The Daily Times. — 1860-04-24 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

AELANCHOLY CASE OF SELF-DESTRUCTION.  On Saturday an inquest was held by James Lewis, Esq., coroner, at the King's Head Inn, Rochester, touching the death of Louisa Jones, housekeeper to R. Clements, Esq.,- who destroyed herielf on Saturday morning by taking a quantity of oxalic acid.  The first witness tilled eras Frances Tont!sins, who said that the deceased was her fellow-servant at Mr. Clements'. She was the housekeeper. Witness had lived with her in Mr. Clement's service two years. She appeared all right at breakfast time in the morning. They slept together, and the last time she ssw her was about half-past ten, and in half an hour afterwards she rang her bell, when she went up stairs and found deceased outside the bed in her clothes.' She said she was dying. She called out for her roaster, who went in' with witness. She repeated that she was dying, and said " that fellow," the only words she had power to utter. Her master sent witßess for Mr. Bell, surgeon, who came very shortly after. She then said she had taken something, and that the shop-boy had fetched it ;it was in two packets. She died a few minutes after Mr. Bell came. She was not a cheerful person, and had spoken of "that fellow," meaning a young man with whom she had kept company, who she said had not used her well, although he had kept company with her thirteen years, but he now slighted her. Witness believed he had never promised her marriage. She last spoke of it the day before the fatal act, and appeared deeply grieved at his neglect. She was in her' 30th year. . .• • _  Thomas. George, aged 15, said he was shophoy to Mr. Clements. On that morning deceased sent him. for a pennyworth of essence of almonds, and twopcnnyworth of oxalic acid from Mr. Hewitt, the chemist. The one he got in two packets, and the other in a bottle. The former was purchased for pastry, the latter she said she wanted for cleaning copper. He had often got it for her. They were each labelled " poison." Witness usually got only half the quantity of oxalic acid, bat deceased said she perhaps should not have halfpence next time.  The COroner•then read a letter which had been found on the person of the deceased, referring to the circumstances which had led to her untimely end, and saying that James Dunstall was the cause of it, and if she had been like some other females there might have been some grounds for his conduct towards her. Mr. William Pell, surgeon, said that in consequence of an urgent message from Mr. Clements, he went to that gentleman's house with the messenger. IR found the deceased lying on the bed, and pulseless. She had been violently sick and purged. He suspected she had taken poisons and asked her what she had taken. She seemed at first unable to reply, and at length she said " the boy." He left her on the floor while he went to procure restoratives, and where ho found her dead on his return. Mr. Bell said it was a very acrid poison, and that half .an ounce was more than sufficimt to cause death.  Frances Tomkins was recalled. She was shown the letter found on deceased, which she identified as being the writing of her fellow servant. The Jury returned a verdict, "That deceased destroyed herself while labouring under a fit of temporary insanity." The inquiry caused a very painful sensation in the city.  CaPtain John Vine Hall was on Saturday appointed commander of the Great Eastern. Captain Hall was fornierly in the service of the General Screw Steam Shipping Company, and in command of their steamers the Crcfttis and Golden Fleece.  ‘ What are you doing, my son ?" asked a father of his boy Billy. " Smoking sweet fern cigar, father—l made it." " Throw it away this minute ; don't you know that a boy that-smokes sweet fern will smoke tobacco, and if he smokes tobacco he will drink rum, and if drinks rum he will lie, and if he lies he will steal, and if he steals he will commit murder, and if he murders he Will be hun,o. " • Tat