The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-24 00:00:00

THE MYSTERIOUS DEA7II OF A YOUNG

LADY AT BARNES.

Yesterday morning Mr. W. Carter, coroner for
Eastern Surrey, resumed, at the Boileau Arms,
Castlenau-terrace, Barnes, the adjourned inquiry
into the circumstances of the death of a female un-
known, whose body had been washed ashore about
ten days since under very mysterious circumstances.
It will be remembered that the mouth of the de-
ceased was found to be stuffed with part of a veil
or bonnet fall, and appearances led to the inference
that sbe had met her death by unfair means.
Inspector M'lntyre attended to watch the case on
the part of the commissioners of police.
Mr. Hunt, M.R.C.S., Bridge-road, Hammer-
smith, said that a week since he was shown the
body of deceased, and it appeared to have been
about three days in the water. He made a post.
mortem examination, and found a mark of vio-
lence on the left temple. It consisted of a deep
abrasion, but as decomposition had set in he could
not say whether it had been inflicted before or im-
mediately after immersion. There was also an
abrasion on the right leg. There was no fracture
of the skull under the wound on the temple. The
deceased was found to have been enceinte for the
period of about four months. The cause of death
was suffocation by drowning.
Parker, a labourer, said that he found the body
where not six ;inches of water could have flowed
over it.
Mrs. Jane Frewen, Norfolk Dairy, South-end,
Fulham, said that last Thursday she and her hus-
band came to the Boileau Arms, and saw the agate
brooch and the gold earrings produced. She re-
cognised them as presents she had given her
daughter Mary. She was 29 years of age. Witness
also recognised the clothes produced as those of her
daughter. She was not aware that deceased was
married. She followed the avocation of a barmaid.
itness last saw deceased in Highgate, when she
said that she had lost her situation, and that she
should send her things out to Fulham. Witness
did not think anything was wrong. Witness re-
cognised the handwriting produced as that of her
daughter.
The following letter, which had neither name
nor address, was read by the coroner, who stated
that it had been found on deceased :
" Sept. 10, 1862.
" Dearest Ben,—l have taken your gold watch
and book to Mrs. Hines, Camden Town. You shall
never see me again on account of my misconduct.
Good bye, my dear Ben, for ever; my heart is
broken; I am going as fast as I can to heaven."
Witness, from hearing that letter read, came to
the conclusion that deceased had committed self-
destruction. Wednesday fortnight was the last
time witness saw her or heard from her. Deceased
was last in service as a barmaid at the Gatehouse
Tavern. Her sole motive for destroying herself
must have been her pregnant condition.
Mr. Frewen gave similar evidence, and said
that on the Wednesday fortnight deceased took
her boxes to a carrier's for transmission to Fulham,
and she was never seen afterwards alive.
Mr. Benjamin Allanton said that he last saw de-
ceased on Sunday, the 7th inst. He believed the
note produced to be in her handwriting. Dear Ben
was meant to signify witness. He had been ac-
quainted with ber about two years. He had formed
a great attachment for her. He did not know that
she was enciente. He supposed her reason for de-
stroying herself was that he disapproved of her
drinking habits. There was no agreement of mar-
riage between them. They never lived together.
The Coroner then summed up, and said that at
first the impression appeared irresistible that de-
ceased had met her death from violence, but the
evidence taken now had clearly shown that she had
died by her own hand.
The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a
verdict that deceased committed suicide while of
unsound mind.