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Sheerness Guardian 12 November 1859.
MYSTERIOUS AND MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE. DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF A
FEMALE IN THE MOAT.
Considerable excitement prevailed in this town on Monday last, owing
to the discovery of the body of a young, neatly-attired, and
prepossessing-looking female, found drowned under somewhat
mysterious circumstances, in the outer moat, adjacent to the
recreation ground, and forming part of the entrenched fortifications
of Sheerness.
The body was discovered between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning and
had evidently been in the water several hours. Life of course was
extinct. After being taken from the water and removed to the
"Shipwright's Arms," in Mile Town, speculation became rife, as to
who she was, — what she was, and whence she was.
Was she
"One more unfortunate
Weary of breath,
Rashly importunate
Gone to her death?”
or had she been accidently drowned?
These very natural enquiries were not long without an answer.
On the girls person wire found a purse containing nine-pence, a
handkerchief, a pair of kid gloves and a small tradesman's account,
on which was the word "Paine," The possession of this latter
document, suggested to the police to make such inquiries, as led to
the discovery that the name of the deceased was Elizabeth Pain —
that she was 19 years of age and that she was the daughter of a
carpenter and joiner, living in Hope-street, of the name of Henry
Pain; also that she had been absent from home the whole of the
preceding night, having left home about six o’clock on Sunday
evening, with the intention of going to church or chapel.
When the body was first discovered and taken from the water, the
lower garments of the girl’s wearing apparel were floating above her
head, but whether they had been blown over in the water, or blown
over as she was thrown in, or threw herself, into the water, remains
as great a mystery as the fact, whether she really did drown herself
or was accidently, or otherwise drowned. The only thing certain, is,
that she was found drowned, but as is usual in such cases, public
curiosity and conjecture is only highlighted by the fact, that the
occurrence is involved in mystery. This mystery is still further
increased by certain extraordinary circumstances (given (given in
the subjoined evidence,) which transpired between her and her
alleged sweetheart, on Sunday evening, and also from the fact that a
deep incised wound was discovered on the girl's forehead, which had
evidently been made as the body fell into the water, and which was
sufficient to produce instantaneous insensibility. This latter fact
is sufficient to show that if the deceased had accidentally fallen,
or been blown into the water, (as is urged, might have been the
case), she would have been incapable of self-rescue. The most
charitable interpretation is, that she accidently met with a
premature death, but on the other hand, there are certain strange
and unaccountable features in her conduct on Sunday evening, which
would suggest the formation of a different opinion, and that in a
fit of grief or remorse, on account of unrequited love disappointed
hopes, or from some other unexplained cause, she actually committed
sell-destruction. We shall not however argue the question, as the
evidence, which we have given in full, is insufficient to prove
either premises. We leave our readers to form their own opinions on
the subject, from what was said on the inquest and from which may be
gleamed all the information that is strictly attainable.
We cannot notwithstanding, but refer to one or two facts antecedent
to the occurrence, which affect the case in forming a judgment upon
it, and these are — that when deceased left the company of a female
companion, between eight and nine o’clock on Sunday evening, "she
was very cheerful and well," but that an hour or so subsequently,
after she had been in the company of a young man of the name of
Murphy, to whom she had recently, if not at the very time of the
occurrence, stood in the relationship of a sweetheart, she
manifested the greatest distress and misery. Why such a sudden
transition from gaiety to grief took place, has not transpired, -
why she should resolve upon staying out all night has not been
satisfactory answered, and it is to be regretted that it was not
elicited at the inquest, whether any quarrel or rupture of
friendship took place between the two, during their extraordinary
interview, which would justify the public in coming to the
conclusion, that the circumstances connected there with, were
sufficiently aggravated or affecting, to lead anyone to commit an
act of self-destruction. This evidence is wanting, that perhaps
Murphy himself, may feel prompted to supply it, or otherwise the
judgment must err in coming to any definite conclusion. The conduct
of Murphy himself is equally inexplicable, if not mysterious. He was
with the girl on Sunday evening until 11 o'clock, and then left her,
on a cold, bleak wintery night, and sheltered, unprotected, and in
agony, and within a few feet of the water on the beach, and as he
himself admits, with a fear in his mind that she might attempt to
drown herself, basing as his only motive for doing so the fear of
his being locked out and having to storm the inclemency's of the
night, as weightier than the fear of the girl being exposed, or any
or of any ill befalling her. Very rightly, as everyone will admit,
the jury felt it to be their duty to censure his conduct, and the
coroner to designate it, at least, "unmanly."
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Was held at the "Shipwright's Arms."
The jury consisted of Mr. Brightman, (foremen), and Messrs. S. C.
Bassett, W. Holmes, W. Edgecombe, J. Berry, E. Troughton, S. Hooker,
C. Polson, A. Filmer, G. Hogben, A. W. Howe, and R. Seager.
The Coroner in opening the proceedings, said, that as some 50
different reports were current, as to the facts of the case into
which they were called to inquire, he trusted that the jury would
form their opinions solely on the evidence which would be produced.
The jury then proceeded to inspect the body which was lying in an
outhouse in the "Shipwrights Arms" yard. The appearance of the corps
was remarkably fresh; the bloom was still on the cheeks, and the red
had not departed from the lips, - the beauty of a fine countenance
being marred only by the deep scar over the eye-brow, and from which
blood had freely flowed and disfigured the face.
The jury afterwards reassembled, when the following evidence was
produced.
The first witness called, was Henry Pain, (the father of the
deceased.) He appeared deeply affected, and deposed that he was a
carpenter and joiner. He had seen the body and it was that of his
daughter. She was 19 years of age and lived with him. The last time
he saw her alive, was on Sunday evening, on which night she went out
at six o'clock to go to Chapel, but never returned. He knew nothing
as to the cause of her death.
Mr. Holmes, enquired whether she had stayed out on previous
occasions?
Witness said, that the only time she was a late, was about three
months ago, when she stayed out until half past 9 o'clock, when he
said to her, "you have no business to be out so late. I don't think
that chap means you any good."
In reply to Mr. Bassett, as to whether he was aware of her being so
late on Sunday evening, he said he knew she was not at home; - that
they waited up for her and that she went out with a young woman with
the intention of going to Chapel.
Charles Yelland, (a photographic artist), was the next witness. His
evidence went to show that as he was coming over the draw-bridge
towards Blue Town, about 20 minutes past eight o'clock, on Monday
morning, he saw a woman standing on the bank of the moat, about 20
or 30 yards distance. He at first thought she was going to drown
herself, from her manner and appearance, as she was ringing her
hands and here hair was blowing about her head. On speaking to her,
she told him there was something in the water, but she did not know
what. He jumped over the fence and saw the deceased in the water,
some three or four yards from the embankment. He then undressed
himself of all accept his shirt and with the assistance of another
man, (Mr Floyd,) got the body out. When found the deceased was lying
on her face, with her feet towards the bridge, and her clothes over
her head as if they had been blown over by the force of the wind. He
did not know whether there were any footmarks to show that there had
been any struggle.
In reply to certain questions suggested by the jury, the witness
said that the depth of the water was about three feet, and that
there were three large stones in it, lying at separate distances
near to where the body was found. He could not say whether the body
was floating or not, as the face was downwards. There was a cut
above the left eye, but no signs of blood on the face until the body
had been moved, when blood began to flow freely.
Jane Welch, (the female referred to by the last witness), was next
called. She said that about half-past 6 o'clock, on Sunday evening,
as she was passing near to the bridges, the wind (which was very
high at the time), carried her Victorine away. On Monday morning,
about 8 o'clock she went to look for it in the moat, when she saw
something in the water and thought it might be what she was looking
for, but on a closer examination, she saw that it was something like
female petticoats. She called to some men who were passing, and the
body of the decease was taken out of the water. She did not notice
any foot-marks on the bank.
Mary Ann Smith, was the next witness. She is a single woman, about
the same age as the deceased, and was one of her acquaintances. Her
evidence was as follows:- "I went out with Elizabeth Pain, on Sunday
evening, about six o'clock. We walked up and down Mile Town, for a
little while, and then we went to Blue Town. We then returned to
Mile Town, as far as the Wesleven Chapel, but we did not go in.
Whilst out we met John Pain, a cousin of the deceased. The deceased
had a little conversation with him, but I did not hear what it was
about.
When we left him, we went into the High Street again, and in coming
down the street, we met a young man named Arthur Murphy. I left the
deceased with the young man and went on. I did not see what became
of them afterwards. I left them between eight and nine o'clock. I
did not know much of Arthur Murphy, but as the deceased was walking
with me on Sunday evening, she said she wished she could see him. As
she said so, I thought I had better leave them. I did not hear any
conversation that took place between them. When we went out, we went
out for the purpose of going to church, but being late, we walked
about the town instead.
The Coroner enquired what time service commenced at the churches in
Sheerness, as they would surely be in time if they left home at the
time named? In reply it was stated that they commenced at half-past
six, but that the deceased after leaving her own residence, had gone
to that of the witness, and stayed there about a quarter of an hour.
By Mr. Edgecombe:— Did the deceased appear cheerful and well when
you left her?
Witness:— She was very cheerful and well when she left me.
In reply to other enquiries, witness said that the night was windy
and that rain fell before she reached home, but it was not dark. She
went home about nine o’clock.
Arthur Murphy, was then called into the room, when the Coroner told
him that if he wished to be examined he could, but he was not
necessarily bound to answer any questions, nor to say anything that
might in anyway criminate himself. He, (the Coroner), gave him this
caution as a mere matter of form, not that he presumed it was
necessary. Murphy was then sworn and said,—
I am an assistant coppersmith. I know the deceased, and was on
friendly terms with her. I met her on Sunday evening, in Mile Town,
about half-past eight. She said, "where are you going?" and I
replied, down the street. She said, "come with me." I stood talking
with her for about ten minutes and then went down the street with
her. She said she was going home, but we went as far as the "Hotel"
fence, in Banks' Town. Her proper way home was down Hope street,
but she said she would go along Banks' Town, so that her father
might not see her. When we got to the end of the "Hotel" fence, it
began to rain, and we stood under the fence nearly an hour. When it
left off raining, I asked her to go back by the same road, but she
said she would not go that way, but round by the back of the
"Hotel."
We went round by the back of the "Hotel" until we came as far as
Beach-street. I wanted her to go down the street and go home, when
she said "no," she had stopped out so late, she would not go home all
night? It was then about half past nine or from that to ten o'clock.
She said she would go across to the sea-wall. I went with her as far
as the gun-house, near to the "garrison-point." I then said to her,
I would go no further, and I wanted to turn back, but she would not
come. I stopped with her some time and tried to persuade her. I
stopped until I heard the clock strike a quarter to eleven. I had to
be home at eleven, as my landlady told me when I went to lodge with
her, that I should be kicked out if I was not home by eleven. I said
I could not stay there all night, and had gone a short distance from
her, when I locked round and saw her going towards the water on the
beach. As I was afraid she might go into the water, I went back to
her, and when I want up to where she was she was sitting down
crying. I stopped there a short time trying to persuade her. But it
was no good, and I left her there. She was sitting down about three
or four yards from the water when I came away. Before leaving her, I
asked her what she meant to do with herself, and she said she meant
to go to Chatham in the morning, and from thence to London, to her
aunt, After I left her, I saw nothing more of her."
By Mr. Holmes:— Did you report to any one that you had left her
there?
No.
Nor tell her father?
No.
She told me her father had smashed a likeness she had of mine.
By Mr. Brightman:- What made you think she was likely to go into the
water?
She was crying and fretting, and I did not know what she meant to
do. She was unhappy about staying out so late.
By Mr. Edgecombe:— Did she tell you what she was crying for?
No Had you no idea? I believe she was suffering from her father
having objected to her keeping company with me.
Mr. Brightman:— And you left her there?
I did. (strong sensations and manifestations of indignation.)
Mr. Brightman:— It was a very cruel thing, (approval).
Witness:— I told a mate when I went home, where I had left her, and
he said it was a very foolish thing, as she might drown herself.
By Mr. Troughtman:— Do you mean to say you were with the girl so
long and did not ascertain why she was crying and so distressed?
She told me that some one had told her father something defamatory
of my character and conduct, and also about being guilty of knocking
about Blue Town, with improper characters, which is untrue. In reply
to other enquiries, witness stated, that it was fine weather when he
left the girl, and that they had not taken shelter in the gun-house.
By Mr. Holmes:— Were you engaged to the deceased?
Witness:— I did keep company with her some time ago, but we had a
quarrel, and she has since been keeping company with another person;
but on Thursday night, she came up to me and struck me in the breast
and said, "won't you speak to me?" I went down the street with her
and we passed two bad girls. She said before another week was over,
she should be as bad as they were.
Mr. Edgecombe tried to elicit whether the witness had ever so far
committed himself, as to have taken advantage of the girl's
affection for him, but the enquiry was suppressed.
Mr. Brghtman said it appeared that the witness had not paid the girl
that attention, which she had affection for him.
The witness was then removed; Sergeant Ovenden stating that what he
had said with respect to his "mate" and the time of his going home,
could be confirmed by the young man mentioned, if necessary. The
jury thought it unnecessary.
Major Kirkby Robinson, (surgeon), was then sworn. He said:— I was
called to examine the body of the deceased on Monday morning. I
found one external mark of violence, in the shape of a contusion and
lacerated wound, situated on the left upper eye-lid, immediately
beneath the eye-brow, which might have been caused by the deceased
coming in contact with a hard substance, such as a stone, during a
fall, or otherwise being thrown against it. There was no other
external mark of violence. The body presented the appearance of a
person having died from suffocation by drowning. That in my opinion
was the cause of death. The wound was produced before drowning took
place, and might have stunned her. She appeared to have been in the
water some six or eight hours.
A long conversation followed, in which both the coroner and jury
took part. The Coroner suggested the possibility of the girl being
carried off her feet by the gale, as was the case with a woman in
London a few days previously, who cried out for help and could not
save herself. It was also urged if she had jumped into the water,
she would have gone clear of the stones and not have sustained the
laceration on the eye brow. It was also submitted, that in walking
along, she might have been crying and have fallen down the wall, and
that, if the clothes blew over her head, and she became entangled
in them, it would be a difficult matter to release herself.
The whole of the jury considered that the conduct of Murphy in
leaving the girl, deserved their censure.
The Coroner then briefly addressed the jury. He observed:— "After
the evidence you have heard, I think I can easily leave the matter
in your hands. Whatever opinion you may entertain as to the motal
culpabdity of Murphy in leaving this poor girl, it is merely for you
to decide and to say, according to the evidence you have heard, how
she came by her death. There is evidence to show she was drowned,
but how, you cannot say. There is no evidence to show that. We have
evidence to show that people have been blown into deep water and
drowned, but in this case there is no such evidence to prove that
this was the case, or any evidence to show how she came into the
water. It is therefore for you to return a verdict "that the
deceased was found drowned, but that there is not sufficient
evidence to show how."
The jury concurred and a verdict was returned accordingly.
Mr. Hogben suggested that the jury should express very strongly
their disapproval of Murphy’s conduct. The feelings of common
humanity would have dictated to the greatest stranger, to have
stayed with the girl, still more one who stood in such a
relationship to her and who had witnessed her distress. He ought to
be severely reprobated.
Other gentlemen spoke to the same effect, and the Coroner expressed
himself happy to obey their wishes. As a matter of law it did not
affect the case, but as a matter of feeling it did.
The witness Murphy, was then re-called, when the Coroner thus
addressed him:— "I am requested by the jury to convey to you, the
feeling of disgust which they entertain at your conduct towards this
poor girl. They think it would be unmanly conduct on the part of any
man, under any circumstances, but more especially on the part of a
man who stood in some relation to the girl as a sweet heart. It will
be a reflection — and a very painful! reflection to you, for many
years, to know that you have acted as you have done. Although there
is no legal responsibility attached to your conduct, there is a
great moral responsibility under the circumstances. I leave you to
your feelings which will, I trust be punishment enough.
Murphy said that he had done the bent he could. The jury then
dissolved, having before leaving, subscribed about 30s. towards
assisting the father of the girl, in defraying the expenses of her
funeral.
In reference to the above melancholy event, several letters have
been sent to us, expressing varying opinions as to the cause of the
occurrence. One of our corresponding remarks:— "The painful
circumstances have given rise to many opinions, as to how the young
woman came into the water. As for myself, I have sufficient charity
to think, that she did not drown herself, but that she was
accidentally curried into the water by the wind inflating her dress
— which was blowing very strongly on Sunday evening — and that her
face was cut by her falling against the stones. Our correspondent
afterwards makes the following comment:— "The moat is certainly very
unprotected, and if the suggestion of Mr. John James Young, made
about three months ago, to plant a Tamarisk edge around the bank,
was carried out, it would, in about three years, prevent accidents
of such a nature; and, at the same time, form an ornament to the
Recreation Ground." In conclusion, he expresses a hope "that Mr.
Young will be supported by the public in his endeavours to carry out
this proposal; and that although it will not avert what has
happened, it may be the means of preventing future accidents."
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