Widnes Examiner. — 1886-09-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SUICIDE AT SA IN KEY BRIDGES.  On Monday afternoon, Mr. S. Brighouse, county coroner, held an inquest at the Black Horse Inn, Sankey Bridges, respecting the death of Elizabeth • Barker (21), wife of William Edward Barker, a wiredrawer's apprentice, who lives at 66, Haydockstreet, Warrington. On Friday evening deceased was seen to jump into the Sankey canal, and her dead body was removed to the Black Horse to await an inquest. Mr. W. Summersgill was foreman of the jury. The evidence appended was taken. Martha Ratcliffe, mother of the deceased, who was the first witness called, said that her daughter was the wife of William Edward Barker, a wiredrawer's apprentice, who lodged with witness and Iher husband at 66, Haydock-street, Warrington. Deceased was 21 years of age, and she and her husband were about 19 years old when they married. Witness last saw her daughter alive at about 1-15 on Friday afternoon, when she left home, apparently in her usual health. Witness saw the dead body of the deceased next morning at the Black Horse Inn, Great Sankey. Dr. Fox had attended deceased before and after her marriage, and she had also been attended by another doctor.. She had been, subject to fits, and both doctors said that she was rather weak in her mind. Deceased had complained very much about her head, and had many a time &rid that she wished she could give it away. Deceased had been employed under witness's husband, who was an overlooker at Cockhedge Factory. Mary Ann Balshaw, a weaver employed at Cockhedge factory, who lives at 69, Dallam-lane, Warrington, said that she was a companion of the deceased. Deceased, when leaving work at about 5-40 on Friday night, told witness that she (deceased) had spoilt a cut of velvet cloth, and had been before Mr. Lingard, cut-looker. Deceased did not mention to her what Mr. Lingard said, but cried very much. She afterwards became more cheerful. When she left work witness did not think that deceased was about to harm herself. It was an ordinary occurrence for weavers to spoils cut of cloth. Different penalties were attached, from a small fine of 3d. to stoppage of work. The deceased spoke to witness about purchasing some furniture for a house she and her husband were going to live in. Witness had known her for five years. She (deceased) had been very weak, and had had a great deal of sickness. In answer to questions, witness said that deceased told her that she was going into a house of her own, but she did not know what she was going for. Deceased asked witneSs to help her, and she replied that she would. She had seen deceased have twenty fits in one night. She was not aware that deceased ever threatened to commit suicide. She remembered deceased having a fit while in a boat at the fair, and on one occasion deceased had to be taken out of the factory in a fit. Deceased lost her child about three months age, but witness had not seen much change in her since. Deceased would sometimes be upset, by very little things. George Potter, 48, Howard-street, deposed that at about seven o'clock on Friday evening he was on the bank of the canal at Sankey, near the Cheshire Lines railway bridge. He saw a woman about 400 yards distant, nearer Sankey Bridges, throw up her arms and jump into the canal. Witness went at once to offer assistance, but could not discover the woman. She was sinking as he approached, and did not rise again.—The Coroner: Did you know who the woman was when the body was recovered? —No, sir; she was a complete stranger to me. lam quite cert airishe jumped in herself. Thomas Such, mill furnaceman, Priestley-street, Warrington, said that he recovered the body of the deceased from the canal at about 7-30 on Friday evening. It was cOnveyed to the Black Horse Inn. The last witness told him that he had seen a woman jump into the water, and witness and some others , procured a rake, with which witness recovered the body.--The Coroner; Was her body visible then ?--No, we had to rake her from the bottom; she was quite dead.  John Lingard, cutlooker employed at Messrs. Armitage and Rigby's factory at Cockhedge, said that his duty was to see whether the pieces were good or bad. He remembered examining a piece woven by the deceased. It was a very bad piece. He showed it to her, and then to her father, who also said it was a very bad piece. The work was so imperfect that deceased had nothing for weaving it. —How long would it in the ordinary- couse take to weave that piece? Perhaps two days. They have the option either to buy the piece or have nothing for that would be going out of the frying pan into the fire? Some buy and then sell them, and some would rather pay extra than be fined.— You told her she would receive nothing for weaving? Yes, and she did not say a word.—By a juryman: It is a daily occurrence to have pieces spoiled. We have them in daily for making mistakes, and not minding their work. Witness added that he did not sauce the deceased, and said that she bad not seemed right since she was confined. After a short conversation the jury uns.mMoy.trycame to the conclusion that the de3Lasedcoratiptted. suicide whilst temporarily insane.  F