Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1890-05-17 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

FLOMAFITO.. SUICIDE OF A LADY.  On Monday, Mr. A. Braxton Hicks, the Coroner for Mid-Surrey, held a lengthened inquiry at the Star and Garter, Church Road, Betterma, London, as to the death of Harriet Miry Gibbe, aged thirtyfive year., lately rending at 37, Eyot Gordon., Chiswiok, who wee found drowned to the Themes, at Batteries, on the 7th iost.—Mrs. Harriet Higgins, of 0, Montrose Villas, St. refer's, Hammeremith, who was deeply affected, identified the body of the deorscred as that of her daughter by former marriage. She was unmarried. Witness last is” w her alive on the Boat Bane rjay, but was not near enough to epeak to her. She knew she was living with • Mr. Stokes. The ileoeaaed had not livud with wham rime .he was eight years old, having been adopted by a Mra. Martin, her gieat emit, of I, Leneader Place, Richmoud. Mrs. Martin died In 1081, leaving the deceased her house and the whole of her property. Witness had remonstrated with her on the subject of her mode of living, and it made her very angry. Sr the middle of last year the Mr. Stokes referred to was residing in witneeil• house art • boarder, but when she fouud that been. getting intimate with her daughter, who oxesionally visited her, she gave him notice to leave in November—Mr. Edward John Thompson, formerly a member of the Metropolitan Board of Work', residing at 4, Merton Road, South Hemp. stead, dated that he wee the landlord of 37, Eyot Gardena,Chiswiok. On March 13th he let the house to Mr. " Henery " Byron Stoke., arid he and the deoeaaed moved in. Witness took them to he husband and wile, although there warn • great disparity in their agea--the man being at leaet sixty. On April let the deoeased wrote askrug him to mill, which he did,and she then told him that ehe ems not married,and that Stokes had deeerted her. She added that eome of his (Stokea') children had ill-treated her, but she did not complain of his conduct. She would not tell him where her mother lived, but eke gave him the address of her half•sister'a husband, at , the same time begging him not to see him. On the 15th he received another letter, informing him that Mr. Stoke. wee in Birmingham. and he answered it, offerihg to pay for the removal and the warehousing of her furniture, and to give her £2 to enable her to get to Birmingham. In reply to that she • wrote explaining that she had written to ,Mr. Stoker' daughter to the following effect :—" I cannot stay here meek longer, not having the meanie to pay rent or anything, and when I loave hero Shove no ' place to go to, coil he doesn't prove true to me I shall have to drown myeelf, and the on will lie at hie door." The letter added: "Ii you will kindly give me time to get an answer 1 Mall feel greatly obliged." On April 28th he received from the deceased another letter, dated four bye earlier, win& concluded thus "I euchsre the key of 37 and thank yon for your kindnea• and patient's nude; my trying circumstances, and God will blew you for it; and Ilia blessiug is worth having. I waa in great trouble before I met Mr. Stokes, and thought I had found a friend in need—a good, atrughtforward, honest man; for I have found him very kind to me slime I have known Min, and asl told him exactly how I was elluated I think I did my duty. He told me he did not love or want me for money—he had plenty of piece.; 'he loved me for myself, but nofortuuately for me it looks lit though he did. I have been cruelly wronged, but there is One above who eon pay debts without money ; therefore the only way that 1 eau get out of my troubles re by putting no end to my life, and death will be a happy release now. hindly communioate with my exeoutor, Mr. Thomas (hocks, 1, Craven Villas, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, who will no doubt roe to the furniture, a• it is to be mid at my death. 'lice keys of the house at Riohunond are on the drawer, in the front bed room. So now, dyer Mr, believe me to remain, yours respectfully, lisunum M. UM.. P.S.-If you like to write to Mr. 5t.t.k..,, the address is 6, Victoria Place, Lee Book hood, Birmingham." Upon receiving that letter withese omit to Ealing, and not finding Mr. Orcooks he went to the polleestation. Ha afterwards saw the trustee. 'the deceased had told him that she had mortgaged port of her life interest in her aunt'r property, and that she received only £3O odd out of • sum of £230. The Coroner [mid that was a matter for the trusteed, to Inquire into.—Mr. Thomas Ooocks, of 1, Craven Villas, Ealing, independeut gentleman, said he became acquainted walk the decerwed by lodging with her aura at Riohmond. lie was trustee Ullaer the aunt's will, and acted when she died. He was not aware that the deceased had left Riahmond, nor that she was riving with anyone. Upon going to Eyot Gardens he fomM the furniture lyiug about anyhow. With the keys of the Richmond hoarse he found • letter addressed to himself, in which the decreased a:prowled a wish to be buried by Mr. Drew, of Richmond,: in a coffin with black Moth, in her annt's grave. Witness disoovered about twenty pawnbrokers' duplioatea relating to valuable )ewellary and plate pledged ainoe December, 1808.— The Coroner Were there any letters from 11. r. fltokee—Witnem Yee (handing one lia).—The wrener said it was as follows "8, Montrose Villas, Hammeroulth Mill, Hammersmith, Ont. let, 1889. My dear Mine Gibb—l hope you are all right. I am very sad now, and shall be mail lam in your company again; the eooner the bettor; so make an appointment, for you have quite captivated me, and I cannot feel happy without you. r I told and ronsP':vdt ti'miLerwme you. eat Tle'y are very kind to me in every way. I must now leave all matters of love to you. If you would like me to come on Saturday and stay with you till Sunday I will do so. They will not lmow but what I have gone to London. You . . _ .  moat snubs me, that I may know what to do. lam yours in true love, and I have every confidence in you. —Yours, affectionately, 13. B. Stokes, Engineer."—Samuel Newman, a lighterman, deposed to finding the body of the deceased in the ' Thames, oil thre's Flour Mille at Battersea, at ten o'clock last Wednesday morning.—Dr. Felix Kempger mid that there wee no marks of violence on the body, whion had been immereed about tan or twelve day..—The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of suicide, the dreamed being Wane at the lime.