Weekly News. — 1891-07-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE AT PARKSTONE.  A DOUBTFUL SHAWL.  "ANOTHER SUICIDE, OR A HOAX."  On Monday afternoon an inquest was held at the Town Hall, Poole, on the body of Charlotte Ann Green, domestic servant, Heathside, Parkstone, who was found drowned in the sea, near Alum Chine, on Friday evening. Mr. G. B. Aldridge was the coroner. Mr. Sidney Smith was chosen foreman of a jury, consisting of Messrs. Thomas Bishop, Thomas Parrott, Charles Dore, C. J. Caines, Frederick Cleaver, Samuel Wellstead, Arthur James, A. Henbest. James Paddy George Macey, W. H. Hunt, W. F. Spinney, and A: Hayward. Mr. H. S. Dickinson watched the case on behalf of Mrs. Webb, deceased's employer. The following was the evidence :  Caroline Smith, domestic servant, Heathside, identified the body. She believed the dece aced was 45 years of age. She identified an apron, and a print dress, and a brooch of defendant's. [On the print dress was pinned a mourning envelope addressed to deceased.) She could not identify a black shawl with • note signed Amy pinned to it. She had known the deceased for 18 months, but never heard her threaten to destroy herself. She was a drinking woman. She drunk whenever she could get drink, and she (witness) had seen her tipsy several times. Deceased knew a inim named David Rogers, who lived at Lilliput. Rogers was at Heethside on Friday evening last, about 7 o'clock, but deceased was not there then. Deceased and Rogers had been together on the previous Sunday evening week, and they seemed to be on very good terms. Deceased had never seemed in any way strange except from drink.—By Mr. H. S. Dickinson: Both Mrs. Webb and Miss Webb had been exoeedingly kind to deceased. The drink sometimes came from Mr. Palmer's, and sometimes from the Bee Hive. A young girl, Eliza Fairclough, had been sent to Mrs. Knottley's, a charwoman, to fetch the drink. Fairdough had, up to within the last three or four months, gone every day to Knottley's. —By the Foreman : Deceased was perfectly sober when she went out on Friday. She stated she was going to get another box, or wrapper, to finish packing her clothes in.  Dorothea Webb said she was residing with her mother at Heathside, Parkstone, and the deceased was employed as cook and housekeeper. She had been eight years in their service, and until certain things came out she thought her eminently trustworthy and honourable. She did not know that deceased was a drinker, but had noticed of late something peculiar in her manner. She never heard deceased threaten to destroy herself. Deceased was a native of Lewisham, and her father was a thorough drunkard. On Wednesday morning last, the girl Fairclough gave notice to leave, but would give no reason. As the girl came from the Dorset Home, she went to Miss Saunders, who said she wished the girl to give notice, as she (witness) was perhaps unaware of the goings-on in the kitchen. Miss Saunders said that deceased was a drunkard, and had treated the girls shamefully. On the Wednesday evening she pinned the following letter to the deceased's bed :  Ist July, 1891, Wednesday evening. Dear Charlotte,—You remember the very serious talk had with you once in the dining room. I very much regret to tell you that I have to-day heard all that I then spoke to you about confirmed by several people outside this house, and I hear it is known and spoken of in the neighbourhood. As I am still far from well, I do sot feel equal to talking to you about it, and I therefore write to tell you of it at once, and I must ask you not to speak to me on the subject till I do so myself, at whatever time I feel strong enough to do so. I have not said a word of this either to Mrs. Webb, or any of your fellow servants, but this time I feel that I must ask Caroline whether she can confirm the reports I hear.—l am, your friend, D. Wass.  She had had to complain several times latterly that deceased had become rather extravagant. She always replied that she was acting honestly, and there was nothing to complain or. Bottled beer was kept in the house, and a long time ago some of it had been missed. She (witness) taxed deceased with taking it, and she confessed. Wines of spirits had never been missed. She knew nothing about deceased keeping company with Rogers. She had never heard the deceased called Amy. She knew nothing of the black shawl produced, and was sure the hand writing was not that of the deceased. She knew that deceased had not written two other letters produced; they were in much too good a hand for hers.—By Mr. Dickinson : On Thursday morning she spoke to Caroline Smith and Job Tront, both her servants, who confirmed the statements she had heard. Trent also told her (witness) that deceased owed numerous tradesmen's accounts, and owed him several accounts for eggs. In the cash book produced, and kept by the deceased, the egg accounts were marked as paid by deceased. On Thursday afternoon, in the presence of Trent and Smith, witness questioned deceased as to whether she drank; whether she sent Fairclough to fetch drink, and if she had been dishonest. Deceased replied in the affirmative to each of the questions, and said she was sorry she had fallen so low. She (witness) wrote to her sister, Sister Grace Mary, of the Anglican Sisterhood. All Saints' Home, to try if she would find some place for deceased where she could be kept from the drink. On Friday morning about 10 o'clock, when deceased came to her room to fetch the breakfast tray, she informed her that, in consequence of her melancholy confessions of the previous day, she must leave the same evening, but must give her address before leaving. Deceased said she was quite ready to go. She refused to go to London, or see Sister Grace Mary, though urged most strongly to go to her. On leaving her, deceased knelt down beside the bed and begged pardon. She afterwards came back and took hold of her hand and asked to be allowed to kiss it for the extreme kindness shown to her. When asked on Friday afternoon for her address, she said she would give it later on. Later in the afternoon she asked deceased how she would manage to pay the debts she owed,and she said her month's wages would pay them. Since Friday the following letters had been found in the Prudential Assurance Company's pass book:  _ _ Heatherside, Thursday. lam truly sorry for what has happened. Please sell tny clothes. This will pay my debts. C. A.