The Sun. — 1844-04-02 (London, England)

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'1,....--- Last evening, at seven o'clock, a protracted inquiry took place before Mr. W.-Payne, corover-flpr the city of London, 'at Andertoifs'llotel, Fleet-street, jonChing the death of Mary Griffin,, a remarkably fine yOnng woman, aged about thirty y-earsellitelY Bang the-situation. a himSeleeper to Mr. (r. Scratchlcy, surgeon, of 168, Fleet-street. . Mr. Charles' Scratchley, who degcribed himself as ipiivate tutor in a family resident at Peckham, said'he was on a visit to his brother on Saturday last, and went to bed in the surgery betlaißd4hcbshop.shortly-liefop ;one o'clock on Sunday morning. b-out _quarter past one be heard some person come into the room,: and. upon calling out " Who's•that?" the deliceasedl-eplied ," Mary:" Witness inquired what ,she bad come into AN room' for, and the deceased SaicLto „request lugs to intercede for her with_ his brother, who had threatened-to give her into custody for some TobbeirieS Which he charged her with having committedin his house. Witness said that if slieconfeSsed.the -truth; he Was willing to do so, and die dectiased's answer Was a solemn denial of the charg imputed-to her. IVitnees.thought she was intoxicated, and desired her 03 g 0 to,bed, adding that the morning he would .speak_lo her,`on the subject she had alluded to. The deceased then said she • liad taken poisoll, .but considering it an idle .threat witness took no.notice' and.shortly after, she went up strliri.' -In Omit n quarter of an hour she -came do4n again ,into fie sho,p, and tamed 'the -as on; When witness, fearing something serious,. got' tip; aud'en Inking through 'the surgery -window, found slie.haila largo.bottie to her mouth containing laudiumni. Before•witneye-:c:ould wrest:` it from her, she had-drunk &Considerable qtr City, immediately after which-she became •insensible; and witness having laid her downon the floor of the passage, "went up stairs to call the assistant, brother beingfroin home at the time. Witness also at-iit for,,Ers bfother and Mr *Day, of Salisbury-squartfind in- the' interval, befbi-e.tliejr. rrival, administered four powerful emetics, which had no .effect. When; Mr. Day i earache allplled• tho•stemach-purnp, but deceased never rallied, and die4about half-past 6-o'clock on:Sunday morning, A .Juror ,(AroWatsoti)—You say that you.are a private tutor; are4ott itot •aaleigyinan ? 'Witness—Yes, lam a .minigtbr of 14:Church,- ' -- • • MirWat4enr-Diiring, the time the deceased was in the :surgery with Yoll# did ihe„iii.(.gusery bitterly? Witness— Yes, she did cl a'great-dcal,.and.wry bitterly. • Mr7Watsen4l-1)Id ,s'ou..hear; her make a charge, against some_person.i? WittreV:::Nsci; • • Mr.-Watson--Did her say that some person had been the cuse et all.her.t.rouble?;.=..•Witness-Ye.s I did. MilpWatsgnigainst *ht;l4 Unit 'll,4'lnake that 'charge? `Witness--0.11, against ine; • • • Mr.-Watson—Did ss..cliaiLroxtrAist.twith having .seduced her? ; I.thinklnott ;rl.-lelieVe the words were that I had ritin4d her. ---• • :•••• ... '' Me..:Waisen.asked the witness whether he did not recollect deceased saying " God antl.:.you only know that you have seduced the sin is all. on your head." The witness r?pliid, that ;14110 naieltnntattention_to what deceased said, and chid not recullect the ConiirSation which occurred. If the jury would put quest ions, .he. would answer. A juror thought the witness *might recollect so serious a Matter, having occurred so short a time prei-ious. Thp-ConicoaAs-I.oid the deceased say- anythiug similar to the observations you ihzire just heard? Witness—She did, Mr:•-Watson—Were you-in--the -habit of coming to your broth-d's on Saturday ?-- Witness—Yes, I came to preach. 1 Mr—Watson—Sot at tWelve-O'clock at night? Witness— Yo on the next day, . . I Mr.Watson=Why did• you not.',:mention that which has last been elieitekl2. Witness—My reason was that I thought it was not Material to the Case.  The COIiONER Sitio:tit was very material, in order that the jtiry might; judge:* deceased's state of mind: whether she was iii der la,false.lmPression; might be considered afterwards. In answerio a queStiOn from, the Coroner, whether he had been intimlate with the young woman, witness said, I deny the eisarg". My impression is (checking himself.) No, Sir, I wish to,saY The witriess here sat Mrs. MOT Watson, wife of Mr. Watson, of 167, Fleetstreet,: said srh4' lived next door to Mr. Scratchley, and while in her lick patilohr, about 'one o'clock on Sunday morning, she heard 4 woman crying, 'Neu bitterly in that gentleman's surgery.; The partition between the rooms was very thin, and witness`he'ar'd de.ceated say, "You have seduced me—you have brought pie to this." Some " You are a liar;" and deceased said; " I am no liar--God.and you know lam notes-du alone have brought me to it." Witness heard much talking afterwards, but could not catch the precise words, and about an hour after heard a great moaning as of a person-in:extreme rain. Mark Gosling, an errand- boy in Mr. Scratchley's service, deposed to having heard deceased threaten to stab Mr. Chas. SeratChley bet Ween eight arid liin:e'o'Clock on Saturday evening, when she was perfectlY.sOber. Re said she had been in a desponding state for several weeks, and generally cried .very muckwlicu Mr; C. Seratchley came.  The CoUormit having" remarked On the extraordinary na• tare of thii ease, said he thought it. was most desirable before the inquiry was closed, that some' of the 'deceased's friends should' be present, an' opinion in Which the jury unanimously concurred, and the imiti.iry.Wa§. accordingly adjourned until 'Thursday next,' the Coroner giving directions to the summoning officer to insure their attendance on that day.