The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-14 00:00:00

Mysterious Death of a Female at Bow,

Yesterday afternoon Mr John Humphreys, the Middlesex
coroner, opened an inquiry at the Rose and Crown Tavern,
High-street, Bromley, respecting the death of Elizabeth
Jennings, aged 17 years, who it was alleged had died from
s ilful drowning, under the following circumstances :
Henry Sims Jennings, of No. 2, Upper Park-street,
Bromley, said that the deceased was his sister, and she was
a crinoline maker. The deceased had been ke:ping company
with Joseph Dean, a hammerman employed at the Thames
Iron Works, Victoria Docks.
William Fletcher, of Three Mill-lane, Bromley, said that
he was lock-keeper employed on the River Lea, Bromley
Locks. On Monday evening last, about nine o'clock, he
saw the deceased and the man Dean pass him along the
towing path, About twenty minutes afterwards he heard
the voice of a man, who called •' Help, help." He went to
the spot with a pole and the drags, and when he reached
the place from whence the sound came he found several
persons on the bank. He was then infor-ned that a female
was in the water, and witness saw the man Dean on the
bank. Witness threw in the drags and found, with the aid
of a boat, the body of the deceased. Witness addressed the
man and said to him, " Why, you passed me with her a
little while back/ The bank where deceased was found
was slanting towards the water, and the width at that spot
was about twelve feet. There was water on the other side,
and that was also navigated. The usual place for the f )ot
passengers was on the towing path. When the body was
got cut a surgeon was sent for, who pronounced life extinct.
The water w, hero deceased was found was thick and foul.
Charles Blare, of the Delivery Office, Bromley Locks,
stated that on the night in question he heard a cry of some
person in distress. It was about a quarter post nine o'clock,
and when he went along the bank he found the man Dean in
great trouble, and calling out for help. He said, " She is
gone, she is gone." Witness brought him away from the
spot, but he said, "No, I will follow her." He asked him
why he did not save her, when he replied, " I would have
done so, but I cannot swim." Witness asked Dean how it
happened, and he said. '6 We were walking along larking,
when she slipped in. Witness thenwent for the drags, when
the body was got out.

Emma Jane West, of 7, Elizabeth-street, Bromley, re-
siding with the deceased—Sae last saw the deceased alive
on Monday night about 7 o'clock, as she was leaving work.
Witness lett her with the man Dean and Alfred Heather,
and they appeared to be on good terms. She did not say
where she was going to. She never heard deceased threaten
to destroy herseifs nor had she ever complained of the con-
duct of Dean. The man Dean and s itness's brother were
not friends, and they had quarrelled about the deceased, of
whom Dean was jealous. Had never heard any one threaten
the deceased,
Charles West, lodging in the same house with the de-
ceased, said he ha i words with Dean because witness had
walked out with deceased. He saw them together on Mon-
day evening near the distillery. They were going towards
Bromley-hall-fields. Witness watched them because he
(witness) heard they were going to have a quarrel. Had
known them to have angry words respecting witness, Had
never heard Dean threaten her. Witness had seen Dean
strike the deceased jokingly, and he watched them because
he had heard they were going to have words. When wit-
ness passed them he did not speak to them, but he stopped
behind and watched them. The deceased told witness that
she was going to give up the company of the man Dean.
Had told a man named Care that he would not give the de-
ceased up to Dean.
George Caro. residing in the same house as the last wit-
ness, stated he met Dean on Monday morning is St Leonard's
road. He spoke to witness and said that he had been to
Woolwich on the previous day. Dean said, "Did you take

Lizzie with you?" Witness said he had not seen her since
Friday. Dean pulled out a puree and said, while taking out
a piece of paper, "This will do for her." Witness did not
know what Dean meant. Could not see any writing on the
paper, which did not contain anything.
Dr German, of the divisional police, said that the deceased
had died from submersion by drowning.
Mrs West, the landlady, said that the deceased had com-

plained of Dean, and had stated that she was afraid of him.
Witness advised her to tell her brothers, who would pro-
tept her.
Acting Inspector Brenchley, 2 K, said that he searched
the accused, and found 2s upon him. When the charge was
booked he asked him how the deceased got into the water,
when he replied " We were larking together on the bank of
the River Lea and she was holding a purse in her hand,
when I tried to get hold of it and she missed her footing,
when she slipped into the water." He added, "I could not
save her because I could not swim."
The father of Dean stated that the paper which had been
shown to one of the witnesses was a note from the deceased's
father requesting her to go home to Northfleet, where he
resided, and Dean was going to her on Monday evening to
show it to her.
The Coroaer summed up the facts adduced, and observed
that although there was some mystery as to the manner
deceased got into the water, he did not believe there was
sufficient evidence to send the case to another tribunal.
There had clearly been great jealousy on the part of the
accused, owing to the deceased walking out with other

young men.
Ihe jury, after some consultation, returned a verdict—
That the deceased died from o,rowning by submersion in the
water of the River Lea, but how or by what means she came
iuto the water there was not sufficient evidouce to prove.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO M. JULES GERRARD..--
Intelligence has been received in Manchester of the death
of M Jules Gerard, the celebrated traveller, better known
under the name of the " lion-killer. M Gerard is said to
have been drowned in the river Jong, 120 miles from Sierra
Leone. The information comes from the factors of Mr
Ellis Edwards.—Manchestar Courier.
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer in
Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL, Thursday.
Addresses was this afternoon presented to the Chancellor

of the Exchequer by the members of the Liverpool Chamber
of Commerce and the financial Reform Association, in St.
George's-hall. It was originally intended that the presen-
tation should take place in the Town-hall, but the demand
for tickets of admission being very great, it was found

necessary to have recourse to the more ample accommoda-
tion of St. George's-ball. The vast area of that spacious
and most elegant building and the galleries on either side
were filled half an hour before the proceedings were ap-
pointed to commence.
Previous to the arrival of the right_hon. gentleman Mr

Best played a voluntary on the magnificent organ at the

north end of the hall, which was much applauded by the
eagerly expectant throng. At a quarter to 1 o'clock the
Mayor, Mr Mozley, made his appearance on the platform,

and was loudly cheered. He was accompanied by some of
the leading merchants of the town, the High Sheriff (Sir
J. Kay Shuttle worth), Mr Gregeon, M.P., Mr Horstall,
M.P., Mr Hepwood, Mr Robertson Gladstone, &c. A
number of ladies were present.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, on presenting himself,

was loudly cheered. Mrs Gladstone, who was led by the
Mayor to seat on the platform, was received with the most
enthusiastic applause.
The MAYOR, on taking the chair, briefly stated the ob-
ject of the meeting, and called en the President of the
Chambers of Commerce to present the address of that body.
Mr GRAINGER, the President of the Chamber of Cora-
mercs, then rose and said,—When the pleasing news of
your intended visit to Liverpool was made public, the
general and almost universal thought was how best
to welcome to his native town the greatest of her
sons. (Cheers.) The Chamber of Commerce immediately
instructed me, their President, to invite you to accept
their honorary membership, and of a public address em-

bodying their feelings of respect and admiration, I
cannot adequately express my thanks for your prompt and
courteous appreciation of our intentions, You, doubtless,

recognised in this Chamber a form of self-help, part of the

genius of the English character, which is the foundation of
our prosperity as individuals, and of our greatness as a na-
tion, making us in its development a truly free and self-
governing people. -(Cheers,) Sir, as in those classic ages

with which you are so familiar their heroes proudly wore a
simple wreath of laurel as the highest reward of their suc-
cess, and in these modern days we welcome our country-
men illustrious iu arts and arms by conferring on them the
franchises of our cities and Universities, so now we, the
merchants of Liverpool, would honour ourselves and you
by enrolling in our Chamber of Commerce the conqueror
of financial difficulties, the liberator of commerce, and the
enlightened friend of the working classes, (Cheers.)
The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. R.
Jeffrey, having read the addresses,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was received
with much enthusiasm, all the audience rising to their feet

and cheering loudly for several seconds, said—Mr Mayor,
Mr High Sheriff, gentlemen presidents of the respective

associations, and ladies and gentlemen of Liverpool at large,
I hope it is needless for me to assure you that I am deeply
grateful for the emphatic marks of your kindne,s and con-
fidence which I have just received. Many long years have
separated me from familiarity—l mean general tamilarity,
with the community of Liverpo,d, and Liverpool herself has
within these years been more than once I may say multiplied

and transformed. When my recollections of her were -mo-s1

familiar she was a town of 100,000 persons, and the silver

cloud cf smoke which floated above her resembled that

which might appear over any secondary borough or village

of the country. She has since extended her boundaries
and multiplied her population, and you, gentlemen, have
given me a proof to-day teat the same warmth and energy
of spirit which she carries into her commercial pursuits
distinguish her in every public proceeding, and animate your
breasts with sentiments 01 generous regard to those upon
whose public conduct you are pleased to look with favour and
indulgence. (Cheers.) I am the first to recognise, with
reference to words that were used by the President of the
Chamber of Commerce, the value of associations such as
those whose addressee I have had the honour to receive.

There have indeed been times, there have and, perhaps,

there are still countries where associations formed osten.

sib:y with reference to purposes of trade, industry, or
science have been regarded with jealousy by the authorities
in being, I remember, for example, that before the great,
and, I trust and think, the happy transmutation that has
occurred in Italy—(cheers)—it eves the custom of those who
promote constitutional opinions to form themselves into
agricultural associations---(a laugh)—and when meetings of
such persons were held—and they comprised pretty nearly
the entire intelligence of the country—(cheers) —no doubt
these meetings were useful for discussions relating to the
progress of agriculture, and it was also strongly, and I
believe justly, suspected that much attention was paid on
these occasions to what I may venture to term political til-
lage, and that the field of public questions was very dili-
gently cultivated. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, we do not
suspect the Chamber of Commerce, nor the Financial Re-
form Association, nor the association of the tradesmen of
Liverpool of covering under the names they choose to bear
ulterior or sinister views. And the reason why we dont
suspect them of meditating great political changes, and pur-
suing them under false pretences, is this, that happily if
they did see occasion to me titate these extended political
alterations, there would be nothing in the world in this
country to prevent them from plainly saying so, and forming
societies with a view to the prosecution of those objects. It
is therefore upon these associations, considered as what they
represent themselves to be, and as whet we all know they
axe, that I would say oue word. Most fully, most cordially
do I recognise their value; to their value I would add their
importance ; to their importance I would add their neces-
sity—nay, gentlemen, I will go one step further, and I will
say that I do not find that value greatly diminished by the
tact that, exercising the privileges of free-born Englishmen,
they regard economical and fiscal questions from somewhat
different points of view. It would be strange indeed if in a
community like this, and if en a subject-matter on which it
is obvious that progressive change and adaptation to the
varying circumstances of different periods are the essential
law—it would be strange indeed if in a community like this
differences of opinion did not prevail. I dont believe that
any Englishman would take a sinister view, or pass an in-
vidious criticism on such differences; still less would it
become me to attempt to venture anything of the kind on
an occasion like this, when, first, I am possessed by a sense
of profound acknowledgment for the kindness I receive at
your hands, and when, secondly, and yet more, I am pos-
sessed with a deep conviction that one and the same prin-
ciple—namely, a desire for continued and progressive im-
provement, lies at the root of all these addresses. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, it is by these institutions that public opinion is
formed and matured. It is among you, it is by your mutual
communications, that your ideas are gradually brought into
being, under the influence of that light which experience
gives you, that they from time to time acquire more and
more substantive form and power, until at length—having
passed the test of searching and protracted examination by
the free press, the free assemblies, and the free conversa-
tions of this country—they reach to that condition of matu-
rity in which a Legislature may safely and wisely adopt
them. (Cheers.) True it is that that process is of necessity
a tardy process; true it is that the expectati tns of the more
ardent supporters may be doomed to receive many a lesson
of patience and some of disappointment; but it is also true
that in consequence of the tardiness of that process the
changes accepted here are accepted in good faith, are ac-
cepted by the entire community, and when once they take
their place on the statute of the country they become part
of the system under which we live. (Cheers.) It may still
be open to us further to develope that which we have done,
but happily we can say with respect to our legislation gene-
rally, and especially with regard to legislation of the class
more particularly under view, what was said by the ancients
of a place that it is needless to name—" There is no back-
ward road, there are no footsteps turned in the direction of
retrogression." (Cheers.) "Onwards" is the motto of
Englishmen, and by that motto they abide. (Cheers.) Well
now, if I may be permitted one single criticism, and I think
it will not be invidious, it will be in illustration of that
which I have just stated. The address which has been read
by our friend Mr Jeffrey does me a great deal more than
justice. It attributes, in common with other addresses,
much more than their just value to the labours which I
have been enabled to perform, but it over-estimates the
power which is placed in the hands of the Minister of
Finance. The address states, with truth, that I have given
my opinion in my place in Parliament, that the tax which
still remains applicable to the article of corn is a tax that on
principle cannot be defendel,and that as far as I know it is
not recommended by any such imperative considerations of
convenience or public advantage,apart from principles, as to
make me, at least for cne, content to recognize it as belong-
ing to the permanent fiscal system of the country. (Cheers.)
It would be absurd were I to say that I think it burdensome
and grievous, because these are subjects which belong to
questions of a graver and more serious character; but I
frankly own I know no reason why, when practicable,smaller
evils as well as great ones should not be removed. But I am
bound to say, having travelled thus far with my friend Mr
Jeffrey on the road, that I am not able to accept the does
trine that an error was committed, as the address says, by
me, and I must of course say, and in order to speak the
truth, by the Administration of the Queen, when we pre-
ferred to ask the H of Commons for the remission of a
penny from the income tax rather than to take off the tax
on corn. Now the simple test to which I bring this question
is this—Supposing we had not proposed to take a penny off
the income tax, but had proposed to remit the is corn duty
during the last session of Parliament,—because that is the
whole question, the question of time and circumstance,—
will Mr Jeffrey guarantee to me that such a proposal made
by the Gevernment would have succeeded ? (near, and a
laugh.) Now that is a very fair question, and until Mr
Jeffrey comes forward and makes himself fully and bodily
responsible—(iaughter)—for a clear, distinct, and satisfac-
tory answer to this question, I will waive and adjourn the
further discussion of the subject. (Cheers.) Mr Mayor and
gentlemen, your kindness has been exercised towards me at
a time and at a moment of very great and peculiar interest.
I distinguish between the moment and the time, because
the very period in which we live, especially the last 20
.or
30 years, has been, and the years that are coming promise