The Cotton Factory Times. — 1901-07-05 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

INQUEST AT BARDSLEY.  An inquest was held at the Dog and Pheasant, Waterloo, on Friday afternoon, before Mr. J. F. Price, county coroner, on the body of Emma Houghton (18), of 245, Ashton-rood, Oldham, who was found drowned in the Bardsley branch of the Manchester sod Ashton Canal on Thursday morning. Elizabeth Ann Houghton, wife of John Houghton, engineer, of 245, Ashton-road. Oldham, identified the body as that of her daughter Emma, who was 18 years of age. She last saw her alive at one o'clock en Wednesday afternoon, when deceased left home to go to her work at Messrs. Brocklehurst and Sons' mill, Neild-street, Oldham, where she was a winder. She was then in her usual health, and told witness that when she finished her work at the mill that afternoon she was going; to the baths with one of her workmates named Emily Cox. Before leaving home she changed her dress, skirt., and boots. She was quite cheerful, and was never one who complained much.— The Coroner: Do you know of any trouble that she has had 7—Witness: No ; she never complained of anything, and had never seemed depressed. Witness had not been to the mill to inquire if she had had oily trouble there in respect to her work, but deceased said to her on Wednesday morning that she wished this week was over, and witness replied " Never mind, it will soon be over, and perhaps you will have better work.—ln nnewer to the coroner as to why she said that, witness replied that deceased had said that she had been having bed work all week. They had bad and good work at the mill, as sometimes the yarn (used to make ropes and string) was not of the best quality. Deceased had followed the same occupation for the past seven years off and on, and had often complained of bad work, but there was no reason why it should upset her —ln answer to the coroner, witness said he did not know whether deceased had a sweetheart or not. She had never told her that she had one. She (witness) could not give any reason why deceased should commit suicide, as she was very comfortable at home, and was a good and lively girl. The neighbours were surprised at it, and said they would have thought of anybody committing suicide before deceased. She did not know that deceased did not go back to bet work on Wednesday eternoon until breakfast time on Thursday morning, when she was told by Emily Cox. Witness sat on until twelve o'clock on Wednesday night waiting for deceased coming home, and as she did not come witness came to the conclusion that she had gone to stay the night with Emily Cox.—ln answer to a juror, witness said deceased had never stayed away from home overnight before Wednesday. There had not been any unpleasantness at home. Emily Cox, 40, Marsden-street, Oldham, stated that she was a winder at Messrs. Brocklehurst and Sous, mill, Oldham, and worked in the same room as the deceased. She last saw deceased alive about 12 30 on Wednesday afternoon, when they left work to go to dinner. Deceased remarked to witness that she felt very down-hearted, but as she said it she laughed, and witness, thinking she was chaffing her, said, "You look down-hearted." Witness had not arranged to go to the baths with deceased on Wednesday afternoon after they had finished work, and she could not say why deceased said so. Deceased did not come back to her work on Wednesday afternoon. Deceased had complained to her about her work when she had bad yarn, but they all did that. They had both bad and good yarn to work with, and they took turns with both sorts. When they had bad yarn it made a little difference in their wages. Deceased had never had any unpleasantness at her work to witness's knowledge, and she could not account for her suicide. .  Mary Ann Pearson, 4. Neil-street, Oldham, said she was a winder, and worked along with the deceased. She last saw her alive at noon on Wednesday, when deceased told her that she was not coming back to work after dinner. Witness asked her where she was going, and she replied, "You will get to know later On.' Deceased did not seem strange in her manner when she said it, and was laughing, which made witness think she was joking. Witness was a particular friend of deceased, and knew her to be comfortable at home. She could not account for her anicide. She was doing the same work as witness on Wednesday, and said she did not care for it, and witness said they would have to put up with it, and take good work and bad work as it came. Witness had known her from her schooldays, and had always found her to be a jovial girl. She "kept the place alive" when she was working. Joseph Ward, night watchman, 9, Victoria-street, Bardeley, stated that at 11 p.m. on Wednesday he was standing on the canal bridge at Bardaley when he saw a young woman coming along the road from the direction of Ashton. She had a dark brown shawl over her head. He saw her tarn on the canal towing path, and go in the direction of the locks. He saw the deceased at 3 40 a.m. on Thursday, after she bad been taken out of the water, and in his opinion she was the person whom he saw go along the canal towing path the previons night. A verdict of" Suicide by drowning" was returned.