SUICIDE OF A BARMAID.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1045, 7 March 1882, Page 4

SUICIDE OF A BARMAID.

.EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AFTER THE I INQUEST. The Times says : “ The adjourned in--qnest on Emma Cummins, late a barmaid at the Criterion (Messrs Spiers & Pond’s), was concluded on the 29th December. The finding of the jury was that the deceased had committed suicide, and that she had done this in an unsound state of mind, caused by miserable position in which she had been left by Lieutenant Henry Pon«onby, with whom she had arranged to live. The jury condemned in very strong language the conduct of Lieut. Ponsonby. They considered him guilty of having seduced and deserted the deceased, and they held him, therefore, morally, although not legally, responsible for her death. Lieutenant Ponsonby, in his evidence, stated that he made the acquaintance of Emma Cummnins in .1 uly last, when she was serving as a barmaid at the Criterion. On the 29th July he left England for Africa, aud returned early in November. His intercourse with Emma Cummins, which had been slight up to that time, was then renewed. By the 24th Nov., things had gone so far that an arrangement had been made for Emma Cummins to leave her place at the Criterion and to go aud live with him (Lieutenant Ponsonby). With a view'to this lodgings were taken in Oxford terrace, and thither next day the pair went. The arrangement did not long subsist. It began on a Saturday. On the Tuesday following it was brought to an end by Lieutenant Ponsonby, who quitted London, leaving Emma Cummins, with £4 in her pocket, to face the world and to get on as best she could without him. Ou the next Saturday he sent her a further gift of £lO, and, in accordance with the advice -of his friends, determined not to return to her.

The Coroner, having concluded the reading of the verdict and the additional rider, said—“ The jury desire me to censure Lieutenant Ponsonby for the part he has taken in reference to this sad occurrence, lu doing so it is not necessary for me to travel over its facts and details, but I may say the inquiry has been one of the most painful it has ever been my province to preside over as coroner. If anyone feels distressed and vexed at the death of this poor young woman, 1 should think it must be Lieutenant Ponsonby himself. He must, I think, ■ at least feel that he has committed a grave error and done a grievous wrong, first of all by promising to provide a home for the deceased, seducing her, aud then by leaving her. For what reason he left her we do not know, -except his statement that they could -not agree. In -doing so, however, he ..produced in her mind feelings of such intense anguish as caused her to com»mit this fatal act. I think the jury quite right, and I agree with them in stating that her death was morally • caused by Lieutenant Ponsonby. The jury, in returning their verdict, have expressed in the strongest language their feelings; aud I trust, Lieutenant Ponsonby, this will be a warning to you for the rest of your life, aud I hope you will report having morally • caused the death of this unfortunate girl.”

The Daily Sews gives the following description of the extraordinary scene which followed the conclusion of the inquest:—“ The business being concluded the coroner and most of the persons present retired, but for Lieut. Ponsonby to leave was not an easy matter. A crowd of several hundred persons had gathered in the street, patiently waiting for his appearance. For a time the expedient of keepiug him back was resorted to, in the hope that the crowd would disperse, aud he remained in the kitchen -of the premises connected with Providence Hall. But as it became evident that the crowd had no intention of being baulked in this w T ay a neighbor appeared on an adjoining wall aud proposed that Lieut. Ponsonby should escape over the wall and through the adjacent yards into Edgware road. This, however, the custodian of Providence Hall would by no means allow, declaring that he should get into trouble with the occupiers of the premises which would have to be trespassed upon, and he removed the ladder which had been planted against the wall. At this time there was a pretty strong force of police constables under an inspector, in and about the place, but a glance at the crowd showed that the police were not numerous enough to protect Lieut PouBonby. A reinforcement was sent for and when it came up the police numbered about 20. A four wheel cab, drawn by a stout horse, was next procured, and Lieut. Ponsonby was escorted to the cab amid the groans and howls of the mob. Two constables with him, and the remainder charged the crowd, which iu turn charged the vehicle, yelling execrations on its occupant. The cab, followed by au eager crowd of both sexes, was driven along Church-street into Edgware road, where it was momentarily stopped, and the windows were broken. It was then driven along Praed-street, still pursued by an angry, shouting, a ud threatening mob.”

Under the new law of New York State, a man who marries must support his wife. Hitherto the girl’s father has been expected to take care of her for about six mouths ui the year.