Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1889-08-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SAD SUICIDE OF A SERVANT GIRL.  The Deputy-Coroner (Mr. B.:Weekes) held an inquest on Wednesday at his court, Moor-street, Birmingham, on the body of Sarah Clay (17), servant at St. Paul's Club, Newhall-street, who died from poisoning on Tuesday night.—The deceased had been employed at the club for some time, andthe manageress, Martha Bradley, hearing that she had been unduly familiar with one of the male servants of the club, on Tuesday night told her she would have to leieve. Half an hour later she heard screams, and upon going to Clay's bed room found 1 r lying on the bed suffering from violent convulsions. The girl stated that she had taken something, and the manageress gave her emetics, but without effect, and death shortly afterwarks owurrecl.—The cook at the club stated that when she visited thei deceased in the room she admitted having taken vermin killer. Mary Binnersley, another employe at the club, said that owing to an intimation which she received that the page-boy had been familiar with the deceased, she informed the friends of the young man who was courting the deceased. She was keeping company with a man named Harding residing in Stewart-street. —Percy Jinks, the page-boy at the club who was next called, said he was 16 years of age • next December. He had been improperly intimate with the girl on one occasion.—The Deputy-Coroner : I believe this preyed on your mind afterwards, did it not ':7.Witness:..lt did,  ir.—And in consequence did you tell Mary Binnersley something?—Yes, lied her to understand what had occurred. I felt I must tell soinebedy, it preyed so heavily on my mind.— Do you go to a Sunday school? No, sir ; Igo to St. James's Church.—Regularly? Yes, sir. --Sarah Macdonald, mother of the deceased, said she had questioned her daughter when she heard rumours as to her bad conduct. but the girl denied that there was any truth in them.—Mr. Newton, surgeon, deposed to making an external examination, and from the history of the case and from what he had seen he had come to the conclusion tat death had resulted from strychnine poisoning. There was 23 per cent, of strychnine in the vermin , killer—Sergeant Gosling deposed to searching the room and to finding a number of letters. Portraits of the girl Binnersley, the page, and I others were found wrapped up, and there was a note appended, saying : "Return these to their owners, my enemies."—The Deputy-Coroner : That seems to show what was on her mind.— A letter from Harding to the deceased was read accusing the girl of miscoduct, and adding, "You have dashed the cup of happiness from my lips, and replaced it with the bitterest gall."— The Deputy-Coroner briefly:addressed the jury, who returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."  The body of Mr. R. D. Cartier, barrister, Oxford circuit. was found In the Severn on Wednesday. Letters were received by relatives from him announcing his intention of committing suicide, being haunted by the fear of losing his reason. Mr. Curtler was 27 years old. Mr. Gladstone, writing to Lord Elgin in acknowledgment of the Golden Wedding congratulations of the Scottish Liberal Association, says the kindness of his friends has entirely outstripped all power and possibility of acknowledgment in detail. On behalf of himself and Mrs. Gladstone, he ventures to express the hope that the too generous estimate formed of the past may animate their efforts and desires to be less unworthy of them in the future. The jokes of the House of Commons are seldom good, but there is a touch of humour in the plot by which, if ever the awful and wonderful Tithes Rill should be considered, it will be subjected to two sweeping amendments. it is a bill designed to be applied to England ' and Wales, and one member will propose that& shall not apply to England, and another that it shall not apply to Wales. Parliament might do worse than adopt both amendments.  When some cricket clubs had concluded their day's play on Turnham Green Common, Chiswick, a well-dressed man, who had been watching them from a seat, was observed to fire a revolver in the air. Immediately after he turned the weapon to his temple and fired a bullet into his brain. He was conveyed to the West London Hospital, where he expired during the night. From papers found on his body it is thought his name is Rafferty. and he has bean in the army.  The Thei4 News says that the collapse of the debate of the second reading of the Royal Annuity Bill was accidental. It had been arranged that the brunt of the debate should be borne by the Scotch members. Several were in attendance, prepared to carry on the discussion, but being under the impression that the question the Speaker submitted was that the amendment be agreed to, not that the Bill pass, they deferred their speechea. Mr. Phillips, who was prepared to speak, waited too long in the expectation that a Scotch member would interpose. The Daily News says: We understand that the Foreign Office are atpreaent negociating for a treaty with the Japanese Government on the basis that, in consideration of Great Britain yielding up extra territorial and judicial privileges hitherto conceded to British subjects at Yokohama and other settlements in Japan, the whole interior of the eountry shall be thrown open to Btitish trade. Some progress has been made, but in the meantime the United States and Germany have arranged a similar treaty and will I forthwith avail themselves of its advantages.  1111MIIIIIIMMI