The Sun. — 1844-08-28 (London, England)

THE LATE DISTRESSING SUICIDE.  Yesterday morning an inquest was held before Mr. C. J. Carttar, pursuant to adjournment from Friday last, at the Trinity Arms, Church-street, Deptford, touching the death of Eliza Kendall, aged 18, whose body was found in the water of the Grand Surrey Canal.  The first witness called was police-constable Gates, 144 R, and officer of the police-court, who said that he remembered deceased being ordered to pay Is. for damage done to a bonnet, and 2s. costs. The Magistrate allowed her a fortnight to pay it in on account of her poverty. The time had expired, when he called and asked her why she had not paid the money. Deceased replied that it had not been in her power, having had no work. Witness told her she must pay, it by the following Wednesday, or take the consequence. She was to have been committed to prison for three days if not paid. Should not have taken her into custody unless by an order from the -,dagistrate. Witness held out no threat; he was ordered to call for the money. John Cohen, a shipwright, deposed that he saw a woman on the bank of the canal throwing her arms about and crying loudly, " Oh, my sister ! oh, my sister !" several times. He was in his cottage, and ran out, and, with a neighbour, followed on to the canal. Witness saw her jump in, and having cleared the ditch, he plunged in after her. Believes she jumped in to save her sister. She was breast high out of the water when he saw her. She sank and he caught hold of her clothes when nearly three feet under water, and with great difficulty got her ashore in a state of insensibility. Did not 'see anything of the deceased. Witness was much exhausted from the exertion. It was at half-past six o'clock on Wednesday morning, and many persons were then on the bank. A friend took him by the hand and pulled both ashore together. Joseph Arthur, surgeon, deposed, that he had made a post mortem examination of the body. Deceased was not in the family way. Observed a few scratches on her face. Thinks they were done before death. Christopher Kendall, aged 55, father of deceased, saw her last on Tuesday night. He had not made any complaint to the deceased. Ilis daughters were in the habit, of going out on their own affairs. The landlord called on Tuesday for the rent. Two weeks at 2s. a-week were to be paid, and Is. off the arrear. Witness had left ss. with his eldest daughter to pay it. The landlord came at half-past 8, and he told him he had no money for him, and that he feared his daughters had made away with it. Jane had not then told him so. On her return home, she said the money would, be returned that day ; but they were unable to borrow it. She had lent it to her two sisters. He said very little to Jane, as she appeared to be in such trouble. He went out in search of them to, the Broadway, but could not meet with them. He returned home and,vrent to bed soon after 9 o'clock. He saw one of the girls leave the house about 6 o'clock on Wednesday morning. They lived by slopshirt-making, addded to which •he could earn averaging about Bs. per week. He was sorry to say they had no chance of making a living at slopwork ; had suffered great distress lately ; never thought of more than two meals a (lay, sometimes not that. They worked for Mrs. Norman, Union-bridge, Bermondsey. She takes contracts to do the work for large shops in town. The deceased had much altered lately. The girls could not go to service for want of clothes, they being in pledge. It was quite unusual for them to be out at night. Witness was left with four daughters and one son. The latter was shipwrecked two years ago, and had not since been heard of. • Jane Kendall deposed, that they worked for Mrs. Norman, in Keating's-lane, Bermondsey, who employs upwards, of 100 hands, and contracts with Messrs. Bousfield and Sons, of Houndsditch. Mary Ann Kendall, the surviving sister, was then brought into the inquest-room in a helpless state, and after many attempts by the Coroner to take her evidence it was found absolutely necessary to remove her into an adjoining room, where the surgeon and Coroner followed.. In about half an hour, having taken something to soothe her, she was again led up to the table and seated by the side of the Coroner, and deposed in a low tone as follows :—She went out with me on Tuesday, at three o'clock, as they did not want to see their father, in consequence of not having the rent money, which had been borrowed of Jane. They returned about twelve that night, and climbed over the wall and slept in the yard all night, the door of the house being fast. They went away about five next morning, meaning to return at seven, when their father would be gone out. They went through Deptford and along the canal side. Her sister said she wished to go that way to see a young man. She stopped on the bank to wipe her face, and, having done so, turned, and in a moment after, giving witness the handkerchief, deceased was in the water. Witness was alarmed and screamed, and and thought she could catch hold of her frock, she was so near her. Deceased had previously said she would go and give herself up to the police, not being able to get either the lent money or the 3s. demanded by the police-constable. Deceased proposed to go by the canal side. Believes it was only an excuse about going to meet a young man. Could not say whether it was an accident or not. The CORONER said, that it was a question for the jury to consider whether the act was the result of accident or that of wilfully taking her own life. With respect to the witness Mary Ann, the evidence of Cohen showed that she was screaming " Oh, my sister ! oh, my sister !" which indicated that affection and desperation induced her to jump into the water after her sister. There could be no doubt that the sad catastrophe had been brought on by excitement, through great distress at home and threatened imprisonment, with the dread of meeting her father ; the circumstances taken altogether led him (the Coroner) to think that it was not the result of accident. The room was then cleared of strangers, and in about half an hour the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity," and the jury further begged to state their detestation and abhorrence of the miserable manner in which labour was rewarded in all such cases as the present.  MERCHANT SEAMAN'S OuTITAN