The Sun. — 1819-09-14 (London, England)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1819.  MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.  [FURTHER PARTICULARS.I  CORONER'S INQUEST.--Yesterday afternoon RD Inquest w•+s held at the Unicorn, Covent-garden, before ANTHONY GaLL,Esq. Coroner, on the body at Mrs. Mary Ann Burnell, aged 35, wife of an Officer in the Army. The inquest excited eonsi• derable interest in the neighbourhood, anti the Jury-room was crowded to excess by respectable persons, anxious to ascertain the nature and result of the case.  0»e of the jurymen appealed to Mr. Gen-, the Coroner, to be informed whether any person whatever, bad a right time after the Jury and Co• wrier were accommodated ?  The Coroner replied, most certainly, the Jury ought first to be accommodated, anti other persons-Blight to give way to them ; but they were there doing justice—it was an open Court, and every person, as long as there was sufficient room, bad as Mach right there as themselves. Mr. _Edward Spragg, printer, of 27, Bow-street, being sworn, stated, that he never before saw illy deceased to his knowledge, until yesterday morning about six o'clock, when he was called'ont of his bed by sonic persons residing in • Martlert•court, Bow-street ; they informed him that a female was at the top of his printing-office, appartnily deranged ; he went out and -saw that she was there in a very perilous situation. Site only bad on her night gown and petticoat, and was kneding on the poodles.--She had endeavoured to get through, a \vindow of the ick's Head Tavern, Bow-street, prior t.it arriving there. He sent for the Garrick's HeVl servant, who came, and getting in *the loft, endeavoured to persuade her to come down; She answered, "-No, no, I will. not ; I ~tm here .uuder the protection of God, and l am happy I have made my escape." She was in such a dangeroas sittration that no person could possibly render her any assistance. At about. o'clock, Mr. Hirlson, a perfot met newly engagDrury-lane Theatre, who was intimatek, acquainted with the deceased, came on mein,; sent for, and persuaded her to come down, on which she said, " nothing should ever untke her ;" and although .he was a friend she threw the tiles at him. Soon after she consented to come down with much persuasion ,on an understanding that she should not be confined. She came down very carefully, and was taken into the printing-office, where a large clasp knife was lying on a piece of Iron plate; she seized. it, and threatening to murder any body who interfered with her, brandished it over her head ; she got to the door, and Mr. Spragg laid hold of her arm to prevent her going out, but she made a rush -and went into the court ; she ran along Martlett-court, down Drury-lane, through Marquis-court, where site ran into Mr. Roache's, the theatrical bookseller's, and from thence site proceeded to Brydges-street, followed by allow thirty persons. On arriving near Exeter-stteet, she stabbed.hersell two or three times in the side. She was taken to the shop of Mr. Greaves, a sergeon. ..Witness followed ; she was bleeding profusely.. A young man who had taken the knife from the' deceased's side gave it to witness. Site died shortly after. While the surgeon . was examining the wound she told him it was of no use to attempt to restore her, and made use of other words.  John Timer, of Duke's-court, Bow-street, deposed to having seen the deceased on the top of the house of Mr. Spragg, and he assisted in getting her down. lie followed her into Brydgesstreet. In Drury-lane the waved the knife, and said to the people, " It you attempt to touch me, I will stab, yott,broogli the body ;" at this time she ,vas nearly in a stare of nudity ; in Brydges. street she stabbed heeselt under her breast ; she was about a yard from witness at the time. On observing the act, he ran towards her, and pulled the instrUment from her side. She exclaimed, " 1 said .1 would do it, and now I have done it." Viritness assisied het tO a. surgeon's. Mr. Charles Augustus Hudson, of Drury-lane Theatre, deposed, t'lat he ha.d knoWn the deceased about six years ; she was a married lady; her husband is an Officer in the At my ; they lived together; there was now and then a trifling•difrereuce between them, but not of.any seilinus kind ; he believed it chiefly arose in consequence of dilfereoce-of persuasion, the decraied being a strict Roman Catholic and her husband a Protestant. The elect-ased latterly had been an Actress ; she performed at the Brighton Theatre, under the management of Mr. Brunton, and went by the assumed name of Belfield. He always observed a flightiness and inconsistency of conduct about her, especially within the last three weeks; site spent the day with him on Tuesday, when 'she came to town ; she slept at the Garrick's Head, but during her stay in town she principally victualled with his family; she was not in want of money ;- her fatuity was of great respectability. Thursday night she went in a coach to Mr. Morris, of the Haymatket Theatre, to obtain an order for admission ; he was very much engaged and could not be seen ; on which site ordered the coachman to drive to Greenwich, without having any business there. She afterwards said she had .walked about all night., The Jury returned a Verdict—" That the (Imamd put an end to her own existence, being at the time in a state of insauity."—The deceased was a fine looking woman.