The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1867-04-23 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

INTERBORN E W HITCHURCH. DISTRESSING SUICIDE: DEATH FROM STRYCHNINE.  Os Tuesday last an inquest was bald in this village, before W. H. Atkinson. Seq.. coroner, at the boom of lame. Shave, no the body of Mary Coward, whose death took plasm the same morning from the effects of poison. The jar, having chasm Mr. Henry Fookes as their foreman, the following evidence was taken;— Henri Coward disposed : The dammed was my wits, and was 40 yean of age. This morning I woke about five minutes to six o'clock. My wife was then in bed. She had been out of bed before that. I got tip loon after, but before I had got my clothes on she WAS out Of bed and down stairs again befole me. I went nut of doors and saw her stand• lag outside. She asked me where I was going, and if I wee goiog to Miss Cole& I told her Iwu going to Mr. Shave's: She said,. "Don't go, my deer, °owe and stay with me while I di.." I asked her what was the matter. She mid, "Oh, I'm going to die. Do mane upstairs." We went upstairs, and she seemed to bare • fit directly; she was convulsed in every joint, and it was as mach as oould do to hold her. I said, 'You've taken something." She simmered, "I have, mv dear. I have had that bit of poison down in the coal-hole in • dsop of water.' I asked her when, end she answered, 'Now." I told her to pray to God directly for her poor soul, as she WU sore to die, as I knew there was not time for Mr. Swans to come. I then called my children. They called a neighbour named Louisa Hannam, who came in. My wife had another convulsive tit, and then another attar • abort time, and she died soon after the third attack. My wife was confined three weeks ago lest Friday. the was the moth-, of nine children. The last three years she ham been given to take too much liquor at times. We had not had any noplemantness. lam not aware that she had any. thing on her mind except that she was • little down in the world. I have recently left my place. My wife died about • quarter past seven. Louisa Hannam, wife of Albert Hamm, deposed: Henry Coward's daughter celled we • little after six o'clock this morning. I went, and Henry Coward asked me to call some nue, as his wife had taken some poison. I saw his wife laid on the bed in a very heavy fit, moralised so that her husband could warmly hold her. I came down and emit aPer William Shave to send for the doctor. There was no one present but she and her husband when I went in. I did not bear her speak when I was in the room. .  Mr. John Ermine, surgeon, deposed : I am a medical man re.eding or Milton Abbas. I was mot for this morning a little alter 0r.., o'cl.ok to see the deceased. I got there a little before eight. I found the deomeed quite dead lying on the bed, her body Warmly cold, perfectly rigid all over, arms and loge &o. I heard tbe ciretimetanoes of her taking poienn, and the symptoms, and I at onoe came to the con. elusion that she had taken strychnine, end died from the effects of that poison. I had not attended her for a long time. This being the whole of the evidence, the ooroner briefly summed up, and the jury returned as their verdict that. "The deemed committed suicide by taking • certain poison called strychnine, from the effects of which ebe died, and that at the time of her taking such poison she wee in an unsound state of mind.'