The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-21 00:00:00

A MOURNFUL AFFAIR,

An Inquest has been held in London, on • young girl named
Elizabeth Quincey, aged seventeen, whose body was found In
the Thames by a labourer who wa• dragging the river for
ballast, when he drew up the body of the deceased.

Charlotte Quincey, of 51, Great Wild-street, gave
evidence, and said that she first saw the body of
deceased at the deadhouse, and identified it as that of
her daughter, who was in service as a parlour-maid.
She last PAW her alive on Friday evenuig in Clare-
market, when she said she was going to see her "young
man," named James Langham. The witness advised
her to have nothing to do with him, but she said she
would not give him up. On Sunday at dinner time
her sweetheart called at witness's lodgings and asked
if she had seen anything of the deceased. She said
not since Friday night. He then replied that he
thought she had drowned herself; she had said she
would do so when they met on Friday evening at his
house, although there had been no quarreL
James Lang ham, having been cautioned, said he was
a brass finisher, and was nineteen years of age. He
had seen the body of deceased; knew her when alive;
had been acquainted with her about eight months ; last
saw her alive on Friday. She came to his house and
gave him a white pocket-handkerchief, watch-guard,
and a pair if knitted cuffs, which he lent her on Easter
Monday at Greenwich-park. She then asked him to
write her address in ink on a piece of paper. He
did so, and gave it to her, and she put it in her breast,
afterwards saying she would drown herself, adding that
her mother had pawned and sold all her clothing, and
she might as well be out of the world as in it. She
then left the house, and witness followed, but lost sight
of her in Holborn. Before she left she asked if he
was going to carry on the turrespondence, and he told
her he was not, because he had caught her with
another young man late at night; she replied, 'lf
you don't have me, no one else 'hal"
Sarah Quincey, a cook, said deceased was her sister,
whom she last saw alive on Friday night At her
master's house. She appeared in low spirits, and re-
mained with her a quarter of an hour. She spoke about
, Langbarn and said he had deserted her that night.
Witness was aware her mind Was disturbed in con-
sequence of her mother making away with her clothing,
and besiege knowledge that witness was walking out
with LaughanL She said she had to go out in her
working clothes on Easter Monday, and that James
had deserted her because she was not dressed smartly
enough.
Mrs. Quincey was recalled, and raid she had been
compelled to make away with deceased's clothing to
pr,Ture food.
James Langharn further said that he hail eeduced
deceased, but had since separated from her because he
liked her sister better.

The coroner aPked him if he thought that a proper
way to act, to which he replied, .auflung, that he did
not know. The coroner said he ought tote ashamed
of himself, and if he had it m his power he would send
him to prison. He had been the came of this suicide.
He
.was ordered to leave the court. _ _

The sister was then brought forward, and she said
there had been no improper intimacy whatever be.
tween her and Langbam. The coroner advised her to
have nothing whatever to do with him.
The jury, after half an hour's consultation, returned
a verdict that deceased destroyed her life while in
state of unsound mind.