The Potteries Examiner : — 1880-01-31 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

MURDER.—TRE ADJOURNED INQUIRY AND VERDICT.  The adjourned inquire into the ciretunstances of the death of Sarah Jane Steberts, lately a servant in the employ of Mr.Greenwood,Westbourne Grove, liarimrhey, Manchester, was resumed last Friday. Before hearing any evidence, the Coroner, addressing the jury, said they were there for the purpose of listening to any evidence that might be adduced, Ind they had for their object tlie elucidation of the , facts of murder—if so he might call it—of the girl. Ho thought it proper that Mrs. Greenwood, ! Mr. Cooper, and James Partington, the milkman, , should have an opportunity of Meting on oath what , they had already, no doubt, stated to the police—all ' they knew of the atfair. Ile would then have the , matter to the jury to deride whether the inquest should be further adjourned, or the matter left in the hands of the police and the magistrates. Richard Greenwood, Westbourne Grove, llarpurhey, Raid the deceased had been his servant for ten months. He and his wife ware quite eatistied with her conduct. On the forenoon of the day of her death he was on. ploying himself in the garden at the track ,of his house. About twelve o'clock deceased opened the leek door and said, " Mr. Cooper is upstairs and wants to see you." He followed her into the kitchen, and the gave him a letter, without making any remark. He read the letter. after which he went upstairs and gave the letter to Mr. Cooper, who was sitting in Mrs. Greenwood's bedroom. Mr. Cooper read the letter aloud, and Mrs. Greenwood, who was unwell, heard it. He had a onverration with his wife and Mr. Cooper about the letter, but did not then decide to keep the eppointment, but ultimately decided to go to the 'Oa, appointed, and about twenty minutes to six he left the house for the purpose of seeing the writer of the letter. ghe thuoy letter was then put in.) He went to the Three Tuns, at the corner of Church Street, Rochdale lfosd, Manehester, about threequarters of a mile away from his house. Ile inquired of the waiter if anyone had been asking for Greenwood, and he replied no. The waiter also said he knew no one of the name ot W. Wilson. Witness Stood outside, so that be could see anyone go into the. hour, While waiting he met a friend, Mr. Edward Jones. Witness asked the time, and Mr. Jones said, "Twenty m' tea past six." Witness then went into the vault, and asked if anyone had been to inquire for him, and the welter again said "No." He then said to the waiter, "If anyone cornea who yenta te see Greenw,sel. they will have to come to West. bayou Grove. live -there." Ile then went home, arriving about twenty minutes to seven. lie found the house in confusion, and the deceased was dead. A police-constable asked him where he had.been, and the witness gave him the letter, saying, "That's where Fee been." He did not know the writer of the letter, and had no knowledge or suspicion of the person who laud caused the death of the girl. Nothing so fares he was aware, was missing from hia house. Ile left some money in the eecretaire, 'which he believed was left open. The money was in a recess, and Cu his return he found it untouched.— The Coroner: 1 am desired to ask you this question: Are there any grounds whatever for any suspicion that you were on improper intimate torms with the demised 2—Witness : No.—The Coroner: Did Mrs. Greenwood ever say anything to lead you to suppose that she was jealous at alit—Witness: Never in her life.—The Coroner : Have you over said to anyone that you were eatieded and pleased with the conduct of the deceased, and that if you died while she was in your service you would leave her something Fe.Witness: To her brother, my mistress said that if she stayed and conducted herself to her satisfaction She hoped there would be something left to her.— Mr. Cooper who was examined at some length, asserted that he wits at home at the time of the murder.—Partington, the milkman, said he had no 'suspicion of the person who had caused the de. reased's death. He had never made overtures of love to her. He had given her a kiss at Christmas, but that was the only familiarity between them.—A verdict of murder against some person or person. unknown was returned.