The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-22 00:00:00

THE SUICIDE OF A YOUNG WOMAN AT
LoNDON-lOCIDVE.

INgI•IMT.—(THIS DAY.)
This forenoon Mr. W. J. Plc, the deputy-
totoner, held an inquiry at the St. us eestry-room,
Loudondidge, touching the death o a young woman,
whose moue was unknown, aged about 17 years.
Polke.eutiatable Morris Pocock, 727 City force, said that
:it an early hour on Sunday morning week he saw
a dark object lying at the bottom of the steps '
at the city side of London-bridge. He went down
the steps to see what it was, and he then
)...w the let of the ilecemied lying on the
st, 11, ..td her head was in the water. lie pulled her out,
hut +he was quite dead. She was dressed in a boating
jacket. a black bonnet, a morning dress, and a pair of side
maim: boots. Under her left ann, as if she had put it in
was the photographic portrait of a lady very .
like. but somewhat older looking, than the deceased. She
could not have been long in the water, but she was block
in the face.

Henry SI ward beadle, said that he had examined
the h.‘ek of the photograph, and he found written on it in
a lady % hand, " My dear mother departed this' life 27th of
Ruch. The portrait was taken by a Mr. Shayler, of
tru, r 1 pei -street, Islington, and witness went to him and
he said that it wee the photograph of a lady named
Wairen who called there one day, but she did not give
Ler :address. _ .

At this stage of the proceedings,
William Higgs, a silk weaver, living at No. 22, Green-
street. London, entered the court, and said that he
tel recognised the body of the deceased as that of
Alice Matilda Winter, aged 17 years, the niece of
his wife. Her mother had died in March last,
and she felt het loam very much, for she was
attached to her. The photograph produced was that of
her mother: After the funeral of her mother she went
into service. Her father hail been dead seven years. On
satunlay week she left her employer's at Croydon to come
and see witness. On her way she would have to cross
London-bridge. She was a very steady gill, and she never
hail an acquaintance. She used to carry about the portrait
of her mother with her, and she used to seem to worship it.
Mr. O. l'etridge. Thornton-heath, Croydon, said that
the deceased hail been in his employment. She used to
Lite the portrait of her mother out, and while looking at
it she used to cry frantically, and then lie down upon the
floor of the room and roar. Witness gave her notice to
leave, and her time expired on Saturday week. She did
not appear to realise her position until she was on top
of the coach at half- pest 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
She left very sad and crying. She disliked returning
to her uncle's house. They then offered to take
her back if she could not get another situation. Had
gi. en her woney to pay her fare back to Croydon. She
had refused to take a holiday en a previous occasion to
to see her uncle. She had never seen him since her
mother's death. She was so desponding that Mrs.
l'etridge used to take her out in the carriage to the Crystal
l'alsce to try and cheer her up. Her mother had died
swhlenly.
Mrs. 31. A. Meeks, aunt of the deceased, said that the
deceased felt the most intense grief for the loss of her
soother. She was afraid to return home to her relations
as she knew they had a family to support and she feared to
increase their expenses by going to live with them.
Mr. W. Clapton, said that the cause of the
deceased's death was suffocation from drowning.
The Coroner said that the case was a very sad one and
the jury returned a verdict " That the deceased com-
mitted suicide by drowning herself in the waters of the
Thames at London-bridge whilst in a state of temporary
insanity."