The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1861-11-05 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE--Some few details of a moat nielanchuly case transpired in Chester on Monday. A young inau, named W. Edward Davies, who was recently an apprentice to • chemist and druggist at Rhyl, had obtaisied, in the shape of a bequest from • relative, a sum of money, with which, it Is said, he intended to commence business on his own account. Previous, however, to carrying out this intention, he, like many other foolish youths in • similar position, resolved to enjoy I • self for a few days ; alhi last week, taking with him from 1:50 to £lOO, he arrived in Chester. There he fell in is ith a good-looking girl of loose character, 11/1111041 Elizabeth Thompson, described as the daughter of a farmer near Shrewsbury. With her he spent several days in riot and dissipation. On Saturday last the guilty pair went on • visit to Liverpool, and there, not unnaturally, the young man began to feel remora, and eliame for the foolish manner in which lie hail squandered his money and misconducted himself. Whilst under the influence of this feeling, he managed, without the knowledge of the girl, to purchase a bottle of laudanum ; but so they were retnnling to Chester on Sunday evening by rail she saw the bottle, guessed that lie bail a fatal intention, took it frotti him, and threw it out of the carriage. On Sunday evening, however, Davies went out, and having written a regular prescription, succeeded in purchasing four ounces of laudanum at two different druggists' shops. By some I course of argument at prevent unknown lie aucceeded in inducing the girl to avrallow the entente of one phial at the same time that lie took the other. The effects of the laudanum on the girl were such as to induce her to give the alarm. The result was that a surgeon WOA sent for; they were both taken to the infirmary, where the usual remedies were administered, successful in the case of the woman, but unsuccessful in the ease of the man, who died in the course of the night.—A postmortem examination was made upon the body, and the medical men gave it as their ITialinn that deceased had died from the effects of laudanum and alcohol. He left a letter upon the mantelpiece in his room, in which he stated that Mrs. Morgnn would call in • few days, and Lissy's (the prisoner's) things were to be delivered up to her, and that the ring upon her finger ass not to be taken off upon any consideration. They had also left three letters at the City Arms, which they had requested the landlord to post for theni. One was addressed to the deceased's mother, Mrs. Paddock,Ridge, Whittington, !Shropshire ; another to the prisoner's father, Mr. William Morgan, Aaliton Cottage. near Oswestry, Salop, and the other letter was addressed to Signor Volpe, Ethyl, requesting liim to send a print alid the 'account to the deceased. All the letters were in the handwriting of the deceased, with the exception of Jeunina Morgan's signature to the letter to her father and mother.—After these facts had been elicited, Mr. Cartwright, who watched the case for the prisoner, commented upon the evidence, and said he considered there was no such evidence to implicete her as to warrant them in returning a verdict of guilty.—The Coroner summed up most minutely, and said that if they found that the deceased hel taken poison whilst in a sound state of mind, there was no doubt that the prisoner was guilty, and they would have to find their verdict accordinsly. He quoted several cases of similar nature to that on whisk the prisoner was charged, wherein it was expressely laid down that where two persons took poison together, and oats survived, the survivor WWI guilty of tuurder.—The jury, after a few minutes consultation, returned the folioo ing venlict :—" We find that deceit:oil died from taking laudanum, whilst in a sound state of mind, administered by his own hand ; and that the prisoner was accessory to the act."—Upon hearing the verdict the prisoner fainted away, and was taken out of court in that state. She, therefore, stands committed to the next Cheater areirea by the Innistestes and coroner, to take her trial.