The Sun. — 1849-10-20 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS. AFFLICTING SUICIDE BY A LADY.—Yesterday forenoon, Mr. T. liTakley, M.P. for Finsbury, and Coroner for the western division of Middlesex, resumed his duties for the first time since his alarming illness, about eight months ago. The first inque.t held by Mr. Wakley was at the Guilford Arms Guilford street, Russell-square, on view of the body of Miss Sarah Whittaker, aged 53 years, who destroyed herself by swallowing a large quantity of laudanum, under the following very afflicting circumstances. It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses, that the deceased's brother was a solicitor, and was formerly in a very extensive practice, and possessed of considerable property. Some years since he became unable to attend to his professional duties, through an aberration of intellect. His property and his sister's were soon expended, and the de-ceased was compelled to seek her livelihood by becoming a daily teacher in a gentleman's family. Her brother gradually became worse, and he was eventually confined in a lunatic asylum. He remained there but a short time, and was liberated through the intercession of the deceased, who displayed such strong devotion to her brother as to cause considerable sympathy and respect in her behalf by a number of respectable individuals, who took a deep interest in her welfare. The deceased tock her brother home and entirely provided for him, and attended upon him as a mother would to her infant. Her brother was considered a confirmed lunatic, and was constantly inflicting some violence upon her, but she would never allow any interference, and always kept him from the sight of any person. About five weeks since she hired some furnished apartments for herself and brother, at No. 23, Bernard-street, Russell-square. She was in the habit of leaving home in the morning, and attending to her duties as a teacher, and returning in the afternoon. Directly afterwards a loud uproar was heard in her apartments, as if her brother was ill-using her. On one occasion the landlord opened the room- door, and found the deceased struggling with her brother, who had the tongs in his hand, and was flourishing them over her head. The deceased never complained of her sufferings, nor did she ever appear reluctant to attend upon her brother, although, at times, it was quite evident that she was suffering from great mental anxiety and bodily fatigue. During the last few days her brother had become very outrageous, and would have, no doubt, killed her, if prompt assistance had not been rendered. On Tuesday night last, Sergeant Boidmsn, 13 E division, was called in by the landlord, for the purpose of preventing the deceased's brother from committing any further injury to her or to himself. The sergeant obtained the assistance of a police-constable, and he was strictly watched during the night. In consequence of his violent behaviour, a certificate was procured for his admission into the infirmary, at St. Pancras workhouse. He was removed on the following morning, and shortly afterwards the deceased was found lying upon the sofa in a state of stupor. The landlord acquainted Sergeant Boidman, who instantly sent ter Mr. T. Wakley (the son (,f the worthy coroner), surgeon, who quickly attended, but the deceased died in about an hour and a half afterwards. A search was made in the room, and four bottles which had contained laudanum were discovered in some drawers. Mr. T. IVakley said, when he was first called to the deceased ,the room smelt strongly of laudanum, and from the appearance of the deceased he considered she was suffering from the effects of that poison. He applied the stomach-pump, but finding it unavailing he had recourse to the galvanic battery, which materially increased the respiration. It afterwards became gradually weaker, and she died in about an hour afterwards from the effects of the poison. The Coroner said unfortunately poisons were sold too freely in this country, and he was of opinion that none ought to be sold unless in the presence of a witness. This case was a most afflicting one, and he had never. heard of such devotion as that exhibited by the deceased towards her insane brother. Mr. Wakley said on examining the body of the deceased he found it covered with bruises, and he had no doubt but the unfortunate lady had been most severely ill-used by her brother. The jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased destroyed herself by swallowing a quantity of laudanum, while in a state of unsound mind:'  DEATH OF A MOTHER AND CHlLD.—Yesterday a very lengthened inquiry was held at the St. Martin's workhouse, before Mr. Bedford, the coroner, on the bodies of Ann Smith and her illegitimate offspring, a newly-born female child, whose deaths occurred under the following painful circumstances. It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses that the deceased woman was in the service of Mr. Capper, coal-merchant, of 17, Salisbury-street, where she had been for the last seven months without it being discovered that she was enciente, until Sunday evening, when she refused to sleep in the room she usually occupied, and retired between eleven and twelve o'clock. Shortly afterwards her screams attracted the attention of another servant, and it was found in a few minutes that she had given birth to the deceased infant. Mr. Leonard, the surgeon, was called in promptly, but both mother and child had then expired. The learned gentleman gave a very minute and highly scientific account of the appearances on the post mortem examination, showing tlat the death of the mother was occasioned by excessive hemorrhage, whilst the death of her infant (a remarkably fine seven months child, and competent to live under favourable circumstances) was the result of asphyxia, and both cases attributable to a want of proper medical attendance. A verdict in precise accordance with the medical opinion was returned.  TEE LATE GALES —ln consequence of the bad weather lately experienced at sea, several of the foreign steamers have been very much delayed on the passage, and have arrived here considerably after their proper time. It being considered necessary, in some instances, in consequence of such delay having occurred, to discharge the cargoes of the steamers immediately on their arrival, in order that they may be enabled to reload and take their departure with their mail bags and passengers at the specified time, application was made to the proper authorities of the revenue for their permission to be granted for that purpose, which was conceded, in order that no unnecessary delay or inconvenience to the public might be experienced.KTENliEß