The Express. — 1866-11-21 (London, England)

SUICIDE FROM WATERLOO-BRIDGE.  WRETCHED END OF A SAD LIFE.  iOO r 0,,,  An inquiry was held by Mr. W. J. Payne, the deputy coroner, last evening, at the Coal Exchange Tavern, St. Mary-at-Hill, Billingsgate, touching the death of Sarah Mason, aged 21 years. The deceased was the daughter of a mechanic, and both her parents having died when she was very young, she and her two brothers were left destitute. They were found by a policeman, seated on the door step at their late home in a street off the Strand. The elder boy ran away saying that he never would go into the workhouse. The two other children were taken to the workhouse. When the deceased grew up she got a place as a domestic servant in a private house. While in service she was seduced, and los"ig her place she was driven to go on the streets. Elizabeth Good said that she knew the deceased. She was iu the habit of walking the Strand every evening. She lived at No. 11, Crozier-street, Lambeth, where al paid It. is. a week for her lodgings. Her landlady supplied her w ith half a pint of gin a day, and charged it in the bill. Having fallen into arrears in her rent, she became pressed for money, and on the evening of Tuesday fortnight witness promised to let her have some, through friendship, as she could not go home without at least a poi Lion of what she owed. Witness gave her a halfpenny to go on to Waterloo-bridge, to wait for her there for an hour, but was unable to keep her appointment in consequence of being detained forfour hours. As the church clock struck 3 witness went on the bridge expecting to tind the deceased. The toll-gate keeper said to witness's sister, who was with her, " I hope you are not going to commit suicide, miss, for a young woman jumped into the river this morning." Witness thereupon made inquiries, and she was shown a hat which had been found in a recess, and she recognised it as that of Sarah Mason's. She no doubt committed suicide in consequence of witness's delay, believing that she intended to break faith with her. John C. Parker, Thames police-constable No. 31, said that he found the body of the deceased in the river floating past London-bridge. There was nothing in the pockets except a door-key and an empty purse. Mrs. Emily Austin, No. 11, Crozier-street, landlady of the deceased, said that the latter owed her some money, but she was never pressed for it. Maty Anne Good said that the deceased was disturbed in her mind in consequence of hearing that her elder brother, who had enlisted in the army, had been wounded. She gave way to habits of intemperance, and . she at one time was attacked with delirium tremens. . . .  A police-sergeant proved that on the morning of WednestLy fortnight seine person SAW the deceased jump off the parapet of Waterloo-bridge. A splash was heard in the water, and the Thames police put off in a boat to rescue her, but without avail. The Coroner having unturned up, the jury returned a verdict of " Suicide while of unsound mind."  A young man named Pichot, a working upholsterer, met with his death on Sunday during the gale in Paris. While crossing the Pont-d'Arcole his hat was blown off and fell into the river. As it was a new one wLich he did not like to lose, he hastened down to the landing wharf, threw off his clothes, and entered the water to swim after his property, but almost immediately he was seized with cramp from the effects of the cold, and being unable to resist the strong current he was carried away and presently disappeared beneath the surface. His body has not yet been recovered.  The United States man-of-war steamer Frolic left Southampton Ibis morning, to join the American squadron at Lisbon.