Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-08-27 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

WOMAN THROWN OVER WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. On the morning of the 17th, shortly after one o'clock, an atrocious murder of a woman by a soldier was witnessed by some persons passing over Westminster-bridge. It appears that at a few minutes before "Old Ben" pealed out the hour of one, a soldier belonging to the Coldstream Guards was seen in Parliament-square, Westminster, in company with • young woman dressed in white. They were seen to proceed to• wards Weetminster-bridge by a woman who knew the deceased by sight At the time in question, and iust ae the soldier and the woman arrived at the second arch of the bridge, on the north side, an altercation took place, and high words ensued. The soldier, who is a powerful, square-built man, apparently about twenty-night yearn of age, suddenly turned round just ae a Madame Huint, the wife of a Frenchman, residing at No. 4, Blythe-terrace, Lambeth, was passing. He then deliberately hoisted tbe unfortunate victim in his powerful arms and burled her into the River Thames. The elleged murderer took no further notice of what became of his late companion, but quietly walked away across the bridge. A cabman, who was driving over the bridge, heard the parties quarrelling, but he did not ree the woman thrown over the bridge. An alarm was immediately raised, I when another soldier belonging to the Coldstream I Guards came on the scene, and through him and others the alleged murderer was apprehended, and removed to King-street Police-station, Westminster. In the meantime a police-officer ran ' down the turn leading to the floating pier at Westminster-bridge, and, with the aid of the night watchman, the Conservancy boat was launched, and proceeded in search of the woman, but they failed to discover any trace of her. The spring tide being en three-quarters ebb, and knowing that the body would be carried down the river, Policeconstable 196 A Division ran along the Embankment, and gave information to the night-watchmen of the Thames Police at Waterloo Floating Station. One of the Thames Police galleys was at once manned, and the crew proceeded in march. Drags were thrown out, but without result. Inspector Baker, of the A Division of Police, is now making inquiries into the affair. On the prisoner being placed in the charge dock he presented a firm, soldier-like appearance, being a powerful-built man, standing about Mt. IN n. high. He appeared perfectly 111.011cerned as to the position he stood in, and said that his name was John Evans, aged 29 yaws, a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, stationed at Chelsea. On being charged he said, "I had several verde with the woman, when she jumped on the top of the bridge, when she said, ' Shall I jump into the Thames or not?" Prisoner then said "Yes." On the game morning, as the Pinta. belonging to the Thames and Channel Steamship Company, which bad been moored all night alongside the Temple floating pier, was leaving, the body of a woman, dressed in white, and corresponding in all particulars with the woman alleged to be murdered from Weetininsterbridge, was cast up as the peddle-wheels revolved. Unfortunately the body sank before the captain and his crew had time to lower a boat.