The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-09-17 00:00:00

THE MONUMENT CATASTROPHE-INQUEST

ON THE BODY.

Witness—Sir, I will state to you the only reason why I
consider she could have been prompted to the commission of
such a deed. Her father has a large family, and his circum-
stances not being latterly in so prosperous a condition as
heretofore, owing to Severe illness, which has afflicted him
since his wife's death nearly two years, it was deemed neces-
sary that some of the girls should be put into some situa-
tion to procure their living. This circumstance has weighed
heavily on her mind for a length of time past. She was the
second daughter. I have been talking to her sisters since
the melancholy occurrence, and they attribute it to the same
cause.
When did you see her last ?—I saw her on last Monday,
and she appeared then to be very low spirited.
Do you know anything about a paper that was found in
the house since her death ?—There was a memorandum-book
found on the mantel-piece, by her sister, in a room which
the family frequently occupied. I have it here.
Do you know her hand-writing ?—No, I do not ; but there
are some lines in it written, I understand, by her.
The Coroner, after looking at the book, requested Mr.
Bowen to read the lines aloud. They were these :—" You
need not expect to see me back again, for I have made up
my mind to make away with"
By the Coroner—Are there any other words after the word
" with ?"
Witness—No, sir, it concludes there abruptly, as the
writing had reached the end of the page ; but on the other
side is the signature, " Margaret Moves."
Do you know whether the deceased kept company with
any person as a sweetheart believe she did not.
You are aware of a ring being found on one of the fingers
of her left hand ?—Yes, I have seen it.
(The serjeant of police here produced the ring, which was
a plain one, with a diamond in it. He said it was found on
the third finger.)
One of the Jury—l heard to-day that there was a gentle-
man who was in the habit of paying his addresses to the de-
ceased.
Witness—No such thing. I have known her for a long
time, and I am convinced she had no connection of the sort.
They have no cousins, or even any relations whatever.
To a Juror—On leaving home she passed out through the
shop, and said she was going to breakfast with a friend. She
lived upon exceedingly good terms with her sisters ; and until
of late she was of a very cheerful disposition. Believes that
the dread of being thrown upon the world for support was
the sole cause of her desperate conduct. She talked to her
sisters frequently on the subject, and, although she disliked
being obliged to adopt such a course, yet she admitted its
necessity. It was thought by ler sisters and herself, that as
she had been used to keeping shop, she might get a situation
behind the counter in some confectioner's.
By the Coroner—Do you know how she spent the evening
previous to her decease ?
Witness—She drank tea with a sister of hers, who is mar-
ried.

Have you heard if there was anything particular in her
conduct on that occasion ?—Nothing, except that she kissed
her sister two or three times at parting, which was rather un-
usual with her, though it did not excite any observation at
the time. The family had heard in the morning of a female
jumping off the monument ; but they had not the slightest
suspicion of who the person was. It was only five o clock
in the evening, when one of her sisters, going to her father's
room, found the memorandum-book, and the fact for the
first time occurred to them. On running down stairs the
sister met a gentleman who lodged in the house, whom she
requested to hasten to London-bridge, and ascertain who the
person was. He did so, and returned bringing a piece of
dress which was recognised by the sister.
Who is the gentleman who was sent by the sister of the
deceased ?—He is a captain in the army, and had lived in the
house for some time ; but he was a perfect stranger to the
family. He was merely a casual lodger.
Do you know where he is at present?—No, sir, he was
obliged to leave town last night, according to some previous
arrangement he had made.

Do you know if the captain and deceased had been keeping
company together ?—Not further, I believe, than occasionally
attending him at breakfast. They did not keep a domestic
servant.

Do you know where the captain is to be found ?—I cer.
tainly do not.

'!'lie Coroner here asked whether the jury deemed it ne-
cecessary to have the deceased's sister called ?
Several jurymen expressed their desire to have further
evidence.

The sister of the deceased, attended by another young lady,
was then led into the room. She appeared to be in a most
agonising state of mind, and for a length of time she could
scarcely articulate a word. Having been sworn she said her
name was Christiana Moyes, and that she was sister to the
deceased; she could not state any reasons for her sister's
conduct, except that she had taken her father's illness very
much to heart.

By the Coroner—Do you think that the dread of being
thrown upon the world had any influence upon her mind ?
Oh, yes, that also. She had no sweethearts. The gentle-
man who lodged in the house has gone away. Nothing oc-
curred between him and her that could cause any unpleasant
feeling. She had seen her yesterday morning previous to
going out, and she appeared then to be as reconciled in mind
as ever she had seen her in her life. One of her other sis-
ters told her that deceased had been crying during the morn-
ing. Nothing unpleasant had occurred between her and her
married sister on the previous evening. She was quite happy
with her.

The witness was then directed to withdraw.
The Coroner then said that if there was any gentleman
present who was connected with the Monument, he wished
to ask a few questions.

A gentleman, named Bleaden, said he would be happy to
answer any questions.
Coroner—Who has the charge of the Monument ?
Mr. Bleaden—Thomas Jenkins is the person in charge

What sort Of property is it ; is it city property ?—Yes, it is
a city building, and is under the control of the committee of
city lands. Mr. Obbard is the present chairman of the com-
mittee. •

The Coroner again inquired if the jury required any fur-
ther evidence.

A juror observed that he would wish.to hear the evidence
of the married sister, with whom deceased had spent the last
evening of her existence, and also that of the captain who had
been alluded to.

The Coroner observed that he was entirely in the hands of
the juryi It might not, however, be convenient to procure
the attendance of the captain, although he apprehended there
would be little difficulty in producing the lady. As the cap.
tam had only lodged in the house for two or three weeks, it
was not likely that he could have acquired any great influence
over her mind.

(From the Morning Herald of Friday.)
Yesterday an inquest was held at the Swan Tavern, Fish-
street-hill, adjoining London-bridge, before Mr. Payne, the
city coroner, on view of the body of Margaret Moyes, aged
22, who committed suicide by throwing herself from the top
of the London Monument, and the particulars of whose fate
appeared in the Morning Herald of yesterday.
Ever since the occurrence the utmost excitement has pre-
vailed, not only in the immediate vicinity of the Monument,
where the catastrophe occurred, but in the neighbourhood of
Hemming's-row, St. Martin's-lane, where the relatives of
the ill-fated girl reside. Long before three o'clock, the hour
appointed by the coroner for the commencement of the in-
quest, the approaches to the Swan Tavern were beset by a
great number of respectably-dressed persons, who evinced
the utmost anxiety to ascertain the authentic particulars of
the dreadful act.
The coroner having taken his seat, the court proceeded to
empanel the jury, which consisted of 24 of the most respect-
able inhabitants of the parish. The jury, having. been sworn,
retired to view the body, which lay in the shell in the watch
house of St. Magnus the Martyr. On their return the first
witness called was
Thomas Jenkins, who having been sworn, deposed as fol-
lows :—I am the person who attends the Monument. Yes-
terday morning, about ten o'clock, a young lady came in and
asked me if two ladies and a gentleman had been there. She
said they had come with her by the steam-boat for the pur-
pose of visiting the monument, but that she had missed them.
She said, however, that she had no doubt they would arrive
in a few minutes, and that she would wait for them. She
added afterwards that she would go up without them, and re-
quested that he would tell them when they arrived that she
had gone before, and if they did not choose to follow she
wished they would wait below until she came down again.
She then made some observation concerning the weather,
and, having paid the sixpence, the usual fee, she ascended the
Monument. In about a quarter of an hour afterwards I was
alarmed by a cry from the street, which induced me to go to
the door, when I saw the deceased lying inside the iron rail-
ing, with the head towards Fish-street-hill.
Coroner—Was she then quite dead ?
Witness—Quite dead, sir.
Do you know anything more of the matter than what you
have stated ?—Nothing more, sir.
How did the deceased appear to talk to you ?—Quite ra-
tionally and collectedly.
To a Juror—On going to the top I found her bonnet and
veil, and a pair of gloves and a waistband, lying on the gal-
lery-floor, near the door. I also found a piece of rope, which
I now produce.—(The mitness here produced the piece of
rope, which appeared to be much worn. It was looped in the
manner described in our notice of the occurrence yesterday.)
To another Juror—The deceased was the first who had as-
cended to the top of the Monument that morning.
To a third Juror—The arm of the deceased was found lying
inside the railing.
Examination resumed—l the first person who as-
cended to the top after the fatal occurrence.
The next witness examined was Thomas Crawley, who,
being sworn, the Coroner asked—What do you know of this
case ?
, Witness—l saw the deceased drop. When towards the
ground she was within about two yards of the railing. I then
ran round to the part of the building where she fell. She
appeared to me to have made a motion with her arms when
falling. When I saw her on the ground she was quite dead.
That is all I know of the matter.
To a Juror—Did not see any one on the top of the Monu-
ment at the time. Could not see her reach the ground from
the position in which I stood.
John Wiley was next sworn and examined—l live at 24,
Artillery-lane, Bishopsgate-street. lam employed as a
workman to Messrs. Wilcocks & Son, corner of Monument-
yard. I was looking out of the window when I heard a dread-
ful crash. I immediately ran out and saw deceased lying at
the north side of the Monument. Her arm was lying about
one foot clear from her body. There was a profusion of
blood, but whether it issued from the arm or from the breast
I did not know. I observed a man standing gazing on the
body, quite paralyzed. He at length exclaimed, "Oh ! she
has fallen from the Monument." I then elevated my eyes
towards the top, when I observed a shawl or scarf hanging
to the chimney used by the porter. Several policemen then
arrived, and I went away. The witness then requested leave
to make an observation, and the coroner having tacitly con-
sented, he proceeded to state that he thought that if a railing
of seven feet high were put round the top of the Monument
it would have the effect of preventing any person from getting
over.

The Coroner observed that this circumstance had already
attracted the attention of the jury.
The witness then retired.
John Bradley, police constable, and Mr. Cowton, formerly
superintendent of police and now ward beadle, severally de-
posed to the finding and removal of the body.
Surgeon Croft was the next witness examined. He de-
posed that he had seen the deceased and had made an exa.
mination of the body. He had found a fracture of the spine,
a compound fracture of the skull, and a simple one of the
left thigh.
By the Coroner—From what you have seen of the body
do you suspect that there was anything wrong—any impreg-
nation ?
Witness—l have made no internal examination and there
are no such external appearances. I beg to add that I think
that she must have been dead before she reached the ground.
Coroner—Why do you think so ?
Witness—From the small quantity of blood discovered.
[lt may be here remarked that no question whatever was
asked the surgeon concerning the state in which he found the
broken arm, which is the more extraordinary, as the most
exaggerated reports had been in circulation regarding that
circumstance. One statement was that it had been com-
pletely chopped off, and was found at a considerable distance.]
The next witness produced was Mr. James Bowen, an in-
mate acquaintance of the deceased and her family. He stated
that he was an oil and colour merchant, and resided in Pan-
ton-street, Haymarket. He was intimately acquainted with
with the deceased. Her name was Margaret Moyes. She
was the daughter of Mr. James Moyes, a baker, who resides
in Humming's-row, St. Martin's-lane.
By the Coroner—Now, Mr. Bowen, do you know any rea-
son why the deceased should have committed this dreadful
act?