Widnes Examiner. — 1886-01-02 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE EXAMINER AT EDAY. JANUARY 2, 1886  SHOCKING SUICIDE IN CHESHIRE.  A shocking affair occurred at Moore, near Warrington, early on Sunday morning, when a servant girl employed at the Elms. Dareebury, committed suicide by throwing herself into the Bridgewater Canal, et a spot a few yards dietent from the bridge spanning the canal at Moore. Deceased was named Sarah Wittington, and was the daughter of William Wittineton, of Hightields, near Worn, Shropshire, a farmer. She was 22 veers of age, and was employed as kitchenmaid at the 'Elms. On Saturday night she and another servant were very late at work and the housekeeper told her to leave it and go to bed. She, however, appeared determined to 'finish work and refused to go, and on the housekeeper putting out the gas she re-lit it again. Snbseciaently she went out of the house, and the butler, belui..; informed of the matter by the housekeeper, made a search. Proceeding in the direction of the village he saw deceased in a crouching position at the side of the canal and called out to her. On hearing his voice she suddenly jumped up, threw herself into the water, and was drowned. Information was given to P.C. Dutton, of the Cheshire police, who seer ch for the body, recovering it at 1-30 on Sunday morning, On the-ground at the side of the cane). SIW teVe itpronsoen which deceased had kedi ting, The body was taken to the Red Lion Jon, Moore, to await an inquest, which 7,34 t}cl4cti NOPCley efternoon by Mr. T. J. Rilgway.—The father of deceased gave evidence of ideWification. and Said he last sew his daughter alive in July, when she left home to go to the Elms. He had often heard from her, and the tone of her letters was cheerful. There were no complaints aborts her in her previous places. He knew of no reason why she should take away her life. lizabeth Bond, housekeeper at the Eime, said deceased had neen kitchenmaid there for about five months. She was vary headstrong and stubborn. On Saturday she was careless in her werk and witness spoke to her about it two or three times during the day. In the evening she told deceased to go to her supper, but she said she would not, as he was busy. Soon after eleven o'clock witness saw dr.ceaSeil in the scullery and told her that it was time to go to bed. She replied, "1 will not go to bed until I get finished." Witness turned the gae out, but on returning found that deceased had re-lighted it. Witness told her she was very disobedient, but did not speak sharply to her. She seemed very croee, laughed hysterically, and went into the kitchen. Witness said, "Sarah, you are making yourself bad, go to bed," and deceased said that she would go out, and went towards the door. She said Good night, Mrs. Bond, I'll see you no more," and went out by the kitchen door. Witness went out, but could not see anything of her. Deceased seemed to kave lost her temper. She had previously given notice to leave. Witness had never heard of deceased threatening to commit suicide.—Edith Burtenshaw, scullerymaid at the Elms, said that she always found deceased nice in disposition, and she .(deceased) was never in a temper with her, although they fell out a little occasionally. When they fell out deceased would be cross for a few minutes, but she would soon be all right again. On Saturday she seemed worried and not quite herself. Witness did not know why she should be worried, unless it was that she had so much work to do. She never said anything about that, except that she did not know when she was going to get through it. She had never said anything to witness about tailing her life away. On Saturday night Mrs. Bond spoke very quietly, but deceased said that it was very tantalising to her. She seemed irritated at being told to leave her work and finish. As soon as the housekeeper had put out the gas and left the room deceased lighted it again, as she wanted to finish her work that night. Witness saw her go out of the house, and she was then crying and was very excited. She said "Good night, Mrs. Bond, I'll see you no more," and went out of the house. Witness thought it was her intention to go through the yard and into the house again by another door. Witness could give no reason for deceased being upset, except that she had been told to go to bed.—ln answer to the jury, witness said that she did not know of deceased being in correepondence with any young man.— In answer to a gentleman representing Mr. Jones, witness said that deceased had not said when she came back from BriEhton that she wished she had thrown herself into flee sea there. She did say she hoped she would not go again, as she found the work worse.—Henry Thompson Everitt, butler at the Elms, said that on Saturday night Mrs Bond, about 11-30 o'clock, made a statement to him with respect to deceased having left the house. Witness said he knew nothing about it, but would go and look for her. He looked about the yard and then went towards the lodge and looked up the Warrington and Daresbury-roade. Witness afterwards came through the village and when on the centre of the bridge. at Moore, spanning the Bridgewater canal, he saw something laid on the towing path. He thought it was deceased, and said " Sally, come with me." She was in a crouching position. She made no answer, but suddenly got up and jumped into the water. Witness went to the spot and deceased was nearly in the middle of the water. She sank, and witness as soon as possible communicated with the police. He afterwards saw deceased taken out of the water. He had never noticed anything peculiar about deceased, but saw that she seemed upset on Saturday at tea time. He had always found her pleasant in every way.— The Coroner having summed up, the jury consulted in pritrite for some time. They returned a verdict to the effect that deceased was of unsound mind when she jumped into the water..