The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1881-01-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDER.-- H.Oland t wright (20), retort maker. Imelecote, was brought up in cu,tody on remand to answer a charge of having caused the death of Eleanor Skidmore (17), domestic servant, Bank Street, Brierley Hill. Mr. Waldron appeared on behalf of prisoner.—The circumstances have already been reported in these .columns which were to the effect that the prisoner was the young woman's sweetheart and on New Year's night were:together and had an alerca,tion. That night a police officer, on duty in. Mill Street, Brierley Hill, heard the prisoner using threats towards the girl, and the next morning her dead body was found in the canal at the Nine Locks. At the inquest evidence was brought to show that there were no marks of a struggle on the canal side opposite to where the body was found. Th., medical evidence went to show that deceased died from drowning. It was stated by one witness that he had heard the deceased threaten to destroy herself. Mr. Evers asked Superintendent Woollaston if he had any further evidence to give against Cartwright to which he replied he had not.—Mr. Evers, addressing the prisoner, said there was no evidence to be offered against him and the Bench now pro— posedi.o remand him upon his own recognisanees of £lOO to appear again if called upon. He would, therefore, be discharged from custody upon being bound over to that extent. How far he was implicated in the affair they (the Bench) did not know, there was no evidence at all befere them. His own conscience would tell him whether the death of the deceased was the result of any act of his,—Prisoner was b mnd over in the suin of £5O to appear again when called upon. He was then discharged from the dock and left the Court —The inquest was resumed before Mr. W. H. Philips, at the Vs aterloo Inn, on Monday afternoon.—Mr. Waldron, who appeared for Cartwrigh, called Sarah Cartwright, who said the girl Eleanor Skidmore frequented her house two or three days a weeks. On last Bank Holiliay the deceased called upon her, and talked about being married to Roland Cartwright, Wittold here there were no preparations, and the girl replied that there was much talk about her le ing enceinte, but sine added, "I am clear, and if anything arises to part me and Roland I shall go and drown myself." Witness repliA, " Ellen' don't talk Ike that; '' and Skidmore, putting her hand up, said, "I should be sure to do it; I have such a cruel mother." On Sunday she came home at 2.20 in the morning, and got up at 9 30 in her usual spirits She had often heard the girl threaten to destroy her-elf—Ada Cartwright said she was companion to the deceased, who had told her that she had a cruel mother, and also that she had a sister who poisoned herself, and another who drowned herself. —The Coroner in summing up, called attention to the threats of the girl and the language used by Cartwright. Althouge the latter was bal. to much should not be made of it, for a great deal of it was the common parlance of the district.—The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned," and appended an expression of di•gust at the language of Cartwright, and at his treatment in leaving the girl and not seeing her safe home —The funeral of the deceased girl, Ellen Skidmore, took place on Saturday last. Her remains were interred in , brierley Hill Churchyard, and the ceremony , was attended by a large concourse of people. ky••••••••M•0101.1 A