The Express. — 1851-05-21 (London, England)

SUICIDAL MANIA AT 3IAIDSTONE.—Two inquests have been held this week at Maidstone, upon servant girls, who had drowned themselves ; and the gone crime was attempted by a third, but some passers-by having observed her movements, she was rescued before lift, was extinct. The lint inquest was upon Rosetta Corke, aged 18, lately in the service of Mr. Martin, pastry-cook. she had been detected flirting with the workmen, and treating them with her master's wine and spirits, and received notice to quit. On the day the notice expired her master asked if she had obtained another place, when she replied, " She didn't want one, as she intended to make a hole in the river." Mr. Martin sent for her grandmother, who resided in the town, but she refused to receive her; and after some days, during which she was seen straying about the town, she suddenly disappeared, and her bonnet and shawl were found on the hanks of the river—and, eventually, her lifeless body. A purse containing 'Js. 7d. was found in her pocket. Verdict, " Found drowned." The second inquest was upon the body of Eliza Nash, aged about 19 years and five months, servant to Mr. Gibson, of this town. She was the daughter of respectable parents, living at East Farleigh, and had been in Mr. Oileion's service nearly twelve months. She always appeased to be of very weak mind, and her conduct had been such as to make Mr. Gibson believe she had not been in a sane state of mind for months past. Owing, in a great measure, to her strange manners and conduct, her master had same time ago given her warning to leave, but she begged to stay, and as she was very fend of the children she W. allowed to do so. About a year ago an acquaintance which she had previously had with a young man, named John Ladhams, of Heaton, was, on account of some trilling disagreement between them, broken off. This seemed to have preyed much on her mind. In the afternoon of Thursday last, the day on which she committed suicide, she asked Mr. Gibson whether the body of the girl who had previously been drowned (Rosetta Corke) had been found, and on his telling her that he did nut know, she seemed much disappointed at not receiving a positive answer. Mr. Gibson stated his belief that Corke's death had preyed on her mind, and had somewhat stimulated her to do the same. On Thursday evening she went out, without asking leave, and meeting a female acquaintance asked her to go down the street with her. She consented, and iu the course of conversation deceased told her she was going to drown herself, and asked her to get a stone to tic round her neck. Her friend renionstreted with her, on which deceased bade her good bye and ran off. Having watched her over the bridge, her friend hastened home and stated what had occurred to Mr. Gibson. Two of the police immediately went in search of deceased. They found her bonnet and shawl on the river side opposite Toed, and her body was found in the water at some distance about an hour afterwards. A letter was in her bonnet, from which the fel:owing is an extract :—" Dear father and mother,-1 now must say farewell; likewise my dear sisters and brothers. As it must happen I shan't ever see any of you again on earth, and if ever you or any of you should happen to see John Ladhatua, give my beat love and respects to him, and 'hope he will live happy, let it be how it may, married or single, hope he may be happy and loving. . . . I cannot say anything more at present. Dear mother, you will excuse it as it is wrote with a trembling hand and aching heart." Verdict, "Temporary insanity."—afaieistoae Journal.  FIRE AT STOKE NEWlNGTON.—Yesterday morning, shortly after three o'clock, the premises of the Rev. C. O'Donoghue, 9, Albert-grove, Stoke Newington, were consumed by a fire which originated in the bedroom, one of the family having approached too near the bed curtains with a lighted candle. The parish and brigade engintl were soon on the spot, but the fire had gained too touch strength to be extinguished before the house sem destroyed.