The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-07 00:00:00

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day.

Market opens quiet, at about yesterday's prices.
Sales, probably 3,000 or 4,000 bales.

Awful Death of a Female through Drink.

CORONER'S INQUEST-(THIS DAY).

Mr. Carte; the coroner for East Surrey, held a long
inquiry at the house of Mr. Whipp, the Running Deer,
Mason-street, Lambeth, on the body of Mrs. Sophia Smith,
aged 53, who died under the following deplorable circum-
stances.

Edward Smith said that the deceased was his wife.
Witness had been a working engineer at the House of
Commons, but, being paralysed, he was superannuated,
and the Government allowed him a yearly pension. He
lived with his wife and stepson at 23, Streathfield-street,
Mason-street. His son slept in the same room as he and
deceased did. On Monday night he did not go to bed, as
his wife had been driking a great quantity of rum, which
had made her insensible.
The Coroner—Did she frequently drink?

Witness—Yes.
The Coroner—But how did she get the money to pro-
cure the liquor ?

Witness—By pawning anything she could got hold of.
The witness further stated, owing to the state his wife
got in, he took the bed off a sofa bedstead and placed
it on tho floor, and she laid on the top of it. He placed
the bed thero about nine or ten o'clock last night. She
was then conscious, but excessively intoxicated.
The Coroner—Seeing the state your wife was in, did
you not send for medical assistance ?

Witness—Yes, Mr. Dodd was sent sent for, and a young
man came from his establishment, who gave her two
emetics and a small quantity of brandy, but she became
quite unconscious, and expired at half-past nine o'clock on
Tuesday morning. • . _ _

The Coroner—Have you any suspicion that she took any
thing for the purpose of destroying her life ?

Witness—Certainly not.
The Coroner—Then :in your opinion what do you think
was the cause of death ?

Witness—l am certain,irom the snoring noise she made,
and the foaming at the mouth, that she died from' drink-
ing too much.

George Hall, who resided in the house, gave evidence
which confirmed the principal parts of the above, and added
that he was called down stairs by the son, and when he en-
tered the room he found deceased on the floor, with her
head resting against a bed. 1, He lifted her up and set her
in an easy chair. She was then so insensible that she did
not know him, and could not speak. Dr. Dodd was sent
for, and a lad came and prescribed for her. He was aware
that she was in the habit of drinking occasionally.
The Coroner—What do you mean by occasionally ?
How much did she drink a day ?
Witness—About a quartern of rum.
The Coroner—Why not tell the truth? Let us see the
son.

Mr. Adams (the summoning officer) informed the Court
that the son was also drunk on the Monday night, when
the Coroner, after severely reprimanding him for his habits
of life, said they could place no dependence on what a
drunken man said, and he refused to examine him. The
jury said they were quite satisfied with the evidence, and
they returned averdict of death from excessive drinking of
ardent spirits.

ANGLING IN THE THAmEs.—A fine trout of Bklb.
was killed at Penton-hook, on Saturday last, the
Ist of April, by a gentleman from Chertsey. The fish is
described as being in excellent condition. Several other
smaller trout have been captured. According to the old
rules of the fishery, angling for trout may commence much
earlier ; but we understand the committee of the Thames
Angling Preservation Society, among other important sug-
gestions, have made application to the Conservators of the
liver Thames to make a new by-law which will prevent
any one from commencing trout fishing before the Ist of
April in future years. The apparatus of the Thames
Angling Preservation Society at the residence of Mr.
Stephen Ponder, at Hampton, is now in full vigour, and
upon a larger scale than usual. Upwards of 80,000 eggs,
nearly vivified,
and young fry of salmon, salmon trout,
Thaxnes and other river trout, char, &c., may now be seen in
their most interesting stages, and we believe a keeper is in
constant attendance to show them to all persons interested
in the culture of fish.