The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1885-02-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.  AN inquest was held on Wedne.day, before Mr. Murton, at the Saacambe Ferry Hotel, touching the death of Mary Bridges. aged 27, who resided in her father's house, 26, Brook. terrace, Brook-street, Birkenhead. It will be remembered that the young woman had been missing from her home since Sunday night, that her hat and necktie were found on the footwalk of the Albert Dock (Birkenhead) bridge some time after nine o'clock that night, after a Litman had heard a splash in the water in that direction, and that after much dragging of the dock the body was recovered on Tuesday, with two smoothing irons and a large plate of iron used in the firegrate—all belonging to the house—attached to her clothing about the waist. The matter was surrounded with mystery, from the fact that the deceased was to have been married on the next day (Monday), and that she had looked forward to her marriage to all appearaace as other young women do. James Bridges, father of the deceased,* ship carpenter, stated that he went to Liverpool about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and returned about ten o'clock, when he was told by the other members of the household that the deceased, who was like housekeeper to the family, had been missing since a quarter past eight o clock. They spent the remainder of the night looking for her, and at last her body was found in the dock about 2 20 o'clock on Tuesday, under the circumstances already indicated. She was to be married the next day (Monday) to a seafaring young man, to whom she appeared to have bean much attached. Of late he had noticed that she was at times in depressed spirits that she did not take her food as usual, and that she had nervous fits.  John tbi73anathar H. eiiwedasitotaitnaligt e a mater he hooy g luau uf-osteuhnoondescuelis. ild7yagntateded to ilzbt, when she left unknown to anvholv. Th did not miss her until about 8.11 o'croek. II had had opportunities of noticing her duriug the past twelve months, and at times, especially about the past four months, he could see that she was depressed in spirits. Ide could not offer any explanation of that, as she had a comfortable home and an indulgent father. She had a hysterical attack ou Wednesday, and was very dull on SundayDuring the past fortnight she was unusually depressed, and when spoken to about it she would try to throw it off. She looked forward to her marriage appareinly with the greatest pleasure. He saw the body found on TnesdeY as Mated.  The LlOroner declined to call the young m 1 to whom the deceased was engag.ed, and re placing the matter before the jury said the, had to deal with one of the most extraordinary cases that had ever come under his notieo. Ir the young woman had be" disappointed in her attachment the; might be disposed to account for her &incased state of mind by that fact. but the evidence ass oil the other way. They seldom hd of :t young woman of the age of the deeeasied going to destroy herself of an affair of the heart, or like a girl of 17 or 18 runiiing attil throwing herself into the nearest pond of water. Here it appeared that tiw deceased had a very comfortable home, and looked forward with pleasure to her approaching marriage. • Yet she went and deliberately destroyed herself, for that was the only conclusion they could come to. There was doubt, however, that she had been for see"' time in a depressed state of mind. The jury returned a verdict of inicide temporarily insane.  Dal Wil 1.05 on lir  soar. sq.. I  eight A C  r°4lo in** hem!'  kneea owe when the lc welL  • mil  Aloe died  h?EI th4ll  not: 10R mei* is••  wd6 &di on elm and io h  salt  tL quo pri wit hiu be I  loci thr stxt to  _J wit IPrp ow( T 6  i 1 list  an it. to' 4d.  eiC it• tai aid lii  sai U' en IA  t  ,--- _