The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-12-05 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A IXALESTIC SERVANT. THE VERDICE _ _ _  On Monday evening, the adjourned inquese oii the body of Hannah Depper, whose body was recovered on Monday last week from the Canal at Olton, was held at the Barley Mow Inn, Solihull by Mr. Theo Christophers, Coroner for South-West Warwickshire. The i: sairy tra.s adjourned last week for the attendance of the deceased's father, her sister, and her late mistress-, Mrs. yatt, of 144, Bristiton-road, 1%16.111 Heath.—William Depper nailniaker. of Cr tree-lane said the deceased was his daughter, who was 14 years of age in January last. Several times since she entered Mr. NVtiyatt service he had written stating that she had a good place, and had never made any complaint. Witness knew that his daughter was leaving her situadon, owing, he understood, to some words which she had had with her mistress. A letter was received from her stating that she was leaving her situation on 'l'uesclay last, and that she had got another place, and would not be able to come home until about Christmas. The lust time he sate his doughter in August, she was comfortably dressed and was in good health. She was very passionate and sulky when spoken to. and left her previous situation in a similar manner, and then went to her aunt's. Witness had no reason to think that the deceased would take her own lile.—ln answer to 'Mr. Whylatt, witness was quite satisfied that hit daughter had been, well treated be her employers, and was well clothed.—Emma pepper, domestic servant in the employ of Mr. George Holland, said the deceased was her sister. The last time she saw the deeeosed alive was on Sunday a fortnight ago. she was going to was a good one. She did not say and lively, and also well dressed, Deceased then told witness that she was going to leave her situation on Tuesday last week, and: that the new place she was goin gto woe a good one. She did not say wh yhe was leaving, and witness did not know the reason. Several times she had made remarks to witness which led her to think that her sister Contemplated taking her own life; but witness did not know what led her to say the things she did. Deceased would commence to joke, and then say that she wished she was dead. Witness thouglit deceased was joking; in her sulks- moments she would say strange things. Witness did not remember her sister saying anything about drowning herself; but deceased hacl told witness "to drown herself, as it was the easiest." Deceased had always told her that she had a comfortable place, and a good master and mistress. She had, witness believed, 2s. 3d. a week wages.—ln reply to the jury, witness said the deceased had read something about a man drowning himself, and that. she thought,. had. leo her sister to speak about drowning.—Mrs. Wyatt gave evi-1 dence to show that she made arrangements with de. ceased's mother, the girl to receive as. 3d. a week. Iler mother particularly asked witness to see that I she spent her money wisely in clothes. Witness never spent any of the money for deceased, but went with her on one or two occasions to make purchases. The reason notice was given her was because the deceased had got rather the upper hand of her, and was independent and indifferent in her work. Witness made arrangements to get the deceased another situation before she left, as her mother said she did not want deceased to come home. On Monday morning last week, witness called deceased about a quarter to seven o'clock as there was a big day's washing to do; but had to complain about her lateness in rising. Deceased put her cloak and hat on, and witness tried to persuade her to take them off, ansi assist in getting the breakfast ready. The girl then went and sat on the stairs, and witness thought she was going to stay; but a little later OD she heard the door slammed, and saw the deceased going along the road in the direction of the house where her sister was employed. Witness, quite thought that she would return- and as she did not, a tetter was sent to Mrs. bessper. The balance of her wages had been paid to the deceased's father. Police-constable Lainbournei said i d .hhe had . e had searchedgood clothing. elt The .onlydeceased's box, and found v, y letter he found was one dated November lath. from , deceased's mother, referring to the unkindness of I her daughter in not replying to a previous letter. I Mrs. Delmer, in the letter, said she wanted her I daughter to write to let her know how things were, ' and how she was getting on. and expressing the hope that deceased had made up her mind to stay with Mr,. Whystt. as she was sure her daughter ' would not get a better place. Both parents were of opinion that if Mrs. Whyatt got her another place it would not. be so good as the one she had got. The letter concluded by urging deceased to be II good girl, and try to live with her mistreisL Constable Lanibourne said he had seen. the deceased's mother since the inquest was opened, she said she had received no complaint from her daughter. and she believed that she had got a good situation; but deCP34ql was of a violent temperament—Mr. Whyatt wished it to go forth that he was not at home on the Monday when the girl left, having been away for a fortnight, and returned on the following day. Ile canie to Solihull on the Tuesday, when he went to see the body and identify it. —The jury returned a verdict, to the effect that deceased, committed suirlile while in a fit of temporary insanity, aisl added a rider that they were perfectly satisfied with the manner in which Mr. and Mn. Why:tat had treated the girl. The Coroner quite concurred in th ex pression.