The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-24 00:00:00

The SUPPOSED MUR DER at CAMBER WELL.

An inquest was held yesterday by Mr. Carter, coroner
for East Surrey, at the King's Arms, George-street, Cam-
berwell, on the body of Hannah Read, whose body was
found the previous Friday in the Grand Surrey Canal, by a
boy who was fishing. It having been reported that the de-
ceased, a girl 12 years of age, had been &et violated, and
then drowned, much excitement prevailed in the neigh-
bourhood.
The jury having been sworn, and viewed the body, •
Thomas Turner, a lad of 15 years of age, deposed that he
was fishing on Friday last in the Grand Surrey Canal for
eels, near St. George's-bridge. The hook caught in some-
thing which he brought to the surface, and found it to be
the body of the deceased. She was quite dead. Her cloth-
ing was very poor, and her bonnet was on the wrong way'
The front or top of the bonnet was before her face, and the
string appeared to be tied behind her neck. He could not
say if it appeared tightly tied. The hands and legs were
perfectly free.
Thomas Gannon, police-constable 282, deposed that on
Friday last, when on duty in Peckham-grove, he received
information that a female bad been taken out of the canal,
and on coming to this house he found her here. On seeing
the body he found her bonnet concealing her face, and was
fastened behind her neck with a double knot ; the strings
were quite loose, and could not cause strangulation. He
could pass his hand easily between her neck and the strings.
He described the hind part of her bonnet as being upper-
most. He unfastened the knot, and took off the bonnet,
but could see no mark of the strings on her neck. He noticed
no injury on her person. He was unable to say bow long
she might have been in the water. His opinion was the
child must have tied the bonnet behind her neck.
On cross-examination, the witness said he was unable to
say exactly how the bonnet covered the face.
The boy Turner was recalled, and he put on the bonnet
as he saw it on the girl, and there could be no doubt it was
turned round by the action of the water.
Gannon, on re-examination, said he thought the girl had
destroyed herself.
Mrs. Michell deposed that she washed and laid out the body
of the deceased on Friday afternoon last. At the request of
the child's mother she was assisted by Mrs. Buckland. On
taking off her clothes she found them very muddy, and also
her feet, legs, and boots. The face was covered with blood
and dirt. There were no marks about her person except a
slight bruise close to the elbow ; the neck and chest were
discoloured, and there was a great deal of blood about the
mouth. There was also a quantity of mucus from the
nostrils. She thought it desirable the deceased should be
examined by a medical gentleman.
Mary Ann Read, mother of the deceased, deposed she was
the wife of William Read, cowkeeper, residing at 3, Vic-
toria-place, York-street, Walworth. The deceased was her
daughter, and she was 12 years of age. She last saw her
daughter alive on Thursday morning, about seven o'clock.
She was in the employ of Mrs. Horsley, Addington-square,
going there by day and sleeping at home at night. She
usually left home about seven o'clock in the morning to go
to her place of service, returning home of late from nine to
ten o'clock at night. On Thursday morning she had a con-
versation with deceased respecting her supplying Mrs.
Horsley with milk, and told her she should send her elder
sister to make inquiries of her mistress respecting It.
Deceased received the money for the milk weekly, and bad
accounted to her for all except a shilling for the last week's
milk. The deceased did not return home at her usual time
on Thursday night, and witness sent her daughter Sarah to
look for her about ten o'clock. She was unable to find her,
and her husband went to look for her, but without success.
No one went to deceased's mistress to inquire for her
that night. Witness went out and met a policeman
in Addington-square, and inquired of him, but she
made no inquiries at Mrs. Horsley'!, whose door she
passed, for fear of disturbing the family, it being near
twelve o'clock. She saw nothing of the deceased till Fridele
at twelve o'clock, when she was taken out of the water. She
was unable to account for the fact of her daughter destroy'
ing herself. On the Tuesday previous she got so late to her
employ that her mistress sent her back with the milk; but
on remonstrating with her she went to her employ, and re-
turned home in the evening about the usual time. 011
Wednesday a fourth conversation took place between theta
relative to Mrs. Horsley's milk; and on Thursday morning
witness sent the milk by her daughter Sarah after Hannah.
(the deceased) had left home; and then it was witness
first discovered about the shilling having been paid to her
by her mistress. Her daughter enjoyed generally good
health. Witness did not know if the deceased had formed
any male acquaintances. She never spoke of labouring
under the apprehension of any one annoying her. She was
a quiet disposed girl. Witness suspected she had been dealt
wrong with. She was toe timid to go to a lonely place by
herself. She usually went to and from her employ along
King-street into East-street, and thence along the Wel"
worth-road to Addington-square. Witness had always
cautioned her against coming home by the way of the canal.
It was only owing to her being found in the canal that she
thought her daughter had been violated.
Mrs. Horsley, wife of Mr. Horsley, of Suffolk Brewerfo
Addington-square, deposed that the deceased had been
is
he r
cames etrov iwc
it
n aboute
ssps house maobnotuhts
2poa smt.inuOtnesTtohuersdighayt lofts:10cl
She had been in the habit of bringing the family's milUs
but did not do so that morning in consequence of witness
having the previous day refused it. The sister afterwards
brought it, and made inquiries in deceased's presence as to
the time she left on Wednesday night. Witness said a little
after eight o'clock. Sarah asked deceased how it was Al
came home so late, and she replied that she stood up out o_
the rain. Witness also told Sarah she paid deceased °7l
Wednesday is. for the milk. Sarah asked her what
t she (111
with it, and she replied, " I gave it to mother.Sarah
said she did not think she had.
Mrs. Read recalled—Deceased did not pay me the ls.
Mrs. Horsley continued—She told the sister decesan
should leave in future at eight o'clock at night, end if tqb!
was not home by half-past eight o'clock she would not De
with her. She had to nurse the baby, and do any dOtneatit;
work required when the baby was asleep. She IVO
Ilv cly au ..1 on Friday as usual ; bPr premises a.:
joined the brewery, and five men were employed there, b"
, she never saw the slightest familiarity between her and the
men; she was unable to account for the deceased destroying
herself. She did not know how she was treated at home'
She thought she did not appear afraid of her mother. Bea
general conduct was good, and she believed her to be
strictly honest child. She had no reason to fear any and
had done the child a wrong. She thought when she bear
of her death that the operation of fear about the shilling
might have caused her to commit self-destruction.
Mrs. Read recalled—lf the deceased said to her sister,
the presence of Mre. Horsley, that she gave me the shilling
it would have been false ; 12 months since deceased W
induced by another girl to take 9s. 6d. from witness, on th
promise she would double it in a short time. An intlaLiq
took place before the magistrate, and he, commiserative un't
condition, gave her the money she had lost ; she did it
know that the deceased had recently seen the girl alluded I;
Deceased had never taken a penny since that time till lithos
of the shilling. She did not think her not giving witil,ear
the shilling had alarmed her, and operated against Pa
coming home. Deceased was affectionately fond of witted
and she thought she would have told her if she had lost 0:
spent the money. At the inquiry before the magistrate
nothing was said to alarm her if anything of the kind 8011
Chabot, district surgeon of Camberwell, inspected
occurred.
Mr.n edrr
body minutely on Saturday. He found a recent bruise ,°'"d
the right elbow, about the side of the elbow, accon3pall',,e,
with a slight scratch as of coming against gravel; the bra
must have been caused immediately before immersion. .-
opinion was there was no pretence for saying the child htt
been violated, or bad received personal violence on any good
of the body. Deceased died from drowning. The b
about the mouth and face arose from suffocation in droWll.:
ing ; the dark colour spoken of about the head resulted frs
the same cause, as did also the dark spot on the body, Villa,' •
had probably alarmed those who washed and laid out "'
body. ea
At this stage of the proceedings the inquest was adjonra
11 Wednesday for the sister's evidence .

AO
ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE.-- A
extraordinary meeting of the governors of this hospital fir,
held yesterday afternoon, at the office in Soho-square,
Henry Pownall in the chair, when a resolution was brontr•
forward for altering the second bye-law, in order to en,_'„,
the governors to increase the number of foundation scholt:
to be maintained by the college from May next to 40. 1.1
moving the resolution Mr. Propert, the treasurer, said 017..
nobody could deny the step was in the right direction..
The college had been founded not only for providing to
asylum for, and annuities or occasional pecuniary assii;-
•
ante to, distressed medical men and their families, but
n, for their sons. He now came forward to propose to
creasing the number of the foundation scholars from
40. The list of candidates was appalling, no less than 1.,_11;
and many of them had been on the list for no less tog
three years. Still he would not have proposed the resolT
tion unless be was confident that the funds would bear 11
and unless they carried the motion it might be a very ser4;
thing to the college, seeing that so many candidates wer..
so near the age of admission that, unless they were no!
elected, they would not be elected at all. lie moved ti'
resolution with great pleasure, assured that every media;
man would joyfully lend a helping hand to the distresses
orphans of the members of his profession. Mr. Franc
Hird seconded the motion, and after a few observati9lr
from Mr. Stilwell, of Epsom, and Mr. Ray, it was paseein
and the meeting separated.
EXTRAORDINARY DEATII.-071 Saturday, Mr'
Coroner Brown held an inquest at Nottingham, upon tie,
body of a man named Murphy, a pensioner, residing ,"
Barker Gate, in that town. It appeared that Murphy 11 7
smoking his pipe an evening or two previously, near 1
borne, when a neighbour's child about nine years old WO!
Handley, struck him in the abdomen in play. ItlurPl
immediately exclaimed, " Oh, I am a dead man !"
became so ill that three medical men were called in, Dv;
without avail, as the unfortunate man expired delirious
afternoon previous to the inquest. The jury, after a lough
coned inquiry, returned a verdict of "Died from the tO
affec
ea blow."
Lieut. - Col. Yerbury, late of the 3d Light
Dragoons, died a few days since at Belcomb, near Bradford.:
Wilts, in his 55th year. The gallant deceased had see`
much active service in India. He served with the 8d Lig
Dragoons throughout the campaign of 1842 in Affghanietall'
and was present at the forcing of the Khyber Pass, storgo;
ing of the heights of Jugdulluck, the action of Tezeen
Hufkotul, where his horse was wounded, the occupation,T;
Cabool, and the capture of Istalift. He commanded 1'
regiment in the Ponjaub campaign of 1848-9, and was Pre.:
sent at Ratnnuggur, action of Sadoolapore, and the badly:
of Chillianwallah and Gcojerat. He received a medal fit
Affghanistan, and a medal and two clasps for the late'
campaign. The deceased retired from the army, owing to
impaired health, in June, 1849.
A " TEETOTAL" BEQuEsT.—TEe following curious
correspondence is published in a contemporary :—" i 149-1;„„
At the request of the executors of the late Mr. Jarnes.POHi
nington, of Northampton-square, we send you an oared,
from his will, and shall be obliged by your informing 11,0
whether you assent to the terms on which the legacy
given to you.—We are, sir, your most obedient servanT
OLIVERSON, LAVIE, and PEACIIEY. Frederick's-pinfa
E.C., Aug. 12. The Rev. R. Maguire." [Extract.l-- 0
give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds to
Rev. Robert Maguire, incumbent of St. James, Clerkenwel"
in the event of his living on strict total abstinence
ciples." " Clerkenwell, E.C., August 19. Sir,—l have i"
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 12th inst., inforno
ing me of my interest In the will of the late Mr. J. Denniols
ton. In reply to your inquiry, I beg to say that it is nvi
my intention to avail myself of the bequest of my decease
friend on the condition attached thereto. Of course, M"
business correspondence such as this, I do not troubled",
with my reasons for declining to receive this legagy. Ton
must, indeed, be obvious to all. lam not a teetotaller
if I ever become a strict total abstinencel Man I hope to
become so on principle, and for no lower motive.—
retold°,
sir, your obedient servant, RougaT mitouiaz, IV
cumbeat of CleAenwell. Messrs. Oliverna,