The Potteries Examiner : — 1875-08-28 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

GIRL.  On Monday night an inquest was held at Pdtmey on the body of Elisabeth South, aged if. of 46, o;;:tuter. bury Road, Kilburn who vas found drowned in the Thames on Saturdrtylast.—Charles Reid, a yosng man living at Hamtnersreith, stated that he had brown the deceased for about c fortnight. He saw her alive on Saturday morning shortly before five o'cleattl, on the towing-path at Intney. He met the thsceastd on the previous night. She said, "I have left a letter for you, one for my father, and another for my meeker, and it is the last time •yeti will one me:' Witness asked her for what reason, and she replied, "'rune 4,11 tell; you will know in the morning." A minute afterwards she mot a Mr. Yctitn. Warboys, whom she suddenly kissed, and said, " Good bye; I shall see you noviore." She then walked on. ov, Hammersmith Bridge, witness following her-wed eventually passed on tr.' the towing. path. Sullenly she made a rush to get rieCo the water, when witness seated her and prevented her. She straggled with wFnms for half an hoar be getiato the water, until at longlit she was quite worn nut, and fell down fainting. Shortly after reviving she swain tried twice to jaaspZato 'co river, but was restrained by witness, who at length tried to induce her to goiesnle. She consented togo but decided to walk along the towing-path across Petncy Bridge and through Full,m fields. They walked along the towing-path, and ImA got to the centre d',Betney Bridge, when the Et :eased jumped upon theitetdge parapet, but was pulled back by witness, wlte, Ant threatened to call someone unless she came haw, They remained on the bridge until half. past two-urn,, when she came hack to tthe towing-path and bete eti witness to let her go, as she could die happy. Ste also asked him for hie Iratiti, but he refused hoe Site afterwards asked for his es-set, as she was cold, and upon witnes giving it to ker, she tried to stron' e herself with it, but he again frustrated her attempt. ,I'2llis last attempt wae made about twenty minutes to five in the morning, and she then expressed her intention of going home. She 'begged him not to some vrt,th her, us people might ,remark it, and they parteereust below the first iron bridge on the tow-path from Futney, deceased refusing to go to his mother's 8454 10,3 breakfast. She thanked him for looking after her, kissed him, and left, arranging to meet him again. He never saw her again until she wee found dead. He had taken no steps to prevent deceased committing snicideth-., calling the attention of the constables on duty OT the tofikeeper at Hammersmith Bridge to her.—Mr. Arther Edward Hainsforth, no offset in her Maiesty's cavalry, identified the body as that of his domestm servant, who had been with his family for three or four years past. He produced a letter dr. the handwriting of the de,tased, found in her bon,' in which she expressed bar:intention of committing suicide, and prayed the Aleeklity to forgive her and bison her parents and brothers. The letter, which was ar,ery long, also containe-2. paragraphs to the of set that she had a good master and mistress; that she waerottt of her mind, and , had-only one friend in the world, and that she would meet all her friends in Heaven.—The jury returned a vor.ent of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."—The ' Corcner told the witness Reid thattif the letter had not • heat :found his position would .have been a very awk. • ward oue. He was much tie blame or not calling the attertion of the police to the deceased.