Coroner's Inquest.
The Times, 1824-06-24T00:00:00

Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the sign of the aor- cester Arms, eorge street Portman-square, beore T}THOMAS STastLa?O, Esq., on the bod~y of Eleanor Bettisworth, aged about 40, who lately resided in the house of Captain Willoughby, of the 06th regiment, No. II, Montagtte-streer, Portman-square, where the iod ber esistence, by hangiug herself. efirst witness examined was Eleanor Browr, wlho being sworn deposed, that she is cook in the service of Captain Wrillough by, and had known the deceased for the last six years, during part of which periodshie was in gooa health, but latterly she had very much altered in her mindi and became exceedingly whimsical, so inuch.so that witness felt per.ectly satisfied that her inrellects were deranged. Tuesday morning witness was in the kitchen; when she waS aranned by Captain lWillougirby, her master who callel for as. sistance, as the deceased had hanged herself, Witness proeeeded up stairs, and behehd the deceased lying on the landing-place of the second Roor; where she had fallen after baying been cut down by her master. A doctor was sent for, but the deceased was quite dead. .Vitness had no doubit but thie deceased comnmitted the act herself, in a state of temporary derangenent. Several of the Jury expressed themselves merfectly satisfied with the testimOny oft.his witneRss and ftom nsotives of delicacy towards the feelings of Captain Willoughby, who was represented to be extremely affected at the lamlsentable event, were ready to dispense with hlsl testimorv; but he being the first individual who disco- vered the deceased hanging. the m2ajority of the Jury conceived that his evidence wotfld be material to bring their minds to a satisfac- tory conclusion. - TteC-oAo-s,.uggested, thatasCaptainWlVlloughby wassomuch nfe6ted4 ihe Jury might walk to his house and hear his evidence iprior to viewing the bodyef the deceased, whiich the Jury accordingly did. On their arriVal, Captain Willoughby was swaorn. Pe deposed that the deceased had been known to him for thte last 25 years, during the latterpart of which time she was considerably changed in her mind and man- tiers, especiallv within the last twelvewonths. The last time wit- ness sF* the deceased was on Tuesdayilast, at about half-past eisht o'clock in the mornin;g, hen witness was in his room, prepaanng to leave home to br'eakfast with a friend. The deceased entered the room, and after coistersing with witness a little, she requested him to put away some p!ate, Ahich she had frequently perplexcd himn to do. Site shortlv afterwards quitted the room, and on witness being ready to go out, he proceeded to the stairs to call the deceased to inform her of his departure; and receiving no answer to his caUs, he proceeded to the drawing-room, but he found she was not there; he immediately repaired up stairs towards the at- tic, where he saw the deceased's legs, and discovered that she had suspended herself bv a cord to the bannisters. He instantly made an alarm and called last witness, and proceeded down stairs for a knife, with which he cut the dceeased down, and sent for a surgeon, butall pulsation had ceased, and she was quite dead. Believed her to be insaea. During the period of C:aptain illoughby giving his evidence, he was exceedingly afected, and shed tears, ano it was with considerable difflcuity that he conquered h grief. Several of his friends who had been coutdoliag with hlim were present. The Jury, returned a verdict_" that the deceased committed the ct hcrself, while lahouring undertemprary derangement." CORONRR'S INQUEST.