The Northern Guardian. — 1892-10-15 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

SAD DEATH OF A LADY'S MAID.  OPENING OF THE INQUEST.  The inquest on the body of Miss Vipond was opened on Thursday afternoon, at the Court House, Penrith, before Mr Lee. Mr Dunne, chiefconstable, was present. John Clementson, labourer, proved finding the body about 200 yards from Woodcroft garden gate. Mr John Vipond, solicitor's clerk, Edentown, said he had not seen his sister since last Christmas, but, so far as he knew, she had been in a good state of health. He knew of no reason why she should commit suicide or leave her home. Her mental condition was good, and he had never seen any. thing to the contrary. Miss Nanson, cousin of Miss Vipond, said deceased had been living with her as lady help for ' two years. The family had been at Silloth, and on their return on Saturday deceased was looking poorly, and less cheerful than usual. She complained of not being able to sleep. On Sunday witness missed deceased immediately after the visit of Mr Marten. Her only matter of complaint had been the sleeplessness. Witness could not attribute any cause for such an act, supposing she had committed suicide. _ .  Inspector Booth said he received information I shortly before one o'clock on Wednesday that the deceased's body had been found in the Beacon Wood. He went there and saw the body lying on the left side with the face turned towards the east. There were no signs of a struggle, and the body bore no evidence of violence having been used. Dr. Bowser deposed that he was asked by Miss Nanson on Sunday to see Miss Vipond, who had been complaining of sleeplessness, and she told him she had also been suffering from indigestion.. He prescribed for the digestive disturbance, but told the deceased he would not then give her anything for the sleeplessness as it might have a connexion with her stomach disorder. He made a post mortem examination late on the previous night, in company with Dr. Livingstone, his assistant. Putrefaction was commencing over the front of the abdomen and front of the neck, from which he was led to conclude that death had taken place from two to four days before. It was impossible to speak definitely. There were appearances in the gullet and stomach which were consistent with the theory that death had resulted from poisoning. There was nothing else to account for death, but there was nothing on which to enable him to decide as to the nature of the poison which had been taken. At the present stage he could not go further than that. He had not examined the bottles and liquids produced, including that in the glass out of which the deceased had apparently drunk immediately before she left the house. He had retained sufficient of the stomach and other internal parts to serve for analysis if needed.  The Coroner said it appeared .as if the inquiry could not go further at that point, as they did not know the nature of the contents of the stomach, bottles, and glass. They would therefore have to adjourn the inquiry to a future date to enable Dr. Barnes, police surgeon, Carlisle, and Dr. Bowser to make a further inquiry, and to have the liquids, &c., analysed. Charles Theodore Marten, artist, said he was engaged to the deceased, and as she had not paid her usual Sunday afternoon visit to her mother's house on Sunday he went to see her. He only remained about three minutes, and promised to go up again on Monday evening. They had no quarrel, and the deceased, who said she had not suffered so much from sleeplessness on the previous night, appeared to be in her usual health and spirits. The inquest was then adjourned.