The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-07-17
From a late London paptr.1


Tuesday an adjourned. inquest was held
at the Christ church Work-house Boun-
Diary Row, Blackfrars road, London, on
the body of Eliza Baker, aged IL, who
was found drowned at the steps Of Black
friars bridge, on Sunday morning, by
police constable. Mr.. Peter Wood, an
eating house keeper, in the Berinonsdey
new road, near the Bricklnyer's Arms,
having eeen paragraph in one Of the
Sunday newspapers, that the body OF a
female had been taken out Of the Tha-
mes on the previous day, aud carried to
the workhouse to he owned, and from .he
description given, suspecting that it was
the body of a young female who had liv-
ed in his service, but who Ind been dis
charged by his wife on account of jeal-
ousy, went To the morkhousc and recog-
nlzed the body Of the unfortunate girl
He was very much ngitated, and cut off
lock of Ter hair, aud kissed the corpse.
He Immediately went to an undertaken,
and gave orders for the funeral. lie then
went to deceased's parents, who reside in
Adelaide street, Whitccross street, Grip
plcgate and Informed them of the mel
ancholy fate of their daughter. They
also went to the wor khouse, and on being
shown the bndy, were loud in their lam
eniations. The jrry on Monday evening
proceeded to view the body of the de-
ceased, aud on their return n number Of
witnesses were examined, mostly rela-
tions, who swore positievly to The body.
1t appeared that the deceased had lived
with Mr.. Wood, as n servant for four
months, hut his wife being jealous, she
was discharged about n month ago, since
which time Mr.. w ,od had secretcly sup
piled her with money, Ia keep her from
want. Mrs. Baker, The mother Of the
deceased and other relations, spoke in
severe terms ofihe conduct Of Mr.. Wood.
and said they had no doub: but what he
had seduce1 the unfortunate girl, which
had caused her to commit suicide. The
jury appeared to be very indignant, and
after five hours delibera,ion, it was n
greed to adjourn the case until Tuesday
afternoon, when they re~assemhled.
: Mr.. Wood, the alleged sedueer, was
now present, but he was so overcome by
lis feelings at the melancholy occurrence,
that nothing could be made of him in
fact, no was Ike man in state of stu
pefaclion. Mrs. Wood, the wife, was
called in; she is % years older than her
husband, mud shook her head mt him, but
nothing was elected from her, her pns-
sion completely overcoming her reason.
A juryman-the more we dive into this
affair the more mysterious il appears u
gainst Mr.. Wood. This remark was oc-
casioned on occouut Of violence on her
body; there had been violent blew on
the nose, black mark on tho forehead,
and severe wonnd on the thigh.
The jury were commencing to DELHI
ate on their verdict, when drnyman, in
the employ of Messrs. Whitbread g. Co.
brewers, walked into the jury room, and
said he wished to speak to the coroner
aud jury. Mr.. Carter-Whnt it is you
want Drayman-T come to say, gem
tIemen, that Mrs. Bakers duughler, you
are now holding an inquest on, is now a
live, in good health. The coroner and
jury, (in as'onshmeni, )-Whst do you
scy? Draymnn-l'll swear that met
her to-day in the street and spoke to her.
The coroner, witnesses, and jurywere all
struck with amnZcrnenf, and asked the
Drayman it he could bring Eliza Bake,
forward, which he undertook to do in
short time. In the interim the jury and
witnesses went again 10 view the body Of
the deceased. Mr.. Wood shed tears o.
yer the corpse, aud was greatly affected,
as well as all her relations; the drayman's
story was treated rs nonsense but the
jury although Of the same opinion, were
returned to await his return.
In about quarter Of an hour the
drayman returned, and introduced the
real Eliza Baker, line looking young
woman, and in fine health. To depict
the asionishment of the relations and Of
Mr.. Wood, is totally impossible, and at
first they were afarid to touch her. She
at last went forward, and took Mr..
Wood by the hand, (who stood motion
less and exclaimed, =" How could you
make such a mistake as 10 take another
body for mine I Do you really think
would commit such an act 7" MIR. Wood
could nor reply, and fell senseless in IA
fit, and il was with great difficulty that
seven men could hold him. After some
time he recovered, and walked away, to
The astonishment Of every one, with Eli
IN Baker, leaving his wife in the jury
room. Some Of the jurors, remarked,
that they never saw such strong like
ness, which fully accounted for the mis-
take the witnesses had made. The whole