The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-22 00:00:00

THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO THE BRIDAL
PARTY AT BATTERSEA.

Dr. Diploch, the coroner for West Middlesex,
held an inquest, last evening, at the Swan Inn, Putney-
bridge, on the body of Sarah Betsworth, aged 19 years,
who was drowned with her husband, a few hours after
her marriage, on Sunday last.
George Phelp, a waterman, said that on Monday evening
he and • man named Kelly were near Putney-bridge,
when they saw the body of a young woman floating with
the tide near the bank of the Middlesex shore. They got
the body ashore, and found that it was dressed in a black
silk jacket and puce-coloured skirt. They gave informa-
tion to the police, who removed the body to the Swan.
A police-sergeant stated that the deceased looked to be
30 years of age, and her description was circulated as that
of a woman unknown, aged 30 years. The relatives of
the missing bride, however, came to Putney, and positively
identified the body as that of Sarah Betsworth.
Samuel Chads, add's-hill, Hendon, identified the body
of the deceased as that of Sarah Chads, who was married
on Sunday to John Betsworth, a plasterer. In the after-
noon the newly-married couple, accompanied by Ann
Chads, the sister of the bride, and a young man named
Thompson, took • boat at Battersea, to go on an excur-
sion up the river. The witness knew nothing of the cir-
cumstances of the fatal occurrence.

A conversation took place relative to the condition of
the boat. The friends of the deceased maintained that
the boat was not in good condition, and that it was not of
sufficient size to carry with safety four persons. This view
was not, however, borne out to the satisfaction of
the jury. It • that none of the parties knew
much about boating, and when the boat approached Bat-
tersea-bridge it came under the influence of the strong cur-
rent. In trying to make head against the stream it was
Drought into collision with some barges, and it was in-
stantly capsized. The whole party were swept by the
current under the barge, and nompeon alone came to
the surface again.
The Coroner having remarked upon the melancholy
nature of the occurrence,
The jury returned a verdict that " deceased was drowned
b_y the accidental upsetting of a boat on the Thames at
9,

CUTER JEITZL ROBBLItIf.—A serious case of
shoplifting took place in Brighton on Wednesday last.
About six weeks ago a man of excellent address and
Vikdmanners left a diamond ring at the shop of Mr.
etrjeweller, Rast-street. The ring was worth about
£6O and required a strengthening in the setting of the
stone. When the customer called for the ring and paid
for the work dons, he expressed admiration of the stock,
represented himself as lately come from India, and
gave his name " Mr.Ricketts, Shoreham." He
said he wished to make • marriage present to
a relative and was so pleased with the taste
and beauty of the stock that he would
the gift from Mr. Jones, instead of going to London. Mr.
Jones, though oom 'vel a young tradesman, was not
taken off his by tho,speclotimess of the stranger,
who to all next day and bring a lady who
won] select the present. He did not come as promised,
and Mr. Jones did not see him again tall Monday morning
last, when he called about 10. He apologised for
not calling according to promise, explained that
be had had an accident, the marks of which
he showed on his band, and asked if the sets of
jewellery he had previously admired were still in
stock. Mr. Jones said the chief sets were, and "Mr.
Ricketts" then made an appointment for himself and the
"lady "to call at noon in order to select the gift. Mr.
Jones was prepared for the appointment, "Mr. Mt.i- "
and the " lady " drove up in a cab, and his first act was
to discharge the cabman, who, he said, had " a bad horse."
The customers then carried on the "selection" process for
ovezaabour. The speciousness of the male customer was
absolutely perfect, and he did not give a single chance for
suspkion ; nevertheless, Mr. Jones was watchful through-
out. The customers were unwatched for only a second or
two during the period of their stay; yet that nifiloed for
"Mr. Ricketts and the "lady" to purloin a case contain-
ing a brooch and earrings, worth (cost price) ea These
ornaments were in the fashionable " batterily "
and were set with opals, rubies, emeralreaZ
diamonds. The case had been one of the first looked
at but had been put on one side as not suit-
able. Thus Mr. Jones did not miss it till the thieves
had lett. Hoods were selected to the amount of 22W.,
and were directed to be brought next day to an address in
Sussex-square. Some other person lived at the address,
and " Ricketts" and the "lady," seem to have got clear off
with their booty. While the loss to Mr. loses is so
emote, it is some poor consolation to know that the article
taken was one of the worst in the stock for the thieves.
Tiadesinen will anderstasid what we mean when we say
that the brooch and caring' will not break-up well—
Brighton Choordims.