The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-12-09 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SERVANT'S SAD SUICIDE. CORONER AND THE PURCHASE  OF CARBOLIC ACID.  On Saturday 1110113ing Mr. A. F. Cotton (Depu(y-Coron.er for Birkenhead) conduated an inquiry into the circumstanced attending the death of a girl named Mary Anne Spruce, aged 17 years, the daughter of Elijah Spruce, a flat captain, of 27, Queen. street, Ellesmere Port. The girl died from. carbolic sold poisoning on Friday, the 4thl December. Elijah Spruce, of Queen-street, Ellesmere Port, identified the body lying at the Pricestreet mortuary as that of his daughter., He said she was a housemaid waitrees in the employ of Mr. Alexander Allen Grant, of "Melville," Egerton Park, Rock Ferry. She had not been a strong girl, having suffered from abscesses in the head, for which she had undergone an operation. He laid saw her about two weeks ago at her place of service., when ehe seemed fairly well. , Mis. Maria J. Grant, wife of Mr. A. A. Grant, stated that the deceased girl heal been in her employ since June, and for some time past witness had had oertain snenicions with regard to a number of I articles and money which she had missed. I On Thursday afternoon, the 314 December,. she called the deceased girl into the drawing-room and questioned her kindly about the matter. After first denying it, deceased at length confessed to having taken a signet ring belonging to witness' sou, some clothing, and a silver bangle. She seemed much upset about it, but witnees forgave her, and said she would not dismies her. The girl went to bed at ten o'clock that evening, and about a quarter-pt one the following morning waxiest wan calked by the cook. Witness found Serum sitting, on the floor at the foot of her bed. She, could not speak, but seemed in pain and I moaned. Witness then found a bottle cootaming some carbolic acid, and sent her eon for a doctor. After witnees' conveisa., lion with her the deceased girl had written a letter to one of her sisters, asking for the, return of certain of the articles taken. Maud Annie Briscoe, the cook referred to, said that the girl Spruce seemed to be fairly , cheerful when they went to bed, and bade her rooster and mistress "Good-night." They slept in the same room, aud about one. o'clock the following morning witnees was awakened by a noise which her companion' was nalking in her throat. Witness called out to know what was the matter. The girl replied that she felt sick, but she was given to making fun, and witness thought she was not serious. She therefore dozed off to sleep again, but towards half-past one was again wakened by the same noise. Witness got up and lit the lamp, and the deceased girl also got out of bed and staggered across the room. Witness smelt something, and ssid, "What have you taken?" but the could not reply, and witness called her master and mistress. In answer to the Deputy-Coroner, witness said that Spence was a girl of common. sense, and had never threatened to take her life. She had often remarked when reading in the papers any reports of suicides that people "were cowards to do it." Dr. L. D. Temple said he was called to the house. and arrived there about R quarter to two. The deceased girl was unconscious and in a collapsed condition. There was an odour of carbolic acid, and the lining of her mouth was corroded by the acid. Witness removed a great deal of the poison, but she gradually sank, and died at about a qua.rter to i bras, an hour after his arrival. cau.se of death was collapse due to carbolic acid poisoning. Inspector Samuel Dean said that he had been unable to ascertain where the deoeased had obtained the acid. He believed the bottle must have been obtaind at some . . .  store, as neue of the chemists in the neighbourhood kept that particular preparation. The Deputy-Corouer• said that the ease with which carbolic acid could be obtained was mcaL digre.sing, and he expressed dieappoim amnt that it had been impossible to trace the purchase. as the bottle had no label on it. lle regretted that the legislature did not move in the matter and make carbolic acid as difficult to purchase as more claagerous poisons. There was no doubt Mrs. Grant had acted in a kindly war with orer the pilfering, and probably the trouble and the pain in the head had: urect her reason. He wished to express his deep sympathy with her father. The jury's verdict was "Suicide during temporary ir.sanity." and the foreman added that the restrictions on the sale of carbolic acid should be much more stringent. The Deputy-Coroner: The same remark is heard from jeries all over the country, but the legislature seem to haw, made up their mind, and dou't appear to be inclined to move.