The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-01-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE BY CHARCOAL.  An Inquest was held on Tuesday by Mr. Humphreys, !Middlesex coroner, at the White Lion Tavern, St. George'sIn the-East, London, on She body of Mrs. Ellen Restock, aged 29 Mr. Restock, s builder, said he resided at Cambridge heath, London. lie was the proprietor of a new public house called the White Lion, in Gravel-lane, but no business was carried on there at present in consequence of alterations. The deceased was his wife; he had six children by her. Four months ago he asked his wife to go and remain in the public. house to take care of the valuable property there. It was her own wish to go, though it was his suggestion. He sometimes remaioed with her for • night, but he generally lived at Cambridge heath. He visited her on Saturday laet. A few words of difference arose between them, but they were only caused by the fact of a Te, fid lamp having been broken by the boy, and he told her not to bother herself about it. She found no fault with, him. On Sunday morning he was going to see her again, when he was met by one of his daughters, who said, "Emily went for you; mamma is dead." He sent for a policeman and a doctor. Ile searched her pockets, and all that he found was a port.). monnaie with gold and silver and some memoranda of no consequence. Allies Emily Thompson said that she was deceased's conain, and lived with her and her children at the White Lion since Thursday last. Deceased's husband did not sleep there since Thursday. On Satarday he called, and he and deceased quarrelled about something for an hour upstairs. They then came (loan and quarrelled for half an hour longer. He waited to read a letter, but he did not do so and she did not know what it was about. The 'deceased was very angry, and he said that he was very sorry. He said, "Good bye," and went away, and he followed him to the door. She 'did not say that she wanted to go back to her own house. The witness did not now what the cies -mel was about. Deceased did not ask him to come sad live with her. After he left she appeared to become calm, and in about two hours she asked witness to find out where charcoal could be bought. Witness ascertained that it could be purchased over the bridge, and told the fact to deceased, who went ont in the 'Toning. She remained out some hour" She brought  home dinner for the family and some charcoal. She also brought in medicine, but she did not say for whom. St c st•id, in reply to witness, that she got the charcoal to warm the parlour, "as she shivered much." During the night she brought her daughter Agnes, who always slept with her, into witness's bed, saying that she did not want to be disturbed. In the morning witnes carried some coffee into deceased's room, and found that there was a stifling smell of sulphur. She then saw that deceased was lying on the bed 'lead. There was a brazier of charcoal in the centre vi the room at the foot of the bed. There was no chimney. The blind was drawn down. . . .  Mr. K Sawkins, corn chandler, said that on Saturday evening deceased came into his shop at 11, St. George-street, and purchased half a peck of charcoal. As she WM a stranger he said to her that it would be necessary to use it with care. She answered that she wanted it to dry paint in the parlour. He said, "You should have good ventilation, as the use of it in bedrooms has caused death. She replied, " I have read of that." She appeared to he rational and cheerful. She spoke of the fog, and said that she had been to Highbury and Islington that afternoon. Mrs. Mary Cathaway, :11, Cannon-street, said she was landlady of the Barleymow. On Saturday morning between 12 and ,1 o'clock deceased called in upon witness, and said she had been to Islington. She watt much agitated, and said that on the Friday she had a quarrel with her husband. She stated that he kept a mistress, and that she knew that it would lead to a separation. The witness said, "Don't talk like that." She answered, "It certainly will. But what is to become of my children? I could take a situation." She said that the quarrel had been going on for three weeks.  The jury returned the following verdict :—" That deceased was found dead f•oin the inhalation of the fumes of charcoal, and that son had destroyed her life by such inhalation while in a state of temporary insanity caused through jealousy at the conduct of her husband."