The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-20 00:00:00

"7,,TERIOUS DEATH.

Yesterda r aL eleven o'clock, an inquest
wa. held befoie .1. Esq., at the Duke of
Gloucester pu:.lie IJnion-row, in the Kent-
road, to inquire into di, death of Maria Evans,
who, it was reporyd, hed through starvation, on
Sunday n;glit l-ast, of which a short account ap-
peared in our Paper. Skillmn. with whom the
deceased had been living ati his wile, had said that
the deceased was his wife; but seemed very indif-
ferent about her; and afterwards denied this state-
ment, and confessed that his real wife lived in Isa-
bella-place, near the Coburg Theatre, where she
kept a school for young children. Skillman, in for-
mer years, had been a law-stationer, carrying on an
extensive business. The deceased and his real
wife, at the time of their marriage, had been on the
warmest terms of intimacy, which was requited by
the former eloping with her husband, both of whom
afterwards were reduced to the most miserable state
of want.

Mary Ann Payne was the first witness examined.
She deposed—l am sister to the landlord, James
Payne, occupying No. 29, Union-row.. My brother
carries on the trade of a brush-maker. He is a
married man. About ten weeks ago the deceased,
and a person of the name of Skillman, came to lodge
in the house. She represented herself as his wife.
The deceased died between eight and nine on Sun-
day evening. Their family consisted of one child,
about four years old. I never was in the apartment
until Friday morning last, as the deceased kept her-
self so very distant and reserved. The room they
occupied was taken unfurnished, and always kept
locked. I have no knowledge how they procured
provisions, nor in what manner they lived. Skillman
used to go out in the morning, and it was frequently
very late before he returned. On Friday morning,
about eight o'clock, he called me up stairs from the
kitchen, and asked me to go up to look at his
" good lady," and see if I could assist her. I went
immediately, and found the deceased lying on a
mattrass on the floor, with part of her clothes on.
There was scarcely any bed-covering. It consisted
of a piece of old carpetting, a sailor's jacket, and a
tattered shirt. She had a sock on one foot. There
was no bed or bedstead. Jam not aware that they
ever had any bed furniture. None had ever been carried
out by her husband, nor had any ever been seized for
rent. The deceased was at that time speechless. I told
Skillman she must be perishisgwith coldand hunger.
He replied that he was going into the King's Bench
upon business, and desired me to make her as com-
fortable as I could with the things that were there;
and, if he succeeded in his expectations, when he
returned he would provide otherwise for her; he
then left the house. I then went down stairs and
fetched up a cup of tea and some hot roll; as well
as I was able, I raised the deceased upon the mat-
trass, and sat sideways behind her to support her;
with one hand I held up the cup to her mouth. She
attempted to swallow the contents, but she was un-
able to open her lips. I then replaced her on her
back, and put down the cup of tea close beside her.
The deceased looked wistfully at it, and stretched
out her hand towards it, but her strength was gone,
and she could not reach it. I then fetched my
mother. •We got a quilt and some blankets to put
•on the mattrass, and also lit a fire. Mr. Skillman
did not return until eleven o'clock at night. On Satur-
day morning Mr. Skillman gave 18d. to purchase
some coals, and then went away with a Mrs. Green.
and I have never seen him since; but a female,who
said that she was his real wife, came about half-
past three in the afternoon. This lady kneeled
down, and said " Evans, do you know me ?"
but no signs of recognition were made. She then
arose, and said " Poor creature, I forgive her from
my heart ; she has been my greatest enemy !" Mrs.
Skillman then departed. I did not know that the
deceased was not married to Mr. Skillman. The
real Mrs. Skillman used to call occasionally and ask
for him. If he was not at home she always went
away. 'When that lady called on the Saturday, she
stated that her husband had been to her and told
her that Maria Evans was in a dying state, which
had caused her to come and render her every assist-
ance. Mrs. Skillman returned about seven o'clock,
and remained with the deceased until the time of her
death, which was about eight o'clock on Sunday
morning.
Mr. Thomas Payne, the brother of the last wit-
ness, corroborated all that his sister had stated.
Mr. Boddy, surgeon of Newington parish, was
called upon to attend the deceased on Friday night,
about a quarter before eleven. The deceased was
insensible, and labouring under an attack of locked
jaw. Witness expected each moment to be her
last. There was some vestige of clothing on her
person, hardly worth naming. The whole frame
was in a state of paralysis, arising from cold. Wit-
ness instantly remarked " Here has been very cul•
pable and gross neglect." Skillman was standing
at the foot of the mattrass at the time, with such
careless and dogged indifference, that Mt. Copeland
asked him if he knew any thing about the poor and
friendless creature before them ? lle answered
very sullenly, " Yes, I do know something
about her. Witness's surprise was excited, and
asked if she was a relation ? Skillman replied
she was something of a relative, and afterwards,
he carelessly owned she was his wife.—The
overseer then reprimanded him in severe terms
for his want of feeling, and told him that every as-
sistance might have been obtained by a proper and
timely application, and that it would be disgraceful
to treat even a dog in such a shameful manner.—
Witness then said it was useless to attempt restora-
tion of life, as the deceased was dying lom appa-
rent want, cold, and starvation, which, in all cases,
produce a degree of stupor, called a compression of
the brain. If the deceased had been made to take
food, it would have instantly killed her, as all power
of deglutition was gone. Some warm brandy and
water was given to her, merely to alleviate pain.—
Witness was in attendance until the deceased ex-

pired. Next day witness saw Mrs. Skillman, when
the latter hoped that an inquest would not be held,
as it would ruin her husband's character. Around
the mouth of the deceased was a black secretion of
a most fetid and unpleasant nature.
By a Juror—Has her death been hastened by
poison ?—Witness—l will not undertake to answer
that question either one way or the other.
Mrs. Ann Evans, the mother of the deceased, was
next called in, who stated that; about four years
ago, her daughter was married to Skillman, at
Christchurch. Deceased had shown her the certi-
ficate, because witness desired to see it. The de-
ceased was about 33 years of age. Skillman for-
merly kept a law-stationer's shop in Copthal-huild-
ings in the city. It is only lately that they became
so very reduced ; formerly they had plenty of fur-
niture, and other requisites of life. The last time
witness saw the deceased was about a fortnight ago.
She was then in good health and spirits, and was
making some beef soup; nor did she ever hear of
her being ill. (Such was the contradictory manner
in which the last witness gave her testimony, that
some of the Jury objected to receive it.)
Benjamin Skillman was next called in. He
stated that he must recall the statement that he had
made to the overseer, when he denied the deceased
was his wife, as.he.had been actually married to her
in October, 1824, at Christchurch. The deceased
was aware that he had a former wife living at the
time, because she had visited her, arid was friendly
with her, but he had been separated from her a
month or two previously. (Hereupon, it was sug-
gested that the witness's evidence could not be re-
ceived, as he hid acknowledged himself guilty of
bigamy; but the Coroner said, that as one wife
was dead, no prosecution could be entered into, of
which circumstance the witness was doubtlessly
aware,)

Examination resumed—Witness, on Wednesday
week last, went to seek the deceased's mother, but,
as the latter had left her lodgings the Monday be-
fore, without leaving any directions, he could not
find her. Another person was called in to assist,
but the deceased refused to accept her services.
Witness then wished to have medical advice. De-

ceased said the nature of her complaint was such
that medical advice could be of no use to her, but
she hoped her mother would come. Witness used
to make her tea and gruel. The tea was made in
the morning., previou.ly to leaving home, and the
gruel when he returned at night.
Juror—Was she aide to get np to adjust herself
in the interim ?—Witness did not think she was.
Did not dine at home unless meeting accidentally
with a friend. Frequently went without dinner.
Always dined at home when he had money. Had
not dined at home during the week before the death
of the deceased. There was no one to assist the
deceased during his absence ; so that, from morn-
ing until late at night, the deceased was without
food. Witness had no means of sending for medi-
cal attendance ; he had not a shilling in his pocket.
On Thursday morning the deceased appeared to be
growing insensible. Witness was not aware that
he could have had parish assistance. Witness went
away on Saturday, and, in consequence of distress
of mind, never returned. Deceased was ill about
a week.

Juror—Are you now living with your former
wife ?—Witness, after much hesitation, acknow-
ledged he was—that he slept with her on the night
when he left his second wife in a dying state.—(A
general burst of indignation was here expressed by
the Jury.)•--Witness then contradicted himself, and
said he did not cohabit with his first wife until the
Sunday night.
Juror—Did you purchase any medicine for the
deceased ?—Witness, after great prevarication, at
first stoutly denying that he had, at last admitted
that he purchased a fever-powder on Monday week,
at the shop of a druggist near the Elephant and
Castle. Does not remember what was the mixture,
but can point out the shop where it was purchased.
The deceased took the powder herself. Does not
know whether it was white or black. Could not
afford to purchase any soup for the deceased.—
Bought some gin and porter on Friday night for
himself and Mrs. Green. Was aware that if he had
applied for parish relief it would have been granted.
Witness washed the cup in which the powder was
mixed.

At this stage of the proceedings the Juay ex•
pressed an unanimous wish that the investigation
should be adjourned, in order that the body might
be opened.
The Jury assemble again this day.