The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1886-01-30 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SUICIDE AT SWANSEA.  INQUEST. Thursday afternoon Mr Stria, eormaer, an inquest at the Hafod Inn, Swansea, on ody of Martha Thomas, axed 22, who was I dead in Maliphant's Lock on Wednesday ng. Evidenoe was first given by itieherd um, 29, Earl-street, Hafod, father of ths sad, who said that Martha Thomas was his liter, and that for several years she had d her mother to carry on a small grocery me. About two years ago she commenced ing, and since then she had continued dolie had seen pensons bringing her drink, ad told her about it. She professed to be sorry and would leave it off short time. On one or two tons he had men her intoxicated. ant time he saw her warn on Tuesday evenabout • quarter to five, when she was r up-stains. Before that he had found her parlour, in an intoxicated state, and gave scolding, telling her at the same time to to her bed-room, and lie down on the bed. t six o'clock he had occasion to go up, and to pass her bedroom. As he passing the door he looked in, but daughter was not there. On drawers were her watch and lcry. He called hie wife up and told her iomething was wrong. However, as this sot the flint time she had done such a thing net trouble farther. Eleven o'clock came, she did not return, he thought she had toe friend's house to spend the night. On lesday morning, about eight o'clock, two came to him and said that his daughter was canal drunk. Re did not go with them, romeded to change his clothes. Before he inished the body of his daughter was slit to the house. Her young man had d from seven till nearly half-pant ten on lay night, but did not POO her. iham 'Williams, 40, Earl street, said he the deoessed going through Maliphantabout aim o'clock on Tuesday night. He notioe whether she was the worse for drink, en did he speak to her. He did not see her , until nine o olock on Wednesday mm, he saw her body on the bank of the sanded by a cro-rd of men. 012 enquiry h. old she had been taken out of the canal. omae Davies, boatman, 94, Watkin street, se was going down the canal in his boat, a quarter to eight on Wednesday morn. As he wee passing Maliphant'a Lock he body floating there. He ran and got • hook and lifted it out. lice-constable J. Gardner said that on needay morning he wan called by a who told him that there wane dead body Ealiphant's Lock. He immediately prod to the place, and there saw the body if deceased, which was in Maliphant's . He said that he had known creased for the last three years, but was aware that she was in the habit of taking icating liquor. Lately he had noticed • ge in her appearance, but did not know the  isabeth Matthews, th a married woman, $1 's , treet, said she had known e deceased early seven years, and had always found very heerful. About a month ago noticed a change in her appearance. was bloated. Her manners were changed. About a quarter past nine on neaday morning she saw a crowd of people de the deceased's house. She immediately , into her house, and there saw the body. ixamined it, but found no marks of violence Pt a small scratch upon the neck. This hided the evidence. le coroner then addressed the jury, who •ned a verdict to the effect that they believed aid Martha Thomas, whilst labouring under Sack of temporary insanity, had committed de by throwing herself into the Swansea