British Miner and General Newsman : — 1862-09-27 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A YOUNG LADY AT BARNES.  ON Tuesday Morning, Mr. W. Carter, coroner for Eastern Surrey, resumed, at the Boileau Arms, Castelnauterrace, Barnes, the adjourned inquiry into the circumstances of the death of a female unknown, whose body had been washed ashore about ten days since under very mysterious circumstances. It will be remembered that the mouth of the deceased was found to be stuffed with a part of a veil or bonnet fall, and appearances led to the inference that she had met her death by unfair means. Inspector M'lntyre attended to watch the case on the part of the Commissioners of Police. Mr. Hunt, M.R.C.S., Bridge-road, Hammersmith, said that a week since he was shown the body of the deceased, and it appeared to have been about three days in the water. He made a post-mortem examination, and found a mark of violence on the left temple. It consisted of a deep abrasion, but as decomposition had set in he could not say whether it had been inflicted before or immediately after immersion. There was also an abrasion on the right leg. There was no fracture of the skull under the wound on the temple. The deceased was found to have been enceinte for the period of about four months. The cause of death was suffocation by drowning. Parker, a labourer, said that he found the body where not six inches of water could have flowed over it.  Mrs. Jane Frewen, Norfolk Dairy, South-end, Fulham, said that last Thursday she and her husband came to the Boileau Arms, and saw the aFate brooch and the gold earrings produced. She recognised them as presents she had given her daughter Mary. She was 29 years of age. Witness also recognised the clothes produced as those of her daughter. She was not aware that deceased was married. She followed the avocation of a barmaid. Witness last saw deceased in Highgate, when she said that she had lost her situation, and that she should send her things out to Fulham. Witness didnot thenthink anything was wrong. Witness recognised the handwriting producel as that of her daughter. The following letter, which had neither name nor address, was read by the coroner, who stated that it had been found on deceased :  "Sept. 10, 1862. "Dearest Ben,—l have taken your gold watch and book to Mrs. Hines, Camden-town. You shall never see me again on account of my misconduct. Good bye, my dear Ben, for ever, my heart is broken. lam going as fast as I can to Heaven."  - Witness, from hearing that letter read, came to the conclusion that deceased had committed self-destruction. Wednesday fortnight was the last time witness saw her or heard from her. Deceased was last in service as a barmaid at the Gatehouse Tavern. Her sole motive for destroying herself must have been her pregnant condition. Mr. Frewen gave similar evidence, and said that on Wednesday fortnight deceased took her boxes to a carrier's for transmission to Fulham, and she was never seen afterwards alive. Mr. Benjamin Allanton said that he last saw deceased on Sunday, the 7th inst. Ho believed the note produced to be in her writing. She sometimes communicated with witness by writing. "Dear Ben" was meant to signify witness. He was acquainted with her about two years. He had formed a great attachment for her. He did not  know that she was enceinte. He supposed her reason for destroying herself was that he disapproved of her drinking habits. There was no agreement of marriage between them. They never lived together. The Coroner then summed up, and said that at first the impression appeared irresistible that deceased had met her death from violence, but the evidence taken now had clearly shown that she had died by her own hand.  The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a verdict that Deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind. 

Article type: Incident