The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1824-10-15 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.  An inquest was held last evening, in the Board.room of the Workhouse belonging to the tipper Liberty of St. Andrew's, Holborn. by TztoBIAS STtaLt NG. Esq. Coroner for Middlesex, on view of the body of Elizabeth S)lrester, who put an end to her existence by poison, under the following distressing circumstances:— Sarah Dutton, sister to the deceasetl, stated, that on Tuesday last she had a conversation with ber sister Elizabeth, who at that time appeared to be much depressed in spirits, in consequence of her situation. About four months since she had married a sailor, who  was afterwards obliged to go abroad, and though he made her a monthly allowance, yet it was not by any means adequate to her support.. She tried to get into place as a servant, but found nothing but disappointment wherever she applied. This weighed heavily on her spirits; and to complete the sum of her misfortunes, she found herself pregnant. The knowledge of this latter circumstance had a very powerfal ; and she. within the last fortnight, entleavoured to shun the soviet y of her family, and the witness, fearing that she had fallen into bad company. spoke to her on the subject on the morning of the day on which the rash act was committed, but there was nothing angry in the interview. Margaret Jones, another slater, deposed that deceased came to ter house In Tash-street, about one o'cloct on Tuesday ; she remembered seeing her drink something out of a cup which left a whitish mark on the lips. In two hours after, deceased told winaiss, that she had bought an ounce of arsenic at Air. Cousins's shop, in Gray's inn-lane, and that she hail swallowed it. Witness went to Alr. Cuusins, and aske.l him if he had sold poison to any girl on that day. ? lie replied the.: he had, an ounce of arsenic. Then, said witness, she has drank it, for God's sake, sir, try and du something for her. Mr. Cousins replied, it was impossible; if she had swallowed Mi. 'Witness treat away, and 31r. Cousins (the elder) followed her to the house, but did nothing to relieve deceased. who was then very bad, merely reronni.ettling them to seed for the parish surgeon, and then went away. N itness ran to the work-house, and asked for assistance, which saes iintuediately granted, but deceased expired the same evening. Dr. Fernandez. the house singer, stated, that being ehmtnt when the last wi.ness called, two or his pupils, both vet) coattetent, had visited the deceased, artd administered the nett d  dotes, which dislodged the drug, but from its extremely deleterious property, the coats of the stomach bed be,.l previously The matter discharged by the emetic he had analysed, and it proved to be arsenic in rent quantity. !limos. James and Thomas Syntiwon (Dr. Fatalities's pupils) deposed to the same effect. Thomas Jones. father to the deceased, described her to have been labouring under extraordinary depression of spirits for w, me time previous; her husband had left her in a week or a fortn:gla after their marriage. The Jury, arta a short ennsultattori, returned a verlict, that " The deceased came by her death in consequence of havieg swallowed potson, whilst in a state of temporary dcr.agea.set ut" lect."  One of the Jury mused Mr. Conslns's um to he I,nt for, and oink:. very warmly to him on the tatpropriety of sating to weC. known a poi4on to a young female. .  Mr. tutisms reuturc,' he refused to serve her at first. but she told inin it was fur her brotkv, who ins an liosilet in Gray's Inn-lane, and that he wanted it to destroy rats; he then :,,,uve it, marking " poison" on the paper. borne others of the Jury said, titre was greeter culyability attaching to Dr. Cousins himself, at whose shop the po:son had beer sold, in neglecting to Apply an antidote, without referring the eels, tires to the parish surgeon.