The Express. — 1852-02-09 (London, England)

SUICIDE IN FLEET-STREET.--On Saturday night Mr. Payne held an iuquest at Punch's Tavern, Fleet-street, on the Ludy of Mrs. Anastasia Mayor, aged 39.—Mr. E. James Peuehey, solicitor, of Salisbury-square, Fleet-street, deposed to having known the deceased for some time past, atul that about nino years ago he was instructed by her husband to bring an action against a gentleman for criminal conversatiun with her. A separation took place, and her husband agreed to allow her 11. a week. She received the first payment but returned the second, at the same time writing a very offeuaive letter to her husband. She afterwards went under the protection of her seducer. She had since frequently called at witnum's office, and he had been compelled to tell his clerk to deny him to her. The last time that ho saw her she was very much distressed. On Friday evening she called again, and his clerk told her that he was out, when she asked permission to write a letter. She was shown into a private room, and soon after his clerk came to him and said the decease:l was in a fit. Ile gave directions for a medical man be be went for, which was done ; and on the arrival of c surgeon he found that she was dead. Ile heard that she had lived near, or with, her father, and bad been informed that her mother was an inmate of Hartwell Lunatic Asylum. She was exceedingly excited the last time he saw her. Der husband is en officer in the East India Company's service.—James Cripps said that the demisted was his daughter. She had not slept at his house for some time, but had called there nearly every evening. She was with him on Friday, between I and 2 o'clock. She seemed then in great distress of mind, whether from privation or from a sense of her past conduct he could not tell. Re was certain she had no money when she went out, beyond a ft w halfpence. It was then about seven or eight years since she was living with the man who seduced her.—The Coroner: What is the name of the man ? Witness: Captain Farquhar.—The Coroner : When the husband brought the action, did he obtain a verdict? Witness: Yes; and recovered 750 f. The Coroner: Where is tho party now? Witness: lie went to India, and deceased has not seen him since.—A Juror: Did she ever express in your hearing any intention of destroylog her life? Witness: No ; but I have often heard her express a wish to die.—The Coroner: Iles she seen her husband lately? Witness: Ile is home from India, and I think she told me that she had seen him once.A Juror:  Is ha aware of this circumstance? Witness : No ; but I have written to him lately, telling him of her distress, fur she had no money, and I, unfortunately, bad none to give her.—l he Coroner ; How did she live ? Witness : She had a little property, which she had saved up, and when the Mtn who took her under his protection went to India, she was obliged to part with it, and since that period she bad lived the best way she could—Mr. Rogers, assistant to Mr. Holding, surgeon, proved having been sent fur on the previous evening about six o'clock, and on his arriv,,l at Mr. reachey's he found deceased quite dead. lle pir,erd cold water upon her, principally to satisfy the bystenders, but he had no hopes of her recovery. She was twavcheil by the housekeeper, and in her pocket a phial was found, which contained a small quantity of the essential oil of abounds. lle was unable to detect the smell of that poison in her mouth, and ho was also unable to say positively whether that had caused her death or not. 30 drops of the essential oil of almonds would be sure to destroy life ; but he would netlike to take ten drops.—Other evidence was given of a similar character, which proved that the object of deceased calling upon Mr. Peachey was fur the purpose of persuading him to bring about a reconciliation between herself and her husband. The jury not being perfectly satisfied, the inquiry was adjourned in order that an (n nation of the body might be made.