The Sun. — 1838-06-29 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE BY A  YOUNG LADY AT SEACOMBE.  An event of a most tragical character occurred on board the Sea. cotube steam-boat Alice, near Liverpool, on the afternoon of Thurs(!ay, the lot inst., the unheppy sufferer in which exhibited a degree of reckless intrepidity and coolness of purpose, in the execution of her horrid project, almost unparalleled in the history of her sex. The facts of this distressing case are as novel as they are heart-rending. The deceased, a young lady of great personal beauty and accomplishments, arrived at the Seacombe Hotel, on the morning of Tuesday, accompanied by her father, mother, sister, brother, and uncle, from Carnarron, where they had been spending a few days. On Thursday, about noon, she crossed the river with her uncle, a Lieutenant in the Hon. East India Company's service. Her uncle adjourned to the news-room, and the young lady, having in the meantime some purchases to make in Bold.street, was met again byher uncle abouthalf.past two,who accompanied her to theSeacombe slip ; she recrossed the river, and he saw no more of 'er. On the same afternoon, between four and five, she again left Seacombe in the packet for Liverpool. She appeared to be very restless, and di.l not, as is usual with ladies, confine herself to the hind part of the vessel; on the contrary, she walked about the fore part cf the deck, deliberately took off her bonnet, and, watching her opportunity, plunged into the river from the fore gsngway. The alarm was instantly given —" Stop the engine ; there is a person overboard A boat was immediately launched from the deck, and simultaneously a small boat put off from the Seacombe slip, for the purpose of rescuing the young lady. It was some time before either of the boats reached her ; the waves dashed over her head, but she did not sink, owing, probably, to the buoyancy of her clothing. She must have sprung into the river a considerable distance, so as to outreach the revolution of the paddle wheels, otherwise she would have been instantly dashed to pieces. The beat which put off from Seacombe succeeded in reaching her first, and by it she was conveyed to the hotel. The lady in attendance there cut her clothes, rolled her in blankets, and placed her on a sofa. Mr. Ellis, surgeon, of Seacombe, was called in, together with Mr. Halliday of the same place. At the request of the former gentleman, the young lady was carried up stairs, put to bed, and the usual means employed in the case of drowned persons were put into requisition. The deceased, during this proceeding, appeared in great pain, but perfectly sensible. She asked for her pocket handkerchief, and on its being brought by Miss Smith, of the hotel, she exclaimed, throwing her arras round that lady's neck—" 0, Miss Smith, I shall never get better; I have taken arsenic—an ounce and a half!" Miss Smith asked where she procured it, and she replied in Carnarvon, adding that she had put the paper containing it under her drawer in her bed-room. The paper was immediately sought for, and found in the position described, bearic.g the words—" arsenic, poison." When left alone with the deceased, Miss Smith asked her reason for committing so fatal an act ; her reply was, " I am very unhappy, and have been so for a long time : I wish to die." Mr. Ellis appearing at the same time, the deceased asked him sternly, " Doctor, how long have I to live ?" On learning that she had taken poi. son, the stomach-pump was applied by the medical men, and all available means used to prolong life, without effect. A few minutes before her death, Miss Smith asked the deceased if she should wish to see her father and mother ? Her reply was " No." She expired in about an hour and a half after being taken out of the water, having from that time until within a few minutes of her death experienced the most excruciating agony from the operation of the arsenic. The deceased, as we have stated, was a remarkably fine-looking young woman, in the 19th year of her age. All the arrangements fort he successful execution of her fearful purpose were devised with lamentable prudence and forethought. Before entering the packet she changed her shoes for slippers, untied her hair, left her veil, scarf, and brooch behind, and, as we have already mentioned, took off her bonnet, and deliberately placed it on the deck of the steamer, ere she plunged into the river. It appears from the facts which have transpired, that the young lady whose melancholy death we have detailed, was married at the early age of 17. Her husband is a barrisrer named Smythe. The marriage proved unfortunate, for after living together for a short time they separated, since which the spirits of the deceased have suffered great depression. To increase this depression, she was lately afflicted with an attack of rheumatic gout, at Carnarvon, at which watering place she was residing with her friends before coming to Seacombe. This illness, according to the testimony of her uncle, was produced by the deceased remaining too long in the water whilst bathing. The young lady belonged to a highly respectable family, who are, it may easily be believed, in the greatest possible agony at the tragic result. Her father, whose name is Amphlett, supports a carriage,and resides at Broom, near Stourbridge, in Staffordshire. The fancily are now at Parry's Hotel, where they will remain until the interment of their daughter. Yesterday an inquest was held on the body before Faithful Thomas, Esq., Coroner for the northern division of Cheshire. The facts we have stated were proved in evidence, and the Jury returned the follow. ing verdict :—" We unanimously find that the deceased came by her death from the effect of having taken poison, during a state of tempo. rary derangement."