The Sun. — 1849-10-20 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS. AFFLICTINQ SUICIDE BY A LADY.—YeSteidaY forenoon, Mr. T. Wakley, M.P. for Finsbury, and Coroner for the western division of Middlesex, resumed his duties for the first time since his alarming illness, about eight months ago. The first inquest held by Mr. Wakley was at the Guilford Arms, Guilford street, Russell-square, on view of thebody of Miss Sarah Whittaker, aged 53 years, who destroyed herself by swallowing a large quantity of laudanum, under the following very afflicting circumstances. It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses, that the deceased's brother was a solicitor, and was formerly in a very extensive practice, and posaessd of considerable property. Some years since he became unable to attend to his professional duties, through an aberration of intellect. His property and his sister's were soon expended, and the deceased was compelled to seek her livelihood by becoming a daily teacher in a gentleman's family. Her brother gradually became worse, and he was eventually confined in a lunatic asylum. He remained thera bat a short time, and was liberated through the intercession of the deceased, who displayed such strong devotion to her brother as to cause considerable sym pathy and respect in her behalf by a number of respectable individuals, who took a deep interest in her welfare. The deceased took her brother home and entirely provided for him, and attended upon hint as a mother would to her infant. Her brother wl:s considered a confirmed lunatic, and was constantly inflicting some violence upon her, but she would never allow any interference, and always kept hint from the sight of any person. About five weeks since he hired some furnished apartments for herself and brother, at No. 23, Bernard-street, Russell-square. She was in the habit of leaving home in the morning, and attending to her duties as a teacher, an :1 returning in the afternoon. Directly afterwards at loud uproar was heard in her apartments, as if her brother was ill-using her. On one occasion the landlord opened the room- door, and found the deceased struggling with her brother, who had the tongs in his hand, and was flourishing them over her head. The deceased never complained of her sufferings, ner (lid she ever appear reluctant to attend upon, her brother, although, at times, it was quite evident that she was suffering from great mental anxiety and bodily fatigue. During the last few days her brother hal become very outregeous, and would have, no doubt, killed her, if prompt assistance had not been rendered. On Tuesday night last, Sergeant Boidman, 13 E division, was called in by the landlord, for the purpose of preventing the deceased's brother from committing any further injury to her or to himself. The sergeant obtained the assistance of a police-constable, and he was strictly watched during the night. In consequence of his violent behaviour, a certificate was procured for his admission into the infirmary, at St. Pancras workhouse. He was removed on the following morning, and shortly afterwards the deceased was found lying upon the sofa in a state of stupor. The landlord acquainted Sergeant Boidman, who instantly sent ler Mr. T. Wakley (the son of the worthy coroner), surgeon, who quickly attended, but the deceased died in about an hour and a half afterwards. A search was made in the room, and four bottles which had contained laudanum were discovered in some drawers. Mr. T. Wakley said, when he was first called to the de• ceased .the room smelt strongly of laudanum, and from the appearance of the deceased he considered she was suffering from the effects of that poison. He applied the stomach-pump, but finding it unavailing he had recourse to the galvanic battery, which materially increased the respiration. It afterwards became gradually weaker, and she died in about an b.ur afterwards from the effects of the poison. The Coroner said unfortunately poisons were sold too freely in this country, and he was of opinion that none ought to be sold unless in the presence of a witness. This case was a most afflicting one, and he had never heard of such devotion as that exhibited by the deceased towards her insane brother. Mr. Wakley said on examining the body of the deceased he found it covered with bruises, and he had no doubt but tha unfortunate lady had been most severely ill-used by her brother. The jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased destroyed herself by swallowing a quan. tity of laudanum, while in a state of unsound mind."