The Sun. — 1828-12-10 (London, England)

SUICIDE.  Yesterday morning, en inquest was held before R. CArrEit, Esq., the Coroner for Surrey, and a respectable jury, at the Anchor and Hope, in Newstreet, Elizabeth-place, Kennington, on view of the body of Miss Eliza Gray, aged 16, who destroyed herself by taking poison on Friday night last. The lamentable occurrence had excited great interest in the neighbourhood, from the extreme youth of the unhappy girl, and the singular circumstances attendiniY the commission of the act. 'lll.lr. Armstrong, a surgeon, deposed that he was sent for to the deceased, at No. IS, New-street, on Saturday morning last. but on his arrival she was quite dead. She had been very sick, and he analyzed the matter which she had thrown from her stomach, and found it strongly impregnated with arsenic. He also examined a cup in the room, at the bottom of which he found a small quantity of arsenic. Witness has not the smallest doubt that the death of the deceased was caused by her taking arsenic.  Mts. Ann Gray, mother of the deceased, was called in and examined; she was distressingly agitated.—Sbe stated that the deceased was lt.; years of age in August last, and was the eldest of five girls. Sho had been from the age of 12 years subject to excessive sickness in the stomach, and giddiness in the head, which was frequently brought on if she had occasion to stoop. About three weeks age she was seized with violent vomiting, accompanied by dreadful pains in the head, which lasted for an hour or two, but remedies which she had been accustomed to take were administered, and she recovered. On Friday last the witness and her daughter both complained of being poorly, and the deceased procured some eggs for supper, and some brandy to mix for the witness. The deceased after supper complained of being worse, and went to bed. She became very restless, and requested to be removed to the children's bed, as it was not so high, and she got in and oat more easily. She continued to get worse, and died about four o'clock. It was shortly before her death that witness requested Mr. Marks to fetch a doctor, hut the deceased was dead before he arrived. Witness did not know of her own knowledge that her daughter had taken any thing. . She thought her illness the same kind, and arising from the same causes, as she had often Fean before.  Conomm—Did you ask her if she had taken any thing ? Mrs. Gray--No, Sir, but my husband did repeatedly ; and she answered, " What a silly man you are, father, to think I have taken any thing. I shall get better : don't fear." Witness found no paper, or any signs of arsenic about the room. Con ceit:it—Did you ever observe any thing that induced you to believe her of unsound mind ? Mrs. Gray—Not at all. When ill she was somewhat flighty and impatient, but nothing further. Mr. Wm. Marks, the landlord of the house in which Mr. Gray and his family were lodgers, had known the deceased since August last, and was constantly in the habit of seeing her. She was a gay, spirited, high-minded girl, and rather flirty in her manner. She was very seldom from home, and then only with the friends of her parents. She was very fond of fun, or even mischief; and was constantly saying, " I must have a lark to-day." About ten days ago she came running down stairs, and capered about ; and ..witness said," Eliza, what is the matter with you ?" She. replied, " Oh, Mr. Marks, lum mad to-day, and I must get into mischief." About u week ago there had been a heavy wash in the house, and she cut the garden lines, and let all the clothes down in the dirt. A young man named Coniston had paid his addresses to her. Last Saturday night week she accompanied witness and his wife to the Surrey Theatre, and at the end of the third act of Jane Shore witness went out to procure some oranges. When he returned he found that the deceased had been accosted by young Coulston, and had gone away with him. Witness went in search of her to two or three oyster-shops and pastry-cooks, but could not find her. She did not reach home until one o'clock in the morning, and witness scolded her severely. She said she had been with James Coulston and his brother, who had both behaved very kindly to Ler, and had taken her all the way over Blaekfriars-bridge, on purpose to treat her with ices, of which size was very fond. Her father and mother were very angry, and a day or two after she expressed her regret for what occurred, and requested witness to write a letter to James Coniston, apologizing for not meeting him again according to appointment. Coulatou was called in, and produced this letter, of which the following is a copy : "My dear James,—l am sorry it was not in my power to see you again on Saturday night, but my father and mother had come home, and Mr. and Mrs. Marks also. The latter were so much hurt at my long stay from, and ut not finding me at home, that they were almost mad to think they had taken me out, and went up stairs and told my father and mother. They did net know I was with you : had I told them, all would have been right. My father was very angry with me for leaving Mr. and Mrs. Marks, and questioned me very much as to where you are. I told him you are not yet returned to Stockwell, but are in expectation of soon doing so. Being in haste I must now conclude, as my mother watches me. I send you my sincere love, and wishing you health and happiness, I remain, dear James, yours sincerely,  "