MYSTERY AND ROMANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

MYSTERY AND ROMANCE.

CRIPPLE ENGAGED TO AN EARL'S RELATIVE. FOUND IN THE THAMES. At the St. John's Vestry Hall, Horselydown, Mr. Samuel F. Langhmn held ah inquest lately into the circumstances attending the death of Absolom Thomas Sturt, aged 20, a boilermaker's apprentice, lately residing in Randolph Road, Custom House, whose body was found in the Thames, off Pickle Herring Wharf, by the Tower Bridge. The deceased was a cripple, who left home with £11 in hie pocket two days before Christmas, and on Christmas Eve his crutches and wooden kg were found on the footway of London Bridge. The deceased was engaged to be morried to Miss Margaret Tulloch, a rotative of a peer, the home having been purchased and the 'wedding fixed for December 30. The deceased met with the injuries in the Albert Docks two years ago through being run over by a light train when attempting to rescue a wounded seagull which had been shot. His case was brought under the notice of several M.P.'e and members of the aristocracy, and a public benefit was organised by Mr. Relf, of the Royal Albert Music Hall, at Canning Town. Deceased now threatened suicide, and there is a strong suspicion that he met with foul play, as the £11 he had is missing, while numerous other articles known to have been in his possession cannot be found. Absolom Thomas Sturt, a stovedore, of Randolph Rond, Custom House, stated that the deceased was hie son. Through an accident two years ago ho lost one of his legs and the other foot. The deceased had never threatened to end his life, and was not in any trouble. THE DEAD BIAS'S SWEETHEART, Margaret Tulloch, who was attired in deep mournin?, stated that she was a single woman, having no occupation, and was residing at Lowestead House, Lon? Houghton, Northumberland. She had been engaged 16 months to the deceased, during which period there had never been any quarrel between them. They had corresponded together, and the letters found on the deceased were in her handwriting, They were to have been married on December 30, and she was preparing to come to London for that event when she received word about the mysterious discovery of his crutches. She never heard deceased threaten his life, nnd he was not in any serious trouble. Coroner: Was there anything in the nature of monoy matters ? I know he was highly troubled about money matters, but I never attached any importance to that. Had you ever threatened to break of! the engagement! Never, sir. Iβ there anything more you know of this ?ad affair ? It was a little difficult for him, being a cripple, to get a home together, and ho wanted to arrange things comfortably, although that need not have worried him,

Inapoctor Wijliain Law, of tho Thames Police, deposea that he searched the boily, and found BJd in bronze, a gold sleeve-link ueod as a scud, mid two sold rings (both ladies' ring:, one 18-carat and the other ninocarat)

The Coroner remarked on the oxtraordinary nature of the case, and the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned."