The Royal Cornwall Gazette, 22 February 1850

Coroner's Inquest Jane Webb

The following inquests have been held by J. Carlyon, Esq. :—
— On the 14th, at Sunny Corner, in the parish of Stithians, on the body of Jane Webb, a single woman, aged 22 years. It appeared that deceased went to stay with her aunt who was near her confinement, to be with her during that time, she appeared to be perfectly well and cheerful up to Tuesday evening the 12th inst. She and her aunt then went to bed about 10 o'clock, and the aunt, at that time, perceived no difference in her manner whatever. About 2 o'clock in the morning, however, she was taken very sick, and her aunt, who slept in the same room, asked her what was the matter; she said she had nothing but a sick stomach, and should get better. She continued in that state, but quiet at intervals, until between 8 or 9 o'clock, when she died. The aunt then sent for a neighbour, who thought there was something suspicious in the case, and that she had taken poison, of which there had been several symptoms, as she had been thirsty, and purging. At the inquest, Mr. Boyle, of Perran, surgeon, was directed to make a post mortem examination, and, on opening the stomach, he found the entire surface in a highly inflamed state, with large quantities of arsenic on the coatings, and the mucuous membrance (sic) was lined with it. He tested the contents of the stomach by two different tests, and got the precipitate from one and white arsenic from another. There could be no question, therefore, that she had died from the effects of arsenic, and it was clearly proved that she must have taken it herself, while there was no evidence whatever to show that she was not aware of the consequencees (sic) of the act. It was stated that she was in the family way, and that her lover had left her; but she had not appeared to have suffered any depression of spirits. On the contrary, she maintained a cheerful manner, for some hours after the time when the poison must have been taken by her, and died without making any statement of what she had done. The jury returned a verdict of felo de se. The body, by order of the coroner, was privately interred in the churchyard at Stithians, between 11 and 12 o'clock the same night.

Contributed by Claudia Richards