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 orse Inn, Longsight, Manchester, upon a girl, aged 18, named Mary Ann Keighley, the daughter of an omnibus driver, wile poisoned herself on Tuesday night with stryolinine, contained in rat poison (nux rondea). It appeared that the girl had lived 11 months as der: mestic servant with Mrs. Roscoe, lodging-house keeper, and was in the habit of waiting upon the lodgers, amongst whom was a Mr. May, for whom she 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 m 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 great 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 cause of my doing so. Good-bye, God bless yQU all. Hurt 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 out, send for him. God bless you, Mr. May. Mother, give him my likeness, if he will have it. * * Tell him not 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- you. 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 be dead. Do not make yourself unhappy dearest, at all. Be sure Ilove 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. Cornes for his harshness to me. So good bye. May God pour down blessings upon yourhead, and al 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. H. 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 ex ruination, made by Mr. Billing, showed that the girl died from poisoning by strychnine, of which, it was supposed, there was about a grain ix_ each of the three packets of rat poison. Mrs. RoP,:,oe said that the girl left her house in high spir,cs, and only said that she had a better. situat;.on in ViCW. finis was explained by the girl's -mother, les o s*.ated that something had been, said about her It in housekeeper for Mr. May a:ad Mr. Comes (ano Cher of Mrs. Roscoe's lodgers), who were about to leav e Mrs. Roscoe's. Several il,:aymen said a rumour had prevailed Mrs. Itor,coe had chalged the girl with being in such a condition as would be brought about by improper conduct ; but Mr. Billing, the surgeon, said there was not the slightest foundation for such a charge, and th e girl's mother stated that servant, Mr. an Md aay h verad told prudenth er that she was a good y  girl. The jury, in accordance with the coroner's suggestions, took a charitable view of the girl's conduct, on account of her age, and returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."