Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-08-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE. . A young girl named Mary Williams, the daughter of John Williams, of Twynyrodin, committed suicide on Friday week, At eleven o'clock on Thursday night she left her home, and was last seen alive on Friday morning. On Saturday evening her body was taken from ' • • otherwise  oody . the Plymouth Feeder covered with mud, but uninjured, and bearing every indication of having been some tinui in the water. An inquest was held on Monday last week, at the Glove and Shears, Twynyrodin. After viewing the body the following evidence was given:— Evan Hughes said: I knew the deceased. She was the daughter of John Williams. He is a fireman in the employ of A. Dill, Esq. I live next door io them. On Friday morning I went into the house, and there saw the father, the jodger, Benjamin Lewis, and Mary Richards, the housekeeper. They told me the girl had gone out the night before and had not returned. On Saturday evening I went in company with the father sod others to search the Plymouth feeder. The father and me got in the water by tile Taff Vale station. About 100 yards down I came upon something which proved to be the body of Mary Williams. The father was near me at the time. She had sunk in the mud up to her knees and was stooping forward, resting on her hands. Her gown was over her head. I saw no marks on her body. Mary Richards said : I am housekeeper to John WilHome. His wife has been dead this twelve years. I have been with him and the children since their mother's d•ath. He had a son sixteen years of age, and a daughter thirteen years and six months. On Wednesday evening I found the daughter crying. On my asking the cause she said "the lodger Benjamin Lewis had pinched her ear." I said nothing to him till I had spoken to her father. On Thursday night I spoke to him about it. He denied doing so. Deceased came in while we were talking, but went out again. She came in about ten o'clock. I had gone to bed. Benjamin was smoking by the fire. She passed him by and came upstairs to me. Son after he came up. As he passed through the room he said to her, "You ought to be ashamed to tell such such lies to say that I hutted your oar." She replied, " You did do it." He said, " Your father ought to give you a good thrashing for saying so." After he had gone to his room he said to me, "When her father comes in call me up." I said " No, I shall have more patience." I told her to go to sleep and not heed his nonsense. She began to shake. I asked her if she was cold. She replied "No." In about a quarter of an hour she got up. I asked where she was going. She replied, "To take something out of my pocket." I then heard her going down the stairs. She said, "Don't expect me back to-night," and went into the street. I called out "Where are you going ?" but got no answer. She had on a frock and a net on her hair. She had no shoes or stockings. She made no further complaint against the lodger, but that he hail pulled her ear. She was always of stubborn temper. Her father is not a severe man. He never put a hand on her once in six years. I followed her into the street, but could not see her. I never saw her again  Sarah Davies said; live at the Belly Glass Court, nearly opposite the house of John Williams. I was at my own door on Friday morning about a quarter to six o'clock. I saw the deceased coming out of a privy in the back; she was barefooted. I did not know that any thing was the matter, that was the last time I saw her alive.  Benjamin Lewis said : I am a miner, and lodge with John 'Williams. On Wednesday night I and the deceased, my little girl, six years of age, and some other children, were in the house. Deceased took my pipe and went away with it. She afterwards brought it back, but took it away again. I then took it from her and went into a neighbour's house ; the following night the housekeeper, Mary Richards, charged me with pinching the girl's car. I denied it then, and Ido so now; deceased went out while we were talking about it; that was Thursday evening. The same night, about ten o'clock or after, I was sitting by the fire smoking; she came and passed by me and went upstairs ; when she went up the conversation passed that was stated by Mary Richards. I was told that she was gone out, but I thought she would come back; being very tired, I fell asleep. In the morning I was told she had returned. I was in search of her from that time till she was found.  The jury returned an open verdict of Found drowned." The inquiry lasted nearly fuur hours.