The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-04 00:00:00

INQUEST ON ELIZA ANTHONY.

The
ndjournod inquest to inquire into this
Melancholy event took place on Saturday, at the King's Arms,
Chelsea, and ehelfaines-of the JurYmen having been called
over, the follewing evidencevas adduced:—
Mary Johnson stated tiatt the deceased was her daughter by
her Rest husband, end Eyed in Sherrard.strect, Golden-square,
with a, man named WiLiam Briton Dyson. They cohabited
togethee as nian and wife, but were not married. On Friday
night, the 25th of July, Mrs. Bell informed witness her
daughter was drowned, Mrs. Bell told witness her daughter
had drowned herself at Westminster-bridge, and afterwards
she said Dyson had intended to drown -himself with her. In
the evening she ,Ivent. to Mrs, Bell's lodgings, and there she
saw Dyson. Slielold him he had robbed her of her daughter,
ethnic then began, to cry, and witness went away, leaving him
togethee. Witness then went to NVestminster-
bridge; and got a weterman. to go. with her to Queen-square
where She told what site has now said to a Magi.
strate, who sent John Weak, one of the officers of that esta-
blishment with' her, to take Dyson into custody.
.Mr..Jeffrepi, of 23, Clerges-street, Piccadilly, !titre:eon, said,
he wis^oli6 'of the 'persOne who opened the body of the deceased,
and requested that lie might be 'examined now, as it wile in.
coneeiilent,'td him te
open the
in, waiting. The Coroner asked
tee Open the hody without proper authority for so
doter and befdre it had been Seen by the Jury ? Mr. Jeffreys
said'hewasele.sireeihy 3lr: Wood to attend -for that purpose.
and•it Wris .at the deSire of, the mother of the deceased ; and, as
he undeikiield ailthe time, by the consent of the Coroner.
Mrs. Johnson was agein eatled'in, and in answer to vacations
froth Mr. Jeffreys stated, that she did tell him she wished the
body to he °weed, in
.order to escertain-whether the deceased
was pregnant or not, and that the Coroneihad authorized it to
be dune. .She thought the note which 4110 had received from
31r. Wood was an authority for that purpose.
The note alluded . to was produced by Mrs. Johnson, and
resdaefoltaws'i-e4 •
Wood wishes _to inform Mrs. Johnson that Mr. Jef-
Nyiiintl• .Harding will be at Chelsea at half-pest ten
o'cloaethia morning, to open the body, when yoU ate requested
to be there to give them authority. Of course you have in-
formed Mr. Coombe that the Coroner's Jury will sit on the
body at one o'clock..—Yours respectfully,
!` Erititty; half past seven o'clock." " J. WOOD."
lkir. Wood aree.ahen,called, and, on being questioned as to
the matter, said that, :ore .bearing; of the body being found,
hei applied td" the Magistrate of Queen square,
to iknow whin was .be done; and was by him informed
that he ought to apply to Mr. Stirling, the Coroner for the
district,: .which tire ebody:',Wiute fiefind. He then went to
Clerkenwell, for the purpose of seeing Mr. Stirling, and being
shown.intcrfiwitiffice whith he presumed to be Mr. Stirling's,
he spoke to a clerk whom he saw there, who told him that Mr.
Stirling lived at Battersea, and that the beadle of Chelsea would
give thapropernotiee at Cllr. Stirling's house. He then told
the clerk that it was the wish of the mother that the body should
be opened, and as the. clerk neither made any objection, nor
intimated .in anY.manner that it would be improper, he procured
the attendance of 3leeers. Jeffreys and Harding for that pur-
pose' 'and hoped he had not done wrong in pursuing that course
to which he had been prompted solely by motives of kindness
towards.the mother of the deceased.
The Coroner and Jury expressed themselves perfectly satis-
fied with the explanation that had been given, from which it
was evident that the parties had acted through mistake, and
from no improper motives.
Mr. Jeffreys was then sworn, and deposed that he opened the
body of the deceased with the assistance of Mr. Harding. The
face and head were very much swollen, black, and disfigured.
He was of opinion that the blackness and swelling of the face
and head was the consequence of external violence committed
previous to the death of the deceased. There was no other
marks of violence on the body that he could discover. Had
doubt on his Mind that she died of suffocation. There were
no wounds ..on the head that he observed: nor any other marks
of violence: but the contusion on the face. Hid often seen
bodies Of drowned persons.
Mr. John Harding examined.—l am a surgeon, living in
King.street, Goldenesquere. 1 opened the body of the deceased.
I found it exactly described by the last witness. I consi-
tiered that the • marks on the face was caused by contusion pre-
viouseo death, The deceased was pregnant, between the fitih
end Math month. The cause of death, in my opinion, was suf-
focation-hf.drowninee
Mr. Gaskell..e-I reeokned the body this marling. I found
appearances shadier to-what has been described: the botiv in a
'ugh efatenfputrefaction. ge,nerally. I feel no doubt she died
11:17 9:11: Zatt: Ms: cew nu reason foofr
ltueulute.,:tfiflt of*aext
stutachv.tuinatwioorsuiodf.bbelootodu.ndl
iOlenee had been applied.. I examined the head ery particu-
ess
bbmeliiesveiting but thatf feoxu external
nnaol
undere(nuid an"; cthirecubmsilance,
o:alZtlrs.inTlthiee appearance nelehwaasve
b&en' offeti examined on there similar to what .I have alws remarked:
• samba Wilson, of No. 7 ay, King's.lfette-yard, Lambeth,
amined.—l am a waterman. On Saturday afternoon I
plying at Westntioeter-bridge. A woman (Mrs.
Bell) way
seen an
hery thiiing she o f the.ua s
certainyoung
woman
and said she Wanted-a waterman. This was about two o'clock.
said
ae li
thatk
and thath thate whether
e young;
young; roan
She was wilted if she wanted a boat. She said " No, she came
o
was drowned
rtiad I e u
e
she was drowned ? She said " Yes, she knew that by the per-
sont that was with her." I asked her low it happened ? she
woman
wa
rannto
downt i e w a
thet e r
stepsto drown d trimwent
into the water after him, and he stood in the water and saw her
float away. Ile called t'or asistance, but could not obtain any.
I told her it was a strange way of showing his attachment, far
the man to stand in the water and see her float away. I asked
her where the girl's mother was. She told me, and I sent to
the mother, and she came down in the evening. The mother
told me where Dyson lived, and he was apprehended the same
night. Mrs. Bell requested when the body was found, that
it might be conveyed to a private room, and she would pay all
expenses. There were five watchmen on Westminster-bridge,
who must have heard any one call out.
George Solloway, another waterman, deposed, that .ie pLed
y
at Vauxhall-bridge. Left his boat at %I esuninstcr-bridge at
I l o'clock on Friday night. When he came at a quarter before
seven next morning, lie missed his boat, and on looking round
he found she was fast to another boat about 150 yards from
where he had left her, higher up the river. In the boat he saw
a bonnet, with pink ribands. The boot was in a very dirty
condition, as if two persons had been struggling in it. The
paint was scratched very much. The bonnet had not been
wetted. There was no mark of blood. The bonnet was put in
carefllly, and not by accident. It seemed as if it had been con.
coaled.—(Mr. Wood. the master of the deceased, said the bon-
net was the same she wore when she lived with iiim.)—At ore
o'clock it was impossible fur any person going oet of witress's
boat to have been drowned, unless they shoved her into deep
water.

John Ray, watchman to ti.e Speaker of the House of Com-
mons, stated that on the morning of saturday, between oneand
two o'clock, he heard " Murder" cried out two or three differ.
ent times. The voice seemed to proceed from near the bridge.
Could discern a person among the boats. Some boats were
afloat, and some not. The voice proceeded from the boats._
When he looked he could see a person in a beat; this person
was paddling abOut in the water with a scull or an oar; could
not see which. After witness heard the cry of" Murt:er" three
or four times, the same voice, to the best of his belief, cried
out, " Eliza Eliza' my dear I" It was a man's voice. Wit.
ness was about 300 yards oft: After that there was a cry of
" Help, help I" several timet—the same voice. It was from
the host the voice came. SVitness was locked in, andcould rat
go to the per Son. lie did not like to make an aiarin te.disturh
the Speaker.
Frances Hopkins.—Lodged with Mrs. Bell, at No. 137, Jer;
myn-sirect. Mains did not know Dyson, but had seen him ;
first saw him on Friday night week, after twelve o'clock. 'Wit-
ness and Mrs. Bell went to bed about twelve o'clock, and they
had hoen asleep, when they were awakened by the ringing of
the bell ; they were sleeping in the attic. Mrs. Bell slipped
on her gown, and went down to the door and let Dyson in.
Ile stayed but a few minutes. He was quite dry at that time.
About two o'clock the bell rang again, and Mrs. Bell went
down, and came up to the room again with Dyson, who seemed
very unhappy. When witness got up, she saw that Dyson's
clothes were wet. He kept saying " Poor Eliza ! my poor
Eliza !" and when Mrs. Bell asked him to change his clothes,
he said it did not matter whether he changed them or not.
William Williams sworn.—The deceased lodged at No. 12,
Sherrard.street, which belongs to witness. Mr. Dyson took
the lodgings on the 17th of May, and introduced de.
ceased there as his wife. They were both extremely orderly
and well-behaved people and he believes very honest. On Sa.
turday evening; about half-past eight, Dyson called,' and said
Eliza was drowned at VVestininsterbridge. He gave a very
confused account, saying he could not get her out, for there were
no oars in the boat, but only some bits of sticks, with which he
,paddled, and called out Help, and murder!" Eliza ap.,
peered not at all depressed in spirits when she went away.
Mr. J. Wood, of the Union Tavern, Air.atreet,
sworn.--Deceased lived with witness as barmaid about five
years, and left his service about the middle of April last. The
latter part of the time Dyson was in witness's employ as waiter;
he came on the 19th of last December. Deceased went away
in April, and Dyson about three weeks after her. 'Witness
lost sight of both of them after they left his service. On the
day of Dyson's quitting witness's service, Mrs. Bell, the de-
ceased, and Dyson, met together in Marylebone-street, and the
deceased ran to witness's house; Mrs. Bell followed hest and.
in a great rage, called her all manner of bad mimeo, and ask

Dyson was her lawful husband, and that the demoted was
keeping him away from her.. .11Ini. Bell uscd much bad lan-
guage, with violent gestures 'and Threats. A great concourse
gathered about the house, and Witneeawent out and endeavour-
ed to get Mrs. Bell to go away about her business. He did
not set Mrs. Bell strike the deceased.. 'Dyson took his hat, and
they all three went away together.' • -
Elizabeth Bell sworn.—She' is a single woman, living at
No. 137, Jennyn-street. 'She knows Al illiam Briton Dyson;
has known him four years. They had cohabited together, but
not.for some time past. They lived very comfortably together
till.he went to Mr. Wood's, where lie met with the deceased,
and she believes that to have been. the cause of their diaigiee-
merit and separation. Witness was much distressed about his
intimacy with the deceased, and tried to prevent it as muthas
she could, but she could not. She recollects meeting the de-
-Ceased in the street, and following*? to Mr. Wood's house.
Before that time the deceased had called on Witness; she believes
it was by the desire of Dyson thai She ehoUfd call and sit with
witness, and she did so. Dyson explainedip witness the nature of
his connexion with deceeeed, and begged that if she Caine,
witness would not say any thing to 'hurt her feelings. She
therefore allowed her to sic with her,-, and although they were
not very frencll y together, they didnot tenure] on that occasion.
Sleeting, the tleceti:ed in the street, she quarrelled with her,
but never threatened her. Witnese ,afterwards went to see
them, and they complained of being,greetly distressed, and
having nothing to subsist on but what they could raise by pawn-
ing their clothes. Witness then gave them half a crown, and
continued to visit them, seldom missing a clay. He spoke is a
very confused manner respecting the catastrophe on Friday
night. He said they were standing inn boat, and he found him-
self suddenly in the water, he could not tell how : it was deep
water, and he rose and looked round for Eliza, and he thought
he saw her in the boat. aril made towards it ; when he got
there, she was gone, and he got into the boat, and presently af-
terwards saw her in the stream. lie said he tried to row after
her, but he could not ; and he called out " Murder !" end
" Help !" two or three times. His' clothes were wet, and he
had been over head in water. -."
Wm. Briton Dysonethe man with..whout, the deceased co.
habited, and, who has been ell the week in custody, on vuspizion
of havingmurdered the unfortunate girl, was then brought in.
He stared wildly round the room as he -entered, and on seating •
himself in the witness's chair, turned his eyes. gradually on
each of the persons sitting round him. •
The Coroner said to him—" The Gentlemen are inclined to
give you an opportunity of saying any thing you may think fit ;
but at the same time it is my duty to advise you, that you are
not obliged to say any thing unless you think proper, nor to
answer any questions you may think.ht to decline, or which you
may suppose have a tendency to criminate yourself."
The prisoner said, " Gentlemen, I am perfectly at your plea-
sure to answer any questions you think proper to put. Know-
ing myself innocent, and relying on my own conscience, I leave
myself entirely to the mercy of God and my country." He then
proceeded to state to the Coroner as follows did lodge at
air. Williams's,
.11, Sherrard-street, Golden-asquare, and ant
a waiter.- The deceaied and myself cohabited together as man
and wife, though we ware not married. I have also cohabited
with 31rs. Bell, but she is not my wife. We were all three
together in the course of the day on Friday week, the 25th of
July. The deceased and I were to quit our lodgings on ;hat
day. I left the house with Eliza thatevening; -I think about
9 o'clock. We left the house together, and proceeded by her
desire to the Haymarket Theatre. We remained there till the
perfermance was over, and then we both went to Jermyn.street
together. The young woman walked further on, while I stop-
ped and rang the bell at Mrs. Bell's lodging, as she had made me
promise that I would see her again that night. She asked me
where the unfortunate young woman that is drowned was, as she
had appointed to sleep there that night. I had requested Eliza
to do so, but could not prevail on her. I then left Jertnyne
street with Eliza, and we walked down the Haymarket to West-
minster-bridge. We went down the left-hand-side of the bridge.
archar.l sttnoot
the
theree
other a shortside.'
de . time
she
then
got into a boateand I followed
her. We were sonic time in the boat, talking to each other-'
I then was standing on one side of the boat, she, I believe, woe
leaning on me, to the best of my recollection. I suddenly
found thyself in the water ; I struggled to try to see wht-,
ther she was in the water, but I could not see- her. 1 was
not able to swim. I never could swim in my life. By struggling
towards what I supposed to be the young woman in the water,
I found it was the boat, and got hold of the side, and got in.
--Looking Lcoking round, and not finding the young women there,
sad " Help !" again. I then listened,riot him any
thing did
they
ttiltnienes.s,u,ptipeselepd, tllAiinurd; cal
er, mulredderforr,
sehelyepeoa:rtniverew,ttl
thing in the water ; but 1 presently saw something above-
help'e dt
water that I supposed to be the young woman. larn " Eliza, my dear !" (Here the prisoner became_ veto yoned
agitat-
ed, and his utterance for some seconds wase cormpleedtetlstri k
Arid I
a convulsive sob relieved him, and he p
• they use to- row the boat with, strength
from but my
things
not oufficiente I could not get the boat
disappeared again below. the
She hd
cowards her with one of the
as I wished it to go.
d then I saw her again a second time. 1 could
watt' her with the boat, and she appeared to sink
not get near
my hand, and rayed, to God to save her-life.--
[Here: in 11
atgra
under the water directly. dropped down-the-piece of wood
the agitation of the prisoner became extrtMe, He
for breath. Some water having been given
heafdrotinnhis seat, and stretching out his hands, stared wildly
rose
resumed.).ghaesj)ing was then some time in this manner,
artoonucilinideniuld not get the boat to the side of the water to get
outen
woman
n iaonf the
o r ghho.la. beat,
lcoaonkt
eedu pa t the
inms t, a
airen
dttsefae r_
lookingi the tridge. I sew a man, apparently intoxicated,
in liquor, I did not inform him what had
wentt straight away-to the house where Mrs. Bel/
liaaloolnnsuatgiPttiglioealeefdane,aletni.pdr tdap:nyoelbdafuhrrang at her bell. I was some short time wait-
ing for her to answer the bell, during which times person, who
lodged
in the house, came with a key and
unlocked the
door. I walked in. The watchman came from the other Side
of the street, and the person who opened the door appeared
not to know me. I looked round, and told them my name
was Dyson. I then went up stairs, and met Mrs. Bell on the
stair, coming to answer the door. I told her poor Eliza was no
more, and begged her to go to her mother. On second recol-
lection I thought she could not get to her mother at that time
of the morning. Later in the morning she went to Eliza',: mother, and I remained in the room till she came back.
person who slept with Mrs. Bell to get up ; and I Went outsale
o;dirrieitneewyhawesretstienleifle.oNtfh:reshfirtnen/Yde°;:t
on some dry. I asked her if she supposed, after whet had him,
pened, that dry clothes could be of any comfort to Me? By
her still persuading me, I pulled off my wet clothes, and pee
on a dry shirt and got into bed. I there remained some time
in bed, during which 91rs. Bell went out. I then got up and
dressed myself, and went to Mr. Williams's, where we had
lodged, and then went back, and about nine o'clock the mother,.
with this gentleman (Weale the officer), came and 'took roe
into custody. In answer to a question from a Juryman, whidi
he was cautioned not to answer unless he chose, he said
that they had both resolved to make away with thernselvese
" I wanted to deter her frail it, hut was determined to do it
myst'lf, at I was out of employ, and had neither money nor
means to procure any to support us. I wrote on a piece of pa-
per, to put into my pocket, that I intended to drown tnysell",
and left it, by ecculenr, on the table. She got It and read it;;
and by that means she found I was determined to make S Ray
with myself, and she took the same resolution, and would melt
be turned from it."
The room was then cleared, end after being closeted for aheat
an hour and a half, the Jury returned a verdict, of " ae'itful
Murder against William Briton Dyson."
The verdict was instantly annnunccrl to eha paresis-, tefo
replied in a firmer tone than he had hlthertospoken " Now
I tan quite content."
The Coroner issued his warrant of commitmeet, and: tee
'prisoner was taken back to Tothill-fields prison, v' rare tie will
remain for removal to Newgate to he tried. The prisoner has
been sunk in the lowest state of despondency the whose time
he has been in custody, anti hat been kept constantly hard.
cuffed, to prevent self-destruction, which he haaseveral times
attempted..
---
F

ILOPEMENT.—MiSS. A---44, the dat.ieir.Pr of
a gentleman residing near this thy, eloped . last
night with Captain C—, u gentleman Well
known in the fashionable circles of Bath.' The •
father of the lady arrived at York House about.
half.past eight this morning, and, acrompanied.
boa gentleman of very anxious physiognaMy,'
immediately set off in pursuit of the fugitives, who
were observed to take a northerly direction.---
(Bath Paper).
ROSSIN T, the fashionable Italian Composer,,
ha's been at the point of death ; and, if a private
letter says true, from indigestion., aftera wager
bet worn him and his particular friend PAC:A:IAN/1
the grit violin in Italy. Itosstst had wagered a
large Sum that he would eat for dinner six large
fat lobsters. The Composer gained his wager ;
but he Wall near losing it after all, and seemed to
be about to depart, and, like Orpheus, charm tho
Court of pinto with his divine straies., •