The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-12 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Saturday Mr. G. J. Mills, lieputy-Coroner for
West Middlesex, held an inquest at the Duke of
York, Queen-street, Edgeware-road, on the body of
Harriett Jones, aged 44, a widow, late resident at
the above street.

James Jones, aged 13, a lad of rare intelligence
and command of language, said deceased was his step-
mother, having married his father three years ago,
and he, after two years of constant illness, during
which deceased parted with nearly all her effects to
support him, died six months since. Deceased had
been 19 years in service, chiefly as laundress to the
Earl of Shaftesbury and the Duke of Montrose, and
when she married witness's father he was coach-
man to Miss 13eaument, of Alontague-square, in
whose service, a year afterwards, he burst a blood-
vessel, which rendered him an invalid until
he died. Until within six weeks deceased managed
to procure sufficient food for witness and three other
brothers and sisters, all children of his father by a
first wife. At the epoch last mentioned she lost the
custom of the Earl and Countess of Cardigan and
Mr. Hussey, for whom she used to wash, and ever
since she appeared very low and desponding. To pay
ker rent (4s. 6d. a week), and to get bread for her
four step-children, she was obliged to pawn all that
remained of her furniture, and he believed she nearly
starved herself. Since she had lost all employment
she was in the habit of lying in bed until late in the
afternoon, when she would jump up as if she were
mad, dress herself hurriedly, go out, siying that she
was going to visit some friends, and not return until
very late at night. In truth, she did not, on these
occasions go to see any friends, but wandered
about the streets. Latterly, of nights, before
she went to bed, she prayed that the
might fall asleep and awake no more. Between six
and seven o'clock on Friday morning witness found
her dead, hanging by the neck from her bed-post in
the front kitchen, by means of a clothes-line. The
previous afternoon a younger brother of his saw her.
with the line, and witness believed she then hanged.
herself; and that, having locked herself in, they
thought her from home, until he discovered her. She
had not paid all the expenses of his father's funeral,
and she had received two lawyer's letters, which an-
noyed her very much.
George Jones, aged seven, another step-son, said
that seeing his mother with the clothes-line in the
kitchen on Thursday, he asked her if she was going
to hang herself? She said, "No," and told him to
go and play. He asked her the question because he
had heard her say she would do so. They all lived
on bread and dripping, but did not get enough. Ver-
dict, That Aeceased hanged herself from extreme
poverty.

RECRBATION OF THE WORKING CLASSES.—MAN-
CHESTER, FRIDAY MORNING.--YeitCid
and respectable meeting of the merchants, a ery numerous
ts,manufacturers,
v
and tradesmen of this town, was held in the large room of
propriety
the Town-hall, for the purpose of considering
of taking some steps to promote the formationtiie of public
walks, parks, and play-grounds, for the working classes.
Alexander Kay,. Esq., Mayor, presided. On thepla
platform
were Lord Francis Egerton, M.P., Mr. M. Philips, 3r.p. Sir
Thomas Potter, Knight, Mr. Thomas Townend, Mr. John
Woollam, Mr. R. Gardner, Mr. Alderman Burd, Mr. Alder-
man Neild, &c. The first resolution was moved by Lord F.
Egerton, who was received with loud cheers from all parts of
the meeting. In the Course of his Lordship's address, he said
that he did not consider that in promoting the object of the
meeting he was conferring a gift upon the humbler classes
of Manchester; on the contrary, he was their debtor, and he
was glad of that opportunity of paying off a portion of the
account. The meeting was subsequently addressed by the
Rev. Canon Clifton, Mr. M. Philips, M.P., Messrs. J. C.
Harter, James Heywood, James Kershaw, Robert Gardner,
John Woollam, Alderman Neild, &c. During the proceed-
ings a subscription was entered into, and amongst the con-
tributors were, Lord Francis Egerton, 1,000/. ; 'Mark Philips,
• 1,000/. ; Sir 8.43c:d, Bart., 1,000/. ; J. C. Harter, 500/. ;
, . , Mr.
; 4.-44: Thomas Votter, 500/ • Alder-
elldt"500 as Townend, 5001. ; J. and N. Philip
.00 ; Lvelollershaw and. Co., 500/. ; James Heywood, 'OOl
icalayor,.2ool. There ere several other I
5° subscriptions
Wad, making a total of, arly 10,000/. ; and it is believe-J.
that ,0109147ta boratethis urpose: