Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-01-12 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

SHERBURNE.  SUICIDE OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN.  An elderly woman, named Maria Woodward, aged 61, and living in Long-street, committed suicide on Sunday morning. She had been living as housekeeper with an engine-driver on the L. & S.W.R. named Mon, and on Sunday morning she was heard about six o'clock getting up. Diane asked her what she was doing, and she t dcl him she was going to the w.c. She, however, it appears, fully dressed herself, put on her bonnet, dtc., and made her way to the river, and there, it is believed, threw herself in. The body was noticed in the water near the br i Ige on the New-road, by a groom employed at the Cadle, who immediately Wormed the police. The water where the body was found is very shallow, and the clothes of the deceased were to be seen above the surface, and were distended, or blown out, by the force of the tide. The inquest wan held at the Black Horse Hotel on Monday afternoon, before Mr. if. Nutt, coroner, and a jury of which Ur. Alfred Dingley was chosen fore. man. John Brown, a helper in Mr.- Digby'a stables, stated that as he was going over the bridge near the Castleyard on Sun lay morning about half-past eight, oa be way to breakfast, he saw something in the river on the Purlieu si In. He went to the side of the river acid found that it Was the bo iy of a woman, lying flit on her face. He saw no sign lof life, and he waut to the police.station and gave idormation. George Dyson, (3.4;km-driver on the London aid S eith-Western Beilway, add the deceased was 61 years of age, and he had lodged in her house for the last 20 years. On Saturday evening, when he Mall home, he found deceased sitting in a chair, and ' read to her, " You look a little flighty; how i it?" She s " Thera is nothing the matter," but he was disfied that she had been having something to drink. He heard deceased get up a little before six next morning. He got up himself about half-au-hour afterward*, and lighted the fire. He did not hear anything further of the deceased till the police came to him. When out of drink she was a clean, industrious woman, but she had given way to drink since her nephew, a marble mason, went away to Toronto abut three months ago. On the Saturday night she told her sister to iuform her nephew, when she wrote to him, that she had been drunk every day since he went away. Supt. Florence gave evidence as to the recovery of the body, which was lying on the left side, face downwards, part of the clothes being out of the water. Deceased was fully and respectably dressed. The body was 22 yards from the bridge, and about 4ft. from the edge of the river. Some 30 persons at first Identified the body as that of another woman, but on his going to her house to make enquiries the door was opened to him be the woman herself. The witness Dyson afterwards identified the body. Ann Bawa, sister of the decease 1, spoke to being fetched by Dyson to prepare his supper. When she had been at the house about two hours deceased WAS led in by another wean in, named Elizabeth Aadrews. Deceased had had some drink. Ever since she had her heal cut open she was affected by a little drink. By the jury : Deceased was not so drunk that she was unable to walk, but ahe appeared to be so weak from drinking before that she required to be led home. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity," and gave their fees to the Dieter of doomed.