The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-20 00:00:00

SAD DEATH OF A DOMESTIC SERVANT.

An adjourned inquest, upon Amelia Staples, (20),
a domestic si:vant, was held on Wt,dnesday, at the
Fish In, Atnblecote, before Mr. W, 11. Phillips,
Distrilt Coroner.

The euquiry had been adjourned for the purpose
of u:aking a post norteni examinatiou.

Deceased was found in the canal on Thurs lay
last, alter being mis4ed for two days
Dr. Turner gave evidence as to the result of the
post-mortem, and slid that death was due to suffAca
tiou from 'drowning. There were no marks of
violence on the boAy. One of the bones of the
head was depretsel owing to a previous fracture.
It was statei at the first enquiry that deceased,
some 15 months ago, had her ekull fractured, a;al
be,r ribs broken by a f ,11 from a witilow„
The Coroner said the d2ceas .d was stated to I:ave
complained a good deal about her head. Eviience
had been given that sho left her mistress's house
to make some purchases, instead of which she w,lit,
to the canal side, and w.s there walking with a
youirr man. He had said that be took her I ack
nearly to her mistress's house, and there hft her.
Itterwards She was found drowne lat a 1-).3 ime ly
two miles away._ .

A j irywan:- Sho, must have -Lturnel to the
canal.
Lie Coroner nskel Mrs, S spez, deeeztsr.,d's
fricy.h r, if sLe w.si,oi any further enquiry to be
made.

Mrs. Staples wished S3lllO vestions to b 9 put to
vt,s. Penn th dect2asel's mistro, and 'o Herbert
Col.vell, the young twat who had been walking
vith the dec-.ased, mil they wer:; calkd int the
room.

Mrs. Penn, in reply to questions put to her, was
unable to speak as to whether anyone teturned
wih deceased to within 20 yards of her house on
the night of 'Fu s3ay laqt week.
Mrs. Staples: I would like the young man asked
if Le has any prof that anyone saw him take her
(deceased) hotnk!.
ColAell sail that a young man al:d woman w re
waling along the canal towards the Stewponey, and
he heard that t hey picke4 up a paper with deeeas,ed's
name on. When he turned from the can d and went
over the Ridge he saw Howard Cornville and John
ziwith who wi-had him goo 1- nlgilt. He went on
with di ceased and did not fleet anyone else tiil
they got into Brock Street, Stourbridge. where he
saw two young men named Bur on an 1 Per y.
That woull he jut he'ore 9 o'clock, and it was not
many yards from the house of deceased's mistress.
there were a number of people about wie re he tir.,t
.iet the dused at Wordsley, as the rtlemen were
-ho tug. She vomplained a good de.LI about he
head as he walked along with her, and he asked her
What was the matter. She then told him that she
fell through a window some time ago.
The . oroner asked to mother if she had any
mspicion of any kirvi upon her mind, as. .f so, he
uhi ft,4 tin atijouro the enquiry.
Mrs S spies said she Irto not.

The Coron.:r 9ail h (td not see that the jl;ry
return any other ver ;,;:t than one of found
rite deceascd h:(1 asked a qut.qion
ay before hi death as to htther pnis,m
,r-weitig wad the e siest deatn ; but that might
only be a- sasual remark, although it might mean
a great deal
The jay returned a verdict of "Found drowned."