Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-06-30
The Coroner's jury.

store in Maiden Lane, N. Y. Among his
journeymen was John Pesling, who, by his
faithfulness, industry and sobriety, so ingra-
tiated himself into the favor of his employer.
that he made him his foreman. From that
time Mowit and Pesling were constant friends
and companions; they boarded in the same
house. One day they were summoned on a
coroner's jury, about to be held over the body
Of man who had been taken out of the water
at the foot of Maiden Lane. The deceased
had all the appearance of having been regu-
lar dock-loafer. The verdict, which was pres
emily given, was ''found drowned
The jury being dismissed, Mr.. Mowit turn
ed round to look for his friend and fellow ju-
ror, but he was gone, and stepping to the door,
he saw him progressing up Maiden Lane on
half run. This struck him as being curious,
and also reminded him of another curious fact,
(at least as curious as connected with his sud-
den fight,) namely, that when Mr.. Pesling
first glanced at the face of the corpse, he start
ed and turned deadly pale. Mr.. M. then pro-
ceeded to his boarding house, and thence to
his store, but P. had not been to either, nor
did he return; and nothing could be heard of
or from him. Mr.. M. gave up all further in
quiries, thinking that there must be some mis-
terious connection between Mr.. Pesling and
the man that was drowned, and that, in conse-
quence thereof, he (P y had, in all probability,
made way with himself. So matters rested,
till certain day, when lady called on Now
it at his store land asked for Mr.. Pesling She
was told the particulars of his story.
"And has he not been here sincei" she in
quired.
''Not since," was the reply.
81 know he has," returned the lady.
''He has not, assure you-at 'least not to
my knowledge" !" replied Mr.. Mowit.
, "But am positive" said the lady.
"What proofs have you Of it," inquired Mr.
M.
"The best in the world,'' returned the lady;
''for | am here, and Mr.. Pesling and | am the
same person.
And strange as it may seem, such was the
fact. The question then was, whether Mr..
Pesling was gentleman or lady, and it turned
out that she was lady, and that her name was
Charlotte Conroy. Furthermore, that Char
lotte was the widow of the man who was found
drowned. She stated that her husband was
shoemaker in Philadelphia; that she had been
two years married; that her husband, whose
name was Conroy, took to drinking, and treat
ed her badly. Having no children, she used
to spend her leisure hours stitching, and in
tending as soon as she could finish shoe, to
leave the drunken man and work her way
through the world alone. Having equipped
herself in mems clothes, she left her lord and
master, and soon arrived in New York. Her
success as journeyman and foreman, we have
seen above. As soon as the coroner's inquest
was finished, she started for Philadelphia,
where she learned that her husband, who had
become wandering loafer, had, week be-
fore set out for New York. There instead of
finding an injured wife he found watery grave
The finale of this romantic affair was, that Mr.
at the table, in the same house where he still
continued to board and finding that he loved
her even better than Mr.. Pesling, he proposed a
partnership for life, which treaty was ratified a
few days thereafter, according to the canons
Of the Presbyterian Kirk, in like case made
and provided.
That is, perhaps, the first instance on rec
ord, wherein wife performed the Office of a
coroner's juryman, on the dead body of her
own husband The lady by the way was very
good looking, and still on the safe side Of thir-
ty.
Now, Mr.. Printer, this story is not ''found-
ed on fact, J" for it is all fact. | was privy to
most of the incidents.