The Sun. — 1827-10-11 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  On Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock, an inquest was held at the Star and Garter, Sloane-square► Chelsea, before THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., on view of the body of Margaret Scurgoy, the vtife of a private soldier.  The appearance of the deceased, as she lay on her wretched bed, presented a melancholy sight; abe was to all appearance about 40 years of ago, and presented the remains of an uncommon fine folio and beauty, but the traces of dissipation were evi' dent on her face. In her early life she had a! tracted the attentions of a wealthy Welch Baronet, who, although the connexion was not of a lasting nature, regularly allowed her 20s. per week, which she had always punctually received, Before the evidence was entered into Mr. Stirling addressed the jury, and said that he trusted every gentleman would dismiss from his mind any reports which might have been circulated in the neighbour' hood.  Martha Dyke and Jaw Glide, two lodgers in the' same house with the deceased, deposed to her;teing brought home at six o'clock in the morning by her husband and two watchmen, in a state of intoxice:  tion. She was quite senseless, and remainEd m that state until she died. Juror.—Do you know whether the husband caught her in bed with a Life Guardsman ? Wit' ness.—l only heard so. Richard Maybank, a constable of Chelsea, Id half-past twelve on Monday morning, - saw the husband of the deceased stanLing at the door of private house in the New-road the persons inside appeared to be in great confusion. The hushed said that his wife was up stairs with a Life Guards' man. They both went into the house, and in a woo up stairs found the deceased and a Life Go/adorns!' named Shepperd, who was partly undressed, and the bed turned down, and very much tumbled. He it last persuaded them both to go home, and on the husband promising not to beat her, she consented; he accompanied them part of the wt.y home, whet' he left them ; the next morning he h7ard that the husband had left her in the streets alt night. She had a black eye when he first saw her. William Allen, a Sergeant of the Watch, AO one o'clock on Monday morning, saw the deceased lying in the road very drunk; opposite the Cadogill Arms ; he passed again at three o'clock, and Else was still lying in the street. Coroner.—Why did you not take her to the watchhouse ? Allen.—Our orders are not to take any person to the watch-house without they are given  in charge. Coroner.—What ! and let a person perish in t 1 street ? Allen.—We are not warranted in lockirg up a person without he is given in charge under Igr' Peel's new Act; and are liable to an action f9i damages. Foreman.--1 never knew such inhUmanity in's  life. Samuel Elliot, a watchman, deposed to seeing the deceased on Sunday'night, with a Life Guardsno* and also to Maybank going to the house with till husband. lie saw them when they got to the door of their own house, and the husband said, " VAI/ shan't come in here to-right," and she repliirii" ' Then I will go and sleep with Shepperd. 7 afterwards saw her lying in the streets very druo and with the assistance of Allen he moved her to th other side of the way, to be out of harm's WA M' ' He also took her shawl off, and put it under her heo4 Coroner--Did youput your great coat I'o' her ? Elliott—No, indeed, I did not. Coroner—lt would have looked more like nity if you had. If a respectable person is in esg streets intoxicated, what do you do ? him from one to the other. Our orders are to take' no person to the watchhouse but those who are gi*e„ in charge. Coroner—That has been contradicted ; but I oill now tell you what my opinion is, that you guardi' of the night, if you saw a person intoxicated, and them exposed in the streets, in a cold frosty nigh, might be charged with murder, and convicted manslaughter.  After some severe remarks from the Jury Oil the conduct of the Watchman,- the Coroner said, t!tcf, from the evidence there was not the slightest prtf that the husband had beat her so as to cause dzat",,'i  Verdict—" That the deceased died in a state ' apoplexy, being in a state of intoxication, and beif, exposed to the inclemency of the weather upOr of four hours."