STRANGE AFFAIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1523, 24 June 1886, Page 3

STRANGE AFFAIR.

i An extraordinary case resulting in the death of a young woman, which)occurred at North Harbor, Sydney, has created much public interest. Two young men named Griffiths and J amea, employed as clerks in the city, have been living together in a tent at Manly Beach, which is a common custom during the summer months. On Thursday last wesk Geo. Griffiths reported to the police at Manly that he had found the body cf a young woman, a domestic servant, named Elizabeth Martin, on the shore of the harbor, she having been apparently drowned. Griffiths stated that he and William James met deceased and another young woman named Jane Brown, also a domestic servant in Sydney, on Wednesday evening, and that they all went to Manly together. The women accepted an invitation by the men to go to their camp, and stayed their all night. About three o’clock on Thursday morning deceased left the tent, and after being absent for some time the two men and the woman Brown went to search for her, and at seven o’clock they found her as described. Both men are well connected, and deceased is the daughter of a very old colonist at Lindoo. At the inquest on the body the witness Brown’s evidence was to the effect that she was a domestic servant, at present out of work. She first knew deceased about a fortnight ago. She went with deceased on Wednesday last to Manly with Griffiths and James. Witness had sent a telegram to James, under a fictitious name. It read, “ Meet me this evening, seven o’clock ; same place ; bring friend,” “ Bring friend " meant ho was to bring Griffiths with him. Deceased and herself met James and Griffiths in pursuance of the appointment on Wednesday, and proceeded to Manly by the halfpast seven boat. James and Griffiths were living in a tent at North Harbor. Witness did not go there intending to remain all night. James and Griffiths got a boat, into which deceased and witness entered. Witness fell out of the boat when they reached North Harbor; witI ness’ clothes were wot, and she had to j put on James’ overcoat. The four of | them had supped together. Witness saw I nothing drunk, nqr did deceased drink anything to her knowledge. The tent was one apartment; there was no division in it. They did not attempt to get back to Manly, but remained in the tent all night. The girl Brown is a comelyI looking strong young woman. She does not admit any undue familiarity occurred in the tent. She said one of the fellows kissed deceased, but refused to answer whether she was treated similarly. The doctors who made the post mortem formed a theory that deceased got into the water, and received a shock which caused fpintipg, They expressed the opinion that deceased came by her death partly by syncope, and partly from asphyxia by drowning, Idarks were found on the breasts, the upper part of the arms, and on the bridge of the nose, and there was a bruise on the forehead. These were pronounced to bo ante-mortem, in-jurios. No opinion is yet expressed whether deceased w?s violated, and the evidence so far is inconclusive. Griffiths has been arrestpd on a charge of having conunilted a capital offence on deceased, and James and the girl Brown have also been arrested as accomplices.