The East Riding Telegraph. — 1903-10-31 (Beverley, Humberside, England)

THE LATE MISS HICKMAN.  THE INQUEST.  A KNIFE FOUND.  The inquest on the body of Miss Hickman was opened at Richmond on Wednesday, and some highly interesting evidence was given. The most Important testimony of all was that of Dr. Gardiner, the police surgeon, who saw the body before It was removed from the wood, and afterwards made a post-mortem examination at the mortuary. His conclusions were :—(l) I am of opinion that Miss Hickman has been dead quite two months. (2) I are of opinion that there is no evidence that death was due to external violence of any desoripI lion, or to starvation. (3) I am if opinion that Miss Hickman entered the plantation alive, and lay down on she spot where the body was found. (4). I cannot give the cause of death. The result of the post-mortem examination is entirely new as to cause. With the medical conclusions the other doctors present at the post-mortem agree, and the police are entirely in agreement as to the conclusions based on the appearance and situation of the body. They do not say the case was one of suicide—Dr. Gardiner, indeed, admits that the signs ere not inconsistent with death from natural causes ; but they do say that there was no murder. Dr. Michael Henry Taylor, the coroner for Mid-Surrey, held the inquest in the police court. 131 hind him on the bench sat Mr. Hickman and De. Mary Rocks, an intimate friend of the deceased lady. Professor Pepper, the expert employed by the Home Office, was present, sitting with the medical witnesses. The court-room was crowded, and many who desired admission were disappointed. The jury viewed the remains In the mortuary, the coroner briefly explained that the inquiry could not be completed that day, and the witnesses were at once called. Bessie Balkwill, who has been pariourmaid in Mr. Hickman's house at South Kensington for the lent six years, identified the body—or rather the clothing and trinkets found upon it. She knew the watch and chain, the fountain pen, the medals, and the boots —which were of unusually large size for a lady. Furthermore, Miss Hickman's name was on one of the medals, and the name " Hickman " was marked on the stockings. She had not the smallest doubt that the body was that of "Miss Fanny."—Next came a long string of the boys who found the body on Sunday afternoon—John Mackennie, James Watkins, Thomas Henry Fennell, Giovanni Tomasso, Sidney Hockley, and Frederick Stevens. They are the eons of labourers, watermen, and an organ-grinder, who live in the cheap neighbourhood of Red Lion-street.— Sergeant kiewlove said the appearance of the body was "just as if she had crept in for a sleep."— Serpent Rodwell proved finding the medals and the spectacles in the thicket on Monday morning. The medal and cross were attached to a ribbon, and on the same ribbon was a small charm—a golden pig.—Dr. Gardiner, the police surgeon, read his evidence from a olosely-written document. On &may night about 1040 he was summoned by the police to view the body of a woman lying in one of the plantations of Richmond Park. The police wished him to see the body as it lay, prior to removal. "The body was lying, as near as I could judge, about eight yards from the iron Nice, and was covered with the leaves and boughs of rhododendrons. The left arin was fully extended at right angles to the body, and the right arm was across the chest, tucked in below the left breast. The right ankle rested in the hollow of the left foot. The clothing was in DO way di god. The head was separated from the body, and was lying about five or six inches away, slightly behind the middle line of the body. It was turned up as if looking over the right shoulder. The head and face were denuded of all soft parts, with the exception of a little covering on the occipital bone. The lower jaw was detachbd, it was q tite devoid of tissue, and several teeth had dropped out. The neck appeared to be gone, but in its line, close to the body, I found the record cervical hone. The hands sod feet appearsd to h. vu been gnawed. Such examination as I could then make showed no signs of violence. I may say that I have preserved what I could of the stomach, kidney, and intestine, if you think it worth while making an attempt at analysis.—D you think any conclusion could be come to?" askc d the coroner.—Personally, I don't. —You de not think the dataohing of the head was due to violence of any kind ?—Ni."—De. Saward agreed with all that Dr. Gardiner had said.—The coroner asked the jury to say whether in their opinion the body was that of Mies Mokman, and they came unanimously to the conclusion that it was. Thereupon the coroner granted a burial oertificate.—The inquest was adjourned to the afternoon of livvember 5.  A dissecting knife has been found on the grass a few paces outside the railing that enclosed the plantation id which was fr:und the body identified as that of the lady doctor. The knife Is about six inches long, and of the non-closing 1 variety, with an electroplated metal handle. The handle was crusted with soil, and the blade somewhat rusted, though in parts quite bright. According to the fiuder's story, the knife looked as if it had been trodden into the soil. Naturally the discovery, created additional Interest in the tragic effeir, is it 'mama to point to some assassin having taken M•es Hickman's life, throwing from him the knife as he fled from the scene. The lancet was sent to the Home Office analyst' for examination.