The Davenport Gazette

SHOCKING PICTURE OF DISSIPATION AND DEATH.

We gave an account, in our evening edition of yesterday, of the death of a young woman lodging in a cellar, No. 293 Ann street, from destitution and exposure to the cold. The following facts in regard to her death, were elicited before the coroner's inquest, and present such a picture of crushing poverty, degradation and despair, as we can hardly realize to have abiding place and existence in any community, civilized or barbarous. And we believe that the "widow's mite," affectionately bestowed upon the unfortunate girl, Margaret Moran, would have caused quite as much joy in heaven, as the conversion of a Japanese soul, at the usual aggregate cost of from five to eight thousand dollars! We give the testimony of one witness, examined by Coroner Pratt:

I Eliza McGilvery, being duly sworn, depose as follows: I reside in cellar of house 293 Ann street; have lived there two months; I hired of John Garry, and pay $1 a week; I keep a shop there, and sell small beer, cigars, &c.; my brother-in-law and Margaret Moran stop with me; he slept on the bed last night, and Margaret on the floor; I sat up and watched with Margaret, who was sick; I became acquainted with Margaret in Lowell; she and I worked in the factories: Margaret drank hard, and visited the dancing cellars in Ann street; she is 17 years old, and was born in Ireland; she came to my cellar when she came from the Alms House about eight days since; she got her living by dancing in Ann street, since she came from the Alms House; she has been sick three days; I bought a cent's worth of milk last night, and gave her the half of it; I got up very early this morning; found my clothes and Margaret's clothes wet and frozen; I have had no wood for two days; some was given by the police this morning; Margaret asked me to lift her up I did so and then went out for wood, and when I returned Margaret was dead; this was about ten o'clock; I knew she could not live; I did not have a doctor while she was sick, for I had no money: I did not tell the police she was sick; I don't know what caused her death, except exposure and heavy drinking; all the money I have is 12 cents; I have eat nothing to day.

ELIZA MCGILVERY.

The jury, after investigating the case, returned the following verdict:

That the said Margaret Moran came to her death on the 5th day of January, 1851, at 10 o'clock, A. M., in the cellar of house No. 293 Ann street, kept by Eliza McGilvery, in consequence of habitual intemperance and exposure to the cold. And the jury further say, that the said cellar is a cold, dark, damp and filthy place, and unsuitable for the residence of a human being.—Boston Mail.