The Sun. — 1844-11-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE BY SULPHATE OF COPPER.—Yesterday an inquest was held before Mr. Carter, at the Royal Oak, Granby-street, Waterloo-road, as to the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Williamson, aged forty-six. It appeared that the deceased resided with her husband, at 22, llarrington-street. On Wednesday week, when he went home to his dinner, he found her very ill and vomiting, but she .would not say what she had taken ; his son, however' told him she had broken up a piece of blue-stone (sulphate of copper), and taken it in a cup.  Mr. O'Shea, a medical man, was sent for and administered antidotes, but she persisted in refusing to acknowledge that she had taken the poison. She gradually sunk until last Monday, when she expired. The jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased died from the effects of sulphate of copper, which she took when in a state of temporary insanity:, FATAL ACCIDENT IN TILE CHATHAM SIEGE OPERiTlONS.—Yesterday a Coroner's inquest was held on the body of James Sullivan, a private of the East India Company's miners, who unfortunately lost his life the day before in one of the mines. An application was made to the Coroner to put off the inquiry until to-day, on account of the absence of Sir Frederick Smith, who is in London on special business.  The CORONER observed, that in case he should find it necessary, in the course of the evidence, he would do so.  Captain Williams and Lieut. Andrew Clark, of the Royal Engineers, gave an account of the affair similar to that which has 1 d a rea y appeare d The former stated that he had had considerable experience in similar operations in Prussia, and believed them essentially necessary for the good of the service. Both agreed that every care had been taken. Lieut. John Moggeridge, Royal Engineers, said, I relieved yesterday Lieut. Clark of duty about one o'clock. I went into the mine with Lieut. Clark to receive his instructions, and found no difficulty in breathing, and I considered the place perfectly safe. I then went out of the mine to bring in four miners to put up some frames which had been forced in by the explosion, and I helped the men to put those frames up. I then sent two of the men onwards one named John Harris and the deceased James Sullivan, to see how much of the gallery remained undamaged. Both men carried a lighted candle. Seeing their candle go out, I called to the two miners immediately to come back, as the air was bad, and that I would go and see that the air pipes were brought in. The two miners who stood behind me went out before me, and I supposed as I went out that the deceased and Harris followed me. On my arrival at the mouth of the gallery I put up the air-pipes, and had proceeded about half way between the entrance and where it is supposed the accident took place, when I heard the cry that one of the men was gone. I directly called for assistance, and went without delay to the spot whence the cry proceeded, and there found one man lying on the ground insensible, and the other man holding his head. I caught hold of the legs of the man on the ground and pulled him out. I had then a candle with me, which was burning, and I placed it on the ground. I I became stupified ; and still called out for assistance, when on a sudden when I recovered I found myself outside of the gallery lying down: I am satisfied every precaution was accident occurring. takTehnetoevpidreeYnecnet any wasconfirmed by Captain and Adjutant George' St. Vincent Whitmore, R.E., and by a corporal of the Rey al Miners. Dr. Chisholm, of the Ordnance, said the man had died from the effects of foul air. The jury unanimously agreed to a verdict—" That the deceased James Sullivan was accidentally killed by coming in contact with foul air in the field-works on Chad-fain lines; and the jury are of opinion that no blame or want of caution attaches to those in command of the siege." REFUSAL OF A CERTIFICATE FOR BIRTH AND BuaiAL.—Yesterday afternoon Mr. Carter, the CoToner for Surrey, held ari inquest at the Hope publichouse, Bird-street,' Kennington, on the body of a new-born female infant, who died within four hours after its birth, which was premature. The death had taken 'place as far back as last Monday week, and the body of the infant remained unburied, in consequence of the surgeon, who attended at the labour, having refused to give a certificate for burial unless he was paid 15s. The Coroner said it was really shameful that the county should be put to the expense of an inquest, because the mother could not get a certificate, and a jury of sixteen gentlemen called out of their business, when there was no necessity for an inquiry, and hoped that the medical gentleman, Mr. Crichdale, of Lambeth-walk, could give some explanation as to a jury having been cawed to assemble. Mr. Crichdale said, that the chilTl had been neglected by the mother, and observed that the reason he refused a certificate was, thatlie was asked to giir one for a still-born child. The Coroner remarled, that was a very serious charge which the surgeon had brought forward against the mothei, and might affect either her liberty or life, and it was his duty, and the duty of the jury, to ascertain that there were just and sufficient grounds for so serious an imputation. Two females who were present, and assisted at the birth, were then examined at great length, who stated that the birth was  quite unexpected, and that every proper attention was paid which the interests of the life of the child required. The infant only lived two hours, and that after its death the doctor (Mr. Crichdale) positively refused the certificate, unless he was paid 15s. for his trouble. The aunt of the child informed the jury, that the doctor had only brought forward the charge of alleged neglect because he did not get his money. They were poor people. The jury said they were satisfied that there was no imputation against the mother, and remarked that the surgeon ought not to have withheld the certificate, and returned a verdict of " Natural Death." The Coroner, with marked emphasis, said to the relatives, " I will now give you a certificate, which you ought to have had before." The Coroner then added, " You have been called, gentlemen, unnecessarily together, and the county put to a useless expense ; it is not for me to say with whom the blame rests."