Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-21
BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE,
BALTIMORE, April 20, 18I

BALTIMORE, April 20, 1855.
The sudden and mysterious death of Mrs..
Pendergast, wife of Capt. Pende.gast, of our
city, has caused some excitement Testimony,
to day, before the coroner's jury, wen. to
establish the fact that she died from the effects
OF intemperance When found . corpse, sew.
eral bruises appeared on her person, supposed
to have been produced by falls whilst intoxi.
cated. Prior to her deeease, she bore the
reputation amongst her neighbors of a pious,
upright lady, and was a strict member of
church. 1t appears, however, from some of
the witnesses that an inordinate use of intox-
lcatlnS liquor caused her uutimely end. DIN.
ring tho investigation to day, Chief Constable
herring presented the following singular let.
ter, which was received by Mayor Kinks this
morning;
THURSDAY EVENING. April 10, 1855.
Dear Str: One Of your officers was called
IN yesterday, and failed to do his duty. Now
investigate the matter and look into it, can
stand it no longer Three months have been
confined to my room from blows and ill.treat
ment in varieus ways, think I can prove as
good character as any citizen of Maryland.
Yours, with respect, R. PENpERGAsr.
TO Saml. Kinks, Mayor of Baltimore.
Ofhcer Tamon testified that he was called
upon on Wednesday by small negro boy and
informed that he was wanted at the house of
Capt. Pendergast; he at once went to the
spot, and on entering the huildin was met in
the passage by the Captain, who asked his
business; Informed him that he had been
sent for, and in the discharge of his duty was
compelled to come; the Captain then asked
him who sent for him, whom he replied he did
not know; but pointing to the small negro,
SAID that he was the person who called upon
MIN The boy, in reply to a question from
the Captain, said his "Missusr had ordered
him to 60 for the officer The officer was then
informed that his services were not needed.
and he Immediately bowed himself out. Mr..
ramon, OF his own knowledge, knew nothing
about the affairs Of the family.
Mrs Wilson, an old lady, the mother of the
deceased, stated that she never knew her
daughter to drink, bu. has reasons to believe
that she has been addicted to it for some time
past, she was informed so by the CAPTAIN
meyer knew her husband to treat her badly.
except when she tantalized" him, which she
mas frequently done of late. The Captain
was very forbearing, and frequently when his
Wlte was scoldiDg and abu ing him, would
put on his coat and hat and leave the house
Her daughter teld her that she once went out
In an omnibus, and got drunk, and the strap
oi inc Vehlcle catching her eye BACKED it
and, that she was compelled to como home in
g. mack. She said she saw-her daughter on
Wednesday, she believed her drunk. At the
time she saw on Wednesday her husband was
In an adjoining room sick; she abused her
husband very often.
MI jerome Pendergast, a step.son eff tho do.
ceased testified that Mrs. Pendergast had been
under the influence of liquor all day yesterday
anu On gong to her room to see her about
nali past seven o'clock last evening, he found
her lying across the the bed With her feet
resting upon the floor, and her head buried
beneath the bed-clothes-dead She had
been foaming at the mouth. He found sever.
ii bottles OF liquor, brandy, gin and whiskey,
secreted In the room this morning. Two fe.
male inmates Of the family corroborated the
testimony of Mr.. Pendergast. Dr. O'Donovan,
the family physician testified TO her habits OF
intemperance. There was much other test
mopy, all tending to her Incorporate habits,
and the kind treatment Of her husband, but
we nave no time or space to give it to day.
The jury had not formed verdict when we
were compelled to leave
Inc general impression is that when the
deceased wrote the letter to the mayor, and
sent for the officer, that she was not in her
right mind. Her maiden name was Wilson,
but when married to Capt. Pendergast was
the widow OF a gentleman named Lafferty.
She leaves two children by Capt Pendsrgast.
The jury returned verdict that her death
was caused by disease, from recent intern
perance-no violence having been committed -
The examination of Capt White, of the shin
James Cheston, and his two mates, charged
with wilfully abandoning said vessel at sea,
viii take place tomorrow in the United States
District court room. 1t will probably be pri.
vate, as it is only preliminary or somewhat
INFORMAL affair. A deep mystery still hangs
over this matter, and some very singular facts
may be ELECTED.
Breadstuds In our market have taken q
downward turn, and tho indications are that
the Rubicon of high prices has been passed
tor this season. RoDERICK