The Sun. — 1827-05-07 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  AFFLICTING AND DETERMINED SUICIDE.  On Saturday evening an inquisition was taken at the sign of the Shipwrights' Arms, Bermondsey-street, on the body of Mrs. Charlotte Barlow, who committed suicide under peculiarly afflicting circumstances. Mrs. Elizabeth Whiffen, of King's Head-yard, Tooleystreet, was sister to the deceased, who resided with her for the last few weeks, and slept in another bed in the same room. About half past two o'clock on Thursday morning last, the witness was awoke by a heavy noise, and perceived the deceased had fallen out of bed. She asked if anything ailed her; the deceased answered ", Nothing is the matter, my legs are cramped." She helped her into bed, and in about half an hour afterwards, the deceased faintly said, " Elizabeth, I am dying." Witness asked her, why she thought so? She replied in a faint tone, " I have taken poison." Witness became alarmed, and called for assitance ; the deceased then said, to a female that came into the room, that she had swallowed two-penny worth of laudanum, and two pennyworth of arsenic, at two o'clock. Medical assistance was procured, but ahe died in five minutes after.  Co ao rac a. —What was the state of her mind previously? Mrs. Whiffen —I saw her at eleven o'clock, before she went to bed, and she appear .K 1 quite calm and composed, but I know that she has been deranged for some tirne past, in consequence of the cruel treatment of a rascal. [Here the witness became much affected.] The CORONER intimated to the witness that she had better disclose all she knew, relative to tho state of the deceased's mind.  Mrs. Whiffen rcrlied, that she did not wish to conceal any thing ; but the circumstances, which she considered had led to her sister's death, were so distressing and melancholy, that she could not help being affected at the detail of them. She stated, that the deceased was possessed of some property, and was of the age of about thirty-five. A few months since a genteel-looking man, of very accomplished address, was introduced to her, and subsequently married her, and in a very short time dissipated all her money, treating her with the greatest barbarity, and ultimately deserted her, and went away, no one knew whither. It was then ascertained that he bad another wife and family, at Oldham, in Lancashire. Upon the deceased !earning this, coupled with other misfortunes, she gave herself up to melancholy and despair, and determined on committing suicide. The Jury immediately returned a verdict, that the deceased had committed suicide while in a state of mental derangement.  ANECDOTE off THE NEW LORD CHAXCELCELLoR.—The following anecdote, which we have from good authority, may be considered interesting at the present moment. Mr. Cople'y, the painter, made great exertions to give his son an education of the highest kind ; and it so happened, that while he was supporting him at the University, he was unprovided for a small bill of 301. which he had given to Mr. —, an eminent engraver, employed upon one of his works. The letter which he wrote upon the occasion was turned up casually the other day, within a , few hours of his sun's elevation to the Woolsack ! Its purport was to request a renewal of the acceptance at a longer date ; because, said the kind and anxious father (in substance) you know that John's expellees at College are very considerable, and drain me to the utmost. Yet he has done himself so much honour in his studies, has risen so high, and gives promise of such future eminence, that it would be a sad thing to suffer him to be impeded in his career by any want just now. Could the prophetic parent sec the full accomplishment of his hopes, he would, perhaps now, as at the period of which we speak, feel little compunction (though quite at odds with the poor worlding's farthing prinCiples) for having helped to make a Lord Chancellor by dishonouring his bill ! Gazette.