Weekly News. — 1891-04-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

YOUNG WOMAN POISONED BY PHOS. PHORUS PASTE.  DEATH OF BARNUM.  Mr. Phineas Taylor Barnum, the world-renowned showman, died at Bridgeport, in the State of Connecti. cut, on Tuesday afternoon. He had been in for some time. He was 73 years old.  An inquest was held at the Gas Tavern Inn, East -fr Quay Road, on Saturday morning, before Dlr. G. Braxton Aldridge (Coroner), and a jury, of which Mr, William Stokes was appointed foreman, touching the death of Florence Fry, aged 17 years, on Friday morn. ing last, at Russell Place, Poole. The following evidence was given: Sarah Fry, mother, deposed that the deceasd, who was helping at home, had not enjoyed good health for over two years, and had been suffering from weakness in the chest and a weak heart. Deceased had been taking medicine from Dr. Robinson during the last week. She went out ior a walk on Wednesday after. noon, and said she should not be long, bat did net return till after seven o'clock in the evening. she said a.; returning she did not want anything to eat or drink. About 9.30 she got up and got herself eon cocoa, and poured some hot water into a clip, taking it into the front room; witness thinking she was goin  .nKing e. going for some milk. She drank it there, and returned with the empty cup, then going to bed, wishing them good night. Witness heard her vomiiing and coughing tint night, but did not think much of it as her grardmother was with her. She complained of a pain in her chest. She was up and down stairs nearly all next day, going up at times to lie down. As she appeared to be suffering from more pain, witness sent for Dr. Bolton about 8.30, who said she was very ill and was to go to bed 0 once, ordering remecPee which were applied at once. Witness obtained medicine from the sergery,which was given to her, and she went to sleep. On Friday morning she did not seem so well, and groaned very much, complaining a great deal of nains in her chest and stomach, and she was still occasionally vomiting. About a quarter to two she turned over on her side and died without a struggle.— By the Foreman : Witness never heard deceased had any thing on her mind.—By the Coroner : Nor that she had threatened to commit suicide.—By the Foremen : Nor ever heard of her being in love. Jane Desmore (grandmother) stated she had been staying with the last witn(ss from Christmas last, sleeping with the deceased during the whole time. She had never been a strong girl, and during the time witness had been with her hed been occasionally out of sorts, and fey the last two years had been so many times unwell that she had been to the Bournemouth Dispensary often. Deceased was suffering from weakness of lunge as well as a weak heart. Witness never heard her threaten to deetrov herself, and she always seemed happy and comfortable at home, her parents being very fond indeed of her. She had never been deceived by a lover, nor was she ever engaged, and witness never noticed that she was low spirited or depressed. On Thursday morning deceased, being in bed, called her little brother and handed him a pot corked up very tight and also gave him a halfpenny, telling him to throw it into 'he we. The child brought it to witness, who placed it on the mantelshelf. They thought no more of the pot witil the doctor VIM' and enquired for it. Meant 7, on Thursday evening, deceased came downstairs and said, " I feel very ill, grandma." Witness said to her "Dear, have you taken anything, now tell me?" she said " Yes, I don't want to live. lam no good to myself and I want to go." Witness went to her mother and told her, and she Rent to the doctor at once. Witness had not the slightest idea of the reason of her act.—By a jury man: Witness did not shoe the pot to deceased. Dr. Arthur Bonbon,