Bridgend & Neath Chronicle, and County of Glamorgan Advertiser. — 1892-01-08 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

YOUNG DOMESTIC AT BRIDGEND.  THE INQUEST.  An inquest was held at the Police-station, rad, on Wednesday touching the death of lii..aret John, whose body was found at Marcross, on Sunday last. Mr E. B. Reece was the coroner, and Mr J. Davies, the foreman of the jury. Ann John said she was the deceased's mother, and lived in 14, South-street, Bridgend. Deceased was fifteen years of age. She was in service with Mrs Emery. On Wednesday, the 30th December, Mrs Emery sent for witness. She went to Mrs Emery's house about a quarter past seven. She did not see her daughter there. Mrs Emery complained to her that she had found a pair of mittens belonging to her in the girl's pockets, which she showed to witness. Mrs Emery told her that if she had ''crone home to send her back to her. Mrs Emery went to look for the girl, and came back to witness and told her that she was out. Witness went home, and, failing to find deceased, she went tfgain to Mrs Emery's. Mrs Emery looked for her again, but could not find her. Witness did not see her alive after that. Deceased had not been home that night at all. She had been with Mrs Emery for eighteen or nineteen months. The body just viewed by the jury was that of her daughter. The Coroner: Was your daughter afraid of you. Were you severe with her? Witness : No, sir. The Coroner: Was her father severe with her? Witness: No, sir. Amelia Emery, Nolton-street, Bridgend, said the deceased had been in her employ as servant since May, 1890. The girl did not suit her, and she repc-2atedly told her so. On the morning of the 30th December, witness told her that she must go home, She packed some of her clothes. In the evening witness went to the girl's bedroom, and brought down her dress for hEr to mend it before she left. Witness emptied the pockets on the table, and among other things there was a pair of mittens belonging to witness. They were a new pair taken from the shop. Asked her Where did you get these, Maggie,' and she replied that she didn't know. Witness then told the girl that she must really go home, but that she was not to go until witness sent for her mother to tell her the reason. The deceased was ironing at the time. Witness sent for the deceased's mother, and she came immediately. Deceased was in the house when her mother knocked at the front door. When witness opened tl:e door for Mrs John, the deceased went out by the back door. Then she told Mrs John what had already been said. She never saw the girl alive after that. The back door opened towards Church-street, which led to a pathway down to the river. She never had any reason previons to this to suspect any dishonesty. She always treated her kindly in the house. Deceased left her house about seven o'clock. Charles Wood, groom in the employ of Mr W. R. Randall, Glauogwr, said that about 7.30 on the night of the 30th December he was at the stables at Glanogwr. He heard screams from the direction of the river about a couple of hundred yards distant. They seemed like the screams of a female. He only heard one scream. It was a very rough night, and there was a big flood in the river. He made a remark to the coachman that there was somebody in the river, but he did not go and see. There was a pathway alongside the river, and the walk was much frequented by young people. So they took no particular notice of this scream. David Thomas Clarke Williams, St Donatt's Vicarage, said that on Sunday afternoon, the 3rd of January, between the hours of three and four, he was walking along the beach at Marcross. He found the body of the deceased lying between some large boulders. This was just below high water mark in ordinary tides. He obtained assistance of the overseer of the parish of Marcross and six or seven men, and got the body removed. The body was perfectly nude except the shoes and stockings. The Coroner in addressing the jury said there was reason to fear that this poor little girl committed suicide. It looked like it certainly. She appeared to have been frightened when it was said that her mother was coming to hear from Mrs Emery about her. There was, however, no actual certainty that she committed suicide. He thought she went down to the river with the idea in her mind, but before she could realise it she must have slipped in, and carried away with the flood. He advised the jury to return an open verdict, that the body was found at Norcross, and that in their opinion she was drowned in the river Ogmore, and carried away into the sea, and that there was no evidence as to how she got into the river. The Jury returned a verdict of 'Found drowned' in accordance with the coroner's direction. Mr D. T. C. Williams wished that whatever fee he was entitled to as a witness should be distributed between the men who conveyed the body from the sea-shore to the church at Marcross.