The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1909-08-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

TYPIST'S LOVE. LISOARD CURL'S SUIOIDZ A tragic story was revealed at Battersea, London, on Thursday afternoon, when the death of Miss Anna Pauline Peters, single woman, aged 29, of 23, Masseypark, Liscard, was inquired into. ceased had recently been living at 136, Edgware-road, London, and on Tneeda morning her body was discovered in t Thames off Covington Wharf, Chelsea. Her father, Mr. John Combie Peters, a, retired marine engineer, living at Lisoard, said he had not seen his daughter for two and a half years. He last heard from her on the 15th inst.; she seemed quite happy then, and he knew of no love affair. Deceased, witness went on to say, was employed as a German typist; she had always seemed happy, and only seemed anxious when she had not enough employment. He I used to send her money at various times; her lodgings were paid for, and she had money in hand. She had never mentioned, suicide to him.  The Coroner: Do you know if she had any love affair?  Witness : I don't know. That she never mentioned.  A post-mortem examination had been made by Dr. Felix Charles Kempster, surgeon of Battersea Bridge-road, and he stated that deceased's lips and tongue were charred by corrosive poison—possibly hydrochloric acid. She had evidently spat this out again, for death was due to  drowning. Miss Emily Euphemie Peters, aunt of the deceased, living at Horsham, Sussex, said that deceased visited her a short time ago, and was then quite well. The Coroner: Had anyone been paying her any attention, do you know? Witness: She spoke of a German gentleman who had been to see her, but she did not mention a love affair. The Coroner: There was no other trouble P—No ; but she was a little vexed at losing her situation. She had, however, a promise of further work. The girl knew her work fairly well. Witness said she had received no indications from her niece that anything was wrong, but a letter found addressed to her at her lodgings ran:— . "Just to let you know I invariably appreciate you. I am not strong enough -to keep on like this." Another addressed "To all whom it may concern," and dated "August," ran : "I am not feeling up to the mark. You may find me somewhere near the post. My blue linen dress, white hat, and blouse, with my keys and clothes _ .  and five picturee, can be sent to 25, Maasey-park, Liseard."  There wls-another letter, marked "London City," and dated August 16th, which ran as follows :  "I hope you arrived safely home last !light. My senses, just. as yours, have  lert me for a coupie'of hours. I 'would like that you take the matter now in a more optimistic view, as you know it is not by any means certain. The beet thing is—wait, as told, and follow the proposals made. It may turn out all right. The beet thing is to take a rest for a few days. You know I did the best I could for you.—Yours, Franz." Franz Fries, a German clerk, of 116, Devonshire-street, Forest Hill, London, S.E., the writer of the letter, gave evidence. He stated that the last he saw of the deceased was on Sunday afternoon. The Coroner: Is this your letter ?—Yes. What is the meaning of it? Did you discover her condition P—No ; on Friday last she told me she thought there might be something. _  What else Can it mean? What were the proposals made whioh you mention in the letter F—l said if it proved to be anything I would send for her. Did she threaten that she would drown herself P—No ; she mentioned nothing to me.  You said you would stand by her P—Yee.  Asked ho s; long he had kno;rn her, Friez seed about two months and a half.  The Coroner: She must have been very agitated for you to mite a letter like that?  The witness shook his bead, and said they had had a quarrel. The girl had said she wanted to go away at once, and he told her to wait, "to know for certain." _  I understand you consider yourself responsible for her condition?—Witneas said he did, but he had not been certain about her condition.  In summing up, the Coroner remarked that the girl's letters appeared to point without doubt to the fact that the girl had a motive in taking her life. The jury returned a verdict of "Suioide whilst insane."