The Sun. — 1818-11-11 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS.  AFFECTING SUICIDE. YeEterday afternoon an Inquest was held at the Duke of Argyle public-house, G:eat Windmill-street, Saint James's, on the body of Sarah Pearce, aged 22, who came to her death under the following melancholy circumstances : Mr. James Pearce, of No. 2S. Great Windmill' street, stated, that the deceased was his daughter, and lodged at a friend's house opposite his own. She was addressed by a young man named John Hill, who is a harness-maker, working at the corner of Shepherd-street and Oxford-street, and who lodged in wit ness's house. On Sunday three weeks, he told her that he was going to Saint Ann's church, to publish the banns for their marriage. She sent a female friend to the Church to ascertain the fact, and the following Sunday went herself, but found that her name was not called. She returned home quite melancholy, and was observed to he in a state f dejection from that day till the hour of her untimely death.' On Sunday last the deceased was with witness and her mother all the day ; about the afternoon, Hill carne borne, bringing with him a young woman, whom he desired his !andlady to tell the deceased was his intended wife ; and as a further insult to the poor girl, he kept the female to tea, during which the deceased was in a state bordering on frenzy ; witness detained her at his house till near of e o'clock in the morning, trying to soothe her, but to no effect. Next morning Mr 3. Jones,with whom the deceased lodged, came to witness, and said she feared something had happened, as she could not make her bear when she called her. Witness, full of terror, ran over ; the door was locked ; he forced it open, and instantly ran to the bed ; no one was there, nor had it the appearance of having been slept in. Thinking that she had wandered out, he was about to retrace his steps, but as he turned round was horror struck to see her hanging by a silk handkerchief from a railing against the cupboard. Snatching up a knit'e that lay on the table, he cur the body down, and then ran into tie street, not knowing what he did. Mr. E. Dixon, of Na. 66, Wardour-street, surgeon, stated, that about ten o'clock on Monday morning he was called to see the deceased. There was a deep mark round the neck ; the tongue pro. traded and was much swoln. The body was quite cold, and she was dead some hours ; conserpiently he did not attempt to administer any remedies. She had all the appearances of a person strangled. Mr. Jones, of No. 26, Windmill-street, with whom the deceased lodged, deposed, that she worked at shoe-binding, and that an Monday morning some work was sent to her from Mr. Puzey's, in Piccadilly. Witness went to call her, but received no answer.—(This witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr. Pearce.)—She was a modest, prudent, good-natured girl, and much respected ; but lately her conduct has been that of a lunatic.  On being asked by the Jury to give his opinion as to the cause of I,er melancholy, Mr. Jones said, " I have no doubt but that rascal of a fellow (Bill) deceived her." The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence; and the Jury, through the medium of Mr. Sa• wage, their Foreman, returned the following verdict :—" The deceased hanged herself in a fit of insanity, produced, in the opinion of the Jury, by the culpable, and they add, criminal conduct of John Hill."