The Sun. — 1862-10-24 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OF A YOUNG  WUHAN AT BLAUFRIARS.  An inquiry was held by Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the deputy-coroner, at the George and Dragcn Tavern, High-street, Shadwell, on Wednesday evening, respecting the death of Hannah Brooks, aged 18 years, who lost her life at Paul's Wharfpier, on Friday week, under the following circumstances . _ _  Mrs. Hannah Brooks, Bridge-street, Biackfriars, said that deceased was her daughter, and for the last twelve months had lived with John Archer, a lighterman's apprentice, as his wife. They lived happily until three months ago, when Archer became jealous of her. It appeared that deceased met a young man named Sandford, and a girl named Elizabeth Legge. Sandford invited her to take a glass of ale, and while she was partaking of it she saw Archer looking at her through the window in a manner which caused her to become dreadfully alarmed. She ran home to No. 134, Broadwall, Blackfriars-road. Archer followed her, and said to her three times. "Is that you ?" He then knocked her down and beat her cruelly. She got up and ran out, as she afterwards said, to make away with herself, but her landlord, Mr. Farlan, followed and prevented her. Archer said that he was determined to have no more to do with her, and that she should either go into service or to the workhouse. About a fortnight before her death he beat her during the night on board the barge on the river. On last Friday week deceased came to witness and said that she had procured continuous employment which would enable her to separate from Archer, and so end her misery, and that she saw her wayto be happy again. It was then 10 o'clock at night; witness saw her no more. The next morning Archer called upon witness, and said that at 12 o'clock on the previous night deceased had drowned herself at St. Paul's-wharf-pier. He stated that she asked to go on board the barge he WAS minding, and that he refused, as the barge was not his. She then got over the iron gates at the pier, and said, "You shall see me no more." She looked up and down the river, and then ran along the dummy barge, stooped under the chain, and plunged into the water. He jumped in after her, and she caught him by the coat. He swam with his right hand, but finding that she was being sucked under the barge, he was obliged to let her go. Witness received information the same afternoon that a boy had seen Archer beat deceased on the wharf in the middle of the night in question, and that she reproached him for the black eyes and other injuries ha had inflicted on her on previous occasions. Quarrelling and cries were heard. Witness stated that deceased had been compelled by injuries received through Archer's kicking her to wear a truss ; but that she was so devoted to him that, when witness endeavoured to get her to part from him, she said that the injuries arose only through lifting weights. Wm. Turner said that last Monday morning he rai-pdn' ie gra,v Le oiwnteorrnaShataidown li found the body of the deceased floating in the river off Qgrofoatirthtoe body the u Mr. Hann, the coroner's officer. Be ashore, sh Wor, hea,  Am-ley, a little boy, said that he was a "Jack-in-the-water." (Laughter.) He went of messages &c. Oa last Friday week he was mind. ing a barge on the river, and he noticed a man anc, a woman come down the pier quarrelling, but be could not hear what they said. She put up her hand  M. to protect herself from him, and cal ight his t ,at. He saw no more that was like a blow, tht night hr ding very dark. He saw deceased jump into the we ter. ut ha d not ! By the Jury—Witness had seen b ,poken to Archer before the assembling 0 th( court. Archer was not standing by the side o f d eceased when she jumped in. Archer did not tlt •ow her into the water, or push her in. Archer w. 1E rescued by the captain of a neighbouring barge. at t d said at first that he did not know why she had plun, ged into the water, but afterwards said he hac, can ght her with a young man, and that as he (Arc.ller, ) would not forgive her, she committed suicide. Dr. J. Brown Ross said there were con si, derable marks of violence on the head of deceased. ,Death, however, resulted from immersion in the Nt raters The Coroner said he should adjourn the I -Jowl; for the production of further evidence, and he co utsidered that in the meanwhile the police ought to i nterfere and detain the man. The proceeding's, which were very pro fractal, were then accordingly adjourned.  7HE GREAT ~_DEERFOOT"