The Northern Guardian. — 1894-05-29 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE GOSFORTH TRAGEDY.  IDENTIFICATION OF THE VICTIM.  OPENING OF THE INQUEST.  The murder of a young woman at Gosforth was the one subject of conversation in the district yesterday, and the description of the victim quickly led to her identification. It transpired that the deceased was a daughter of very respectable parents, for whom great sympathy is felt in their trouble. The deceased was identified by her father, Mr Walter Bueham, ironmonger, of 25, Addison Road, Heaton. Her full name was Lizzie Cavers Hogg Bacham, and she Was only 18 years of age. The girl left her home on the 21st inst., about a week before she met her death, and how and where she had lived in the interval is unknown. The police are naturally turning their attention to the discovery of the man who was last seen with the deceased, and as he *as seen more than once there is a strong probability that he will be found and asked to give an account of himself and his actions. With regard to the manner of the woman's death, a singular incident is related. It is stated that late on Saturday night someone in Gosforth noticed a man, whose description agrees with that already given, coming from the direction of the field so often referred to, and that he was carrying one of hi a boots in his hand. Such a circumstance excited comment at the time, and after the discovery of the tragedy the incident was naturally connected with it, the suggestion being that instead of being struck on the head with a stick the woman may have met her death by a blow from a heavy boot. Mr J. R. D. Lynn, coroner for South Northumberland, opened the inquest on the deceased woman last night at the County Hotel, Gosforth. Walter Bucham said he was an ironmonger, and lived at 25, Addison Road, Heaton. He identified the body as that of his daughter, Lizzie Cavers Hogg Bacham (18), who lived with him. She left home on the 21st inst. without saying where she was going to, and he had never seen her since until he saw her dead body at Gosforth Police Station. Leonard Robson' joiner, said he found the body of the deceased on Sunday afternoon. It was lying beside the hedge in a field adjoining the bicycle track at Gosforth. Deceased was lying on her back, with a shawl underneath her. He informed the police, and they took charge of the body. The woman was quite dead. _  Nary Ann Pawson,Jvife of Edward Pawson, Henry Street, Goeforth, said as she was coming up the village on Saturday night, at about halfpast nine' she met a man and a woman, who both appeared to have had drink. The couple were walking in the direction of the field. The woman was staggering a little, but the man appeared to be walking straightly. What drew witness's attention to them was that the man had his arm round the woman's waist, and seemed to be holding her up. The deceased was the woman she saw. Witness had seen the body, and recognised it by the dress and general appearance. When the woman passed her she looked distressed, but there were then no marks of blood about her face. The man was rather tall, appeared to be middle-aged, and was dressed like a vcorkman. The Coroner said that was as far as he proposed to go that day. He did not think they ought to take any more evidence until there was a polemorgem examination of the body. He was told it might turn out that the woman had been abused, and there were some wounds about the person. I However, they would get particulars from the doctor. _  The inquest was then adjourned to June 5.  SURVIVAL OF THE FlTTEST.—Oonfirmation of ahia theory may be fouLdi in the fact that Wheatle3's Hop Bitters have eclipecd all other non•intoxicating beverages