The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

A ROMANTIC SUICIDE.

On Saturday last an inquest was held at the St.
Magnus veetry-rietni, Lower Thnines.street, London,
tour:lcing the death of Miss Eliza Packer, aged seven-
teen years, who committed euicide at LundOndiridge.
Mrs Kidd said that the deceinuel was the daughtcr of Mr.
Parker, a hairdresser, errrying on Mathes. In Milton street.
On Thursday evening sllO caned on witness and VIIIII then In
excellent spirits Witness tied known her 111,100 she was a
baby. Two years ago Mr Albert Smith came to lodge with
witness, and lie fell in love with the deeeased, who lived next
door. tier parents did not know it, Wilt ha used to leant her
unknown to then:, lie had worried her about other young
ladles, and she was very niueh vexed.
Mr. A. Smith said that he was employed RE a tailor's
establishment In the Ony. Ile was Nat '2l years oh!. lie
had paid his address,. to deceased ter the last year. On
Thursday evening at half-past seven he met her, arid
they took a walk round the Southwark.bridge.road and bank
again to Wood•street, where she had a few words with him
about his not speaking to her daring the middle of the day
when he met her, but lie told her he was than In a hurry.
While they were spvaklng she thotight that she maw her
brother Alfred, and she became elanued, nod said, "If
Alfred gees me he will tell my mother, which is nothing but
right; but mother has told me that if she ever found me
with you she would break my neck." lene then cried, and
witness said, "If you cry so ni never me you again." She
then amid, " Would you ?" and upon his answering "Yes,'
she cried out, "Then ill go and drown myself !" She ran
down the street, mid witness followed, but lost night of her.
When he reached King William's statue he saw her running
very fast, and he rushed sitter her. she ran down
the steps of Londembridge, and ne followed leer as
he thought, lot lie mistook the steps 41.1W11 which
she had tun. Wheu he got to the imttonc he heard In the
darkness • female voice, which its recognised as hers
He jumped into the water, and was carried under the
arch of the bridge. While going through he hoard the de-
ceued again, and he caught hold of iminetlaing, and found it
was her shawl. Ile could not boll it, and he found himself
drowning, for he could not suite. The next he knew was his
being himself pulled out of the water. The witness 110/0
licirst out crying, and exclaimed, " I wide I had been
drowned with her; it would have been much better." Ile
afterwards explained at some length that lie had quarrelled
with the young girl's family two yean ago about a servant that
Mrs. Packer had discharged on the charge of stealing. shawl.
Ile said, "Thu young WOllll/11 is innooent, and I will 114 t see
her tuned oil the streets." Be got her another situation,
soil the fancily disliked him on that account. lie had ar-
ranged to lottery the deceased at Later, but as he thought
seventeen was too young he put it off until Whitanntide. It
was all settled between them that they were to take two
rooms hi Kennington, and that they would live there quietly
on his 4210 a. a week.

Alfred Packer raid that the deceased was his sister. None
of the family know that she kept company with llr.
A quieter or a latter girl was never known.
_

The Jury returned a verdict " That deceased com-
mitted imicide by throwing hereelf into the Thames at
London-bridge while she was in a state of temporary
insanity."