The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1869-07-31 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE NEAR BARROW. THE INQUEST. . ~  An inquest was held on Monday afternom last, at the Strawberry Gardens Hotel, on the body of Betsy Dixon, domestic servant with Mr. John Dixon, Eastmount, Barrow, vho died on Sunday evening. The following gentlemen formed the jury: Wm. Lesh (foreman), John Bell, Win. W Bell, Wm. Shuttleworth, m. Waiting, Edward Johnstone, Robert Ainsworth, Thomas Tuner, Thomas Comber, George Kendall, Thomas Barrow Waites, and Thomas Ashburner. Wm. Dixon was the first witness called, who said: The deceased was my wife's daughter; she was 14 years of age on the 13th of last December, and was a domestic servant. John Dixon said: The deceased had been living with me, as domestic servant, three or four months. My wife and I were at Cannel church yesterday, and we came home by the train which arrives at Furnesa Abbey at 6 39. On walking home I saw a friend standing it the Strawberry Gardens door, and after spealling to him we went into the house, had a glass of beer, and I went home in a few minuto When I got home I found a letter returned from Her Majesty's dead letter office, whicti was directed to Mrs. Elizabeth Dixon. My wife opened the letter and found an enclostue which we sent to deceased. She served tea up about 7 30, and went about is tie usuAl way. About 930 she brought us oar supper, and came here for a jug of beer, mliich she brought home. Usually she has waitul up until we have had our supper, but on myTwife calling as usual for her to take the things away she received no answer, and we thoight she had gone to bed, as we found the lack door fastened. By-and-by we heard a scriam, but I did not know where it came from. A.sout half-a-minute later there was a low moanilg— a drawn-out subdued scream, and then I rin up stairs and got a candle from my boy's ro and went into deceased's bedroom. The deonsed was in bed and undressed; quite livid Ltout the face, and apparently dead. She was lyilg on her back. I raised her up and spoke tother, but she did not speak or breathe, and we Sent for some brandy. Her mouth was open, Sid I poured some in. I got assistance from the Strawberry Gardens Hotel, and then I weit to Barrow for medical aid. There was nC appearance of a struggle whatever. Jane EllersDixon' wifeof former witness, kave similar evidence as her husband to the fohner _  part, and also said: I believe the retuned letter has been destroyed, as it cannot be fond. I think the letter was addressed to a perscti of the name of Kendall, at Liverpool. tivly son saw her destroying some letters in sequence sequence of receiving that one. Tea and super were brought up as usual, and she seemed q te calm and collected. After talking a little w ile after supper we heard a noise, or slight scr ming, but thought it proceeded from the childjen. Mr. Dixon went upstairs and found it fras Betsy making the noise. I then folio .d, but when I got there she was quite rigid.j In answer to the coroner, Mrs. Dixon stated fiat she never heard she had a sweetheart, nd never saw one. James Dixon, son of the former witn -s, was then called, and said: I was at h . e on Sunday last. Deceased made dinner, nt to Barrow in the afternoon, and returned a. ut six o'clock. The postman gave the lette to me, but deceased said she thought it belo . d to her, and wanted to open it. It was ot opened until the evening. I saw my Lao, er open in, and she gave the inclosure to in to take to the deceased in the kitchen. . a turned very red and flushed, and walked ry hurriedly. I had addressed the returned 1- er for her about a week previously to Mr. Al ed Kendall, 16, High Cross-street, Liverpool. he said she would never write again. She a. rwards went upstairs and brought down a 1. of letters which she tore up and burned, he gave me two Christmas cards, a birthday • d, and a bottle of scent, which Kendall had _ en her, and she said she would have nothing . re to do with him. I never saw her cry. i directed other letters for her, but only thane to him. Mr. Waiting: Was she in the habit o ceiving letters from this man? Witness : I cannot say. 1 Mr. Waiting: Do you know what busil she had in Barrow on Sunday afternoon 4 Witness: She said she merely wanted to her sister. The Coroner re-called Mrs. Dixon, when inquired if she had ever any "Vermin Dests ing" powder in her house or not, when tehe r plied in the negative. Dr. Allison Allison said he was called .1) see deceased shortly before eleven o'thick. When he arrived deceased was dela: From her appearance he at once was satisfied that her death had not resulted fro natural causes. Her face bore a placid look ale and tumified appearance. The muscles the neck were enlarged to about twice the size. The jaws wore clenched, but there w no froth. The muscles of her arms, legs, and et were bent, and the pupils of the eye dila d. He was satisfied _ys\ that it was a case of po oning of some kind; and immediatly informed the police. The police found several papas (here produced; in her pockets, and amongst others was the cover from a package of "vermin destroyer," which contains strychnine. The' made a diligent search of her pockets, and found a few sweats, peas, &c., but no bottle. They then searcaed the kitchen, and on the top of a cupboard they found two tea-cups; one containing a little fluid, and the other containing a small portion of "vermin destroying powder." The cups were here shown to the jury. That immediately satisfied the doctor's conviction that deceased was poisoned by strychnine. Mr. Lesh : 'fhere is no doubt from the evidence that the letter had affected her. A verdict that she had committed suicide, but nothing to show her state of mind at the time was