A Mysterious Death.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 46, 27 September 1887, Page 3

A Mysterious Death.

DETAILS OF MISS SWAIN'S CASE. The strange case of the supposed suicide of the young woman named Laura Swain is occupying the attention of the Melbourne public The particulars of the mysterious affair iave already been published. It will be remembered that late one night U. ID. Moore, captain of the ship Sarah Grice, informed the police that a young lady to whom he was engaged to be married had thrown herself from the Victoria Bridge into the Yarra, a distance of 50 feet. Instantly after this came startling reports of foul play: blood had been, found on the enbankment, and other suspicious circumstances were flashed about. These were disproved, but now the inquest has brought out some distinctly suspicious incidents. Captain Moore explained the affair by stating that he and deceased were on the bridge and while he was lighting a cigar the young woman threw herself over; that he rushed down the embankment, fell and hurt himself so that he could not move. The latter part of this statement has been disproved by several -who said that immediately after the occurrence Captain Moore was standing with his hat on, and did not appear to be hurt. One witness stated that he was living in a house overlooking the river, and, as the night was perfectly still, he could have heard distinctly any splash. He heard no splash, but heard the shrill screams of a woman from the opposite side of the embankment. He would have seen deceased had she been in the centre of the river as stated by Moore Other witnesses testify to hearing shrill screams. A large number of witnesses were examined, w'hich leaves the affair shrouded in mystery. A verdict of “ Found Drowned ” was returned, the evidence being insufficient to show how she got into the river. The jury strongly censured the unmanly conduct of Captain Moore and Warder Flynn. The latter did not attempt to go into the river after Miss Swain.