The Express. — 1867-07-22 (London, England)

IMT.—(THIS DAY.) This forenoon Mr. W. J. Plc, the deputytotoner, held an inquiry at the St. us eestry-room, Loudondidge, touching the death o a young woman, whose moue was unknown, aged about 17 years. Polke.eutiatable Morris Pocock, 727 City force, said that :it an early hour on Sunday morning week he saw a dark object lying at the bottom of the steps ' at the city side of London-bridge. He went down the steps to see what it was, and he then )...w the let of the ilecemied lying on the st, 11, ..td her head was in the water. lie pulled her out, hut +he was quite dead. She was dressed in a boating jacket. a black bonnet, a morning dress, and a pair of side maim: boots. Under her left ann, as if she had put it in was the photographic portrait of a lady very . like. but somewhat older looking, than the deceased. She could not have been long in the water, but she was block in the face.  Henry SI ward beadle, said that he had examined the h.‘ek of the photograph, and he found written on it in a lady % hand, " My dear mother departed this' life 27th of Ruch. The portrait was taken by a Mr. Shayler, of tru, r 1 pei -street, Islington, and witness went to him and he said that it wee the photograph of a lady named Wairen who called there one day, but she did not give Ler :address. _ .  At this stage of the proceedings, William Higgs, a silk weaver, living at No. 22, Greenstreet. London, entered the court, and said that he tel recognised the body of the deceased as that of Alice Matilda Winter, aged 17 years, the niece of his wife. Her mother had died in March last, and she felt het loam very much, for she was attached to her. The photograph produced was that of her mother: After the funeral of her mother she went into service. Her father hail been dead seven years. On satunlay week she left her employer's at Croydon to come and see witness. On her way she would have to cross London-bridge. She was a very steady gill, and she never hail an acquaintance. She used to carry about the portrait of her mother with her, and she used to seem to worship it. Mr. O. l'etridge. Thornton-heath, Croydon, said that the deceased hail been in his employment. She used to Lite the portrait of her mother out, and while looking at it she used to cry frantically, and then lie down upon the floor of the room and roar. Witness gave her notice to leave, and her time expired on Saturday week. She did not appear to realise her position until she was on top of the coach at half- pest 4 o'clock in the afternoon. She left very sad and crying. She disliked returning to her uncle's house. They then offered to take her back if she could not get another situation. Had gi. en her woney to pay her fare back to Croydon. She had refused to take a holiday en a previous occasion to to see her uncle. She had never seen him since her mother's death. She was so desponding that Mrs. l'etridge used to take her out in the carriage to the Crystal l'alsce to try and cheer her up. Her mother had died swhlenly. Mrs. 31. A. Meeks, aunt of the deceased, said that the deceased felt the most intense grief for the loss of her soother. She was afraid to return home to her relations as she knew they had a family to support and she feared to increase their expenses by going to live with them. Mr. W. Clapton, said that the cause of the deceased's death was suffocation from drowning. The Coroner said that the case was a very sad one and the jury returned a verdict " That the deceased committed suicide by drowning herself in the waters of the Thames at London-bridge whilst in a state of temporary insanity."