The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-07-09 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

GUARDSMAN.  An inquiry was held on Monday, at the Saracen's Head Tavern, Camomile-street, in London, respecting the suicide under very extraordinAry circumstances of Edward Henry Hawkins, aged 21 years.  Serjeant John Saunders of the Ist Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, said that the deceased was a corp^ral in that corps, but he had been reduced to the ranks. For some time past he was quite altered in his manner, and he weld sit and cry for two hours together because he was disappointed about a young woman. He rued to neglect duty and absent himself from barracks without leave, fle was confined In barracks as a punishment, and he got extra drill and was reduced to the ranks on that account. On Thursday night last he absented himself from Wellington Barracks without leave. On Saturday witness heard of his death. He had been eve years in the regiment. Mary Ann Stetter., a young woman apparently about 20 years of age, deposed that she was in the service of a gentleman's family residing near Regent's Bark. She knew the deceased for two years, and he was paying his addresses to her. Lately he because very jealous. On Sunday week they had a violent quarrel when they met, and the next day she sent him a letter, in which she wrote, " I will never walk with you again." That letter preyed on his mind, and she met him by appointment on Friday last. He was much excited, and he said he would kill he. Ile said, "You shall never go back to your home again," and he pulled out a knife and drew it across her throat. The knife did not cut her. Wl•neas said she would forgive him if he was not so cruel. He then proposed that witness should stay with him, and that they should destroy their lives together. She agreed to his proposal that they should take a room, and buy poison, and rile together. They went and took a room at the Saracen's Head Hotel, on the third floor. "Then." continued the witness, "we went out in the evening to buy poison. We went to a chemist's in the City, but I do not know the name of the place. I remained outside the shop while he wen In and purchased two drachms of cyanid° of potassium The chemist said to him, " Be careful of this, frit is poison." Deceased answered, "I know that, I want it to clean the gold lace of my uniform." We then returned to the Saracen's Head, and sat in the parlaur for an hour, talking. We then went ute.tairs to the room. He then took out the little box containing the poison, and gave me a portion about the size of a bean, and kepi a piece the same size himself. Ile naid, "1 am truly sorry I have kept }u from yor place. It was all through my foolish temper." lie then put the poison whi•M he had Into his mouth, and I did the same with what he had given me. He tell upon the floor, but I vomited out what I had taken. I took a pillow off the bed and put it under his head. There was then a knocking at the door, and he said, " Mary, make no noise until I arn dead." The servantealled out " What noise is that—what fell ?" I said to bee, " Ile has only been drinking." I knew It was poison. The girl came in for the light, and found him dying on the floor. An alum was raised and the police came. After the tnedieal evidence the Jury returned S Verdict-'"That the deceased poisoned himself while in a state of unsound mind," and they requested that the coroner ahould reprimand the young woman, Mary Ann Shatters, for her conduct in the affair. The young woman, who woo much affected, war Sc. cordingly called in and severely cerpoired by the coroner for havinl committed the serious offence of having agreed with the deceased to commit suicide.