Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-10-29 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE. Au inquest was held on Tuesday the 21st instant, at the Dynevor Arms, George Town, before Thomas Williams, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of Rachel  : - Morris, aged 18 years. After the coroner had empannOled the jury, and gone I through the preliminary part of the proceedings, the following witnesses were examined. Margaret Hier, deposed : I live at No. 75, John-st.. George Town. I have three brothers and two sisters living there, and I knew the deenased, who has a sister that sleeps at our house. Deceased slept at no particular place, but here and Om e—generally stayed at Mary Murry's. Deceased was at our honse on Saturday night. She did not sleep there, but stayed from about eight o'clock until 11. 1 saw her again on Sunday morning about nine o'clock; she was at our house about halfan-hour ; she came again on Monday moraing and stayed until about 12 o'clock waiting for her sister to brinz her a henna, as she said she intended going to Ehymney. Deceased used to work at the fire works, before she went to live with Evan Murry (so called.) Evan Murry is a collier, living opposite the Stag and Pheasant, George-street, George-town. He has a brother living in John-street. He was going every night to his brother's house, and the deceased was going there to him—this was so late as last week ; when she called on Saturday she asked me to go and see who was with Evan at the " Stag " ; I went, and saw a young woman there with bins; I returned and told her so ; she then cried, and soon afterwards he came to fetch her to the " Stag." She went and be made sport of her ; I was there also. She then came out and said : —" I would rather that he should stab me with a knife than do what he did with me." We then went both to our house; she told my mother that she was very bad ; she generally was in good spirits, and when she came on Monday, she said she intended going to Ithymncy, but stayed there until about 12 o'clock. I was in the house at the time ; she seemed unwell and low-spirited ; she had her gown over her head, and appeared very pale in the face—. unusually so. She asked me for a crust of bread, anti I gave her something better. She went doia .1 about twelve o'clock to the Canal Brewhouse to look for a place; she soon retm acid and said that the woman at the Brewhouse said that her character was too bad—after she returned she seemed very low and cold and kept near the fire. I went out about one o'clock to dinner leaving the deceased, sly sister, and another little girl in the house. About five minutes past one o'clock my little sister ran to call me, and said that the deceased was hanging herself, I went over at once and found her hanging to a cross board in the roof by a card. She was dead. I then gave an . alarm and some people came in, and she was cut down. A doctor was sent for, but he pronounced her dead. Mary Ann Hire, the next witness, deposed : I knew the deceased. I was in bed when she came to our house on Monday. When I get up she sent me for her bonnet. My sister went out to dinner to the Ship, and left the deceased in the house with me. I went to the pantry to fetch the things for my dinner. The deceased asked me if she should go upstairs. She went. After I had finished my dinner I went upstairs and saw her hanging by a cord to the roof. She appeared to be dead. I then ran out to call my sister. Mary Ann Morris, another witness, after corroborating the evidence of the first witness, said : Deceased was my sister. I saw her on Monday morning. She said she wanted victuals very bad and looked very low. She asked me to lend her a shilling, but I could not. She wanted the shilling to get food. She was out of work. I stopped with her at Mrs. Hier's house about an hour. I then went away. The next time I saw her was about half-past one o'clock. She was then dead. Catherine Hier also deposed : I am the mother of the two first witnesses. I know the deceased. She came to my house on Saturday night and wanted to lodge there, but I had no room for her. She told me that Evan Murry was the cause of her grief. That he had sent for her to the Stag to see his young woman. She was then crying and appeared very dejected. She was ' at my house on Sunday, but I did not see her. She came again early on Monday morning, and said she was going to Rhymney to be out of his sight. I gave her two pieces of bread and butter, which she put in her pocket. She said she had nothing to eat since dinner on Sunday. She asked me to lend her sixpence, but I could not lend it. I went to Rhymney and returned about eight o'clock. She was then dead. 1 laid the body out. She had very little about her. All her clothes were in pawn. David Edwards also spoke a few words respecting cutting down the body, and the enquiry was brought to a close, and after the coroner had very ably summed up, the jtiry came to the following conclusion : "That the deceased, Rachel Morris, died of strangulation by her own hand while in a state of temporary insanity."