The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1909-09-22 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DURING TEMPORARY INSANITY RETURNED." The inquest on the body of llarriet Blake, who met her death under such sensational circumstances on Wednesday last was concluded on Saturday, the .jury turnin a verdict of "Suicide during tamporary.insanitv." The inquiry, it will be remembered, was opened on Friday afternoon, but was adjourned in consequence of the remarkable etidence, The deceased woman had been for ten years the wife of a dock labourer, living at 9, Wateou-street. Between 8 and 9 o'clock on Wednesday evening cries of "Murder"! "Help"! and "Save me"! :suddenly rang out in the vicinity of the West Float, the voice being evidently that of a womtn. A Mrs. Diable heard Ithe cries distinctly, and ran to the house of P.C. Henderson, who lives ClO6. by. Henderson, coming out of hie house also heard the cries, and he ran' as fast as• he could towards the dock 300 yards away. It was dark at the time, and when he got to the quayside he could see nothing! He was satisfied, however from the cries, that someone was in the water, and he sent for grappling irons, and thy were used for some time, but nothing could be found. Early next morning the grappling operations were resumed, and very soon the -body of Harriet Blake was recovered.. . . . . .  The startling which had been beard naturally gave rise to the belief that some foul play had occurred, while a letter written by the deceased, and found in au account book in the shop kept by the couple cast certain reflections. In the letter de-. ceased wrote "I cannot live this life any longer," and made allegations against be; tusband in regard to hie conduct towardser mother. The allegations were proved to_he wholly unfounded. The first witpees called at the adjourned inquiry was Dr. Preece, who said that since file previous hearing he had made a post-mortem examination of the body. All the internal organs were in a normal condition. with the exception of the usu3l signs of suffocation. There were no external signs of injury except for a small bruise ort the knee, which was a few days old at lebst. There were no marks on the arms or neck, and no signs of a struggle prior to the deceased getting into the water. The husband, recalled, recognised the bend-writing of his wife, and said he found the letter In an account kook in the shop. " The Coroner read the letter already referred to.  The -allegations, the husband said, were totally untrue. His wife had suffered from acute depression in consequence of a serious illness she had some months ago. Tie had never been unkind to her, and he did not think she could have been in her right mind when she wrote the letter. A young man named Joseph Diable, of 691, Corporation-road. said that he. too, heard the cries a "Help," followed by the blowing of a policeman's whistle. As be ran towards the dock he saw two men come from under- a railway waggon and run away. Re .could not see their faces as it was dark at the time. •  Prances Diable, a girl of about 14 years of age, said she also heard the cries coming from the direction of the timber_ dock. The person—a woman—shouted out "Nur, er, Murder"! "Belo, help"! and she ran and told P.C. Henderson. The cries , sounded as though the woman was running Up .and down the dock. .4n4roW Nichols, Hendersoo was recalled, and he Said that it wan 'after he had beep to the dock to see what was the matter that he went bottle &phi for his colt and waistcoat. When he was coming out of the house he took his whilltle from the`dresser and blew for assistance. That was about half-an-hour after the cries. Directly after he had blown his whistle he saw Diable, and sent hint to Duke. street for the grappling irons. Inspector Bebington said that the police were satisfied that there was no evidencaskf foul play. There was no one about the quay when the watchman and constable appeared and it was fully half-an-hour afterwards that Diable appeared on the scene, and at that time there were 40 or 50 people gathered near. Diable told him (Inspector &bine*, Pot lks was not pertain. whetller, she did se' iinydiis or not. Mr. Holden (he coroner) in summingup said it was obvious that the woman's mind was unhinged at the time she wrote the note, and it was clear that the allegations made against her husband were absolutely untrue. She had suffered from adversity, but her husband had taken his full share' of it. The strongest evidence in his favour was that the mother stood by him in hie trouble.  The -fury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity," and concurred with the Coroner's views regarding the allegations against the husband. The jury also complimented P.C. Henderson upon the prompt manner in which he acted when the woman's cries were heard.