The Sun. — 1833-11-16 (London, England)

TRAGICAL EVENT AT BARNES.  On Thursday, at twelve o'clock, a Coroner's jury assembled before Mr. Carter, at the Old Red Lion, Barnes, to hold an intluisitio❑ on view of the body of Miss Mary Watt, aged 19. The decease,' was the daughter of Mr. Watt, the respectable proprietor of Byfield-house Academy, situate at Barnes, and who had necessarily in his establishment some persons to superintend his school ; one of the n was an usher, a Frenclan in, of the name of Dumas, and of whom it is reported that he intruded his attentions on the deceased, which were rejected on her part, hot which led to the catastrophe that caused the deceased's death. On Monday last, between 10 and 11 at night, the deceased retired to bed, having been playing at chess with her father. She wished him and her mother good ❑ight," and taking a candle went into her own room, from whence, soon after her entrance, the house was alarmed by a fearful scream. Dumas had previously hid himself behind the door of the room, upon goir.e. into which he started before her, holding nut an unsheathed razor in his hand. The deceased's screams being repeated, Mrs. Watt hastened to her daughter's assistance, whom she found almost frantic with fear, and tremulously exclaiming, " There's the wretch behind the door, with a razor in his hand to murder me." Upon saying this, she dropped in an hysterical fit into her mother's arms. By this time Mr. Watt having arrived, he seized Dumas by the collar, and taking him down stairs, asked him what be meant by such conduct ; but no explanation was given. Every means were resorted to to south the agitation of the deceased, who that night slept with her mother; previously to which, however, while the servant was undressing her, she took a draught of eau de-Cologne for the purpose of raising her spirits. The servant urged her not to do so, but the advice was unheeded, and she repeated the draught shortly after, and went to bed about 11 o'clock. In two hours after the deceased awoke and said, " Oh ! mother, I have had such a frightful dream." Mrs. Watt kissed her daughter, and said to her, " Go to sleep, my dear, and you will be better." After passing a restless night, from the appearance of the symptoms on the deceased, between seven and eight in the morning, Mr. Scott, the surgeon, of Barnes, was sent for, who immediately attended and used the stomach pump, when a portion of eau de-Cologne was ejected, but no ingredients of any poisonous nature. The deceased relapsed into a state of stupor, and shortly after died. The body was examined by Mr. Scott and Mr. Howell, of 'Wandsworth, in whose opinions the deceased died from having taken eausde.Cologne, being at the time in a state of much excitement.  The Jury shortly consulted together, by whom (as it appeared in evidence that the liquid was taken for the purpose of removing a severe depression of spirits, but which was drunk in too large a quantity) the following verdict was returned :—" That the deceased died from having taken inadvertently a considerable quantity of eaude Cologne, being under a degree of nervous excitement at the time."  The deceased, who bore a most irreproachable character, was highly esteemed. No letter his been found of any the least probable correspondence between the deceased and Dumas, who was under temporary restraint till the verdict of the jury was known.