The Sun. — 1858-09-25 (London, England)

LOVE AND SUICIDE.  (From the Manchester Guardian) Yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. S. Rutter held an inquest at the White Horse Inn, Longsight, Manchester, upon a girl, aged 18, named Mary Ann Keighley, the daughter of an omnibus driver, who poisoned herself on Tuesday night with strychnine, contained in rat poison (flux vonzica). It appeared that the girl had lived 11 months as domestic servant with Mrs. Roscoe, lodging-house keeper, and was in the habit Of waiting upon the lodgers, amongst. whom was a Mr. May, whom he appears, by her letters, to have conceived a strong attachment. She was a light-hearted and high-spirited girl and of a quick temper. In accordance with notice given her by her mistress, with whom she did not very well agree, she left her service on Monday, and returned home. No change was perceived in her manner up to the time that she took the poison. On Tuesday night, when her parents went to bed, they left her downstairs writing letters ; but they had been in bed scarcely half-an-hour when she called out, " Mother, come down stairs ; I'm ill." Her mother went to her and found her in bed. She said she had taken rat poison, and threw her arms around her mother's neck, and clung so tightly to her that it was with difficulty her mother could release herself to call for assistance. A neighbour, named Barnes, having been called in, medical aid was sent for; and in about half an hour Mr. Billing, surgeon, arrived ; but the girl had just died in gretit agony. She gave no reason why she had taken the poison ; but she requested that Mr. May might be sent for, and said that when the surgeon arrived she would confess all. After her death, three twopenny packets of " Hunter's infallible vermin and insect destroyer" were found in the bed ; and under her pillow were three letters which she had written. The first was addressed to her mother, father, brothers, and sisters; and read thus :  " When you read this I shall be dead. Blame no one but Mrs. Roscoe ; she is the you of my doing so. Good-bye, God bless you all. llm t him not; I forbid it. I loved him to the last, God bless him. It is for his sake lam dying. As soon as you find it outs send for him. God bless you, Mr. May. MOther, give him my likeness, if he will have it. * * Tell him tiot to refuse it. Tell Mrs. Roscoe I forgive her ; but it is her who is to blame.  The second letter was addressed to Mr. May : "Dearest Mr. May—You asked me to bless yon. I do bless you and forgive you, as I hope to be forgiven for what I am doing now. When this reaches your hand I shall he dead. Do not make  yourself unhappy dearest, at all. Be sure I love you to the last moment of my life. Will you visit my grave sometimes ? Please do ; and will you look after my mother ; and I will bless you for all. I forgive all my enemies, and Mr. Cornea for his harshness to me. So good bye. May God pour down blessings upon your head, and all your undertakings. See me when lam dead. Bless you, my only love. Blame no one for my death. You might have kissed me, when you left.' The third letter was to Mr. 11. G. Bowker Liverpool, asking forgiveness for all the trouble she had given him ; telling him not to weep for her ; and saying she could not love him as she loved the one she was dying for. A post mortem examination, made by Mr. Billing, showed that the girl died from poisoning by strychnine, of which, it was supposed, there was about a grain in each of the three packets of rat poison. Mrs. Roscoe said that the girl left her house in high spirits, and only said that she had a better situation in view. _ _ .  This was explained by the girl's mother, who stated that something had been said about her 17( n houeliccper for :Jr. May and Mr. Comes (another of Mrs. Roscoe's lodgerss, who were about to leave Mrs. Roscoe's. _  Several jurymen said a rumour had prevailed Mrs. Roscoe had charged the girl with being in, such a condition as would be brought about by itn. proper conduct ; but  Mr. Billing, the surgeon, said there was not the slightest foundation for such a charge, and the girl's mother stated that Mr. May had told her that she was a good servant, and a very prudent girl,  The jury, in accordance with the coroner's suggestions, took a charitable view of the girPs conduct, on account of her age, and returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity." -