The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-23 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST

On Saturday evening at six o'clock, a Jury was em-
pannelled before Mr. Higgs, deputy Coroner for West-
minster, at the Old King's Arms Tavern, or Half-way-
house, on the Kensington-road, to inquire into the cir-
cumstances attendant on the death of Lucy Brown, a
young woman, twenty-one years of age, who jumped off
the bridge over the Serpentine, on the afternoon of
Thursday last.
The Jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the
body which was lying in an outhouse attached to the
tavern, and on their return, the Coroner, after observing
that he had scarcely ever before seen so fine a young
female, examined the following witnesses :
Mr. Robert Norman, of No. 93, Dean-street, Soho,
(who was much affected while giving his evidence),
deposed that the deceased was his sister-in-law, and
was 21 years of age, She had been living up to the
time of her death in service,at No.lo, New North-street,
Red Lion-square. On Thursday last he camp home
about twelve o'clock, when he found the deceased at his
house. She appeared in a very distressed state of mind,
and had evidently been crying very much. She said
she had left her situation at an early hour that morning,
but on being questioned she could not assign any reason
for so doing, not having had words with her master or
mistress. She stayed at witness's house until five
o'clock, when she left, saying she should return in half-
an-hour ; but witness never saw her again alive.
By the CORONER—Deceased was perfectly sober ;
she appeared in a deal of trouble ; was always previously
in the highest spirits ; had formerly lived at Mr. In-
gall's, a wine and spirit merchant, No. 119, Thames-
street, City, which place she left about five months
since.
Mr. William Christie, of No. 10, New North-street,
Red Lion-square, bookbinder, deposed that the de-
ceased had been in his service five weeks last Monday,
She behaved uncommonly well, but on Saturday night
she received a letter which made her very unhappy.
She had previously received two letters written by the
same hand. She cried all that evening, and was more
or less always in tears up to Wednesday night. On
that night witness staid up all night with a child that
was ill, and shortly before seven o'clock on Thursday
morning deceased came into the room, drew up the
blinds, and asked how the child was. She then left the
room, and soon afterwards witness heard her undo the
front door, which was her custom, since which he had
not seen her alive.

Two letters were here handed to the witness by
Spreadbrow, the summoning officer, when he identified
them as having been received by the deceased while at
his house. The contents arc as fellows. The first was
dated—

" Saturday, August 17, 1839.
"My Dear Lucy—l received your letter, dated
last Thursday, only this morning, and have to give you
many kisses for your present of the guard. I shall use
it for my watch. Will you be so good as to make me
a bag like the one you sent with a ribbon round it, for
I want to wear a lock of your hair next to my heart ;
the ribbon to be just long enough to go over my head
I am afraid I shall not be able to come and see you on
Monday, for my mother still remains very ill, but I will
try. My name will be James Johnson ; so, with my
best love, I remain, yours, in haste,
" JAMES JOHNSTON."
The second letter was dated—
" Saturday, Sept. 14, 1839.

"My dear Lucy,—l am extremely hurt at your letter
that I got yesterday. You ask me what my intentions
are towards you. Good God ! you must know them as
well as I do. All I can say is, that, if unfortunately
you have a child, I must of course support it to the
best of my means ; but if, on the contrary, you are mis-
taken, I think it best for both of us to separate, for
my mother told me this morning that, rather than let
me be connected with you in any way, she would prefer
following me to the grave. I only wish I was there. I
am at present in such a state of mind that I have been
going to make away with myself, for I have got enough
poison in my desk to kill a dozen people, and if I do make
the attempt I shall do it effectually.—l remain yours
ever,

" JENI
" Why did you not tell me of it last night when I
saw you ?"
J. Knight, chief boatman to the Royal Humane Society,
while standing in front of the receiving house in Hyde-
park, about eight o'clock on Thursday evening, saw the
deceased pass by with a let ter in her hand. Thinking from
her appearance that she was worried in mind, he fol-
lowed her to the bridge, where he asked her what she
had done with her love-letter, at which she smiled,
but said nothing. Did not again see her until slae was
brought dead to the receiving-house in the afternoon.
Mr. Alfred Williams, superintendent to the Royal
Humane Society, used the drags, and in about eight
or ten minutes got the body into his boat and conveyed
it to the receiving-house, where the usual means of re-
suscitation were tried by Dr. Woolley, the surgeon of
the institution, for upwards of two hours, but without
effect. On the bridge were found the bonnet and shawl
of deceased, and the following letter, containing a card,
on which was engraved the name " Mr. J. J. It. In-
gall." The letter was in a female hand, and was
fastened with a seal bearing the impression of" Harriet."
It was directed to "J. J. R. 1., 119, Thames-street
City," and ran in these terms :

18, 1839.

"My dear James—Do not expect to see me any
more, for my life has been a misery to me since last
Saturday that I received your letter. I have been in a
most distracted state, and a lonely wanderer over the
face of nature, and whatever my fate (here occur some
words which cannot be clearly deciphered)—and that is
fixed on yourself, for I never can cease to love, but
with life itself.—Give my kind love to all that ask
after me. Good bye, God bless you.
"10, North-street." " LUCY BROWN."
A witness proved that the two letters which had been
produced were written by Mr. James Ingall, the de-
ceased's young master. He is a single man, and a
little older than the deceased. Deceased told witness
lie was the cause of all her trouble. Witness regrets
she had not brought with her a letter to deceased,
in which he advised her to get married to any one she
could.

Some of the Jury here suggested the propriety of
having Mr. Ingall brought before them, but,
The CORONER said, what was the use of examining a
man who could write such a letter as the second one
which had been read. It was evident the deceased had
expected he would marry her, and his last letter had
driven her to distraction.

Other letters in the handwriting of the deceased
were then shown to the Coroner and Jury, from which
it appeared that the intercourse between Mr. Ingall and
the deceased had been of the most tender description,
after which

The CORONER reprobated the conduct of Mr. Ingall,
and the Jury, after a short consultation, returned a ver-
dict" that the deceased destroyed herself while labour-
ing under temporary insanity."