The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-04 00:00:00

INQUEST ON ELIZA ANTHONY.

(Continued from our paper of Saturday )
Samuel Wilson, a waterman, was plying at Westmin-
ster Bridge, on Saturday afternoon ; at about two o'clock
a woman (Airs, Bell) came to inquire if any person had
heard or seen any thing of • young woman who was
drowned, and after some conversation on the subject,
witness remarked that the case looked suspicious, and
that byson ought to be examined.
Beerge Salloway—Left my boat at the Westminster
stairs et 11 o'clock on the night of Friday week.
—She was afloat about one o'clock in the morn-
ing pf Saturday—went down for the boat at about
a quarter before seven—she was missing—bond her fast in
another boat about 11/0 yards above the bridge—got Into the
boat to low her to Vauxhall, and found a bonnet between
the sitting board and cushion—the bonnet produced is that
found—there was a single spot of blood upon it—the beat
was dirty as if more than one person bad been there and
they hid been struggling.
John Keen is private watchman in the Speaker's garden,
near Palace yard between one and 2 on Saturday morning,
heard the cry of " Murder!" several times repeated from
some boats near one of the piers of Nestminater .Bridge.;
looked ,towards the spot and saw a man in a boat ; he was
moving the teat about with an oar and something else ;
immediately afterwards heard some one cry, "
Eliza, my dear !" thinks the cries of murder were in the
smite spice ps the last; does mot think either of the cries
were cre!ul female; did nut make any alarm because be
was afraid of alarming the *Speaker's .family-"he could
not run to the spot—be was lucked in the grounds—
thinks A watchman on the ,bridge mast hare koard the
cries.
prances Hopkins lires with Mrs. Pell, 137,•Jernsyn•
street; aliry. retired to bed tditkelbef at twelve o'clock os
Iriday night is little after 12 ; she beard the bell.riat
Ntilyen went iitlwp and let Dyson .im.; ke proceeded
••
I 4P2Zi losd tamp44ii into the zoom sabers witopedlesis:
Welhii. when he kissed ter, alittle girl
JI Ann. He then went. oitt again, and sctarostl.agaia

atiout tierVerockl fie-ajejtiared eito at pp ha a chair
In the room the remainder of the night.
When witness got up, she saw that Dyson's clothes were
wet. He kept saying " Poor Elise.; my ppor Ellza! awl
when Mrs. Hell asked him to change: Ws clothes, be acid it
did not matter whether he changed them or not.
By a Juror.—Did you ask him bow his clothes be-
came stet ?
No! I did not think proper to ink him any questions.
A Juror.—this is most extraordinary.
William Williams sutarn.The deceased lodged at No.
12, in Sberrard-Street, which Intones to witness. Mr.
Dyson took the lodgings on the 17th pf Mo, and intro.
Heisted deceased there as his wife. They were froth ex.'.
tremely orderly and well4behaved people, and he believes
very honest. On Saturday evening, about half-past eight.
liktern called, and said Eliza was drowned at Westroinster•
bridge. tie gave a very confused account, saying he could
not get her out, for there were no oars in tbp boat, but
only some bits of stick, with which he paddled, and called
t." Help and Murder I" Eliza appeared not at all de-
r raged in spirits when she went away.
111 e. J. Wood. of the Union Tavein. Air street Picca-
dilly, shorn--Deceased lived with witnnss as bar-maid
about five years, and left his service about the middle of
April last. The latter part of the time Dyson was jo wit-
ness's employ as waiter; be came on the 19,h of last De-
cember. Deceased went away in April, and Dyson about
three weeks after ber. IViterss lost sight of both of theirs
after they left his service. On the day of Dyson's quitting
witness's service, Mrs. Bell, the dereased,• sod Dyson met
together in Mary-le-honne-street, and the deceased ran to
witness's house; Mrs. Bell followed her, and. in a great
rage, called her all manner of bed names, anti said Dyson
was her lawful husband, and that the deceased was keeping
him away from her. Mrs. Bell pool much bad language.
with violent gestures and threats. A great concourse ga-
thered about the house, and witness went out and endea-
voured to get Mrs. Bell to go away about her badness. 110
did nut see Mrs. Bell strike the deceased. Dyson took his
hot. and they _all three cent away together.
Erzabetli Bell sworn.—She is a single woman, living at
No. 137, Jermyo-street. She knows William Briton Dy-
son; has known him four years. They-had cohabited to-
gether, but not for some time past. They lived very com-
fortably together, till he went to M. Wood's, where lot
wet with the deceased, and she believes that to have been
the cause of their disagreement and separation. Witness
was much distressed about bis intimacy With the deceased,
and tried to prevent it es much as she could, but she could.
not. She recollects meeting the deceased in the street, and
following her to Mr. Wood's house. Before that time the
deceased had called oo witness ; she believes it was by the
desire of Dyson that she should call and sit with witness,,
aM she did so. Dyson explained to witness the nature of
his connexion with deceased, and begged that if she came,
witness would not say any thing to hurt her feel-
ings: She therefore allotted her to sit with her.
and although they were not very feendly toge-
ther, they did not quarrel pn that occasi to. Blee'-
ing the deceased in the street, sbe quarrelled with her,
but never threatened her. Witness afterwards went to
them, and they complained of being greatly distressed, and
having nothing to subsist on but what they cant I raise by
pawning their clothes. Witness then gave them half a
crows, and continued to visit them, seldom ntissluo a day.
He spoke in a Very confessed meaner raspeeting the catas-
trophe on Friday night. He said they wet* standing in a.
boa% and he found himself stieldehly in the water; he could
not tell how ; it was deep water, and he rose aryl looked
round for Eliza, and he thought he saw het in the boat,
and made towards it; when he got there she was gone, and
be got into the boat, and presently afterwards saw her in
the stream. He said he tried to row after her, but he could
not ; and he called out " Murder!" and " Ilelp!" two or
three times. His clothes were wet, and he had been over
bead in water.
Wm. Briton Dyson, the man with whom the deceased co-
habited, and who has been all the week in custody, on sus-
picion of having murdered the unfortunate girl, was then
brought in. He stared wildly round the room as he en-
tered, and on seating himself in the witness's chair, turned
his eyes gradually on each of the persons sitting round him.
The Coroner said to Itins—" The gentlemen are inclined
to give you an opportunity of saying auy thing you may
think lit; but at the same time it is my duty to advise vote.
that you are not obliged to say any thing unless you think
proper, nor to answer any questions you may think tit to
decline, or which you may suppose have a tendency to cri-
minate yourself."
The prisoner said, " Gentlemen, 1 am perfectly at your
pleasure to answer any questions you think proper to poi.
Knowing myself innocent, and relying on my own con-
science, 1 leave myself entirely to the mercy of tiod and my
country." He then proceeded to state to the Coroner
as follows:-1 did lodge at Mr. Williams's, 11, %errant-
street. Golden-square, and am a waiter. The deer.
and myself cohabited:together as man and wife, though,
we were not married. I have also cohabited withAles_
Bell, but else is not my wife. We were all threes
together in the course of the day on Friday week,. tho
'kith of July. The deceased and 1 were to quit our lodg-
ings on that day. I left the house with Eliza that evening ;
I think about nine o'clock. We left the house together,
and proceeded by her desire to the Haymarket Theatre_
We remained there till the performance was over, and then
we both went to Jermyn.street together. The young wo-
man walked further 00, while I stopped and rang the hell
at Mrs. Bell's lodging, as site had made me I,rotteke that I
would see her again that night. She asked me where the
unfortunate young woman that is drowned was, as she had
appointed to sleep there that night. 1 had requested Eliza.
to do so, but could not prevail on her. I then left Jermyn-
street with Eliza, and we walked down the Haymarket to
Westminster bridge.. We went down the left hand side of
the bridge, and stood there a short time talking, and silica
walked under the arch to the other side. She then got !mu
a boat, and I followed her. We were some time in the boat,
talking to each other; I then was standing on one side of
the boat, she, I believe, was leaning on me, to the best of
my recollection. I suddenly found myself in the water; I
struggled to.try to see whether site was in the water, but I
could not see her. I was not able to swim. I never could
swim in nay life. By struggling towards what I supposed
to he the young woman in the water, 1 found it was the boat,
and got hold of the side, and got in. Looking round. and
not finding she young woman there, I then supposed she had
fell in ; I called for help several times. " Help ! help!"
and " Murder, murder !" several times, and " Help!"
Again. I then listened, but did not hear arty thing in the
water ; but Ipresently saw something above the water that
I supposed to be the young woman. I then cried •• Eliza.
my dear !" (Here the prisoner because greatly agitated,
and his utterance for some seconds was completely choak-
ed ; a conrolsive sob relieved him, and he then proceeded.)
. —And tried to push she boat to get towards her with one
of she things they use to row the boat wide, but my strength
.from .agitation was not sufficient, 1 could nut get the host
.as I wished it to go. She had disappeared again below
the water, and then saw her again a second time. I could
.not get near deer with the boat, and she appeared to slate
under the water directly. 1 dropped doWn the piece of
wood I had in my hand, and prayed to God to save tier
life. (Here the agitation of the prisoner became extreme.
Ile rose from his ;eat, and stretching out his bandy, stared