The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 1862.

it should be considered—is extended to peasants
who are acting or have acted as elders of the com-
mune, syndics, churchwardens, deputies at the
village assemblies, and, in short, who have occupied
any post of confidence.
In political cases juries are not allowed, nor are
the proceedings to be public. Advocates are to be
employed, and, in the interest of the accused, the
marshals of nobility of the province and of the dis-
trict to which he belongs will be included among
the judges.
No prisoner of any kind is to be detained 24
hours in custody without being brought before a
judge, nor can his examination be proceeded with
until a distinct accusation has been made against
him.

None of the above laws are to be applied in places
under a state of siege. There is no great hardship,
however, in this. In the only provinces likely to
be affected by the exception all the upper and middle
classes are-Poles, whose language is excluded from
the courts of justice, without that of the peasants
being substituted for it. To Poles it matters com-
paratively but little what the laws of Russia may
be ; for, good Jr bad, they cannot understand them.

STRANGE SUICIDE IN 7HE THAMES.

Yesterday evening Mr Bedford, the coroner, held
an inquest at the Westminster Hospital, touching
the death of a female unknown, who committed
suicide by throwing herself off the steamboat-pier
at the foot of Westminster-bridge on the morning
of Friday last. The evidence as to identity merely
showed that she was of the class termed unfortunate
passing in the mime of Rose Montague, but it was
not proved that she had any friends or relations.
She was supposed to be about 19 or 20 years of age.
Emma Harwood, a young female residing in
Charles-street, Westminster-road, said that on Fri-
day morning last, about three o'clock, she saw de-
ceased and another female in the Haymarket. She
followed them as far as Westminster-bridge, when
she heard deceased say to her friend, " Let us both
go together." Her friend answered " Yes," and
they both went down the steps, and deceased threw
herself off the pier into the Thames, her friend ap-
parently making no attempt to prevent her. Wit-
ness ran up the steps and called a policeman, and
returned with him, and she then saw deceased float-
ing on the top of the water. She did not see de-
ceased again until she was taken out of the water,
which was in about half an hour after. The friend
of deceased was holding on to the pier, and it was
with difficulty witness could get her away. She
was crying, and she asked witness and the police-
man to save her friend. She said they were both
out of a lodging, and deceased had had a quarrel
with some young man.

In answer to the Coroner, the police said de-
ceased's companion was in custody for attempting
to poison herself, but they would endeavour to pro-
duce her if necessary.
The Coroner said he should certainly like to have
her in attendance, and he wished the police autho-
rities to endeavour to find out something about the
unfortunate deceased if possible.
The inquiry was then adjourned until Tuesday
next.

7HE ALLEGED POISONING AT NOR7II
SHIELDS.

NOR I H SHIELDS, WEDNESDAY.

The investigation into the circumstances under
which Mrs. Gillespie came by her death was re-
sumed this morning, for the third time, at the Town
Hall, before Mr. S. Reed, the coroner for the
borough.
Mr. H. Brignal, solicitor of North Shields, ap-
peared, as before, to watch the proceedings on
behalf of the husband of the deceased; Mr. Kewney
was present in the interest of Dr. Fenwick, who
had been very considerably implicated by the evi-
dence previously given, and which has been already
fully reported.
After a lengthened inquiry, the jury returned the
following special verdict :
"That the deceased died from the effects of strych-
nine, administered to her from Dr. Fenwick's sur-
gery. That there is not sufficient evidence to show
by which of the two dispensers it was sent, and
that greater caution should be used by Dr. Fen-
wick in the dispensing of his medicines."

EXTRAORDINAItY CASE OF ABORT lON.

AI)VER USING PRACTMOINERS.

Yesterday afternoon an adjourned inquiry was
resumed at the Kent Arms, Mabledone-place, Bur-
ton-crescent, by Dr. Lankester, the Middlesex
Coroner, respecting the death of Maria Ellworthy,
aged 31, housekeeper to a gentleman, who was
alleged to have lost her life through an attempt to
procure abortion.
_ _

The Coroner read over the evidence taken on
the previous occasion, of which the material part

was to the following effect :
Mr. B. H. Humpage, surgeon, said that on Oct.
15 he was called to No. 6, Bedborough-street, and

found that deceased had been delivered prematurely
of a child which appeared to be a six months' child.
It died the same night. Deceased was suffering

1-om wounds produced by blunt instruments, used
to bring on premature labour. She died on the Ist
inst., from inflammation of the bowels arising from
those wounds.

Mr. Galliers, 7, Gray's-inn-road, surgeon, said
that death had been caused by wounds in the uteri
from blunt instruments employed to bring on abor-
tion. The child died on Saturday.
Mr. Galliers was now recalled, and said that
he had made an additional examination of the
body of the deceased. He found a very small
portion of the placenta remaining in the uterus,
which might have set up the inflammation, which
was the immediate cause of death.

By the Coroner—The wound from the instru-
ments employed to procure abortion were in them-
selves sufficient to have produced death, but he
could not now state positively that it was the
wounds that had done so.
Mr. Humpage, recalled, also said that he could
not now speak positively upon the point, but the
injuries inflicted were undoubtedly enough to have
produced the fatal result.
Jane Collard, 13, Victoria-road, Islington, said
that she was cousin to the deceased. Deceased was
thirty-one years of age, and unmarried. She was
housekeeper to Mr. Himing, at 13, Victoria-road.

She had sent for witness to take her place at Mr.
Riming's, as she said that she was going away for

a fortnight, because she did not feel well. She le
on ‘‘ ednesday (the Bth or the 15th October) that
witness went to Mr. Himing's. Witness did not
know where deceased went to, but saw her the day
before she died at Bedborough-street. She was then
too ill to speak.
Mr. George Himing, 13, Victoria-road, deposed to
the deceased having been in his service and obtain-
ing leave of absence, as described by the previous
witness. He also deposed to her having sent to
him for money, and to his visiting the house where
she was staying and finding her ill.
Dr. Harris, 33, Great Windmill• street, said that
one evening, three weeks ago, deceased came to his
surgery and asked him to attend her in her con-
finement, and said that she lived in Highgate, and
had been recommended to him by a Mr. Scott, of
1, Strand. She said that Mr. Scott had examined
her and found that she was very near her confine-
ment, She asked witness to recommend her a nurse,
and he gave her the name of Mrs. Forrester, 34,
Bedborough-street, Burton-crescent. Witness saw
nothing more of her. Witness believed from hear-
ing the evidence, that deceased was suffering from
injuries spoken of by the previous medical witnes
when she called and told him that she had been
examined.
By the Jury—He arrived at the conclusion from
the fact that persons are constantly advertising that
female complaints are particularly attended to.
He was much surprised when she told him that
she had been sent to him by Mr. Scott, as he knew
Mr. Scott's position.
The Coroner had Mr. Scott called in, and informed
him that the evidence was such as put him rather
on his defence, and therefore wished him to be in
the room. The inference was that the injuries
were inflicted by Mr. Scott. Would he wish to
give any explanation ?
Mr. Scott said that he was sure the coroner
would put no improper questions to him, and he
would explain.
Mr. Mayhew said he appeared for Mr. Scott, and
he objected to his giving any evidence.
Mr. Scott said that he was convinced he could
not commit himself, the case was so clear.
The Coroner said that he would not swear Mr.
Scott.

Mr. Scott, 7, Adam-street, Adelphi, then said he
had written on medical subjects, and occasionally
saw patients, but he had not a license to practise.
About a month ago a female came to him and
asked, "Did he attend the midwifery cases ?" He
answered, "That depends." She asked, "Did he
take in women to confine them ?" and he said not.
She then pressed him to recommend some doctor to
her, and he gave her the name of Dr. Harris, who
had walked the St. Ge3rge's Hospital with him
sixteen years ago. Dr. Harris had once attended
his (Mr. Scott's) wife, and he was a hardworking
little fellow. If the coroner asked him further it
would pain him to answer.
The Coroner said he did not wish to do so,
Mr. Mayhew, however, insisted that as Mr. Scott
tendered himself he should be sworn and cross-
examined. Mr. Scott was accordingly sworn, and,
in reply to the jury, said that he advertised to give
advice in midwifery, pregnancy, and other female
irregularities. He did nothing to commit himself.
He was never criminally prosecuted. He had been
prosecuted for using a medical title by the Medical
Protectio❑ Society, but the charge was dismissed.
By the Coroner—lt was not his practice to exa-
mine women.
By Mr. Mayhew—He neither examined nor used
instruments with deceased. It -was false of anyone

to say so.
Dr. Harris recalled—Deceased most decidedly
said that she had been examined by Mr. Scott. By
examination he meant, and he was confident she

meant, her vagina.
Inspector Pierce deposed that last night he called
at Bow-street station to make inquiries respecting
Mr. Scott. He found that eight years ago he had
been tried and convicted of a criminal assault on a
woman, and administering to her a drug when she
called on him to procure abortion. He was con-
victed under the name of Hamilton.
After some other evidence had been given,
The coroner then summed up, and said that un-
happily there was reason to know that abortion
was frequently procured in the metropolis, and that
instruments were used for that purpose. Persons
were extensively engaged in that infamous traffic,
which was rendered lucrative by the desire of young
women to get rid of all proofs of their shame. It
was clear that abortion had been attempted in the
present case, and that the injuries produced by the
instruments used were sufficient to cause death., If
the jury were of opinion that the use of the instru-
ments was the cause of death, or that there was
sufficient evidence, which he doubted, as to who
had used the instruments, it would be their duty to
return at least a verdict of manslaughter. That
instruments had been used there was not the
slightest doubt.
After a long deliberation, the jury returned a
verdict " That deceased died of inflammation arising
from a portion of retained placenta and injuries from