A TRAGIC CASE OF SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 924, 7 March 1882, Page 3

A TRAGIC CASE OF SUICIDE.

The adjourned inquest on Emma Cummins, late a barmaid at the Criterion (Messrs Spiers and Pond’s), was concluded yesterday. The finding of the jury was that the deceased had committed and that she had done this in an unsound state of mind, caused by the miserable position in which she had been left by Lieutenant Henry Ponsonby, with whom she had arranged to live. The jury condemned in very strong language the conduct of Lieutenant 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. Lieut. Ponsonby made the acquaintance of Emma Cummins in July last, when she was serving as a barmaid at the Criterion. Oa July 29th he left England for Africa, and returned early in November. His intercourse with Emma Cummins, which had been slight up to that time, was then renewed. By November 24th things had gone so far that a n arrangement had been made for Emma Cummins to leave her place, at the Criterion and to go and live with 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 „ nd to get on as best she could without

him. Oa the next Saturday he sent her a further gift of £lO, and, in accordance with the advice of his fri nds. determined not to return to her. Emma Cummins, finding herself deserted by the man under whose protection she had placed herself, was unable to bear up, and in her agony of mind put an end to her existence by taking poison.. The Coroner having concluded the reading of the verdict and the additindal rider, said—“ The jury desire me to censure Lieutenant Ponsonby for the part he has taken in reference to this sad occurrence. In doing so it is not necessary for me to travel over its facts and details, but I may say that the enquiry 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, I should think it must be Lieutenant Ponsonby himself. He must, 1 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 and then by leaving her. For what reason he left her we do not know, except his statement that they could not agree. In do'ng so, however, he produced in her mind feelings of such intense anguish as caused her to commit 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; and I trust, Lieutenant Ponsonby, this will be a warning to you for the rest of your life, and I hope will repent having morally caused the death of this unfortunate girl.”—London Times, Dec 30. The Daily News gives the following description of the extraordinary scene which followed the conclusion of the inquest ‘ The business being concluled, the coroner and most of the persons pre sent retired, but for Lieutenant Ponsonby to leave was not an eesy matter. A crowd of several hundred persons had gathered in the street, patiently waiting for his appearance. For a time “the expedient of keeping him back was resorted to, in the hope that the crowd would disperse, and he remained in the kitchen of the premises connected with the Providence Hall. But as it became evident that the crowd had no intention of being baulked in this way a neighbor appeared on an adjoining wall and proposed that Lieutenant Ponsonby should escape through tho adjacent yard into Edgware road. This, however, the custodian of tho Providence Hall would by no means allow, declaring that he should get into trouble with the occupiers of the premiseswhich 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 Lieutenant Ponsonby. A reinforcement was sent for, and when it came up the police numbered about 20. A four-wheeled cab, drawn by stout horses, was next procured, aud Lieutenant Ponsonby was escorted to the cab amid the groans and howls of the mob. Two constables entered with him, and the remainder charged the crowd, which in turn charged the vehicle, yelling execrations on its occupant The cab, followed by an 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, and threatening mob.”