The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-21 00:00:00

ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MARIA

SKILLMAN.

Yesterday the inquiry was resumed. It appeared
in evidence that during the interval the surgeon had
opened the body of the deceased, and on examin-
ing the stomach and bowels found them in a state
of inflammation, but he could not then undertake
to state from what cause those appearances were
produced.
The CORONER having inquired if there was any
additional evidence, the beadle said there were no
persons in attendance but those who had already
given their testimony, with the exception of Mrs.
Skillman.
The Jury having expressed a wish to have the
female mentioned examined, she was accordingly
called into the room for that purpose. On being
sworn, she deposed as follows :
" I am the wife of Benjamin Skillman, and have
been married to him nearly 18 years."
CORONER—Did you separate from your husband
some time ago? Witness—l never consented to
separate from him, but about five years ago he sent
me and my children to Kensington to live. Pre-
viously to this we were living together at No. 5,
White's-place, Blackfriars. During the time I was
residing at Kensington, my husband used to come
there occasionally to see me, and as I knew his
business required his attendance in town, I did not
express say uneasiness at his remaining away so
much from me. In about nine weeks after the pe-
riod I speak of, I discovered that my husband was
living with the deceased, but had no idea that they
were married. About four years ago my husLand
introduced the deceased at our house, at which
period she was in the habit of visiting livery fre-
quently ; sometimes for a week together sh stopped
at our house. From the period I have already
stated that I went to live at Kensington, my hus-
band, I believe, has been cohabiting with the de
ceased up to the time of her death.
Juror—Were you in the habit of seeing the de-
ceased while she was living with your husband ?
Yes. When I came to town I used to call to see
my husband, as letters and messages directed for
him were often left with me, and on that account I
was obliged either to send or take them myself. I
generally adopted 'the latter alternative. My hus-
band had a child, about four years of age, by the
decease].
Juror—Has Skillman upon any occasion ever
told you that he was married to the deceased ?
Witness—Never; and I should think that he

never was.
The witness continued—On Sunday week, hay.

ing a message for my husband, I called at his lodg-
ing in Union-row. I then saw the deceased, who was
lying on a mattress in the room, and seemed to be
very ill : roy husband was there at the time, arid I
told him what I had come about.
Juror—Did you at that time address yourself to
the deceased on seeing her on the floor?—Witness
No, I did not.
CORONER—What ! not speak to her cn seeingher
in so deplorable a condition? Witness—At that
time I considered her my bitterest enemy; but, now
she is dead and gone, I trust God will forgive her.
I then went ass ay (said the witness), and on the
Friday following I went again to see my husband
at Union-row; he was not at home, but I again saw
the deceased, whom I found still lying on the mat-
trees. I poke to her and asked her if she knew me,
but she was speechless, and appeared to be dying.
Mr. Pain, the landlord of the house, told me that he
was then going for medical advice, not having been ap-
prised before that evening that the deceased was so
ill. I did not wait to see the doctor, but went
home. On the Saturday my husband came to me
about one o'clock, and said that he thought he poor
creature was dying, arid requested me to call at the
lodgings and see her, adding, that he did not know
what to do. He desired me to do what I could
for her, and also remarked that he had been looking
for her mother, but could not find her. I imme-
diately went to Union-row, as my husband desired,
and found the deceased as bad as she could be. I
eat up with her the whole of Saturday night, and
remainsd in the room along with Mary Pain until
the deceased expired on Sunday afternoon.
Juror—On those occasions that you have had in-
terviews with the deceased in her lifetime, did she
ever complain to you of ill-treatment on the part of
Skillman towards her, or say that she was in want
of victuals ? Witness—She never did.
By the CORONER—I have known that my hus-
band has been for months out of employment, and
was very much reduced in his circumstances : so
much so, that for the last eleven weeks he has only
given me 4e. 3d. " I am satisfied," added she,
" that my husband behaved with kindness to the
deceased while he had it in his power."
Juror—You have stated that on the Sunday pre-
ceding that on which the deceased expired, you saw
her in a miserable condition, lying on a straw mat-
tress, with barely any covering on her. Did you
exiress any astonishment at the sight to Skillman,
arid advise him to apply for relief, if it was not in
;ills power to assist her ? Witness—l can't say that
I (Ed. " You will, I trust, gentlemen," added the
witness, " make every allowance for nn injured
woman"; feelings. The unfortunate deceased was
the chief exise of my husband's living apart from
me; and until I saw that she was really in danger,
I could not bring myself to pity her condition."
Several of the Jury here exclaimed, " The whole
evidence tends to show that Skillman has acted
with the most gross neglect towards the unfortu-
nate deceased."
This closed the evidence, and the Jury having
ascertained from Mr. Boddy that he was of opi-
nion that the deceased died in consequence of want
and neglect, a verdict was returned to the follow-
ing effect :—" That the deceased died from cold
and want of the necessaries of life, and the Jury are
unanimously of opinion that the said Benjamin Skill-
man has been grossly negligent and inattentive
to her."
It did not appear that any inquiry had been
made by the Jury relative to the powder which
Skillman, in his statement, said that he had pur-
chased for the deceased.

It is not, we believe, generally known that the
Army half-pay amounts to more than half the charge of
our effective land forces—the latter for the present year
being 5,226,7701., the former 2,967,7331.—Morning
Paper.

RAILROADS.—Our Paper of this day con-
t tins numerous notices of the intention of parties to apply
to Parliament for Acts empowering them to construct rail-
roads. Most of these roads will communicate with the
Liverpool and Manchester Railroads, the success of which '
is now certain, inasmuch as it will be the grand centre to
which all the other railroads will tend. The Directors of
the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company have
commenced the construction of warehouses, two or three
stories high, over the road at the west end of the Tunnel,
next to Wapping ; but it is evident, that the space at pre-
sent in the possession of the Company, between Crosbie
and Sparling-streets, will be far too narrow for the ac-
commodation of the parties who will carry merchandize,
coal, &c., on the railroad. We should not be surprised,
it when the line is completed, and the business of carry-
ing is actually commenced, the offices, yards, warehouses,
coal depots, &c., should occupy all the ground, on the
no.th side of Crosbie-street, from the mouth of the Tun-
nel, to the back of the houses in Sparling-street, and so
down to Wapping. We hear that the Directors hope to
commence carrying, on part of the line, early in the
next year. Coal, from the collieries at St. Helen's, Pres-
not, &c., will he the first article that may be expected to
be brought to Liverpool on the railroad. —Liveriool Alb.
I (RAILROADS IN FRANCE.—That railroads
are far preferable to canals for communication is a truth of
which England has been only of late convinced by the
dear bought fruits of experience. Our continental neigh-
bours, profiting by our discovery, are gradually extending,
throughout the whole of their fine country, a system of
communication by railroads, which, ultimately, will be of
extreme benefit to their domestic commerce. The tram-
joad between St. Etienne and Lyons is now rapidly ad-
wancing ; and, from the tunnels, bridges, and embank-
pae.sts required for its completion, will be inferior to Lone
rfhicil Sins kin4dom oan at present boast