The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1890-05-02 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE SAD DROWNING CASE AT BRIDGEND,  INQUEST.  •Ou Nlouday afternoon Mr i. D. fleece, coroner, held an inquest at the poliee-station, Bridgend, touching the death of Caroline Murrell, who was found drowned in the river Ogmore, on Friday, the 2-ith April. Miss Alice Stuchberv, of Caroline - arca, Bridgend, said she had known the deceased for nine years. She was the widow of John Murrell, gardener, and, witness believed, was about 68 years of age. She lived at Clickenham-tarace, by herself, for the last two years, since her linsband's death. She had no relatives at Bridgend ; she had some nieces living away. Witness last saw her alive on Wednesday; 23rd April, when she was at deceased's house. She bad been very peculiar in her manner for some days before that. She was rambliint in her talk and imagined things. Deceased had an allowance from one of her nieces, and also received parish relief. Witnese got the allowance referred to for her, and sent her the book up receipted as usual. When she %rent there on Wednesday she produced the book and said it was not recapted and that they would surely prosecute her for forgery. Witness tried to explain it to her and shew that it was precisely the same as before ; but she did not seem to understand it at all. %Meese did not think she was in danger of doing herself any harm. Deceased had an attack of paralysis about two months ago and since then she had been more or less %ay peculiar. Dr Hood attended her tie the time. Her right side was affected and for a week or so she was quite helpless. Alban Hapgood (16) said he was walking through Caepant field about ten minutes past nine on Friday morning, when he saw Mrs Murrell on the bank of the river Ogmore with her feet in the water, and her stockings off. He did net go up to her as lie felt a bit afraid; but he came back and told Miss Morgan (Queen-street). He knew Mrs Murrell. He thought by the way she was looking up and down the river that she was out of her mind. He did not tell anyone else. Mho; Morgan did not send down. He had not heard that deceased was rather queer. John Barber, of Clifton-terrace, said he was walking along Caepant, at about ten minutes past one, on the day in question, on his way to dinner, when he saw part of a fur-lined cape floating on the water. He went to the bank and saw deceased in three feet of water. .She seemed to be on her face and hands, and her body was completely covered with water. He then went to the Policestation and gave information.  Police-constable Ebenezer Roes said having received information from Barber that there was a woman in the river, he went to the place and got the body out. He found that deceased was dead.  Dr Williams, of Bridgend, said he knew the deceased, having attended her about twelve months ago for some time. She was suffering from melancholia. He saw the body on the 2..1th April, and examined it. He found on the left fore-arm about ton cuts. They were all superficial with the exception of one, which was at the bend of the elbow, but bad not reached the artery. They looked to him as if they had been done with a scissors or a very blunt knife. From their position they were self-inflicted. They had apparently been done four or live days previously, and had nothing to du with the cause of death. Miss Stuebb6iy, requestioned, said she noticed what seemed to be scratches on the deceased's arm the previous Sunday, but did not think anything of them. _ . _  DF. Williams, resuming, said death resulted from sullbcation by drowning. From the condition in which she was in about a year ago, he was not surprised that she committed suicide. lied he known where her friends were ho would certainly have communicatcAl with_them. _ _  The Coroner said there WRS no direct evidence to show that deceased went into the river. They should return a verdict of found drowned in the river Ogmore, and be thought from the condition of mind in which she was in and from what Dr NViMains had told them about the wounds on her arm, which were evidently self-inflicted, they could mid that they believed that she committed suicide while in a slaW of unsound 1.  The j ury (of which M r John etioko was foreman) returned a verdict in aeColliallet: with OW coroner's directions.  The remains of the unfortunate deceased (who was well connected in life and locally much respected) were interred at Colby on Tuesday.