The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-25 00:00:00

AN INFAMOUS CASE.

On Thursday Mr. 11:il.Wakley held an inquest at the
Goat and Compasses, New-road, St. Pancrae, on Julia
Cooper, alias Jane Lochlaw, aged 19. The inquiry, flr
reasons developed by the subjoined evidence, excited
deep and unusual interest in the neighbourhood. The
jury viewed the body at 67, Fitzroy-street, Fitzroy-
square.
Sophia Dudley, who described herself as a widow.
and the mistress of 67, Fitzroy-street, deposed that for
the last ten years she occupied that house, and that three
weeks ago she fetched deceased, whom she then knew
for the first time, from Brighton. The occupants of
her house were " ladies." Deceased told her that her
name was Julia Cooper, but since her death witness
heard that her name was Lochlaw. Witness fetched
her from Brighton to make night-gowns and shifts,
and to be a kind of companion. She died at ten
o'clock on Sunday morning, in the presence of Mary
Rutledge and several other females. Mr. Jones, sure
geon, was also present at her death. Deceased suffered
from a severe cold for the previous two weeks. A few
hours before her death deceased complained of violent
pains in her stomach and chest, for which witness ad-
ministered brandy and every remedy that suggested it-
self, but she had no idea deceased was dying. When she
was called to breakfast on Sunday she complained of ill-
ness, for which she got such remedies as she required,
and witness persuaded her to go to bed again, which she
did, and died at the hour mentioned. Deceased had no
acquaintance in London, nor did any one visit her
during the three weeks she was in witness's house.
Witness understood the deceased had a father some_
where in Scotland; and on the morning of her decease
witness was infermed that she had a friend in Chelsea
College, whom witness acquainted with her death.
Miss Mary Rutledge, a fashionably dressed female,
covered with rings, and displaying
stated that a splendid watch,
she lodged in Mrs. Dudley's house, and was
an unmarried lady. Although deceased lived in the
same house, witness seldom spoke to deceased, as the
latter seldom left her room. Deceased had a cold for
the three weeks she was in the house. She complained
of pains in her side and stomach, and of shortness of
breath. She sent for witness on Sunday morning, and
told her that she had been very ill during the previous
night. Oa Saturday
night deceased slept by herself.
Mrs. Dudley was very kind to deceased. Witness dined
out on the Sunday on which deceased died. Witness
was in the habit of visiting the nurse every morning, to
see how her (witness's) baby was going on.—(Surprise.)
Coroner—Why, you have sworn that you are a single
lady, and now you say you have a baby. Elow is that?
Witness (pertly)—O, yes. I have a baby; I had it ten
months ago. It's no reason, because lam a single wo-
men, that I should not have a baby.
Examination resumed—When witness saw deceased on
Sunday morning she told Mrs. Dudley that deceased was
dying.
James Wilcock, a Chelsea pensioner, who wore on his
breast a Waterloo medal, and was deeply affected during
his evidence, stated that deceased's name was Jane
Lochlaw. She was the daughter of very respectable
parents at Dundee. Her father was alive, but her mo-
ther (here witness burst into tears) died soon after she
gave birth to deceased. When a mere child deceased
left her home, and witness adopted her. He brought
her up morally, educated her, and apprenticed her to a
milliner in Brighton. Witness had no idea that she
was in London until Mrs. Dudley informed him of her
death. Deceased visited him at Chelsea College, and
always called him father. Ile loved her as a father. He
last saw her alone seven weeks ago, when she visited him
at the college. The same night she returned to Brighton
by the train. He had no idea that she was in London.
Fie hod a deal of property belonging to his child, which
she left in his care. She made no will, and he would not
keep it, for to do so would be dishonourable, as she had
a father. (The veteran again wept.)
CORONER—What is the amount of the property ?
Witness (producing a bank book containing deposits
exceeding 1201.)—,Here it is, sir.

CORONER—You are a brave, hon ourable man—(Hear,
hear, from all sides of the court)—and it would be only
right for you to keep it.
Several jurors highly lauded the gallant old sol-
dier, whose feelings were so over2owered that Mr.
Davis, the summoning officer, had to .help him out of the
court.
Mr. Jones, surgeon, was called to visit deceased on
Sunday morning. She complained of pains all over her.
He administered stimulants, after taking which she
fainted, and died in eight minutes. He performed a
post mortem examination. The body was bloodless and
emaciated. She died of disease of the heart, and not of
poison, as might have been supposed.
CORONER—The surgeon's evidence settles the ques-
tion. It was my opinion, upon looking at the body, and
after hearing a portion of the evidence, that deceased
died of poison, which opinion was strengthened by
certain reports spread regarding the house in which
deceased died. But lam now satisfied that she died
from natural causes, and that she met with no foul play.
The jury fully concurred with the coroner, and re-
turned a verdict of Natural Death.