The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1889-05-04 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

LEAMINGTON BARMAID FOUND DROWNED.  THE INQUEST.  On Wednesday afternoon the body of Maud Bates, who had recently been employed as a barmaid at the Angel Hotel, Leamington, was found in the canal at Warwick, near to the Myton Road Bridge. The body caught in the fan of the screw of a steam barge, and the boatmen at once informed the police. The clothing was wound tightly round the screw of the barge, and had to be cut away before the body could be recovered. The body was then removed by the police to the Crown Hotel to await an inquest. The deceased girl was only 17 years of age. The inquest on the body of deceased was held at the Crown Inn, Coventry Road, before Mr. F. R. Moore, borough coroner, on Thursday afternoon.—Sarah Ann Holt, wife of James Holt, of Cowper Street, Summer Lane, Birmingham, said that deceased, Maud Bates, was her sister. The deceased was 17 years of age last August. The deceased left her house on the previous Thursday to come to Warwick. She had been staying with witness for a month. She had been barmaid at the Angel Hotel, Leamington, but had left her situation. The deceased told her that she had obtained a situation at the Portobello Inn, Emscote, and that she was going there. The Coreaker : When she came home from the Angel, did she give you any reason why she had left, or make any complaint ?—Witness: None whatever. She was very lively while she was at my house. _ _  Can you give any reason why she was found in the canal ?—No; except that she had not been at the Portobello, and was distressed at not having obtained a situation.  Have you heard from her since she left 7—We had a short letter from her on Saturday to say that she had arrived safely. Did you notice where the letter was addressed from ?—No, I did not.  Samuel West, 17, Lower Faseley Street, Birmingham, boatman, said that on Wednesday afternoon he was coming along the canal with a steam-barge. Near to the Myton Road Bridge the boat was stopped by something getting into the screw of the boat. He put a hook down and pulled up a shoe. He then sent for the police at Leamington and Emscote, but did not do anything to get the body out of the water. Amy Browne, manageress of the Angel Hotel, said the deceased was engaged as barmaid on the Bth of January last, and she remained until the 30th of March. A month's notice was given her on the 25th of March, and on the following Saturday deceased said she wanted to go out and telegraph to her mother, and to leave. She left the hotel at five o'clock that evening. She saw the deceased about a week afterwards, when she called for her letters, which were given to her. They had no occasion to find fault with her while she was there, except that she was inexperienced. A Juryman: What was hei general conduct? She was a very lively girl. She had never defied me until that day. She was a very willing, cheerful and hard-working girl. You had nothing against her character ?—No. The Coroner: You have never refused her admittance to the hotel ?—No, we have not seen her since she called for her letters. The Foreman: You have not refused her a reference for the Portobello Inn ?—I have never heard of her going to the Woolpa,ck Hotel until now. •  William Albert Lowe, of 102, Regent Street, said he was acquainted with the deceased. He had known her for three months. He did not keep company with her. He had walked out with her three or four times. He was with her on Monday afternoon. He met her by the Great Western Station at half-past three by appointment. He stood talking with her for half-anhour. There was no • unpleasantness between them. She told him that she was going home to Birmingham by the 6.30 train from Leamington. She appeared the same as usual, and not at all distressed. He also saw deceased on Sunday night, and walked about with her for some time. The Coroner: Do you know where she stayed on Sunday night ?—I believe she stayed at Macdonald's, in Regent Street, on Sunday night. By a Juryman: He did not know her before she went to the Angel. She did not say anything to him about going to a situation at the Portobello. He could not account for her having committed suicide. He did not think she had cause to go to business at all, as her parents were pretty well to do.  A Juryman: I should like to know why you met her by appointment at the station. Witness: I received a telegram from her, sent from the Great Western Railway, Birmingham, asking me to meet her at 330. Anthony de Longrais said he saw the deceased on Tuesday evening in Bath Street. He had known deceased by ;sight since she had been in Leamington.  Police:constable Mason said that about halfpast three on Wednesday afternoon he was met on the Emscote Canal bridge by two boatmen, who told him they wanted his assistance as they had found a body in the canal. He went to the Myton Road bridge, and there found the body fixed in the fan of the steam barge. The clothing was tightly wound round the fan. A man named Young got into the water and cut the clothing away from the fan. The body was then recovered. He should say the body had been in the water 24 hours. He searched the pockets, and found a purse containing Is. 5d., two pocket-handkerchiefs, a pair of kid gloves, three pencils, a knife, and button-hook.  Inspector Hall deposed that he assisted to get the body out of the water. He had the body put in a cart and brought it there. On Wednesday night Dr. Rankin made a superficial examination of the body, and found no marks of violence. At the request of the jury the witness Lowe was recalled, and examined as to his relations with the deceased girl. In reply to questions he denied that he was engaged to her, or had promised her marriage. On Monday afternoon he endeavoured to persuade her to go home, as she appeared to wish to stay in Leamington a few days longer. He merely spoke to her for her own good. He had not said anything to her about her bothering him. He had never hard anything against her character. He did not believe her to be in trouble. She had never stayed with him at any time. He could not say why she telegraphed to him to meet her —except as a friend. She had never said anything to him about committing suicide.  In reply to a juror, the Coroner said that Dr. Rankin reported that the deceased was not pregnant. The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned."