The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-15 00:00:00

SAD END OF AN UNFOR7UNATE."

Dr. Lankester held an inquest on Saturday at the
Elephant and Castle Tavern, Camden Town, on the
body of Naomi Bailey, aged 27, who committed sui-
cide by throwing herself into the water from a bridge
in the Aldany-road, Regent's-park.
The body was identified by the mother of the de-
ceased, from Kilby, in Lincolnshire. She said her
daughter was doing machine work in London, and
that six weeks ago she wrote home stating that she
had received a wound on the head, from which she
was fearful she would not recover. On Monday,
the Ist inst., however, another was received, stating
that she was better, and would be with them the
day after Christmas.
John Foot, of 49, Ordnance-road, St. John's-wood,
said at about half-past 12 on Monday night last he
was passing along the Albert-road, on the opposite
side to the Regent's-park, when he heard some
quarrelling between parties, and about 50 yards
in front of him he saw a young woman, who,
hearing him approach, called out " Help!" three
times. He crossed over and saw a man run away.
He asked the young woman, who was intoxicated,
if they had been attempting to rob tier. She replied
—" They might have done so if you had not come
up." He offered to see her a little way, but think-
ing it might be a plot to rob him, on reaching the
bridge he walked on for about 200 yards, when he
heard a scream and a splash, and on running back
to the bridge, he saw the young woman floating on
the top of the water. He called for the assistance
of the police, which having been obtained, he left.
Police-constable Cook, 250 S, also proved seeing
the deceased floating, and ran for the drags, but on
his return the deceased had disappeared. The body
was recovered in about half an hour with the line
drags, and a medical gentleman attended.
Dr. Clarke deposed to finding the body dead,
death being the result of suffocation from drowning.
There was an old wound at the back of the head,
which might have set up cerebral excitement.
ksheept‘vbay,
igttl:nytelem-
Police-constable Harris, 184 S, said he had known
the deceased for the last seven or eight j ears. She
had occasionally been on the streets, and at times
a gentleman
and had put her i
en. Two months ago she told him
riyiacdomfortable circumstances
ness met female put money in the bank for her,
, and that
nwahtrade. Two nights since wit-
i,monod told him she wa- in deceased's
company on the
She ay night, about two hours be-
fore
hadcontaining
then a gold watch and a
fore her death.
Jtout. £lO about her, and
she left with two
found no watch
when the body was recovered
Witness said that
or portmonnaie in her pocket. they
The Coroner said he that morning had
visited the
bridge in question, for on the precious day he had

held an inquest on a woman who had destroyed
herself from the same bridge two hours previously
to Naomi Bailey. That woman was walking and
quarrelling with her husband, and in a moment she
threw herself from the bridge, leaving a child in
his arms. The bridge was not three feet high, and
therefore was a temptation to persons suicidally
inclined.
After a long conversation respecting the unavail-
ing attempts that had been made to induce the
authorities to make such alterations as would pre-
vent facilities to suicide, the jury returned a verdict
of " Suicide under temporary insanity,"
resolution, to be forwarded to the
authori-
ties by the coroner, with a view to
measures for the public safety. passing a
tphroo per
adoption
of