The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-31 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

. ,
Yesterday afternoon an Inquisition wps taken before .l. IV.
UN WIN, Esq., Coroner, at the Gun public-house, Shorediteil,
on view of the body of Elizabeth Barrett, the wife of a re-
spectable tradesinan in St. Luke's parish, who was drowned in
the Regent's canal on Sunday last.
The Jury having retired to view the body, on their return,
informed the Coroner that they found some appearances on the
corpse which they thought required some explanation. It had
bled profusely, they said, and there was an incision in the
throat.
The Coroner observed, that probably the appearances the
Jury had observed were occasioned by the surgeon's .opening
the jugular vein.
Several of the Jurors replied that the cut they had Mention.
ed was in front of the windpipe, and had the appearance of a
stab.

Mr. Atto, landlord of the Stag's Head public-house, to
whose [ house the body had been removed when taken out of the
canal, said he could give the Jury a satisfactory explanation as
to those appearances. The surgeon who attended, he said, had
used various methods to resuscitate the body, and, among
others, he made an incision in the windpipe, through which he
introduced pieces of tobacco_pipe and quills, and endeavoured
to inflate the lungs. • •
The Jury expressed themselves satisfied with . this explana-
tion, and the Coroner proceeded to take the evidence.
Mr. Atto deposed, that about two o'clock on Sunday, he went
to the canal-bridge, nearly opposite his house, where a great
number of persons had collected, and under,the middle arch he
saw the deceased in the water. She was taken out by means of
drags, and conveyed to the house of witness, not quite dead ;
but she never spoke afterwards. Witness immelliately sent
persons in different directions to procure the attendance of some
medical gentlemen, and Mr. William Rhodes set out on horse-
back for the same purpose. Mr. Parkinson and another -sur-
geon at length attended, and used all the usual means for re-
storing the deceased, but without effect.
Anne Litton, who also lives nearly opposite the spot, said,
that for about five minutes she (from her room window) ob-
served a person struggling in the watt 7.; but thinking it was a
boy swimming, she did not feel any alarm, until a man ran
into the house, saying that a woman was in the canal. Wit-
ness then went as fast as she could to the canal, where she saw
the deceased in the water, and a woman standing on the side of
the canal, who said she did not know how the deceased had
got into the water. In about ten minutes the deceased was
taken out of the canal, not quite dead. She was placed by the
side, and afterwards taken to the Stag's Head public-house.
There is a footpath under the bridge, along the side of the
canal.
The Coroner read a letter from Mr. Parkinson, the surgeon,
who stated that on being called to the deceased, he fout.d her
dead, all his efforts to restore animation were unavailing.—Ter-
-dict—" Found dead." . .

A FATAL COMBAT tcok Place yesterday morning, break,, at Duckfield, near Bushey, between Davenport, a vender
of earthenware, and M'Dermot, a labourer, in consequence of a
public-house dispute on politics, on Monday night.' The' com-
batants fought awkwardlyialore than two hours, anti at length
%l Dermot received a chance right.handed blow upon the
temple, and he died in the ring,
AN INSOLENT 13EGGAR.----1t seemingly feeble
mendicant, at the door of the llammormiun's Inn,.
Dundee, lately received with an ill grace a penny
bestowed on him by a passing stranger. " You
should give me a sixpence," said the beggar, look-
ing disdainfully on' the penny." 44 Well, -give
me hack the penny." It was done, and the
stranger having put it in his 'pocket, upbraided
the avaricious beggar for his insolence.. The fee.
ble beggar was quickly transformed into a robust
and powerful 'man, who aimed a blow at the
stranger, which was only avoided by a precip-
tate retreat into the inn. The waiters made their
appearance, and were also obliged to fly from
the furious assailant, and to shut the door to pre-
vent hint entering. Soon after, the visitors armed
themselves, and having seized the fellow, had
him lodged in the Police cells.—(Scotch PaPer.)
A Cure -of Souls, in one of the parishes of the
county of Somerset, failing to be closely attended
by its spiritual shepherd as was his duty, one
Sunday morning a Gentleman rode up to the
church door, and-not finding it open, as he ap-
peared to expect, inquired for the clerk or seitoti,
to whom he put the question,.wliether there would
be any service that morning? " Why, non,.Zur,"
said John, " I don't think there wool ; we mus'nt
expect rneaster here to-day,!" " Well, ne-
ver mind him," said the inquirer, "go and ring
the bell ;. I am come to do. this day's, service."—
John's dutiful instinct, being sufficiently alive to
the command, without the ceremony of first learn-
ing the name and quality of his director, the novel
sounds were gladly heard, and,the people flock-
ed to the " village-spire which points to Hea-
ven." The stranger proceeded' with' the spr.
vice, and delivered a discourse that fully con-
vinced his admiring heaters there was no lack
of reverend- qualification for his office. Upon
the eve of his departure, • the Preacher left
a record in the vestry-book, under the pro-
-per date, to this effect:--" Divine service was
performed here this day, by the Bishop of Bath
and Wells."-(Morning Paper.)