The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-02 00:00:00

CORONER'S .NQ VEST.

Two DEATHS FROM SUFFOCATION.—Late on Satur-
day night a long investigation was gone into before Mr.
C. C. Lewis, Coroner for the Southern Division of the
county of Essex, at the Horse and Wells Inn, Woodford,
on the bodies of Elizabeth Ann Friday, a maiden lady,
aged 60, and Sarah Ashauld, her neice, aged 11.
The circumstance excited a most painful interest in
the village, in consequence of the landlady of the house
(Mrs. Gershon) where the parties lived having also died
on the same night through fright ; but she having been
some time in an ill-state of health, the Coroner thought
there was no occasion for an inquest to be held upon
her. The first witness called was
John Bird, a carpenter in the employ of Mr. Gershon,
builder, of Inman's-row, near Woodfood, who said that the
deceased persons were tenants of his master, and lived in
the adjoining house. On Wednesday morning last the
baker called with the bread, and, not being able to make
any one hear, went away. The deceased child
was in the habit of coming into his master's house ;
not doing so as usual his master became alarmed, and
by his direction, between three and four o'cock, he placed
a ladder against their window, and looked through it.
The two deceased persons were lying on the bed in a life-
less state. Having informed his master, he, by his order, and
with the assistance of a fellow-workman, named Brooks,
broke open the door. On opening the deceased's bed-room
door, they were nearly suffocated from some noxious
vapour which escaped. The air becoming more pure
they entered, and found the eldest deceased quite dead,
and from the distorted state of the features she must
have died in great agony. The child was lying by her
side, also dead, her cap was torn to pieces, and .a portion
of it stuffed into her mouth. Her face was covered with
scratches. When he recovered himself a little he went
for Mr. Bunce, a surgeon, who, promptly attended, and

•-• •
tried to restore animations but without success. On
searching the room he discovered a brasier, which had
contained a charcoal fire, about four feet from the bedstead.

By the Jury—l think the poor child, who was the pet
of the village, must have suffered more than her aunt,
and was longer dying. The scratches on her face were
done by herself whilst suffering ; and I think she put the
remnants of her nightcap into her mouth to prevent the
effluvium of the charcoal going down her throat. There
was no fire place in the room. Mr. Bunce gave his opinion,
that the deceased persons had been dead 12 or 14 hours.
Sergeant White, of the K division, the summoning
officer, in answer to questions from the Coroner, said,
that from inquiries he had instituted, he had ascertained
that the youngest deceased had purchased three penny-
worth of charcoal on the afternoon of Tuesday, saying,
that in consequence of the room being cold and damp,
they were going to light it (the charcoal) in a brasier.
He had not been able to ascertain when they retired to
bed. The last time the deceased child was seen alive
was about eight o'clock on Tuesday night, when she came
to the Horse and Wells for half a pint of port wine for
her aunt, who had been some time unwell.
William Brooks corroborated the testimony of Bird,
and said, in addition, that on telling his mistress of the
afflicting circumstance it had such an effect upon her
that she died in a few hours after.
After some remarks from the Coroner on the melan-
choly character of the case, the Jury returned a verdict,
" That the deceased persons were accidentally Sul-fixated:

THE MARKETS.—(YESTERDAY.)
COLONIAL MARKET.
The public '•sales of Colonial produce were large; they
went off quietly, and at rather lower rates for Sugar, but
full prices for Coffee.
E The
MARKET were light.
TA.
There was little activity at the public sales, the trade
operating with much caution, but holders were firm,
and bought in large parcels at full rates. Low Congou,
is. foid. cash, and Twankey ls. 10d.'
TALLOW MARKET.
The market was firm, but the demand was limited.
P. Y. Candle on the spot at 48s. 3d. and 48s. 9d. for de-
livery in the next Iwo months. The stock is heavy.
WOOL MARKET.
The Wool sales went off with briskness, at fullyformer
rates, and nearly all offered has been sold.
WHITECHAPEL lIAY-MARKET.
The Market was well supplied with Hay and Clover ;
the demand for fine qualities was good, but middling and
inferior sorts were heavy of sale. The supply of Straw
was middling, and the trade good; at ibrmer prices.