The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-31 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

DEATH FROM POlSON.—Yesterday an inquest was held
at St. George's Hospital, on the body of Harriet Smith.
Mrs. Mary Hodges, a respectable lady, residing in Star-
street, Edgware-road, on Thursday last, received a note
from the deceased, requesting to see her, as she was very
unhappy. The witness went to her, but she looked very
wild, as if she had been drinking. She wished particularly
to see my son James, who was partial to her. I returned
home, and sent my son to her, who almost instantly ran back
and said, " Oh, mother, make haste to Harriet Smith, as I
fear she has taken poison." I went at once, and saw her
at the corner of the New-road, where she had been sick. I
accompanied her home to Grove-street, St. John's Wood,
and sent for medical aid. Three surgeons immediately at-
tended. The stomach pump and other means were used to
extract the poison from the stomach, and she was conveyed
to the Hospital in a hackney-coach. She had received an
excellent education ; but the loss of her mother, a few
months back, had preyed upon her spirits, and that acting
upon some unfounded jealousy, led to her taking a quantity
of arsenic, of the effects of which she died on Thursday
night, having previously suffered the most dreadful agony.
There was also a mark upon the neck, as if she had attempted
to cut her throat. _

Mrs. Hodges, in answer to questions from the Coroner
and the Jury, stated that the deceased had taken the poi-
son in a neighbouring public-house before she sent for wit-
ness. " She was very sorrowful," said the witness, "at the
death of her mother, and, knowing that she was partial to
my son, I sent him to soothe her ; but while his back was
turned for an instant she swallowed the poison, and, show-
ing him the cup which contained it, said Now I have done
it, throwing the cup upon the floor at the same time.'"
Witness could not say if her son lived for any time with
the deceased, but they certainly were not married.
The Jury determined to have Mr. Hodges examined,
and adjourned till eight o'clock, and then re-assembled,
when
Charlotte Hope, at whose house the deceased lodged for
three weeks, said she and her husband, Mr. Hodges, were
very quiet till the night before she took the poison, when
they quarrelled, and witness gave them notice to quit.
There was nothing whatever improper in her manner.
Mrs. Hodges was with her after she took the poison until
she was conveyed to this hospital. The only part of the
quarrel which witness heard, was her saying. " She would
sooner suffer death than put up with it." There was a deal
of struggling between them. Witness always considered
Hodges to be a sober man.
James Hodges, of 17, Star-street, Edgware-road, on
Thursday last, in consequence of a communication from the
deceased by his mother, went to her- and saw her near
Cambridge-terrace. They went to the Masons' Arms
public-house, had some gin, which he paid for, and a biscuit.
After taking a glass of the gin, she went to the other side
of the room towards the window ; she pulled out a cup, and
drank something off; she then threw the cup down, and
said, " Now I hope I shall be happy, for I have taken poi-
son." Witness ran instantly to his mother, and told her
the circumstance, when she immediately attended the
deceased. She was always of a very jealous temper, but
particularly so when in liquor. The disturbance was occa-
sioned by his telling her that he had been at a particular
house, which very much enraged her. She was. quite tipsy
when she took the poison.
Verdict—" Died from taking poison while in a state of in-
sanity."
The investigation was not over till 10 o'clock.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, AUG. 29.—The
sales to-day consist of 2,000 bags, of which 400 were Egyptian,
14d. a 16:f€1. ; 60 Pernams, 121-d. a 131-d. ; and the remainder
American, 811 a 114-d. The week has commenced quietly.
Prices have been steadily supported up to this time. Fair to
good qualities will continue to support present rates, even in
the event of the demand being less brisk than it has been
during the last fortnight.
- -

At Pershore (Worcestershire), on Monday, three
thunderstorms occurred during the day, accompaniad with tor-
rents of rain. During one of the storms, we are sorry to say,
human life was lost. About four o'clock in the afternoon,
Richard Clark, his little son, and five others, took shelter
under a pear-tree at Wick, ucar Pershore, when the electric
fluid struck the tree, and, descending among the group, Clark
was killed on the spot ; his child, with whom he was playing
at the time, escaped with only a few burns ; the other persons
of the group were knocked down, but not hurt. Between
eleven and twelve o'clock the same day, as a man was
going with a waggon and three horses, belonging to Mr.
Baugh, to Wyre Pyddle, the lightning struck them, killing
the middle horse, and striking the man, who has remained
delirious ever since. Several farmers have had cattle killed
and trees struck by the electric fluid.—Worcester Journal.