Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 29 December 1860.

Shocking Suicide by a Female Servant.

On Monday afternoon and inquest was held at the "Barrack Tavern," Woolwich, before Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, on the body of Mary Ann M'Gowan, age 18, a young woman in the service of Major General Sir Richard Dacres, K.C.B., who committed suicide by taking poison on the previous Saturday night.

It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was the daughter of Joseph M'Gowan, a gunner of Royal Artillery, and had formed an acquaintance which her parents did not approve. On the previous Saturday night she was observed to become suddenly ill, and staggered and fell.

Dr. Evans, of the Royal Ordnance hospital was probably in attendance, but life was found to be extinct; and upon searching the deceased, a small bottle was found in her pocket which contains cyanide of potassium, the poison for renovating gold lace, and to which the deceased had access.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity.