INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 3512, 26 May 1874, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Bristol House, Cumberland street, 'this afternoon, on the body of Isabella Tassy, a woman of ill-fame, who died there during the previous day. William Hall said deceased was 38 years r f age. She went to bed about 6.30 p. m on Sunday evening. She was addicted to drink, and complained of a pain in her back. Next' morning about 9 o’clock his daughter called him, saying she thought Isabella was dead. He went upstairs, and finding she was dead, went for the police. She had all her clothes on just as she had left the tea table. The bed-clothes wore not pulled- down, showing she had not been in bed. About a fortnight ago deceased was locked up for drunkenness, but had been steady for the past few days; Sha was in the habit of taking laudanum two or three times a week, and also took opium. By jurors ; Montgomery (the man who kept deceased) went away on Sunday for six months. He said, ho was going to sea. Deceased seemed to be much troubled at this. '

Mary Anne Hall said she was at present living with her father (the last witness) at Bristol House. She had known deceased, whom she last saw alive at twenty minutes to eight on Sunday night, for a number of years. She then appeared in her usual health, but said she felt a pain in her back. Witness wcut up stairs to call her next morning. As she did not answer, witness came down stairs, believing from her appear* ance she had taken some laudanum. Wit* uess knew she was in the habit of taking it. Sad seen her several times during the pro* vious daj, but did not notice the peculiar appearance she spoke of till 6 p.m. Hr Alexander said he made a post mortem examination on the body of deceased on the previous day. There were no marks of violence. nor anything suspicious. The head was livid,, froth coming from the mouth: the right side of the heart was full of blood, and the vessels free from clot* showing death resulted from suffocation. There was no smell of laudanum, but a strong smell of sage, which would have covered anything. He was of opinion that death was caused by suffocation, coupled with the fact that she was in the habit of taking laudanum. Ihe Uoroner here read a letter from Mr Bagley, chemist, saying that deceased was a regular laudanum drinker, and during the time he bad known her she'must have consumed gallons. Sergeant James Dean said that he was called by Hall, and arrived at Bristol House about 10.30 yesterday morning. Went up fj'* l1 ’ 8 found deceased in her bed-room. was nothing suspicious of foul play. Examined her boxes and found four empty bottles (three of which bore Mr Bagiev’s marks) of laudanum. The Coroner said that more evidence would be forthcoming, but he not think it necessary, seeing that there was nothing suspicious to cause death. The jury might fairly take Dr Alexander’s statement as to suffocation being the cause of death, deceased having probably taken an extra dose of laudanum, as her lover was leaving her for six months, a longer period than any previous time. J The jury returned a verdict that deceased was suffocated * in consequence of having taken au extra dose of laudanum.