The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-22 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

MORE SHIRT-MAKING MISERY.--Mr. Baker, the
coroner, held an inquiry at the Five Bells Tavern,
Three Colt-street, Limehouse, respecting the death of
Sophia Anderson, aged 30, who destroyed herself
through the extreme effects of destitution and want.
Ann Monk, a most distressed-looking object, stated
that she was a widow and resided in the back room
of a house, No. 2, Vincent-street, Commercial-road,
for which she paid ls.6d. a week rent. The deceased
came to lodge with her about a month since, being
destitute, and was to pay one shilling a week for
lodging. She generally supported herself by selling
of portions of her wearing apparel for pennies or two-
pences at a time. For the last fortnight, however,
she wandered about the streets almost starving, and on
Thursday evening went out, saying that she would
see and borrow ls., so as to pay the rent which was
due on the following day, Friday, as. she was afraid
that the landlord would turn them out of doors. She
said she would get it from her husband, and at dusk
left, as if for that purpose, but did not return during
the whole night, and witness heard nothing of her
till eleven o'clock on Friday morning, when she wus
informed that the deceased had been found drowned.
CORONER—Pray, my good Woman, how do you
obtain your livelihood ? Do you live with any of
your friends ? Witness (with tears in her eyes)—
I have no family, sir; I live by myself and make
shirts, and am fast sinking.
The Foreman (Mr. Tuson)—What do you get
generally for making these shirts—what are you al-
lowed ? Witness—l make themtsir, for five farthings
a piece; but when I have to make them up for the
first-rate show shops in the streets, I am allowed from
twopence to threepence each.

The Foreman--:And pray what eau you make a
week at this work ? "Witness—Why, sir, I can,
with the cheap ones, obtain about two shillings and
sixpence ; but with the best work I can make three
shillings and sixpence.—(Sensation.)
Juror—Yes, my good woman; but for the latter
sum you must work very hard, must you not ? Wit-
ness—l must indeed, sir, because that is what they
call their best work. Perhaps I get up between four
and five o'clock in the morning, and continue to
work till between eleven and twelve o'clock at night,
and sometimes one.
The CORONER. observed that he knew well the ex-
tram° m;-e,.1,..3--whiuti ale- poor shirt-makers in that
part of the metropolis had undergone, and he was in
hopes that by the late exposures of the cruel system
their condition would have been somewhat bettered.
It was a subject that had occupied much of the public
mind, and he still did trust that something would be
done to relieve their heart-rending distresses.
'Thu CORONER (to the witness)—How did the de-
ceased get her food—could you give her any ? Wit-
ness—What I could spare I used to give her, and
would have done so to the last morsel sooner than she
should have committed such an act, but she so often
said she would destroy herself, I thought she really
would not.

Juror—Did she make any of the shirts ? Witness
—No, sir ; she did not nor would not. She used to
say that she was brought up in respectability, and the
idea of earning a livelihood at such cheap work almost
drove her mad;
and, although she was so much re-
duced she vowed she would not work at the shirts, and
further said she would not live as I did.
The CORONER here inquired if her husband, or
.any
of her relatives, were in attendance ? Mr. Cottmg-
ham,the beadle, replied that the deceased was not
married, and none of her relatives were present. He
had made inquiries about them, and something of a
very mysterious nature was connected with deceased.
He had been informed that she was the illegitimate
child of some persons of distinction, and at an early
age was sent to a Miss Edey's school at Edmonton,
and mixed in the first families residing in that vil-
lage. She never knew who her father or mother
were, but after she had been at the school some
time she was told that her mother had died almost
heartbroken for the sight of her offspring. When at
the age of fifteen she was seduced by a squire living
in the vicinity of Enfield, who kept her for some time
as his mistress, and ultimately forsook her. She be-
came gradually reduced, and cohabited with several
persons, until, at last, she was rendered so destitute as
to seek the scanty assistance of the first witness.
The CORONER, who appeared rather amazed at the
singularity of the tale just told him, asked if there
were any witnesses who could speak to her more early
mode of life ?

Mrs. E. Brookman, of Somerset-street, Shadwell,
stated that about six years ago the deceased and a
gentleman, whom she took to be her husband, took
lodgings at her house, and appeared to live very com-
fortably. The rent was regularly paid, and nothing
was due when she left.
CORONER—What sort of man was he ? Witness—
An elderly man, sir.
CORONER—How do you know that she was not a
married woman ? The witness here handed in a
letter from a Mr. R. Wears, of Chase-green, Enfield,
which tended to show she was not. _ _

CORONER—Do you know whether this elderly
gentleman filled any situation to support himself and
the deceased ? Witness—ln the London Docks ; a
sW
very important situation she told me.
Juror—Now, did you ever hear her say anything
remark about her parents?that
she
would
Witness—Yes, i t n
givee s—thYeesorlsird she used to
if she could
but find her father and mother.
Henry Blythe, police-constable 302 K, deposed to
the finding of the body. in the middle of the new-cut
of the river Lea, -at Limehouse, on Friday morning,
about five o'clock. She had a bonnet on, and had
been turned up by a barge passing over her.
The CORONER observed that it not only was a dis-
tressing case, but one of very singular character.
Respecting the early life of the deceased they had
nothing to do; the cause of death being the .part of
their inquiry. It appeared almost evident that the
deceased had destroyed herself, but still there was no
evidence to that fact, and they had better record an
open verdict.
The jury expressed themselves fully satisfied that
she had committed suicide, but the Coroner pointing
out the safe plan of returning a verdict of " Found
Dead," in a case like the present one, they conceded
and recorded one in accordance with the Coroner's

recommendation.
Mr. Higgs held an inquest at the Carlisle Arms,
Queen-street, Soho, on the body of Mr. Boudry, aged
47, a master watchmaker, of No. 4, Frith street, Soho,
who committed suicide under the following circum

stances :
Catherine Mills deposed that on Friday morning
her master did not get up at his usual hour, but took,
his breakfast in bed. Between I 0 and 11 the same morn-
ing a gentleman called, and said he wanted to see the
deceased. Witness communicated 'that fact to her
mistress, who immediately repaired up stairs to
inform her husband, but she found the door
fastened. She knocked, but receiving no an-
swer, she procured assistance, and had the door
broken open, when deceased was found lying on the
top of the bed, with a cord tied round his throat,
which was fastened to a nail in the wall. There being
a surgeon in the house at the time, who had called to
see his brother, he ran up stairs, and endeavoured to