The Haslingden Gazette. — 1905-02-04 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

SUMMONS AND POISON.  Accrington Widow's Suicide.  Some peculiar circumstaidir ii. C. 1101.6011 with a poisoning case at Acerington were investigated fy the Coroner, at the Town HA on Thursday after. noon, the deceased being a widow, aged 45, mimed Elisabeth Whittaker, and reciding in Grange-smo. Shortly before ten o'clock on Wednesday night, a labourer, named Thomas Greaves, of Avenueparade, and Sarah Walsh, Birtwidle-street, called at the house of the deceased. They opened the dimr and spoke, but receiving no answer made a light. They then saw the woman lying on • bed in the front room downstairs dead. P.C. Cameron was called in. and he found two bottles labelled . . . .  " poison" beside the bed; also a ghtm winch smelled of poison, and a letter. She was last seen alive by Thomas Golden, collier, of Culvertstreet and Miranda Taylor, Grange-lane. at fourac!o,k on Wednesday morning, and at that time she appeared to be all right. At the Coroner's inquiry, James Hamer. • f Arnold street, stated that the deceased wa, sister. and • widow. She had been living alone at 10, Grange-lane, since July last, but he could on; say how she had been liviog, became he had net 'nets her since that time. The Coroner: She used to take a drop of driTili? Witness • Yes, she has been one who has taken a drop of 'beer. 'Miranda Taylor, 61. Grange-lane. stated that s!, . last saw the deceased on Wednesday morning at four o'clock. She was in the house because deceased did not feel so well and wanted someone ti stop with her. Neither of them went to bed, aml when she left her she appeared all right A young woman named Sarah Walsh stated that on 'Wednesday night, just before ten o'clock, she I and a boy named Greaves went to are the deceased. ! The door was not fast, but all was dark in the ' house. The /ad Greases struck a match, and they then noticed the deceased lying ott the bed fully dressed, and on further examination they found the wm dead. _  P.C. Cameron, who was called to the house by the last witness, said that he found the deceased lying on her back on the bed dead, and he should say that she had been dead for some time. At the ode of the bed there leas a jug which smelled of huidanuni and a bottle which had contained that poison was on a small table at the side of the bed. the floor there was a packet which had contained oxalic. neid . . .  The Coroner. err examining the jug. expre.,ed the opinion that a portico of oxalic acid ax, It ft in it,  Cameron added that he also found a ktter on the floor by the side of the bed. The Coroner: lbLyou loom that this woman bad had a ounmoio.?—Yes. When ought she to have appearedY—YeAerday. What was the ,ummons fort—For being drunk anA riotous..  --ii;;;l:;—iieen living a loose life generallyl—Yes. The Coroner stated that the letter written by the woman was in his possession, but he did tat think it either advisable or necessary to read it all, although perils'o as few passages might throw some light upon the occurrence. lie added that therit was no date attached to the letter, and it was not addressed to anyone it. particular. Here are a few of the pa-age, a• read by the Coroner:—  1 not ,=tand it any hmger. lam in ifly right mind.  I have done my bet to get a hone but cam t. and I have made up my mind to destroy rope:f. I got 3d. of laudanum on Wednesday. I got a summons, and everybody seems to i.e against me.  "T.;-.7 'down this meriting anti asked thew t witiniray the stuitopons.  The Coroner said it wax evident the woman Ltd made away with herxelf, and had taken either laudanum or oxalic acid, or the mixture. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."