The Sun. — 1830-01-14 (London, England)

PRICE 7D.  SUICIDE OF MISS CHARLOTTE BOTH  The following particulars of the suicide of this ' young lady, and the attempt on the part of her sister, Miss Josephine, are derived from a source which leaves no doubt of their accuracy. It may be as well to premise that it is the eldest, and not the youngest, that is dead, and that they were not w►thout a morsel to eat. On the contrary, they were supplied with every necessary, or even luxury, they saw fit to call for; even the very poison they swalled was mixed in a tumbler of wine, part of a bottle which, by their directions, had been procured for them the preceding day by Mrs. Perceval, the respectable widow lady in whose house, No. 157, Albany-street, Regent's park, they occupiedapartmen ts.  _ . The suspicion that they had poisoned themselves first arose about eleven o'clock on Monday night, from the groans which were heard to issue from their sleeping room. On trying the door, it was found to be locked ; and the surviving young lady, in answer to inquiries made of her, refused to open the door, or tell what was the matter. The watch. man, in consequence, was called in, and the door forced, when the two young ladies were found lying in bed, evidently labouring under the effects of poison. The deceased was then quite insensible, but on the other the poison had happily not taken a fatal hold. On a chair were lying a number of sealed letters, with a slip of paper on the top of them, simply requesting Mrs. Perceval to forward them to their respective addresses by post. Their nightdress appeared to have been arranged for the occasion, their stays being kept on tight laced, and a handsome night-habit thrown over it, and on their hands they wore white kid gloves. Medical assistance was instantly sent for, and Messrs. Elkin and Lee promptly arrived, and by means of the stomachpump succeeded in removing a quantity of liquid laudanum and powdered opium from their stomachs. After the usual process of successively filling the stomach and emptying it had been performed several times, an emetic was administered, and they were kept constantly walking, or rather being dragged, up and down the room for four continuous hours.— This treatment, although successful in the case of Miss Josephine, proved unavailing upon her sister, who died at half-past four o'clock on Tuesday morning. The poison appears to have produced little or no effect on this lady, for she is already perfectly recovered, and was yesterday found by Mr. Elkin, on his visiting her, sitting up in the drawing-room, having dressed herself, and curled and decorated her hair in a manner which showed that she was not unmindful of personal appearance. She was very communicative, and mentioned the places were the poison had been procured, and the time when. In all, she said they had procured three ounces of laudanum and one ounce of powdered opium. That each of them swallowed an ounce and a half of the Lindanum, and afterwards a portion of the opium in a quantity of wine. On being pressed to make a solemn promise never again to attempt self-destruction, she smiled, and said she could not promise any such thing. The intention of destroying themselves, she said, had been formed some days back, and se veral of the letters which were found on the chair then written. These letters have since been forwarded to the parties to whom they were addressed, and a letter has also been sent to Lieut. Crowther, the brother-in-law, who is residing at Deal, acquainting him with the event, and he is expected to arrive to-night. The Misses Both went to reside with Mrs. Perceval about a month back. They occupied the second floor, which is handsomely furnished, and for which they agreed to pay a rent of 30s. a-week. They appear to have had but little money when they went there, and, latterly, every thing they chose to order was paid for by Mrs. Perceval. A gentleman of the name of Hare, who resides in Gloucester-place, having undertaken to pay every thing up to Friday next, before which they had promised to proceed to Deal. In fact, the same gentleman has, since the fatal event, again come forward, and made himself responsible for the expenses necessarily arising therefrom. They had given Mrs. Perceval to understand that they intended to leave her house on the Tuesday, and had actually packed up their property, as if with that intention. The deceased told Mrs. Perceval that she expected a letter from Deal on Monday last, but none arrived. The pride of these ladies, particularly the deceased, appears to have been excessive, for upon Mrs. Perceval once venturing to suggest to them that it was a pity, considering the state of their finances, they had not chosen less expensive apartments, the deceased indignantly replied that the apartments were not a bit too good for them.,