The Sun. — 1844-04-06 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE IN FLEET-STREET. On Thursday the inquiry connected with this mysterious case, and adjourned from Monday lest, was resumed before W. Payne, Esq., City Coroner, at A.nderton's Hotel, Fleet-street. - The inquiry related to the death, of Mary Griffin (servant to Mr. scratchley, surgeon, of 168, Fleet-street), who, it was alleged. had destroyed herself by swallowing tincture of opium on the morning of Sunday last. The evidence on the former day tended to impress a belief that deceased had been seduced by her master's brother, the Rev. Charles James Scratchley, 8.A., now or late curate of St. George's Chapel, Queen-square, Bloomsbury ; and the evidence of the latter was given in a somewhat contradictory manner, which kept the matter in doubt, and hence the adjournment, fur the purpose of a post mortem examination, and to procure the attendance of relatives and of additional evidence. "-At the inquiry on Thursday, Mr. Moxen, of the Chancery bar, attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Rev. Gentleman. Among the additional evidence adduced was that of Mr. Lewis Day, surgeon, who had made the post rnortern examination, who was of opinion death had ensued partly from the poison and partly from the antimony administered as an emetic.. Deceased was not pregnant, and, in Hs opinion, had never borne a child, although she was not a YiYgin. Rebecca Griffin (sister of deceased), a person of ' lady-like manners and appearance, living at Canterbury, 'underwent a long examination, from which it I appeared that her sister's real name was Charlotte, and age 34. About twelve years since she bore a child at steeple Ashton, by a man to whom she was about being married. Subsequently, in about the year 1835, she formed- an intimacy with Mr. Charles Scratchley, then about nineteen years of age. They went together to Paris, and lived in England as man and wife, and the relatives of the latter thought they were really married, and witness, under such impres-r Sion, visited them at Pentonville ; but in about 1839 Mr. Scratchley, being then designed for the Church, went to college for that purpose, Dr. Scratchley, the father, having written to say that the connexion must be dissolved before his son could enter into holy orders. Some slight allowance was made to her, but her mind was much distressed. Mr. Scratchley behaved kindly to her while she was living with him, and the object of recommending her to his brother was to give her a character for another situation. Witness did not believe she was capable of committing robbery, but had latterly thought her mind impaired, and was consulted by Mr. Charles Scratchley as to the propriety of her.being taken care of. It further appeared that Mr. George Scratchley was ignorant of the previous connection when deceased came into his service, and also that deceased had become of intemperate habits, and was accustomed to converse and drink spirits with abandoned females, although her conduct was proper while living with Mr. Scratchley. She was, however, very. desponding, and generally so whenever the Reverend Gentleman mine to stay at his brother's. The inquiry having lasted some hours, The CORONER summed up, condemning the contradictory evidence of the Rev. C. J. Scratchley, but which *as done; no doubt, to get out of a difficulty. She appeared affected in mind on the night of Saturday, and certaixdi had not been kindly treated by &luau who bad lived with her as her husband,, which  she must have felt; for the separation of five years ome of them are now undergoing the punishment could not have extinguished her' feeling towards awarded to them. ,• him. No doubt she had destroyed herself, and it • 19. Because the Noble and Learned Lords by whose would be for the jury to say whether the conduct of opinion this judgment is affirmed, admit that they are Mr. Scratchley had induced her to do so, and whe- ' obliged " to overrule authorities to which the greatest thee she was in a state of temporary in sanity. respect is due ;" all the recent authorities are mniThe jury, after nearly an hour's deliberation, re- formly in favour of the validity of the marriage in turned the following verdict :—" We find the de- dispute ;—upon all questions it is desirable, that when ceased, Charlotte Griffin; committed suicide whilst the law has once been considered settled by judicial in a state cif temporary insanity, induced by the decision it should not be again disturbed; and this is cruel and heartless-conduct of Mr. Chalms James particularly the case with respect to the law of mar• Seratchley ; and we are compelled to express our riage, for the sake of honourable women and innocent strong disapprobation of the flippant and unfeeling children.