The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-14 00:00:00

MONEY M,

PAINFUL SUICIDE OF A WOMAN IN THE

THAMES.

An inquiry was held by Mr. W. J. Payne, the
deputy coroner, last evening, at the vestry-room, Fair-
street, Horeelydown, respecting the alleged suicide of
Elizabeth Bentley, aged 30 years.
Mrs. L. Hodges, No. 1. Arbour-street, Stepney, said that
the deceased was her sister. She was unmarried, but shehad
been living with a gentleman. Lately the deceased and the
gentleman were very unhappy together, and she went to
live with witness. Wheo she returned home about a fort-
night ago she said, " What an unhappy wretched girl I
am." On last Thursday night witness and the deceased
went out for a walk together, and after they had been out
some time the deceased asked witness to return home and
set the supper, and she said that she would follow her.
Witness did not know that she was keeping company with
a captain. The deceased never returned home, and on
Friday witness thought that she had met a female friend ;
and that she had gone home with her in order that they
might go to the Lord Mayor's show. Witness heard of
her sister's death on Monday.
Mrs. Louisa Bentley, No. 38, Bexley-street, mother of
the deceased, said that her daughter was a good-tempered
girl. Of course she was not happy with the person she
lived with.
Mrs. F. Taylor said that after the quarrel the deceased
had to sell some of her clothes to get money to live upon.
She said to witness " I feel I could go and make a hole in
the water." She often mentioned a young man's name,
and the; quarrel with him appeared to prey upon her
mind.
William Gomel' having been sworn, said he was
stopping at the White Huree, White Horse-street, Step-
ney. He had been in business as an ironmonger in that
street. Witness continued—A fortnight ago I separated
from the deceased. I had been living with her for 11
years. After that she knew where I was and she had the
privilege of stopping with me. On Saturday week, when
I was parting with tier, I gave her 2s. Gd. She had a bail
temper, and on that day she struck me on the head. I
was the only person she lived with.
A juror—Did she ever ask you to marry her?
Witness (laughing)—We talked it over.
The juror—Did your not marrying her make an impres-
sion on her mind ?
Witness—Well, it did. I should have married her only
we had been living together. She asked me to marry her.
The juror—You have heard the evidence of her sister ;
do you know anything against the deceased? I wish this
to be investigated for the sake of her family.
Witness-1 had suspicions. but I have no proof. I know
nothing against her. On Saturday week she was like a
mad woman. I wrote to her last Saturday not knowing
that she was then dead.
A juror—Do you not think that your refusal to marry
her made her commit suicide ?
Witness—Oh no, I don't think that. I know marriage is
all right. I believe her mania for going to the Thames
at L'attle-bridgeatairs was that her poor father died eight
months ago in Guy's Hospital. He had been five yearn in
Coluey-hatch Asylum. When I was in business in White
Horse-street, the deceased tried to poison herself.
Jones, a private policeman at Ileale's Wharf, said that
at 2 o'clock last Friday morning, in the rain, he heard a
person struggling and beating about in the water. As he
could see nothing is the dark, he gave no alarm.
Joseph W. Johnson, a waterman at London-bridge-stairs,
said that at 8 o'clock on Friday morning he found the
dead body of the deceased in the Thames, near Ileale's
Wharf. The woman was dressed, and lying on her face.
The Coroner said there could be no moral doubt that the
deceased had committed suicide in consequence of Mr.
Gosncll's refusal to marry her.
The Jury returned a verdict "That the deceased was
found drowned in the Thames, but ender what circum-
stances she became drowned there was not sufficient
evidence to prove."

We (Galigrumi) are informed that Mr. Dove-Dove
has recently been received into the catholic church at
Paris, by the Abbe Rogerson. Mr. Dove-Dove is well
known as one of the Puseyite party, and was a very
efficient clergyman.
COURT or ALDERMEN. —A Court of Aldermen
was holden yesterday in the Long Parlour at the Mansion-
house, at which the Lord Mayor (Alderman Gabriel) pre-
sided for the first time. After a few appropriate remarks
from the chairman, the usual resolution of thanks to the
late Lord Mayor for the very able sod dignified manner in
which be had performed the duties of his office (luring the
past year was passed. Alderman Stone, the chairman of
the General Purposes Committee, brought up a report from
that committee recommending various alterations in re.
ference to the mode of summoning jurors in the City of
London to serve upon special and other juries. the present
system having caused great dissatisfaction. The principal
alteration appeared to be that the deputy and alderman
of each ward should take measures to obtain a cor-
rect list of persons liable to serve on special and
other juries, and that the ward beadle should be instructed
to go to every house and office in each ward and obtain
the names of all persons who were liable to serve as jurors.
The alderman said that hitherto it bad only been cns-
tomary to have the name of one member of a firm upon
the jury, but which was undoubtedly illegal, and the
effect of the proposed alteration would be that the lists
would be mach more complete, and the persons liable to
serve on special and common juries would be properly dis-
tinguished- The report was agreed to. Considerable dis-
cussion took place in reference to certain defective arrange-
ments in placing guests, kc., which it was alleged pre-
vailed on the occasion of the Lord Mayor's banquet on
Friday last, and the matter was referred to the Committee
of Privileges, and the court shortly afterwards adjourned.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.—
The following gentlemen having undergone the necessary
examinations for the diploma were admitted members of
the college at a meeting of the court of examiners on the
13th inst., viz. :—Messrs. Charles Nutt, Newton Abbot,
Devon ; Charles Medley, Richmond, Yorkshire ; John
Routledge Bosworth, Clapham-road, and Frederick Rey-
nolds, Woburn-square, student. of Guy's HarpitaL Ed-
- ward Hewer, Winchester; William lliffe, Nuneaton;
- Edward Hornfray Addenbrooke, Smethwick, and Edwin
Renshaw, Lee, Kent, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
John Ockenden, Bayswater, and Henry Ezekiel Sewill,
LD.S., R.C.S., Clifton-gardens, of St. Mary's Hospital.
Thomas Harvey, L.S.A., Baldock, Herta, and John James
Jackson, Jersey, of St. Thomas's Hospital. Christopher
Henry Dawson, Bristol, and Clarence Henry Messiah,
Clifton, of the Bristol School Robert Charles Brookes,
Westminster-bridge-road, and Joseph Randle Buck,
Dudley, Worcestershire, of the Westminster Hospital.
John Beswick Perrin, WiganAof King's College ; and
George Cardwell Rigby, Chorley, near Preston, of the Man-
) cheater School.