ieve was unfotnictL

In answer to a yestion by the Jury, the witness
said that her master was rather older than her mis-
tress, who, she believed, was about 22 years of age.
Mr. James O'COnnor examined—l live at No.
17, North-street, Lambeth, and am brother-in-law to
Mr. Bayne, having married his sister; He had no
hesitation in saying the unfortunate deceased was at
the time of her unhappy death in an insane state'of
mind. She was naturally Of a very hasty disposi-
tion, and had latterly entertained u jealous feeling
towardi Mr. Baylie,'which had caused much acri-
mony,-and ill-feeling between them. On Montl.iy
morning last she called upon hint at his house, turd
talked of conspiracies that were formed against her
life, and other incoherent and unlikely subjects. She
said that her servant had given her slow poison,. and
had locked her in a room. Ite sit once decided she
was of unsound mind. He called upon her on
Monday night, at about ten o'clock, when lie had
not been in the house a moment before he was
alarmed by the servant, and when he ran up stairs
he found the deceased lying, as had been described,
with her throat cut, and quite dead. With respect
to the bed-room doer being, injured, he would ex..
plain how it came to be so. her. Daylie one even-
ing 'wished to dress to go our, which gave great

offence to his unfortunate wife, and she from jea-
lousy locked his clothes in the bed-room, to obtain
which he shivered the door open with the poker,
which caused the marks of violence upon it alluded
to by the Jury.
Were you aware of the absence of Mr. Baylie
from his wife ?-1 was, Sir ; but he bad occasion to
he away from home in order to settle some pecu-
niary matters. He slept all the time at the Brick-
layers' Arms, in the Kent-road.

Juror—lie ought to have corresponded with the
ill-fated woman at ull events.

lie did, Sir. A letter was brought by a messen-
ger from Mr. Baylie to his wile scarcely a moment
after she had destroyed herself.
Here the letter was handed in and read to the
Jury by the Coroner. It was as follows

July 12,1830.
My dearest D.,--I am resolved not to come home till
things are settled : how can I, when you are always re-
flecting and remarking upon my conduct? But, at all
events, be this as it may, do not for a moment think of
conning to me ; but if you will send but one kind word
back to me, promising not to reflect on one any mere, I-
will return home directly.—My beloved D. W. B. B.
To 14.1 r;), Baylie, No, 3, Peckham. -
The Witness said the moment he returned (lowa
stairs after seeing the dead body, the messenger was
at the door with the letter.

The CORONER regretted the letter did not arrive
a few moments sooner, as, in all probability, the
contents would have arrested the object of the de-
ceased.

Mr. Brett, the surgeon, said he had examined the
wound in the throat of the unhappy woman, and
found that the windpipe was completely divided, as
were also ull the principal veins and arteries on
either side of the throat. Death must have ensued
instantaneously.

There being no further evidence,
The CORONER addressed the Jury ; who returned
a verdict—" That the deceased lady had cut her
throat in a fit of temporary mental derangement."

THE AItMY.

(From the .Devonport Telegraph.)
A Garrison Court-martial was held on Monday
last, at Government House, on W. Checkwell, a
private of the 73d regiment, for deserting from that
regiment at Plymouth, on the llth June, and not
returning until brought back by an escort, on the
10th instant, when the Court sentenced him to
receive .500 lashes, to be marked with the letter
D., and to forfeit all claim to additional pay, and to
pension on discharge.
Another Couit•martial was held on Tuesday, at
the same place, on Bartholomew Galvin, a private
of the 98th rekiment, for deserting the reserve com-
panies of that regiment at Cork, on the 14th
February, and not returning until brought back by
an escort of the 23d regiment, on the 10th instant,
and for making away with his regimental neces-
saries. Sentenced to three months' solitary con-
liniment, to be put under stoppages until the de-
ficiencies are made good, and to forfeit all claims to
additional pay, and pension on discharge.
The Depot of the 23d, Royal Welch Fusileers,
commanded by Major Harrison, arrived here from
Brecon on Monday, and have marched into Long
Room Barracks.