The National Register. — 1818-11-16 (London, England)

INQUESTS.  On Tuesday afternoon, an inquest was held at the Duke of Argyle public house, Great Windmill-street, St. James's, on the body of Sarah Pearce, aged tt, who came to her death under the following melancholy circumstances : Mr. James Pearce, of No. :8, Great Windmill Street, stated, that the deceased was his daughter, and halgial at a friend's house opposite his own. She was addressed by a young man. named John Hill. who is a harness maker,working at the corner of Soepherd Street anti Oxford Street, and who lodged in witniais's flume. On Sunday three weeks, lie told her that lie was going to St. Ann's church, to pnblith the butts for their marriage. She sent a female friend to the church to ascertain the fact, mid the folloanng Sanday went herself, but found that her name was not called. Sue returned home quite melancholy. and was observed to be in a state of dejection. trout that day till the hour of her untimely death. On Sunday fist the deceased was with witness and her mother all the day ; auout the afternoon 11111 came home, bringing %vita him a young woinao, whom he desired his landlady to tell tile deceased was his intended wife ; and, as it further insult to the poor girl, lie kept the femme to tea, during which the deceased was IM a state bordering on frenzy. Witnexi detained her in his house till near one o'clock in the morning, trying to south her, but to no erKet. Neu morning .)Irs. Junes, with. whom the deceased lodged, same to witness, and said she feared something had happened. as she could not make her hear when she called ber. Witness, full of terror, ran over; the door was locked; he forced it open maanilv , and ran to toe berg; no one was there, nor had it the appearance of having been siept in. Thinking she had waadereil out. he was about to retract his step., but as he turned round, was horror-struck- to see her hanging by a silk iiandixrelner from a railing against the cupboard. Snatching up a kuile. that Lay on the table, he cut the body down, and then ran into me street, not knowing what he did. Mr. E. Dixon, of 6 i, Wardour Street, surgeon, stated, that about teu o'clock on Monday morning he was called to see the deceased. There was a deep inatk rbund the neck ; the tongue protruded, and was much swolu. The body was quite cold, and she had been dead some hours; consequently he did not attempt to administer any re. medics. She had alt the appearance of a person strangled. M r..lones, of No. 2n, Windmill Street, with whom toe deceased lodged, deposed that Site worked at stio.-bunling, mud that on Monday inorniug some work was sent to her from Mr. Puzey's, is Piceadilly. Witness went to call her but received no allWer. (This witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr. Pearce.) She was a modest, prudent, good natured girl, and much respected ; but lately her conduct has been that of a lunatic.  On being asked by the Jury to give his opinion at to the cause of her meLincholy, Mr. Junes said, •• I have no doubt but that rascal of A fellow (I fill) deceived her."  The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence, and the Jury, through the medium of NIL Savage, their foreman, returned the lid lowing verdict :—** The deceased hanged herself in a lit of insanity, produced, in the opinion of the Jury, by the culpable, and they add. etiminal conduct of John Hill."  The London Dock Company have taken down the house lately occupied by Mr. Hurt, which fronted the basin, on the outside of the Cofer-dam. With the exception of a slight raihnt; fur aoout twenty yards along the margin of the excavauon, the whole, as far as the river, is destitute of any defence, and the materials and rubbish front the house have raised the ground upon a level with the railing ; so that along the whole line there is a precipice, front which an indivi. dual in time dark may meet with immediate. destruction. An inquest on the body of Esther Dutton was held on Thursday week, who was found dead in the basin on Wednesday. H. Angel, the minister of brig, heard a plunge tow time water the preceding evening, but imuki see nothing; there was twelve feet of water. J. basun, surgeon, saw no marks of violence to occasion death. Other witnesses were examined, and the inquest adjourned; but it was impossible for the Jury to ascertain whether the deceased met her death by accident or suicide. The Coroner said, the facts should meet the eye of those immediately concerned. Verdict—l'otuid dead, apparently by drowning.  Lord Chief Justice Abbot has male the following new appointmenu—Clerk at Nisi Prius vice the lion. Cuarles LiWCAll6l.)l:l4te  and Marshal of Causes, vice W. Jones, Esq.—Cryer" tits; lt. Esq.—Clerk at Chambers, vice Thomas flat.. Esq.—Clerk of the Errors, vial: It. Smith, Esq. The names of the Gentlemen who have been appointed to succeed to these °dicers Loos dismissal by me new Lord Chief J usher, have not yet transpired, nor the /caroms assigned for their removal in a way so unprecedented.