Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1881-12-31 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE SUICIDE OF A BARMAID.  EXAMINATION OF LIEUTENANT PONBONBY.  On Thursday the adjourned inquest on the body of Emma Cummins, 23, late • barmaid at the Criterion, Pieciadilly, was resumed and concluded by the coroner for Central Middlesex. The cue has created considerable sensation in London, the circumstances of the young woman's death being very peculiar. From the evidence taken on the previous occasion, it appeared that deceased, who was a very handsome young woman, made the acqrutintanoe some time since of Lieutenant Henry Ponsonby, late of the Royal Navy, who made her an offer, if she would consent to live with him, of £26 per month for a period of 12 months. Bo lured end tempted by this offer was the deceased, that, despite the implorations and remonstrances of her aged parents and her sister, all in a respectI able position in life, she resolved to accept it. Under the names of Mr. and Mrs. Perry, Lieutenant Ponsonby and deceased engaged • suite of rooms at a lodging-houee in Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park, on November 24, and a week later Lieutenant Ponsouby asked for his account, saying he was going away for I • few days, and he always liked to pay up. He then left the house with his boxes and never returned. The deceased subsequently told the lodging-house keeper's wife the history of the case, and on Tuesday, December 6th, deceased took poison. Prior to this she had visited her parents and sister, and told them she was lost," and had been grossly deceived by tdr. Ponsonby. She said she had met some gentlemen, who had come from Mr. Ponsonby, and they told her that be had left her in a bad coo. dition—too painful for them to tell her, but that she had better consult a medical man. She told them she had no money, and the next day • £lO note was left with the servant and given to her. Just previous to death she told the doctor who had been called in that she had taken poison "in consequence of giving so much trouble to her friends, and having been recently seduced by Lieutenant Ponsonby.' She left • letter for her sister which said, "I have made up my mind to kill myself, as I oan't continue to live in this terrible pain. I may be ill for week', months, or perhaps years, or perhaps never get better. You know the worst now. Yon know the man who has caused all this, and do not spare him for his cruel waded to me; for he has killed me. II this shall be a warning to persons who will be tempted, to avoid such, I shall not die in vain. I hope that my mother and father will forgive me. It seems so hard for me that for one wrong sot of my life I must close it. I only wish that the stuff will prove fatal. II I could see a ray of light throughout all this darkness I would try and live." Lieutenant Ponsonby, who is a man of about middle age, wu now called. He deposed that he had never said anything about allowing deceased £25 a month. When he left the lodgings at the end of November he had an invitation to go into the country, and one reason for his not returniug was they could not get on together, and she had alluded to someone else. In one of their quarrels she said if he left her she would rain him. He gave deceased 30s. on the first day, and £4 a day or two after, and then another £lO. Be had not intended to abandon her, but his friends persuaded him not to have anything more to do with her. He had requested a friend to see that she was not in want of funds, and the ElO note was accordingly sent her. Deeeased left her situation without there being any arrangement between them, and he simply took the apartments weekly so that she should not be without a home. At this stage the Coroner again read the letter which the deceased had written to her sister expressing her determination to end her days, and speaking of some one whom she had loved, and who loved her; evidently the person she had spoken to Lieutenant Ponsonby about. During the -wmaing or this letter andel.. Dube were heard Intim hall. William Batten, a friend of Lieutenant Ponsonby, said that he, in eompany with another gentleman, r visited the deceased on December sth. and found  her in great distress of mind, se the doctor had told her she might get well in three weeks or it might be months or years. His friend went on behalf of Lieut. Ponsonby, and witness auompanied him, it being • delicate commission. In his presence she did not say there was anything the matter with ' her, but uked his friend if he would return in the evening, as @he wished to communicate something to him. Witness offered to leave the room; but she said the evening would do. She said mho was not without money, and witneu's friend forwarded the £lO note in the evening, but did not see deceased. A medical earthiest* was put in, showing , that Lieut. Ponsonby was entirely free from disease. This closed the evidence, and the jury sat in private for nearly half-en-hour wandering their verdict. On the admittance of the public the Coroner .aid: "The verdict of the jury is that Emma CIIMMille was found dying, and did die from the effects of poison; further, that the deceased did commit suicide; further, that at the time the deceased was in a state of mental excitement and anxiety owing to the miserable and unfortunate position in which she was left by Lieutenant Henry Pchsonby, with whom she had arranged to live. The jury desire to express their intense feelings of disgust at his misconduct, as they consider him guilty of seduction and subsequent desertion, which led the doomed to commit suicide; and further, that, though not legally responsible, they consider he is morally responsible for the death of the deceased, and is deserving of severe censure." The ' Coroner added that the jury had very carefully considered their verdict, and they came to the conclusion that nothing but the strongest language could possibly express their feelings in this matter. He severely eensured Lieutenant Ponsonby, saying that there was no doubt that his desertion of the deceased had produced in her mind feelings of intense anxiety, and subsequently, whether rightly or wrongly, she believing she was suffering from some painful disorder her mind seemed to give way, and she committed the fatal sot. He hoped the Lieutenant would repent of the evil he had done, end the case be a warning to others. A large and threatening crowd assembled outside the hall, and Lieutenant Ponsonby had to be protected by a force of about SO poLioemen.