Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1881-12-31 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BARMAID.  EXAMINATION OF LIEUT.  PON SONBY.  ATTEMPT TO LYNCH THE LIEUTENANT.  1 Dr. Thomas, Coroner for Central Middlesex, lon Thursday resumed the inquest on the T remains of Emma Cutriming4, lately bar. maid at the Criterion restaurant, who ' committed suicide by taking a quantity of phosphoric paste. Henry Pousunby, who WS9 examined as a witness, testified that he was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He first saw deceased in July last at the Criterin. She left there on the 25th of November to meet him at Charing Cross. She, however, came to his hotel at noon that day, telling him she had no money. Witness told her to go to Bedford-terrace to apartments he had taken. They went there, and stayed together till the 29th November, when he left to join friends in the country. He did not return because they could not agree together. He was to provide for her. Deceased spoke of another man. It was untrue that they agreed to live together twelve months. It was untrue that witness agreed to pay deceased £25 per month. She had told Lim her keep would cost that amount. It was untrue he had disease. He gave deceased £5 108. After be left she received£lo, and her week's board Was paid up. Deceased and he went and took the lodgings. They had frequent quarrels before he left. He returned to , London on hearing that sometLiog horrible had occurred.  Dr. Capon deposed that he saw symptoms on deceased that might have been ' attributed to the disease she believed she was suffering from. He told her she might recover in three weeks. Her ideas of life-long suffering must have been got from conversations with friends. The Coroner said be had been able to decipher the letter deceased sealed for Dr. Capon. It was much similar to the others which had been read. It was written shortly before she took the poison. Deceased said if Lieut. Pousonby wished to see her alter death he might be allowed to do so, as it might stop him from ruining another girl. Wm. "Button," Aruudel-street, said he called with another gentleman on deceased, and subsequently saw her on the Monday she took the poison. She looked ill and despairing on account of the di,ease. He was quite a stranger to her. He told her he knew nothing about her having disease. He went to accompany Lieutenant Ponsonby's friend, who left her money, and told her the lieutenant would not return.  The Coroner then real a letter from Lieutenant Ponsonby'a friend saying he left deceased one £lO note. The Coroner also read a certificate from Wakefield, dated yesterday, stating that Lieutenant Ponsonby was examined, and had no disease. The jury then returned to consider their verdict, and, being away about twenty minutes, returned a verdict of suicide whilst in a state of mental excitement and unsoundness of mind, produced by the miserable and unfortunate condition in which she was left by Lieut. Ponsonhy, with whom she had arranged to live.  The jury also expressed their abhorrence of Lieut. Ponsonby's conduct in seducing and deserting deceased. The verdict was received with cheers.  After reading the verdict, Dr. Thomas made a few remarks condemning the conduct of Lieut. Ponsonby. .  At the concfcision of the proceedings a large crowd gathered outside the ball. Lieutenant Pousonby remained inside, and applied for police protection, an extra body of twenty men being sent for. After waiting an hour a cab was fetched, and a strong body of police formed around it. Lientenant Ponsonby entered, and was followed by a police inspector. The crowd made desperate effort to get at the cab, and seized the horse's head. Attempts were made to strike the occupant, sticks and umbrellas being thrust through the window. Nif ith some difficulty the police got the crowd back, and the cab drove off down Edgware-road, guarded by police running by the side. A great number of people gave chase for a considerable distance, but the cab eventually got away.