Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1897-09-10 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

RAILWAY MYSTERY.  LADY'S MUTILATED BODY FOUND.  A lady, the wife of Dr. Bryan,medical Faotitioner of Northampton, met with her death on Friday evening on the London and North-Western Railway under mysterious circumstances. The deceased left Eustou by the Scotch express, due oat at 3.50, and was seen alone in a firet-olassaompartment atWilleae den'. On the train arriving at Northampton at a quarter past ten the carriage was empty save for the lady's bat, parasol, umbrella, and jaoket. Information was telegraphed to all the stationsup the line. The train not stopping anywhere between Willeeden end Northampton, a apecial train was despatched from Northampton and another from Willesden to search the line. The Willesden train first discovered the body close to Tring Station. It was terribly mutilated. Portion+ of the clothing were strewn along the line for the distance of a mile. The train would be going at a rapid rate when the discovery was made, and it was apparent from the position of the remains and the clothing that the deceased was killed by the train in which she had been travelling. The body was removed to Triug Station. The greatest mystery surrounds the occurrence. Mrs. Bryan had been to Eastbourne for a week, and was raturning home. She asked one of the railway offcials to procure her some refreshments at Willesden, but there was not time. The brakesznan, Gaakartb, to whom she spoke at Willesden, is certain that there was no one else in the compartment when the train , left there. It is a remarkable fact, however, that ' both doors of the carriage were securely fastened when the train reached Northampton. It is explained by the railway officials that had the door on the platform side been opened the rate at which the train was travelling would be sufficlient to make it swing back sharply enough for the spring fastening to catch. Dr. Bryan proceeded to Tring on Saturday morning, but his agitation was such that it was not deemed advisable to allow him to see the remains until late in the afternoon. The lady's luggage has been handed over to the Ffertfordshire police by the railway authorities. The authorities of the London and North-Western Railway are sparing no pains to elucidate the mystery surrounding the death of Mrs Bryan. A representative of the Press Association called on Sunday night upon Mr. Edge, atationznaster at Willesden Junction, who said he could not believe Mrs. Bryan to have been murdered. The compartment when it was examined bore no signs of e struggle. Thelady was seen alone when the train left Willesden, and, l'eupposing she had not been the only occupant of the compartment, it would have been impossible for the assassin to have made his escape before the train reached Northampton, where some of the clothes of deceased were found immediately the train was at rest. He (Mr. Edge) did not, on the other hand, see how the deceased could have fallen out of the train, for, as the point at which she was discovered was in a deep chalk cutting, she would scarcely have been leaning out of the window for the purpose of observation. It was impossible for doors to fly open py leaning against the door. The inquest on the body of Mrs. Bryan was opened on Saturday night at Triug. The body was identified by Leonard Masters, cousin of the deceased, living at Lewisham.—lnspector Hainee, of Northampton, produced the articles found in the compartment, which included a purse containing a sovereign and a telegram, which was handed to the coroner. The Foreman of the jury asked the coroner if he might see the telegram; but the latter declined, stating that it would be, made known in good time.—The evidence showed that the skull was broken at the back, the forehead crushed, the right arm torn from the socket, the right leg cut off, and other injuries which may have been caused by being run over by a train, or by the deceased having fallen out of the train and being dashed against the metals. The deceased's husband was in attendance, but too much affected to see the body, and the Coroner said he would call him at the adjourned inquest on the 16th inst.