The Sun.
London, England, 1827-10-11 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock, an inquest
was held at the Star and Garter, Sloane-square►
Chelsea, before THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., on view of
the body of Margaret Scurgoy, the vtife of a private
soldier.

The appearance of the deceased, as she lay on her
wretched bed, presented a melancholy sight; abe
was to all appearance about 40 years of ago, and
presented the remains of an uncommon fine folio
and beauty, but the traces of dissipation were evi'
dent on her face. In her early life she had a! tracted
the attentions of a wealthy Welch Baronet, who,
although the connexion was not of a lasting nature,
regularly allowed her 20s. per week, which she had
always punctually received,
Before the evidence was entered into Mr. Stirling
addressed the jury, and said that he trusted every
gentleman would dismiss from his mind any reports
which might have been circulated in the neighbour'
hood.

Martha Dyke and Jaw Glide, two lodgers in the'
same house with the deceased, deposed to her;teing
brought home at six o'clock in the morning by her
husband and two watchmen, in a state of intoxice:

tion. She was quite senseless, and remainEd m that
state until she died.
Juror.—Do you know whether the husband
caught her in bed with a Life Guardsman ? Wit'
ness.—l only heard so.
Richard Maybank, a constable of Chelsea, Id
half-past twelve on Monday morning, - saw the
husband of the deceased stanLing at the door of
private house in the New-road the persons inside
appeared to be in great confusion. The hushed
said that his wife was up stairs with a Life Guards'
man. They both went into the house, and in a woo
up stairs found the deceased and a Life Go/adorns!'
named Shepperd, who was partly undressed, and
the bed turned down, and very much tumbled. He
it last persuaded them both to go home, and on the
husband promising not to beat her, she consented;
he accompanied them part of the wt.y home, whet'
he left them ; the next morning he h7ard that the
husband had left her in the streets alt night. She
had a black eye when he first saw her.
William Allen, a Sergeant of the Watch, AO
one o'clock on Monday morning, saw the deceased
lying in the road very drunk; opposite the Cadogill
Arms ; he passed again at three o'clock, and Else
was still lying in the street.
Coroner.—Why did you not take her to the
watchhouse ? Allen.—Our orders are not to take
any person to the watch-house without they are given

in charge.
Coroner.—What ! and let a person perish in t 1
street ? Allen.—We are not warranted in lockirg
up a person without he is given in charge under Igr'
Peel's new Act; and are liable to an action f9i
damages.
Foreman.--1 never knew such inhUmanity in's

life.
Samuel Elliot, a watchman, deposed to seeing the
deceased on Sunday'night, with a Life Guardsno*
and also to Maybank going to the house with till
husband. lie saw them when they got to the door
of their own house, and the husband said, " VAI/
shan't come in here to-right," and she repliirii"
' Then I will go and sleep with Shepperd. 7
afterwards saw her lying in the streets very druo
and with the assistance of Allen he moved her to th
other side of the way, to be out of harm's WA
M'
'
He also took her shawl off, and put it under her heo4
Coroner--Did
youput your great coat I'o'
her ? Elliott—No, indeed, I did not.
Coroner—lt would have looked more like
nity if you had. If a respectable person is in esg
streets intoxicated, what do you do ?
him from one to the other. Our orders are to take'
no person to the watchhouse but those who are gi*e-
„
in charge.
Coroner—That has been contradicted ; but I oill
now tell you what my opinion is, that you guardi'
of the night, if you saw a person intoxicated, and
them exposed in the streets, in a cold frosty nigh,
might be charged with murder, and convicted
manslaughter.

After some severe remarks from the Jury Oil the
conduct of the Watchman,- the Coroner said, t!tcf,
from the evidence there was not the slightest prtf
that the husband had beat her so as to cause dzat",,'i

Verdict—" That the deceased died in a state '
apoplexy, being in a state of intoxication, and beif,
exposed to the inclemency of the weather upOr
of four hours."