The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-23 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday afternoon, an inquest was held at the Three
Kings, Clerkenwell Close, before Mr. STIRLING, and a
respectable Jury, to inquire touchinc, the death of Amelia
Parmel, a remarkably fine girl, aged 19, who committed
suicide by throwing herself into the New River, near Sad-
ler's Wells Theatre, under circumstances of a peculiarly
afflicting nature.
The inquiry, which lasted some hours, excited a very
painful sensation in thd neighbourhood of the above house,
and the Jury-room was crowded to excess.
Mr. John Taylor, surgeon, of St. John-street-road, be-
tween twelve and one o'clock on Tuesday morning, was
called to attend upon a young female, who had just previ-
ously thrown herself into the New River, and had been con-
veyed to the Sir Hugh Myddleton public-house. On wit-
ness proceeding there, he found the deceased apparently
lifeless, from the effects of drowning. Witness had recourse
to the usual means of resuscitation for a considerable time,
but without effect.

Francis Foulgers, a young man, who described himself as
a journeyman coachmaker, living at No. 11, Lascelles-court,
Broad-street, Bloomsbury, had kept company with the de-
ceased for eleven months, and was with her about twelve
o'clock on Monday night, in St. John's-street-road, near
Sadler's Wells Theatre, where he parted with her, and did
not see her again alive.
By the Jury—About six months ago I promised the de-
ceased marriage, and the banns were put up by the deceased,
but I subsequently declined to marry her on account of my
not being of age. Since that period she has repeatedly so-
licited me to perform my promise, and has appeared very
unhappy at my not acceding to her wish. When I parted
with the deceased on Monday night we had no quarrel,but
she again implored me to marry her.
The above was elicited from the witness with great diffi-
culty ; and on the jury further cross-examining him he ad-
mitted that he had been on such terms with the deceased
that she dreaded becoming a mother ; and at the time the
banns were put up and he refused to marry her, so great
was her anguish that she attempted to poison herself and
the witness by oil of vitriol, placing it in a glass, and stating
that it was gin, but he having some suspicion, and refusing
to drink, she endeavoured to swallow the contents of the
glass, but he prevented her rash design by knocking it out
of her hand.

The Coroner and Jury expressed the utmost disgust and
indignation at the conduct of the witness towards the un-
fortunate young woman, and the former observed that the
life of the unhappy girl had been sacrificed by his base
unmanly conduct, in having effected her ruin, and causing
her subsequent distress of mind, under the artful promise of
marriage, and cautioned him as to his future conduct, and
to endeavour to make reparation for the serious calamity
he had been the cause of.

John Ash, Esq., of No. 8, Cumming-street, Penton-
vile, deposed that the deceased was in his service at the
time of her death. She was a very good servant, and, from
her general conduct, witness was of opinion that she was
particularly discreet.
Mr. Ash, in reply to questions from the Jury, did not
know the young man Foulgers. He was not aware that the
deceased had any followers, and himself and family had never
suspected that she was enceinte.
The father and mother of the deceased, who are credit-
able people living in Green Dragon-yard, Holborn, were in
attendance, and appeared deeply affected at their daughter's
melancholy end, but the Jary refrained from paining their
feelings by requiring their evidence. A verdict was returned
" That the deceased drowned herself, in a state of derange-
ment, brought on by disappointment through the conduct of
Francis Foulgers."

LAST MOMENTS of MARY BURDOCK•

(From the Bristol Mirror.)

We have collected the following facts " sayings and
doings," that occurred during the last hours of this extra-
ordinary criminal.
On quitting the bar, after her sentence on Monday even-
ing, she was taken to the prisoner's room under the court,
when, we are informed, she manifested the most perfect in-
difference to the awfulness of her situation. In seating her-
self upon the stool that was given her, she carefully pulled
up her cloak to prevent its being rumpled, and observed
that she might as well give it to her sister at once. She
asked for a glass of beer, and having drank it, wanted ano-
ther, which was refused. She then rated her attorney, who
had accompanied her, and accused her counsel, and all that
were concerned for her, of mismanagement, particularising
a number of points in the course of the trial which they
had omitted to notice. She desired that she might see all
her relations the next day (Tuesday), " for perhaps," she
said, " I may not be alive the following night." Her at-
torney asked if the girl (meaning her daughter) was also
to come to her—she answered, " No;" but immediately
after said, " Yes, she may as well come ; and let her be
well dressed, as she is to go to the lady."
When she arrived at the prison, the astonishing firmness
she had manifested throughout the whole period of her
trial appeared to give way, and she experienced something
like a fainting fit.
According to her desire, she was visited on Tuesday by
her children, her brother (whom she had appointed her
executor,) her aunt, and other relatives. They were greatly
distressed at the hardihood of her demeanour. She evinced
no feeling whatever, except on kissing her children. Tears
then appeared in her eyes, but which by an effort she sup-
pressed, and kept them from falling. Those around her
being moved by the scene then passing, she desired them to
be quiet, " and not to come there to make her low-spirited ;"
and immediately turning to her solicitor, said, " Now let us
to business—about the .500/. in the bank ? They can't
hold it, that's all stuff. What will be left for the children
when all the bills are paid ? Her attorney, to whom she
addressed herself, having considered as to her financial
question, answered her accordingly. She then turned
quickly round to her brother, and said, " Mind, Jem, you
tax his bill."

On being pressed not then to think of this world's con-
cerns, she said, " I must attend to business." She then
called Mrs. Vowles, the matron of the prison, and asked,
" Who makes the gaol coffins?" On receiving an answer,
she again turned to her brother, and desired him " to get
a good, strong, plain coffin ;" adding, " but mind—you are
not to give more than two pounds for it ;" at the same time
moving herself up from the bed, and lifting her elbows, she
said, " Mind, it must be full-sized, and let it be lined with
flannel ; and mind that I have a warm comfortable shroud,
and don't let the coffin be screwed down too tight : recol-
lect that it be brought to me this evening—l'll have it put
by my bedside."
We understand that, in addition to the reiterated ex-
hortations of the chaplain of the gaol to induce her to ac-
knowledge the justice of her sentence, her son made a most
forcible and impressive appeal to his mother to confess her
crime before she encountered the presence of her God, and
not to mind what the world would say ; but all appeared
to have no effect upon her. She asked for her pocket, and
gave a biscuit from it to each of her children, and, address-
ing her friends, said, " I have not enough, or I would give
you all one a piece." Turning to the matron, she said,
" Where is that knife that was taken from my pocket ? I
want to give it to my son." She was told it should be
given to him when he went down. " But," said she, "it
is unlucky to give a knife—you must give me something
for it."

Much was said on the trial about a nail-brush ; we have
seen one, and also a clothes-brush, which she presented to
her son on going to school, telling him they were the old
lady's, and to take care of them.
We were admitted into the gaol a little after eleven
o'clock on Wednesday morning, and were informed that
the condemned criminal with the other prisoners, one of
whom was her own husband in confinement for debt, were
then in the chapel. We understand she sat silent in a pew
with two females, much in the same way as in the court dur-
ing her trial. She did not once rise or kneel during the
service, which was performed by the Rev. Mr. Jennings in
a most solemn and impressive manner, choosing Psalms for
the occasion the 39th and 90th. Before the prayers were
commenced, he desired very emphatically those of the con-
gregation for the unhappy individual who was that day to
suffer the last penalty of the law. At this moment a slight
sigh appeared to escape her, as also when the Rev. Minis-
ter repeated in a solemn tone the Commandment, " Thou
shalt do no murder."

After the service, the Rev. Gentleman ascended the pul-
pit, and every eye and ear, even of the convicts were in-
tently fixed on him ; he took for his text the 35th Num-
bers, 31st verse :—" Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction
for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death : but he
shall surely be put to death."
She appears to have betrayed little or no emotion while
in the chapel, and left it with firmness. About one o'clock
we saw her, preceded by the clergyman, who was reading
the funeral service, and the usual officers, and leaning on
the Governor's arm, leaving his house, and proceeding with
a slow but firm step to the press-room. She was dressed
in a black gown, coloured shawl, and a black bonnet ; her
appearance and manner were appropriate and becoming.
After they had entered the press-room, we distinctly heard
her respond to the prayers, and we should say feelingly.
In this place her bonnet and shawl were taken off, her arms
pinioned, the usual white cap put upon her head; and the
rope adjusted to her neck. While the latter was doing,
she asked if something soft could not be put round it.

Here she lingered. much longer than is usually allowed ;
and on being reminded that the time had arrived, she said,
" Dear gentlemen, the time is short—it is hard to die." In
passing along the passage from the press-room, she said,
" Remember me to my husband and friends." In ascend-
ing the steps leading to the platform, on the Governor's
endeavouring to assist her, she said she could get up her-
self, which she did.
On reaching the platform, it rained, and an umbrella
was asked for by an officer for the clergyman. This was
at the top of the stairs, and the criminal being desired by
the Governor to move on with him, she said, " No, I will
wait for the umbrella." She was again reminded to pro-
ceed, but repeated that she would wait for the umbrella•
The funeral service was here rasumed by the chaplain, and
on the criminal being led to the drop, her face was without
colour, and remarkably sallow. Her feelings were then
evidently intense. The executioner, whose face was co-
vered with crape, fastened the rope to the gallows, pulledthe
cap over her face, and put the white handkerchief into her
hand. In less than- about a minute she gave the signal, and
the fatal bolt was drawn. She appeared to die with only 3
slight convulsive movement of the hands. " Thus," as a
contemporary observes, " has this woman furnished another
memorable and striking admonitory example of the means by
which the Almighty permits the guilt of the murderer, how-
ever secretly planned and perpetrated, to be brought to
light, and eventually to meet the most appalling retribution,
even in this world."