The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1880-12-11 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

SAD DEATH OF A YOUNG WOMAN AT LEAMINGTON.  An inquest was held at the George Inn, Highstieet, on Monday evening, before Mr. W. S. Poole, coroner for central Warwickshire, on the body of Eliza Waters, aged 22, a domestic servant at 'Kuightcote House, Milverton Hill, who had come to her death under the following circumstances.--Mr. Wright Carlisle. engineer at the Lean i ngton Sewage Works, stated that he was walking up the new river walk towards Leamington, and u pon turning round saw a woman standing on the embankment near the river opposite Keighteote House. She at once deliberately jumped into the river. ‘Vitness shouted to her and told her to make her way back. The water at this spot was not more than two or three feet deep. Instead of deceased attempting to save herself she made her way further into the deep, and after attempting to say something to witness, which he could not hear, she sank, and he did not see her again until he got her out dead. She was in the water about: three-quarters of an hour. Deceased was not dressed for out of doors. The body was conveyed to the mill, and afterwards to the Town Hall.—Alexander Stewart Brown, house surgeon at the Warneford Hospital, identified the body as that of Eliza Waters, who had been in the service of witness's step-father, Mr. W. Moore, of Knight. cote House, Milverton. Witness had frequently visited his step-father's, and knew the deceased. The family were going abroad to the South of France, and in consequence both the servants were leaving. Deceased hail been at Knighteote House about ten months, and gave satisfaction in her place as housemaid. Deceased had another place to go to in Clarenilon-square, at higher wages, but she appeared to be cut up at having to leave. Witness saw her the night before, and she then appeared to be quite rational. He had heard deceased had been engaged, but that the engagement hail been broken off. No letter or anything of the kind was left by deceased.—Mary Isham, cook at Mr. Moore's, Knightcote House, stated that the deceased had been in service with her the last ten months. At dinner-time On Saturday deceased was quite well and wheerful, ani,l witness had no suspicion whatever. 'After dinner, deceased told {witness she was going to change her dress, and witness did not know but what she was in the house. Deceased had not, to witness's knowledge, received anything by post of late. She had been engaged to a young man, but the engagement had been abandoned. Witness did not know of any insanity in the family. On Saturday morning deceased said she felt as if she could drown herself, but witness had no idea she intended to do so. They had lived most happily together. ‘Vitness took her remark about drowning as a joke, because deceased was inclined to be jocular. Witness could give no further explanation of the and was very niuch surprised at her having drowned herself. Deceased was not altogether pleased with the change, and had been lowspirited at times. Witness told deeeased it was a foolish idea to talk of drowning herself.—At this stage of the enquiry the Coroner said, the parents of deceased had been communicated with, but were not present. The enquiry would, therefore, have to be adjourned. Deceased's friends resided at Bloxham, near Banbury.—The inquest was adjourned until twelve o'clock on Tuesday.  The enquiry was resumed at twelve o'clock on Tuesday, at the George Inn, High-street, when Samuel Waters, labourer. of Bloxham, near Banbury, and father of the deceased, identified the body as that of hi 3 eldest child. He had not seen her for ten months until that morning, but she had frequently written home and expressed herself satisfied, with the exception that she had a very hard place. Deceased was 20 years of age, and had never, to his knowledge, had a day's illness. There had been no insanity in the family, and his family of ten were considered the healthiest family in the district. Deceased had never shown any symptoms of insanity. He knew she had been keeping company with a young man at Banbury, but not of late.—The Coroner: Do you know that she hail joined the Salvation Army ? —Witness : No.—ln answer to further questions, witness said he had seen Mary Isham, the cook at Knightcote House, but he could get no information whatever.—The jury said they were not at all satisfied with the way in which the witness Mary Isham had given her evidence. She was very reticent.—Mr. Waring, a juryman, asked if there had been any medical examination. Mr. Alexander Stewart Brown, house surgeon at the Warneford Hospital, said there hail not, but he could answer any question the jury might think fit to ask.—The jury said they were satisfied on this point. The foreman of the jury again remarked that the cook had given her evidence in a very reluctant manner.—The Coroner: We will have her here again if you like, but I don't see what end would be served.—Mr. A. S. Brown explained that on Saturday last the cook and the deceased were left in the house together, and about half-past two o'clock deceased told the cook she was going upstairs to change her dress, and the next the cook heard of her was that she had drowned herself.—The Coroner said the only question was as to the state of deceased's mind, as to which there was not the slightest evidence. —Mr. Brown, who is the step-son of Mr. Moore, of Knightcote House, said deceased was very honest and an excellent servant.—The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide, but that there was no evidence to show the state of her mind at the time.