The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-06 00:00:00

TEE FATAL FIRE AT ASCOT'

There is little doubt that the calcined human bones
discovered in the ruins of Berystede, Ascot, the resi-
dence of Mr. and Mrs. Standish, are the remains of
Madame Elise, the lady's-maid, who perished in the
terrible fire which destroyed the mansion a few days
ago. It appears that while Sergeant Curl, of the Berk-
shire Constabulary, and Mr. King, who is acting for the
Law Union Fire Insurance Company, was superin-
tending the examination of the debris on a landing
upon the ground floor, near the principal entrance,
some jewellery belonging to the deceased was found
In the layer of rubbish, which was about 3ft. deep.
The trinkets consisted of a gold watch engraved with
the initial "E," a gold crucifix, a ruby brooch, a seal
bearing the monogram "E. K.," and a gold Chinese
brooch. A further search revealed several calcined
fragments of bones, which on being submitted to Mr.
Lacey, surgeon, of Sunninghill, were certified to be
human. Other pieces of bone have been found, and
Mr. Weedon, coroner for Berkshire, has held an in-
quest on the remains at Berystede Farm, the name of
the deceased being given as Elise Kleininger, aged
48 years. After the medical evidence, Walter
Houghton, the night watchman, deposed that while
in the servants' hall he heard some one scream. The
noise seemed down below, and like some one being
hurt. He ran out of the place, and when he got
round upon the terrace be saw Mrs. Standish stand-
ing at the turret window, and flames in the entrance
hall. They were extending towards and under the
place where Mrs. Standish was. He went into the
ball at three minutes past one, and at a quarter past
one he heard the screaming. He had seen lights burn-
ing in two rooms only when he left the place before
the fire—in Mr. Standish's bedroom and Mr. Stan-
dish's sitting-room. Mr. Standish's bedroom was on
the ground floor. He could not account for the fire.
The servants who slept that night in the house were
the butler, the valet, three housemaids, and the lady's-
maid. The latter was the only person missing. Mr.
and Mrs. Standish and the servants were the only
inmates in the house. Sergeant Curl, of the Berk-
shire Constabulary, said he had been searching among
the ruins, and found the bones and jewellery which
the jury had seen. The jury being satisfied that the
remains were those of the deceased, found " That she
had been accidentally burnt in the fire at Berystede."

Viscount Cranbrook, Lord President of the (Munch,
accompanied by the Hon. Evelyn Gathorne Hardy, left
town, after the Cabinet Council on Monday, for Oakley
Hall, Digs, on a visit to Mr. Hargreaves.
Captain John Fisher, 0.8., late in command of her
Majesty's ship Excellent at Portsmouth, entered on
Monday upon Ws duties at Whitehall as Director of
Naval Ordnance. -

A marriage is arranged between Lady Florence
Conyngham, youngest daughter of the Dowager Mar-
chioness Conyngham, and Mr. Astley, of the Chequers,
Bucks. _ _

Colonel J. Davison has been selected for the com-
mand of the 3rd Prince of Wales' Dragoon Guards,
now stationed in Bes3gal.