Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-09-10 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

NORWICH • LONDON.  I  A RAILWAY MYSTERY.  LADY'S MUTILATED BODY FOUND.  A tear. the wife of Dr. Bryan,medical pract ;Holm' of Northampton' met with her death on Fridev evening on the London and North-Western Railwey under myeterions circumstances. The deceased left Vireton by the Scotch express, duo out at 8 . .50 , and was seen alone in a first-class compartment at Wilberdere On the train arriving at Northampton at a quarter past ten the carriage was empty save for the liely'm hat, parasol, mnbrella, and jacket. Information WM telegreplied to all the stations up the line. I lie train not stopping anywhere between Willesden and Northampton, a epecial train was despatched front Northanipton and another from Willesden to scare?' the line. 'The Willesden train first discovered the bray close to Tring Station. It was terribly mutilated. Portion. of the clothing were strewn along the hue for the distance of a mile. The train would be going at a rapid rate when the discovery was made, and it wise apparent from the position of the remains and the clothing that the deceased was killed by the train in which she had been travelling. ate body was removed to Tring Station. The greeteet mystery eurrounds the occurrence. /Awe Bryan Mel been to Eastbourne for a week, and was returning home. She asked one of the railway offend* to procure her ROMP refreshments at Wine:Jell, but there was not time. Tlie brakeman, G'askarth, tc whom she spoke at Willesden, is certain that there wise 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 in expleined by the railway offieials that haul the door on the platform side been opened the rate at which the train was travelling would be sufficient to make it swing back sharply enough for the spring fastening to catch. Dr. Bryan proceeded to Tring on Saturday mondier, but his agitation was such that it was oot deemed advisable to allow him to Ref, the remains au til late in the afternoon. The lady's; luggage has been handed over to the Ilertfordehire police by the railway authorities. The nuthoritiee of the London and North-Western Railway are sparing no pains to elucidate the mystery surrounding the death of Mrs Bryan. A repreemitative of the Prince Association called on Sunday night upon Mr. Edge, stationniaeter 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 a struggle. Thelady was seen alone when the train left Willesden, and, supposing 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 elothee of deceased were funnel immediately the trein was street. Ile tlr. 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 WAR impossible for doors to fly open py leasing against the door. The inquest on the body of Mrs. Bryan was opened on Saturday night at Tring. The body was identified by Leonard Masters, cousin of the deceased, living at Lewisham—lmpactor Haines, of Northampton. produced the articles found in the cempartrnent, 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 dec. lured 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 be would call Lim at the adjeunted inquest on the 16th inst.