The Sun. — 1853-10-10 (London, England)

SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A WIFE.  On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Payne held a long inquiry at the Vestry-hall, Fair-street, Horsleydown, on the body of Ann Roberts, the wife of a greengrocer in Bermondsey-street, who, it was at first supposed, had committed suicide, but concerning whose death reports were subsequently in circulation of a more serious cha racter. On Friday morning the deceased was found in her bed-room hanging by a gauze veil, and in nearly a kneeling posture. She was quite dead. Her husband gave the alarm. He had slept on a sofa, having come home the previous night very drunk. When he called in a lodger he said, "Good God ! I shall not be long after her." He had only a short time before come out of gaol, where he had been undergoing imprisonment for ill-using his wife. Mary Duke, who occupied a room underneath, deposed to hearing deceased groan in the night. The sister of the deceased thought she had not laid violent hands upon herself, as she was always greatly terrified at death:  Ellen Cooke, the daughter of the deceased, produced a bundle of letters which her mother had given her. A short time since her mother told Roberts that he would soon go back again to gaol for his ill usage of her. He made use of some very filty expressions, and replied that the next time he went it would not be for twelve months, but for two or three years, and perhaps he might go on to a scaffold for her, as he meant to have her life, at the same time using most violent language. That was about three weeks ago.  The coroner then read three letters sent by a woman alluded to in the course of the investigation, signed " Eliza Roberts," thereby assuming the name of the wife, one of them being addressed to Roberts. In this letter she entreated Roberts to come to her without delay, stating that she had got an order for the play. He was to make any excuse to deceive his wife, and if he found any difficulty in doing so that he must " cook" her, as they had agreed upon, and then when she was gone they could live happily together. The two other letters to the wife were couched in the most filthy language, taunting her with having lived with her husband whilst she was in the workhouse, and that he had spent many pounds upon her, but having lost his situation at Somerset•house he had returned to her for convenience, but that she had made up her mind to have her life, if she should be hanged for her.  Dr. Challice said he should have great hesitation at the present moment in stating the cause of death. The features were exceedingly placid, and there was no bloodshot about the eyes, as was common where death occurred from strangulation.  The inquiry was then adjourned for a post mortem examination to be made.  JUNIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB.-It is in contemplation to purchase the Duke of _Buckingham's late residence, Chandos-house, Pall-mall, for the site of the Junior United Service Club ; in which event, Chandoshouse will be taken down, and upon the ground a new and magnificent structure will be erected. The present building in Charles-street is totally inadequate to accommodate the members of a club, nearly two thousand officers of the Queen's and Company's services, and the isle Army Dmpcooli. 

Article type: Incident