The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-27 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT
JERSEY.

(From the Jersey Argus.)
Perhaps a -case never occurred in this island of an un-
happy and deluded female, whose miserable and long-pro-
tracted death has excited more mixed feelings of horror,
sYmpathy, disgust, and indignation, than that of this truly
ill-fated girl.
The following verdict has been returned :—" That the
death of Mary Ann Bethell was caused by taking arsenic,
and that the said arsenic was procured for her by Marin,
who w as guilty of assisting in the death of the said young
lady"

It appears in evidence that on his apprehension he was
desired to relate all the circumstances of the fatal affair,
when Marin said that, on Saturday night, between 7 and 8
o'clock, he went away from his house, in consequence of
What had passed there, and bought of several apothecaries
small quantities of laudanum, under pretence that he bad
the tooth-ache, and filled two small bottles with it. A few
seconds after, that is, about 8 o'clock, he met Miss Bethell
at the corner of Burrard-street, near the house of Mr.
13. Hotton. She told him that in consequence of what had
just taken place, she had taken a phial of laudanum from
Mr. Barber's, and had swallowed the contents. He wished
to Conduct her home that she might take medicine to neu-
tralize the effects of the poison ; but she refused, and begged
Ile would not use violence to compel her. He then said
that he was decided to do like her, and told her to wait
there until he had procured more laudanum, for he had
not sufficient. She refused to wait for him in that place,
lest she should be observed, and proceeded towards Clare-
street, behind the Parade, whilst Marin went to Mr.
lean's, where he procured another small phial of lauda-
lun. He afterwards joined Miss Bethell in Clare-street,
and there he swallowed the poison. They then took the
toad to St. Aubin's with a view to die in some retired spot ;
but they afterwards altered their minds and went on the
toad to Rouge Bouillon. They went up the road of the
Pouclae, beyond Clarendon-road ; and he having assisted
• Miss Daibell to get over the wall of a small house, called
„
tlibernia Cottage, they both passed the night under the
Portico of the house, awaiting the effects of the poison.
They came away at the break of day for fear of being seen,
and repaired to the new road which Mr. Nicolle has been
opening, near the nursery garden of Mr. Rene Langelier,
Where they remained until the hour when the shops are
usually opened. The rain beginning to fall, he conducted
Miss Bethell to a small green summer-house in a field be-
longing to Mr. Ricard, and then came to town to buy more
laudanum. He came down New-street, and entered Mr:
Christie's, where he procured an ounce in a phial. He
then went to Mr. Dupre, where he also obtained some in
smaller phial. After which, he went back to join Miss
Bethell again. It was then about eight o'clock, Sunday
morning. After rejoining Miss Bethell, in the summer-
/louse, they repaired to a shed situated in a large field
called the " Bullock field," near the Monts Millais. They
Were about half an hour going to it. There they took
a part of the laudanum, but towards the close of night, the
• Poison not having yet operated, he divided the laudanum
that was remaining in the large phial in two portions,
about equal, and after giving one portion to Miss Bethel!,
he swallowed the other. This not having yet produced
the result they anticipated, he came to town again, about
half-past eight o'clock in the evening, and after trying in
vain to procure arsenic at an apothecary's down town, and
at Mr. Gallichan's, he went to Mr. Bannister's, where he
complained that the rats ate his pigeons, and asked which
was the best way to destroy them. He was told that in
general arsenic was used against rats, and he then askel for
and obtained twopence worth of the fatal poison. He also
asked for an ounce of laudanum, but the apothecary replied
that he could not give such a quantity without witnesses.
Thereupon he left the shop, and went back to. Miss Bethell
under the shed. They then took the arsenic by pinches,
and laid down 'to await death. Miss Bethell expired on
Monday morning 1 Mr. Perrot concluded by saying, that
'the doctors present baying declared that Marin could be
re-
moved to prison without any danger, he had him put in a
car, and sent him to gaol.
The following is one of four letters from Miss Bethell :---
"My MOST ADOTIED L.—l am miserable. I had promised
to see you for a few minutes, but it has been quite out of my
Power to do so ; for Mrs. Westley has been taken ill with a fit
of apoplexy, and Mr. and Mrs. B. were very much alarmed.
But she is much better, and I have left them to come to my
dearest Louis, for I am sure you will be very angry with me
for not coming to you ; but really I could not do it. It is of
no Use, I cannot be happy. In your last notes, you tell me
again about that man, and you say he may find a road to my
heart; but I can swear to you that neither he nor any one else
No, Louis ; if an angel from heaven were to appear to
me, it, could not prevent my loving and adoring you. Ah,
good l what an idea, that I could ever love another ! You
Must cease to write to me in such a manner, or you will drive
lee to despair ; for I cannot bear the idea of any one but your
own dear self. You are the true dear man of my heart. You
are the partner of my life ; and if not, we must die together.
Ah, you dear darling man They are going to tea, so I must
leave you. It is nine o'clock. Then adieu."
After the accusation had been read, and it had been
agreed to resume proceedings, the prisoner was delivered
into the custody of the Deputy Viscount, who conducted
Lim back to gaol. In their progress to which, Marin was
saluted with similar demonstrations of public dislike to
those which accompanied his way into Court. At one time
the crowd was so great, that the Deputy Viscount exhibited
tome alarm for th safety of his charge, by catching hold of
his coat collar ; and the constable of St. Saviour's also kept
• quite close on the other side of Marin. In this manner,
"Marin was safely conducted back to his former quarters.

MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS.

The late Miss Bethell was a highly accomplished girl,
though very flighty in some of her ideas—encouraged, it is I,
supposed, by a taste she had acquired for novels and ro-
nances. Till her unfortunate acquaintance with Marin,
she was an affectionate sister, and to her mother every thing
that could be desired. Marin was appointed, about two
Years since, her music-master ; and, from that time, a
change began to be manifest in his pupil's conduct. But
their intimacy was not thought to be any thing improper,
till recently, when they were often observed together in
the private lanes in the country, with which this beautiful
little island abounds. A friend once complimented her on
her taste for rural scenes ; but advised her to choose a
young single gentleman for ber companion, and not a mar-
ried man, of nearly 50 years of age ! To this she gave
little heed , and the same well-meaning friend, seeing them
Walking in a certain path, contrived to place a note near
Where they would have to pass, which contained some
Pointed allusions to the impropriety of their conduct. The
friend placed himself, unobserved, at a distance where he
could watch the effect this warning might possibly have upcn
them. The young lady read the note, and handed it to her
•Paramour ; but, beyond a smile, it appeared to be disre-
garded by both !
Marin has confessed that, during the Sunday night, Miss
Bethell, gently pushing him with her hand, inquired if he
'vas dead. On his answering in the negative, she said,
" Oh ! then let me die before you! "
From a conversation with several of the apothecaries of
Whom Marin purchased small quantities of laudanum, we
learn that nothing in his countenance at all indicated a dis-
turbed state of mind. On, the contrary, he spoke with the
Tuost perfect coolness, smilingly inquiring the best way of
applying the laudanum to decayed teeth, with which he
professed himself to be troubled. When he was satisfied
With the directions given, he politely thanked his inform-
ants.; and in this way be procured the two bottles of
Poison with which he ,proceeded to the place where Miss
Bethell awaited his return ! When taken, Marin appeared
to think so little of what he had done, as to request the
constable not to take him to prison, but merely to accept
his (Iviarin,s) word of honour for his appearance when
called upon !