The Sun. — 1841-08-16 (London, England)

EVENING SUN  CORONERS' INQUESTS. slanted  ._. _. :4  -a  the body of Mrs. Sarah Spencer, aged 53, a respectable widow, nurse in the family of R. Reid, Esq., a gentleman connected with the Customs, residing at No. 16, Portland-place. Thomas Grace, footman in the service of Mr. Reid, said the last time he saw. the deceased alive was at about half-past one o'clock; in the afternoon of Wednesday last, at the dinner table at his master's house. • He saw her shortly after, with her bonnet on, go out at the street door, and tnrn in the direction of Park-crescent. He had not seen her since. She appeared whilst at dinner in a perfect state of health, and le saw nothing whatever uliusual in her manner, which was generally lively. Mrs. Mary Barnes stated, that she was the female attendant at the Royal York-Baths, York-terrace, Regent's-park. About three o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday last, the deceased came and said, she required a bath. 'Witness inquired whether she would like it cold or warm, and she said warm Witness then asked the deceased if she would sta..; in the waiting-room until the bath was got ready, or follow her to the bath-room at once, but she preferred the latter. Witness then showed deceased the bath, which is about five feet long anel two feet deep ; when she inquired if they had not a larger one, to which witness replied, " No. That was the usual size, tine. she would find it quite large enough." Witnes having then arranged the necessary linen for do ceased's use left the bath-room, and heard he; lock the door after her. The deceased had bee, in the bath one hour when witness knocked at 11-. door, but receiving no answer, knocked again, and th.. result was similar. She ascended to the skylight, aryl having got it open looked into the room. She then observed the deceased lying in the bath with her head under water. She could only see the lower part of dc• ceased's body out of the water. She raised an abler. and Mr. Surtees, the brother of the late proprietor of tla., bath, now lying dead, and the engineer, burst open tl • door. The deceased was then discovered lying on he: face at the bottom of the bath, and her legs hanging over the side of it, having on her chemise, flannel petticoat. and stockings. She was taken out, and medical aid pre • cured, and a vein was opened, but life was quite extinct. The Coroner remarked that there was little doubt but that the case was one of suicide, but as there was no distinct evidence, an open verdict would be proper.—The Jury ultimately returned a verdict " That deceased found dead in a bath, but whether she destroyed herself intentionally there was no direct evidence to show." On Saturday afternoon an inquest was held before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the George the Fourth, Hounslow Heath, on the body of a fine-looking girl named Maria Payne, only sixteen years of ae•e, who poisoned herself. It appeared from the evidence that she was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Pityne, sergeant gate-keeper of the re view ground at Hounslow Heath, under the Quarter. Master-General, and lived at the lodge on the centre of the heath. During the last three weeks the deceased had appeared remarkably dull and strange in her manner, And neglectful of the duties ' she had to perform. On the morning of Tuesday last Mr. Payne, on coming home about a quarter past seven o'clock, heard the deceased in the garden retching and saying "Oh dear ?" On going to her he asked her if she had taken anything that disagreed with her, but she refused to say, on which he fetched in a female neighbour, when she was placed on a sofa and a surgeon sent for. Just previous to her 'death, which took place the same night, her father asked her what she had swallowd, where she had taken Wand who had given it to her ; upon which she replied, "I got oxalic acid at Mr. Ward's myself and took it," and then added, " Father, kiss me, you have been a good father to me--7-you gave me good advice, and I am very sorry I did Clot take it—forgive me," and she soon after expired. She was generally of a very violent spirit. Verdict—" The deceased died from swallowing oxalic acid, being at the time in a state of insanity."  On Saturday an inquest was held at the Duke of Wellington, Hackney, on the body of James Stubbings, u respectable master builder, aged 61, who committed suicide by cutting his throat, and otherwise dreadfully mutilating himself. Joseph Hall, of Providence-place ~ Hackney, said that for the last four months the ged lad been in a very low and desponding sta .-His demeanour was at intervals very remarkable, and ore last few days his gentral habits were so eccentric that his frien4.s thought that his mind was affected, but did not consider it necessary to place him under restraint, and he was closely watched by his family and a young man who slept with him. On Sunday morning, about 6 o'clock, a messenger from deceased's son called upon witness, and requested him to follow immediately to his residence. lie did so ; and upon entering the deceased's room he saw him bleeding from a large wound in the throat, and suffering from other injuries he had inflicted on his person. Witness bound his throat with a handkerchief to stop the flow of blood, and sent for a surgeon. Mr. Crocombe, a surgeon of Homerton, quickly attended, but from the dreadful nature of the injuries his survival could not be expected, and he died the following clay. Witness had no doubt that the deceased had committed thi, rash deed whilst labouring under one of those paroxysms of pain which arose from disease of the kidneys. The jury immediately returned a verdict of " Temporary Insanity."