The Sun. — 1844-11-02 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS. MYSTERIOUS CasE.—Last night Mr. Payne, the City coroner, went into a long and protracted inquiry relative to the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Yates, aged 41, the wife of a commercial agent, residing in Newstreet. The deceased was in exceedingly good health and spirits on Tuesday evening., and accompanied her husband to the theatre, but was taken suddenly ill on Wednesday morning, and expired in a few hours. Mr. F. Pullen, surgeon, stated that he was called in on Wednesday morning last about eleven o'clock to see the deceased lady, who was evidently dying. He at first thought deceased had taken poison, but soon ascertained that was not the case—the pulse was deep and heavy, and there was every evidence of concussion of the brain ; the pupil of the eye also evinced compression of the brain. There was a bruise over the left eye, and a livid mark across the nose. The deceased was bled twice, but died in the course of the afternoon. On making a post mortem examination, he found external marks of violence on the head. On cixamining the brain at the back part of the head he discovered a large quantity- of diffused blood, which occupied the space of a crown piece, and was the immediate cause of death. The rupture must have arisen from very considerable external violence ; there was a probability it might have been occasioned by natural causes, such as excitement; but this was exceedingly difficult to ascertain. , The CORONER called upon Mr. Yates, the husband, who was present with his solicitor to watch the case, but that gentleman stated, under the unfortunate circumstances of his wife's death, his legal adviser recommended him not to make any statement, and acting under this advice he must decline to be examined.  The CORONER and jury remarked that the case was involved in great mystery, and it would be a great satisfaction to the Court if this was cleared up. Mr. Hunt, who resides in the same house with Mr. Yates and his late wife, stated that there had been a squabble on the preceding Saturday, but Mr. and Mrs. Yates lived on kind and affectionate terms. On the Wednesday morning Mr. Yates himself sent for medical assistance when his wife was taken ill. Mr. and Mrs. Yates went to see the Royal procession on Monday, and they both went to the theatre on Tuesday, accompanied by a friend, who returned home in a cab with them, but did not stay to supper. Mrs. Yates was sober, as well as her husband. On the morning after her death, Mr. Yates applied to the surgeon for a certificate, but that gentleman stated that it was one of those: cases where he could mot grant a certificate, as he thought it was requisite to have the body opened, as well as an inquest, to which Mr. Yates replied, that he had not the slightest objection to such a proceeding, and stated his wish to have the fullest investigation into the case. The surgeon, in answer to several questions from the Coroner, stated that the bruises on the head and eye must have been inflicted about twelve hours before death. The CORONER remarked on the great mystery and suspicion by which the case was surrounded, and the only person who could have thrown any light on the subject was the husband, who, acting under professional advice, had refused to make any statement, and he had a right to do so, no person being bound to criminate himself. One thing was certain—the deceased had received considerable violence, which was the occasion of her death ; the mystery was, by whom was this violence inflicted. The jury would consider whether any good would result from an adjournment, or whether they would return an open verdict.  The room was then cleared, and after a long consultation the jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased died from a rupture of the brain, but there is not sufficient evidence to determine by whati means it was caused."  The inquiry lasted upwards of three hours, and caused considerable excitement.  SUICIDE BY SULPIINTE or