The Sun. — 1849-08-07 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE AND ATTEMPT AT  MURDER IN THE HAMPSTEAD-ROAD.  Last evening Mr. H. M. Wakley held an inquest upon the body of Mary Ann Chapman, who, on Saturday morning, endeavoured to murder her three children by strangulation, and afterwards destroyed her °an life by the same means. An ietense degree of excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood ; and the Cock-tavern, Henry-street, where the inquiry took place, was surrounded by a multitude of persons, who were anxious to learn the result of the painful investigation. The Deputy-Coroner empanelled the jury at nine o'clock, and they proceeded to view the body. The first witness called was Emma King, who deposed that she was the wife of a coachmaker, and resided in the house No. 19, Henry-street, where this occurrence took place. On Saturday morning last, about half-past nine o'clock, a Mrs. Randall having communicated to witness that she thought something was amiss, she (witness) went to the door of the deceased, and as the key was in the lock, and the door fast, she got the key of her own door, and tried to push the key out of the lock, but she could not, and then she burst open the door. She then saw the deceased woman, lying with her body on the bed, her feet hanging over the bed-aide. She was quite dead. There was a "comforter" and a handkerchief tied tightly round her neck. There were three children lying on the floor, one of them dressed, the two others undressed. Two of them were nearly gone. They did not stir, and one seemed faintly struggling for breath. There were handkerchiefs round the necks of two of them, and a brown pinafore round the neck of the third. The eldest was about four years of age, the next rather more than two, and the youngest seven months. The deceased was about twenty-five. As soon as she saw what had taken place, she ran down stairs and called in a policeman, and sent for Dr. Collins. The latter, on his arrival, said that deceased had been dead three hours. He arrived within a quarter of an hour after he had been sent for. The deceased was a very quiet, sober, steady woman, and her manner w.,s far from leading any one to suppose that she contemplated such an act. She seemed to live on very happy terms with her husband, who was a very sober, hard-working man. Witness did not ever remember to have heard them quarrel. Carter, the summoning-officer, said that the husband bore a very excellent character in the neighbourhood. The witness, in answer to the jury, said that the deceased's husband wont out at a quarter past five on Saturday morning, and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards she heard the eldest child say, " Oh, mother, don't, don't;" but that was not, to her mind, anything singular, as the child was frequently scolded by its mother for running about the room early of a morning. The children had been sent home again from the hospital. There was no possibility of the door having been locked on the outside and the key passed under the door. A juror said that he asked the witness about the key to explain certain rumours which were afloat in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Randall deposed to finding a blunt knife and razor in the room, but did not observe any marks of blood. On Friday evening she saw the husband nursing the children. Deceased had lately complained very much of her head, and witness tried to get her a le'ter for the hospital. It arrived just before she was found dead. There were a variety of reports in circulation, but she solemnly believed that the husband was innocent of any guilty share in the transaction. They were always very affectionate to their children, but had experienced great privations. In fact, the husband had pawned almost his last shirt for is. 6d. The jury thought that the landlord of the house should be examined as to the circumstances of theEdeceased. The CORONER said that it was not desirable to cuter into the private affairs of families, and he would recommend the jury not to do so on the present occasion, unless they considered such a course was absolutely requisite, so as to enable them to return their verdict. Mr. Davis was then shortly examined. He stated that the deceased was a woman of exemplary conduct, but had suffered much distress, especially,-of late. He had never seen her drunk. The deceased had received parochial relief. The CORONER then briefly summed up. He said it was clear that deceased committed the act herself, and the question for the jury was, what stai,e of mind was sho in at the time? The jury_ returned a verdict of temporary insanity, brougt,T oe q poverty ,earl The constable stated that they had not seen ,he hus°and since the occurrence. The children had quite recovered.  • 0> si e/3 '74 1-4 0 0 • p 3 ,21 i o pa 44 Colchester Harwich ............ 199 920 14 1180 Leigh Maldon