DISAPPOINTMENT AND DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10629, 18 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

DISAPPOINTMENT AND DEATH.

Mr. W. Schroder, Deputy Coroner for South London, resumed at the Assize, Courts, Kingston-on-Thames, tile inquest on Lily Cheosomnn, the barmaid who was found drowned in the Thames neat the Promenade, Surhiton. The decoased was a good-looking, dark complexioned young Woman of some twenty-three years of age, rather tall, of somewhat Striking appearance, and always smartly' dressed. ' She Was very well known in the neighbourhood, having been employed for fivo years in the Southampton Hotel, now under the management of Messrs. Spiers and Pond. Her department of the hotel was tho bar open' ing upon Surbiton station yard. -She was a general favourite with -regular customers by reason of her pleasant and attentive Ways. On Thursday, Sept. 30, she appeared perfectly well while performing her various dutiesj and in the afternoon had a cheerful meeting with -hoc mother. After closing time, contrary to her usual.custom she went oub for a walk. Hot body was found the following morning in the rivor, atbirod as in the evening, except that her skirb was , niißsing, which would beaoeountedfdr by. the fact that ib was fastened with pins'at tho waist, and the weight of the waber might easily have dragged it off. She had not ab any time spoken of committing suicide, bub correspondence" had passed between her and : a clerk, who, during her absence on holiday, had gob married! i She spoke little of the affnlr, v but it evidently weighed upon her, and lately, judging from bottles fouhd in her room, she had taken to secret drinking, lb appears shehad > other admirers, but she was not confiding to her companions. There was no sign of violence, and the evidehco'showed, that in it fit of :despair ; she ' took her life. The«medical' testimony pointed out clearly thab the girl was of chaste diameter. *»■>.) ' : ' ! *,».' * •'■' Sergeant LunA, who saw the- body taken to the mortuary, proved that the'woman , was wearing a ; black satin blouse, bub the skirb Was mtssitig; > There ■ was a Washed* gold brooch on the blouse ' duff-links of sblid' gold.'.' Nearly all the Uhderbtotuing 'was fastened' with pins, and there were rid strings or buttons', "i Ho went to the South; \ ampton ; Hotel, and ',; foUnd f in « deceased's apartment a number of- letters 'sixteen quartern ? and ? twenty-six half-quartern bottles, some of which smelb Of Spirits, all being in boxes and bundles. ij < v<' K',

'•• Dr. Hayenden, Assistant Divisional Surgeon, said there were absolutely no signs of violence, and no evidence to show that anyone had held deceased, or that rings had been removed from her fingers. Deceased entered the water while alive,- ■-'••.»•-> - The mother and sister of the deceased said she told them she was engaged to be married. Someone besides the person name presented her with rings. ' Reginald Weald, a clerk at the Southampton Hotel, said : Sometimes deceased and I had our dinner together. Wo had been very friendly, in fact we were always very friendly. I corresponded with her when she was away ill last April. Tho letters produced were written by me. When she returned I held ordinary conversations with her, I was never out with her. We continued very friendly. I recollect her going for her holiday, but I never said anything about marriage to her, and everything between us was strictly honourable. During tho week before her death she said she was to bo married on Christmas Day. When she heard I was married she said, " This is rather sudden." I replied' that I did not want it known. I did nob ask hor to whom she was going to bo married. ' Coroner: Did she. show any signs of jealousy ? Witness: No, not to me. Tho last time I saw deceased was bohwoen five and 5.30 on the night of her disappearance. Coronor: Did you know she had any rings ? Witness: Yes ; I never asked her who gave them to her. Coroner : Did you give her either ! Witnoss: No ; I did nob. Miss Grubb, a barmaid at the Southampton Hotel, was called. Coroner: Do you know who gave doceased her rings ? Witness Ido know, bub I should nob like to name the gentloman. The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned."