The Sun. — 1840-06-01 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF  POISONING.  A more extraordinary CESC than the one which we are about to submit to our readers 17e never remember to have occurred in Manchester, and scarcely in the kingdom ; its parallel can only be sought hi those frantic exploits which sometimes mar the " course of true love " amongst our Gallic neighbours.  On the —afternoon of Wedresday last a report was spread in the neighbourhood of Pin-mill Brow and Great Ancoatsstreet that a young man and a young woman had poisoned themselves ; and the utmost excitement was in consequence created. On inquiry it was ascertained that the report was but too true, as regarded the young man, whose name is John Binks, late a private in the 96th regiment (now lying at the Regent-road barracks), and in the 21st year of his age. It appeared that the deceased, who was a native of Manchester, bad been acquainted with the female (whose name is Dinah Spence) about two years ; that he had engaged to marry her four months ago, but had in February last enlisted into the 96th Regiment, in consequence, as it was stated, of his parents not doing their duty to him. The regiment i 3 about to leave Manchester, and as be was prevented marrying the girl, it would appear that they had severally formed the strange resolution of destroying themselves by poison. So thoroughly imbued were they with this maudlin Frenchified sentimentality, that they shut themselves up in a room of a house kept by a woman named Wain, with whom the female bad lodged, and actually carried their design into effect, so far as the swallowing of the poison was concerned. The circumstance of deliberation and arrangement with which this was done, and the length of time which the design had been entertained, as appears from the account given by the wretched girl, are perfectly shocking, and leave no doubt that one or both of them must have laboured under very strong mental hallucination. The denouement of the tragedy was the death of the unfortunate young man. The female, who had probably taken a similar dose, lay for a day or two in the infirmary in a very dangerous state, but is now in a fair way of recovery.  On the inquest held upon the body of the cleansed, the deposition of Dinah Spence, aged 26, was taken by her bedside at the infirmary where she is now lying. At the close of the evidence the COR6NER said that as the deceased had not arrived at the years of discretion, being in law an infant, namely under 21 years of age, he could not commit fclo de se. But had he been upwards of 21, the other circumstances of the case being the same, he should not have thought it a clear case of felo de se, and should have recommended the Jury to find accordingly. After a short consultation amongst the Jury, the following verdict was recorded :—" That the deceased came to his death by taking arsenic in his tea, the same being administered, and he being an infant under the age of 21 years, and consequently not of the age of discretion.".__ Manchester Courier.  COACH PROPRIETORS:-'Tie proprietors of steam-boats and railroads make a monthly return of the number of passengers they convey, and pay a duty on each passenger accordingly. Surely it would be only justice to put coach proprietors on a similar footing. At present they arc compelled to pay for whatever number their coaches can carry, without the least reference as to whether they do carry them or not.—Briyh tO 71 Herald.