The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-30 00:00:00

The Mysterious Deaths at Mile-end.

Yesterday Mr Humphreys, the coroner for the eastern
division of Middlesex, opened an inquest at the Crown and
Leek Tavern, Church-street, Mile-end New-town, on the
bodies of Frances Beckenham and Mary Ann Gribbin,
sisters, who were found dead on the night of Friday last
at the house of the former, No, 21, Albert-cottages, in that
neighbourhood. The jury, chosen from among the principal
inhabitants of the district, went first of all to view the
bodies, which had remained in precisely the same state in
which they were found, except in so far as they had been
unavoidably disturbed in a post mortem examination.
On their return to the inquest room, the filet witness
called was John Beckenham. He is a tall, stout man, about
50 years of age, paralysed on one side, and evidently of
weak intellect. Ho was led into the room, and while there
gazed about him in a vacant manner. In reply to questions
put by the coroner, who did not think it desirable to swear
him, he said he was living now at 33, Great Bland-street,
Southwark, but up to Friday evening last had resided at
Albert-cottages, Mile-end New-town. He had been em-
ployed in the General Post-office, but had retired from the
service. The deceased woman Frances Beckenham was his
wife. She was about 31 years of age. He left home about
10 o'clock on Friday morning last. His wife was then alive
and in the kitchen. He did not remember anything that took
place two or three days before, The Albert cottages belonged
to the Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwell-
ings of the Industrious Classes. He had nothing to eat on
Thursday or Friday, but on Wednesday morning he had a
little food. His wife's sister, Mrs Gribbin, had been staying
with them three or four days. He left her in the parlour
along with his wife onFriday morning. She was then alive.
He did not kr ow she had been ill. He saw them alive two
or three days previously, and they then appeared very well.
Mr Robert Nicholson, of 21, Underwood-street, Mile-end
Now town, carpet planner and overseer of the parish, de-
posed that the deceased woman Mary Ann Gribbin was
his wife's sister. She was about 40 years of age, and was
the widow of James Gribbin, a musician, who used to lead
the band at Astley's. Mrs Beckenham was also a sister of
his wife. On Friaay night last, in consequence of a com-
munication made to him, he entered the house, accompanied
by hie two brothers, Mr Ware, and' Mr Johnson, a neigh-
bour. He opened the door with a key which belonged to his
father. They found the two women dead in the front room
upstairs. Mrs Beckenham being on the floor, and Mrs
Gribbin in a kneeling posture on the floor with the body and
head resting on her folded arms on a sofa. Mr Beckenham
was under the bed, and naked, except his shirt. They re-
moved him at once. For a long time past ho had not been
right in his mind, but was harmless. The two women, he
was sorry to say, were much given to intemperance. A
surgeon was sent for and came. Witness also called in Dr
Gayton, and they both saw the bodies in the precise condition
in.which they were found. Witness had not seen the hus-
band for about a week before, but that was nothing uncom-
mon. The truth was witness was ashamed of them. He last
saw Mrs Gribbin on Sunday week about 2 o'clock, and Mrs
Beckenham about five or six weeks ago. Beckenham had a
pension of 14s a-week from the Post-office. Witness never
heard Mrs Gribbin threaten to injure Mrs Beckenham:
That was all he knew of the matter. _ _

Mr George Ware, of No. 1, Albert-street-chambers, said
he collected the rents of the Albert•cottages, and called at
Beekesham's house both on Thursday and Friday last, but
no one answered the door on either occasion. He then called
upon the brother-in-law, Mr Nicholson, and went with him
to the house about 10 o'clock on Friday evening. He
found the women dead, as already described. He thought
he saw Mrs Beckenham on Monday last, and had not seen
her since.

Lydia Goozee, of 46, Spicer-street, said she had known
the deceased women many years. Last Tuesday morning,
about 10 o'clock, Mr 13eckenhani came and asked her to go

London: Prizaed and Prblialted by WILLIAM ANDRVWS:
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office No.
Strand, In the Precinct of the 'savoy, in the county of
Mildlesex,—Tuesday, August 3), 1804.