Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1908-08-01 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

PATHETIC LETTER TI NEI MOTHER.  On Monday afternoon Dr. Green held an inquest at the Congregational Schoolroom. Killamareh. into the death of Ethel Taylor. who was found drowned in the canal at Kiin lam arab.  I Elisabeth Tarter. wife of Joseph Taylor, !miner, Kirkero-ft lane, Killamarsh, said deeeased was her daughter, and was 14 years of age. and ,I 111111 and healthy.—The Coro' ner : Was there anything peculiar about her at any time that you noticed P—Witness: No. She was not low-epirited, but shewas rather quiet and reserved. She was in service at 34, Wilson road, Sheffield, and bad been there about nine months. Witness last eaw I her alive on 14th July, when she came home I for a holiday and went back. She did not hear anything more of her until last Saturday morning, when she received a letter from the lady she was with saying that Ethel left the day before about one o'elook when she was out, and asking if she had come home, and if 60 to send for or fetch her box. !Witness went to Sheffield to search for her. She got back from Sheffield about eix o'clock, and was informed that deceased's body had been recovered from the Chesterfield and. Stockwith canal at Killamarsh. Mrs. Townsend, Sheffield, said deceased was engaged by her as nurse housemaid, and was with her for nine months. She went to the seaside, and gave deceased • holiday. Deceased returned on 16th July. Last Friday she suddenly left the house at 1 p.m., not saying she was going, and witness wrote to her mother asking if she bad corms home.--The Coroner: Can you account foe her going?—Witness said she missed Boni. jewellery from her case, and she wilted the deceased if she knew anything about it. Deceased said she did not. Witness searched her boa, and found the missing jewellery there. The girl was dismissed, but witness said she had better stay on until her parents fetched her. That nes on the Thursday evening. Her husband wrote to the de. ceased's father telling hint what had hap. pened ,and asking him to fetch her. If. also informed him that she had left, and asked if she had arrived home. She saw • sister on Saturday morning, and was then told she had not come home, and that they did not know where she was. On Sunday morning she received a letter from her eldest sister, stating that her body had been Ifound in the canal.—By Mr. Woode: When I 4old her I had aniseed the jewellery, she said she knew nothing about it. I told her that for my satisfaction I would go through her box. She made no reply. When she I saw the things in my hand, she said I have I taken those. _ .  -11—tt—m.phries said on Saturday morning, about II o'clock, he found a bat on the (canal bank and made inquiries, but could not trace its owner. Thinking there might Ibe someone in the canal, he dragged the water. The body was found about six in the evening. There Was nothing found on the body. The following letter was received on Sewn day r—" Wilson road. IV dear mother. I —Just a line hoping you are in the best ot health. As I am going out of my mind, and have been found out. I cannot live any longer, so I am drowning my-self out of the way. I shall drown myself to-day (Friday). where Mr. Bryan fell in. Hope yon will be able to get me out, and then I can be buried in the churchyard. When you have got me home let all my friends come and see me. I shall have some money in my pocket for you.—With fondest love, from Ethel." On the envelope were: "Good-bye. dears. Love to you. Don't fret, BA I shall be a lot better off," and six crosses. Mary Elisabeth Wilcox, Killamarsh, a cousin, said deceased came to her house on Friday night. She went with her to the station to see when there was a train to Sheffield. Deceased said she did not think she would go to Sheffield that night. Whesa they parted at the station witness thought deceased tem going home. She did not say anything about doing away with herself, but she seemed very quiet. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that decsased committed suicide 'whilst isufferizqr from twannorerY Insanity."