The Sun. — 1822-12-10 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  Last night, at seven o'clock, an Inquisition was held before THOMAS HIGGS, Esq., Deputy Coroner for the City of Westminster, at the Savoypalace Tavern, Strand, on the body of female named Wilson.  Mr. David Laing, of Clare-street, Clare-market, sworn.— Witness had known the deceased about five years; she was a single woman. On Friday last, about five or six o'clock in the evening, she called upon witness ; witness asked her to take some tea, but she declined it ; she appeared to be much agitated, said she was driven to great distress, in proof of which she produced a great quantity of duplicates. She had made no application to witness for assistance. Witness pressed her to take some refreshment, and at length prevailed on her to take a crust .of bread and some gin and water : she said she had had nothing all day. She cried very much. Witness was called down into the shop, and left the deceased up stairs ; she shortly. after came down, and advancing to him shook his hand, and said " God bless you—good bye." She was at times very flighty, and this action did not particularly strike him. About half an hour after, a customer told him that a person, very elegantly attired, had drowned herself near Waterloo-bridge, and that her bonnet and muff had been found, which answered the description of those which witness had seen her wear. Witness sent his boy down to the hridge, and found it was true. When the body was found, witness caused it to be searched, and 64 duplicates were found on her. Witness did not know her Christian name.— She told him she lived in Union-street, Hoxton New Town, but had been there only from Wednesday. Witness had not seen her for near six months until that night. She was a woman of very high spirits and occasionally flighty ; she told witness she was not 28 years of age. She said she had pledged all the clothes but what she stood upright in ; also she had pledged her nephew's clothes. _  Janies Tilt, the toll-keeper of Waterloo-bridge, the Strand side, sworn. About 8 o'clock on Friday evening, the deceased went up to the gate with a Gentleman ; the latter tendered a shilling to pay the toll ; she said " take for two," he said " only one ;" he passed over the bridge, and she walked towards the Strand : she asked witness if any watermen were plying, as she wanted to go to London bridge ; he said not at that late hour ; witness being called to the gate to let some passengers pass, the deceased took the opportunity of running down the steps ; witness suspected something amiss, and ran down the steps: near Somerset-house he heard two distinct screams and then a splash in the water ; it was nearly high water. Witness found a bonnet, muff, silk handkerchief, a gold pin, and a laced frill. Witness got the drags, and with assistance dragged for three quarters of an hour, but she was not found until next morning. William Storey, waterman, sworn.-11ritness found the deceased near Mr. Dupree's wharf, on Saturday morning, about eleven o'clock; about two hours after high water, in about four feet water. Witness and his partner laid her on the cabin of the barge and washed her. There were no marks of violence on the body. The Jury were here informed that a sister of the deceased was in the house, and by their request the Coroner desired her attendance, when a Gentleman stepped forward, and addressing the Jury, begged as a particular favour that they would not call upon her—it would lead to a very distressing disclosure, unpleasant to their feelings and to hers. He declined answering any questions.  Juror said it was singular that Mr. Laing knew her, and did not give a clearer statement. Mr. Laing, in reply, said the unfortunate woman was kept by a Gentleman, who, in consequence of getting married, had given him 50/. for her, as he then left her. This money was paid her by him, as was also 25/. at a subsequent period : the money was given for her in consequence of an application of his. The gentleman who had before spoken then observed, she had lived with a gentleman, and moved in the first circles as his wife, and was always considered as his wife by every person. The CORONER then called the sister of deceased, who said she was with her lately, and was in extremely low spirits, and from her dejected state and wayward manners, the witness was of opinion she was deranged. Her name was Louisa Moss. After some discussion, the Jury returned the following verdict—" The deceased was insane when she committed the act of suicide."