The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-10-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE BY  DROWNING.  I On Monday evening last, great excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood of Diglis by the news that the dead body of a WO/11W well dressed, and apparently about 40 years old, had been found floating in the river in the Diglis lock. The report proved to be true. The body was removed to the Anchor Inn, Diglis, and it was subsequently ascertained that the deceased was Joanna Griffin, wife of Mr. John Griffin, maltster, of Oldswinford. It is believed that the deceased committed the crime while in a At of mental aberration, occasioned by habitual drunkenness. Deceased is the same woman who, on the 30th August, 1872, was found suspended by the left leg with a horse's headstall and chain, her head and shoulders only resting on the ground, in a stable on her husband's premises at Oldswinford. From this perilous position she was released (moans having been heard by a policeman) in a most exhausted and critical state. At that time she made a statement implicating her husband, and on the strength of that accusation Mr. Griffin was taken into custody and brought before the magistrates at Stourbridge, who, after inquiries, committed him for trial. The evidence taken at the magisterial inquiry, however, tended to exculpate the husband from all complicity, and at the Sessions the Grand Jury ignored the bill. At an inquest held on the body at the Anchor Inn, on Tuesday afternoon, before Mr. W. S. P. Hughes, coroner, the following evidence was adduced : John Griffin :I live at Oldswinford, and am a meltster. The deceased was my wife ; she was 42 yeins of age. She left home last Monday week. The cause of her leaving home was drunkenness. She had been in a state of intoxication for ten weeks. She was an habitual dvunkard. I did what I could to keep the drink from her. When she went away she said she was going to Worcester to her brotherin-law's, where she occasionally visited. I made no objection to her going to her brother-in-law's. She used to leave my house for weeks together. She had been an habitual drunkard for nine or ten years. I had been married about twenty years. I last saw her alive on Monday week, the day on which she left home. She had no bundle with her when she started that I am aware of. I don't know whether she made , any preparation for going to Worcester. Except , that deceased told a neighbour named Mrs. Chance, who lives in a cottage belonging to me, that she was going away. I did not know where she was going. I had not been in the habit of quarrelling with her; it was her drunken habits that were BO objectionable. I have endeavoured in every way to keep her from  drink, and have had medical advice for her. There is no doubt of the deceased's identity, and I have no reason to think that she died otherwise than lty drowning. John Jenkins, fisherman, Severn-ntreet, deposed: I saw the deceased sitting on a rail by the aide of the tow-path about 100 yards above the anal task, about four o'clock in the afternoon, on Monday week, I saw her Bitting in the same place about a quarter past six o'clock the same evening. There WRB nothing unusual about her appearance or manner. I did not see the deceased afterwards till I saw her last evening. She had on a veil when I saw her sit. ling on the rail, and ware the Mine dress then that she had on when taken from the river. She woe picked up about 350 yards from the rail tin which I saw her sitting. . . .  John Bradley : lam look-keeper at Diglia. I did not see anything of deceased before she was found is the river. I first saw bar on Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. A. barge vrsa passing through the lock, and, looking down, I saw something floating is the lock. I afterwards found it to be the body of * woman. I secured assistance and got the bod 7 out of the water. Her dress was in a natural windition, and there was no appearance oj disorder either in the dress or body. I did not perceive any mark* of violence. I did not see her searched. lam of Opinion that the deceased had been in the water about a week. The body was not in a Hate of decomposition. The body was floating in an erect position when I saw it. The top of her head and a portion of her face were visible. Police-constable Smith I am a member of the county constabulary. I was called to the spot and assisted to get the body out of the water. I searched the body, and found 3s 81d in money in her pocket. She had two gold earrings in her ears, and wore a black brooch, kid gloves, and two sings on her fingers. The Coroner, addressing the jury, said there was no doubt that deceased died from drowning, and there was no reason to suppose any violence or robbery was committed upon her before she went into the water. There was no direct evidence to prove that she threw herself into the river, but the proprobability was that she destroyed herself, her mind being reduced to a state of imbecility through continued drunkenness. Her habits were of that nature that probably they affected her mind. They would draw their own conclusions; the evidence showed very clearly that she must have drowned herself, and that she was in an infirm state of mind owing to her drunken habits.  The jury returned a verdict of." Found drowstiod."