Star.
London, England, 1817-08-23 00:00:00

REMARKABLE Ih(2L'EST.

An Inquisition was taken yesterday, at the Slnice.'
House, llotosey. and at the Red Lion, Stoke New.
ingo:n. fiavioo h-est adjourned from the Sluice.
porta ,e of invest i;.;.t.
on the 'Cat Loon. for the
tine the caw.? at the deaths of Sarah Eliza Crofts.
rizei 21. (*hos= Ito IT lay at the Sluice House). and
Maria Ayiing, aged 20. and an illegitimate the
son of Crofts, (whose bodies lay at the Red Li at),
who acre found drowned in the New River, under
She forlottiog extraordinary circumstances :
William Horiisby sworn—" I MO wancsman of .I:4e
New Itivi r Crourny ; on Wednesday, about :levee
o'clock in the morning. I f und some:1,1:1g against
my scythe, .is I was dragging the River near 14.1-
Lion-lane ; I drew up the body Of Maria
silk handkerchief was tied over her eyes ; her clothes
were not diseompobed. I carried" the body to the
Red Lion. The child, I and hiy partner fouled about
forty rids from Maria Ayling t there were no marks
of violence upon it. I took it to the Red Lion."
Robert Flight Sworn—s, I am a aikarnan of the
New Weer at Horiasey Sluice. On Saturday last I
found a b aloe near the weed•grate. Oa l'hursday
last, about tat lee o'ch.ck, I bilW the body part nut of
the water. close to the grate. I got assistance, and
took her out ; she proved to be named Sarah Eliza-
beth Colts ; she had a handkerchief, or piece of
silk, tied over her mouth in one knot ; lte carried the
body to rie Sluice House. This body was more than
half a mile from where Maria Ayling and the child
were found by the above witness."
ItMrs Srredipy sworn-6. I am a painter and
glazier ; I reside at No. 14, Ironmonger-row, Old.
strvet, St. Luke's. I have known the deceased about
a fortnio ; my acquarotaace commenced with
them by, being at work nest door to where they
livtd. They were servants to a Gentleman named
Guise, woose house was No. 13, Palmer's-terrace,
Holloway, in the parish of Islington. They had
cooked some' meat for me and my know-imam,
Morris, al.d then asked Ars into the house,. and seemed
to conic our company. I. breakfasted with them at
Mr. Gai-e's on Saturday morning, and had slept with
both or !..ern the precedingnight."
Jury of them Witness laughed.
Mr. STIRLING, Coroner—Don't laugh hem, Sir ;
you migist to be flogged for your profiwacy ;
consider your conduct, and you will find you have
fo) CAUSt. to laugh.
Smedley continued—After they had breakfasted
together on Saturday morning I went to work at
Mr. Harding's, No. 6, in the Terrace. and :Milled
in about half an hour, it was then nearly halt toot
tone o'clock I I was talking to Crofts at het master's
daor, she told me that Maria was gone to Mr Jen-
kins, the carpenter ; while they were speaking thirta
came runiong in like a mad woman, and said...." Oh
Gun! we are unoone, we shill be in prison before
night ; Jenkins threatens to writ; to our master and'
expose us e. she would not hear me speak, and
pus:n of me out of doors. I went to work again at
the windows of No. 8, and a little before ten o'cl,ek
I saw Criblii walk by with lier child in hefarms, and
look up .5 if she smelled to &pub to tame; I preten-
ded 110. to bet ber. znd she passed on too ards the
New River. I went in half an hour afterwards to'
give some money tit Maria Ayling, and knocked at
the door, bu: after knockhg repeatedly I came away,
and c tod not get admission. I have never seen or
heard of miler of thew until I WAS informed they
ware t .111,d drowned.. •
samiced by Mr. STIRLINO—I went to the
house of Mr. Guts several times on Saturday, but
could not get in I looked through the whitlow and
33W the tea thsPgS And clnths as T saw them at break-
fast !snit. I want again on .iunday, Monday,Tues
day. and Vs'ednesday, and found things in the same
situation. I was afraid to make known the cirCuM•
stance ; in fact, I did not know who to inform of it.
I knew tae house was in danger of being robbed, but
did *lot know what to do. I believe the &ceased
drowned themselves in consequence of what Mr.
Jenkins said to them, being afraid of the disclosure of,
their conduct.

-William Morris swora—l am a painter and glazier,
and have coliAited with the deceased for about a
!mini& ; I have not seen either of them Mince Fri-
day night, the Isth inst. I supped with them and last
winless, and lett him when I went to town. (This
witness corroborated the evidence of last witness ; he
has a wife and family !)
Mr. J:nkins sworn.-1 am a carpenter, and liveat
Painter's Terrace. About a fortnip,ht ago I saw the
two last viitneses and the deceased females talking
together, and frequenting blr. Guise's house; I
found they cohabited ti gether, and remonstrated
with the girls co Saturday last on the impropriety of
their conduct. I told Maria I should write to tier
master,_whomas at a watering-place with his lentil).
Mr. Thomas Piscaris, surgeon, Stoke Newington.
On Wednesday last, about three o'clock in the at-
ternoon, I was called to see blit:ia Ayling. who was'
found drowned, and taken to the Red Lion ; I found
her in such a state that it was useless to open the
body. I ordered the body to be cleansed, and went
to see it again. on the following morning ; I found
no fractures on the head, but on the left side of the
breast and neck I observed a more than ordinary de-
glee of decomposition, which might be the effect of
'blows or violent treatment. I cannot give any posi-
tive evidence on that point; and whether sl.e was
drowned or whether she died from the violence of
any person or persons, he could not say.
This witness wait to view the other bodies.
Re-ezamined.-1 have viewed the boat of Sarah
Croft and of her Child; I car. give. other opinion
with regard to them than what I ltive with regard
to Ayling. The appearances of all of them do not
negative the ptobabdity that their deaths were caused
by drowning. CTOig Los had two illegitimate chil-
dren I was delivered of tlwm in Newington Work.
house ; one died won after its birth.
Mrs. Herne sworu.--1 kneis all the deceased per-
gonS• 1 nursed the Add till laic Tuesday week,
when the mother took it home, having the leave of
her mistress, as she said; to nurse it during her ab..l
sence. She (Croft) was a tender mother, and very
affectionate to her child. On Saturday last Croft
and Ayling were sees walking near the New Leer,
with the child, about noon.
-The Jury viewed the bodies; there appeared
!narks of violence about the head of Ailing ; there
was no appearance of violence on the child ; bat oil

ttr 104 Croft there were the appearanee of rTo-
:leot bruises.
Toe Coroner (Mr. STIRI Dm) adJressed tfie Jury.
Hr said that the witnesses Morris and Sme,ley had
giv(u the plainest evi.lence, and there was no ground
for suppos ng that they drowned the deceased. It
appeared to be their own deliberate and horrible act.
They not ~nly murdered the bet them,etves.
, The evidence pr., wed them most abandoned crea.
toes ; and it being roved Irons circumstances that
thcy bad committed murder, he conceived such
characters were fit obk:cts to suff.r the extent of the
Low, ti) deter others from the comtaistion of the act
of suicide.

These were two sseparate Juries, though they re-
ceeved the evidence conjointly. They severally rc.
turned the fol;own;g verdict.—Wilful Murder alotinst
some person IVI p..rsons unknown with regard a. the
child. supposed Crofts And Ayling--and F:io de le
.inbt Crnit and Aylirg.
Tht Car 'nets issued their warrants to bury them
in the cross roads. Ayling at Stoke Newingtnt., anti
Cron st Homey. The child was ordered to be bu-
ried iu Newington Church yard.