Brutal Treatment of a Servant Girl.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9025, 24 March 1898, Page 3

Brutal Treatment of a Servant Girl.

On February 3rd, at Bagshot, Mr Boumieu, Wett City Coroner, resumed the irquiry into the death of Jane Pupejoy, aged seventeen, formerly a servant girl at Kensington, and who died within three clays of being 3ent home from London. She had been fi»r over twelve months in the service of Mrs Nicholls, in Pitt street, Kensington, and before her de*ath she made serums allegations against the

mistress of having beaten and starved her The girl, although over sft in height, only weighed 691b, and was badly bruised about the legs and anus, tmd her nose was broken. P.O. Marchant, of the Metropolitan Police, stated that he saw the deceased fall down suddenly in Kensington Gardens . in December, and Mrs Nicholls said she could not understand it, as it was the second time she had fallen that morning. Neither Mrs Nicholls ncr the other servant girl present attempted to pick her up. Mrs Cror. ford, a neighbor of Mrs Niiholls', deposed to hearing the sound of blows and screams proceeding from Mrs Nicholls' house frequently, and Mrs Nicholls calling someone SUCH NAMES AS " BEAST " AND "DEVIL." She had seen a former servant of Mrs Nicholls' w'th a black eye and scratches on her face. She had also heard sounds as if someone's head was being knocked againsfcthe wall in Mrs Nicholls' house, Jessie McNeill, i servant, formerly in the employmen of Mrs Nicholls, said she left on account of ill-treatment by Mrs Nicholls. Mr Nicholls ill-treated her with a stick, and had kept her without food for two or three days. In crossexamination witness admitted she had said sue would Lye to pay Mrs Nicholls out. AN ABRUPT ADJOURNMENT. Another witnoss,. a fellow servant of the deceased, was called, and was about to be sworn when one of t*ae jurymen was taken in a fit, and the Coroner at once adjourned the inquiry until Tuesday. Mr Stephenson protested against the treatment which Mrs Nicholls had received from the public in London and Bagshot. Her life, lie said, was becoming unbearable, and he asked the Coroner to warn people j who were likely to annoy her. The Coroner said if anyona was brought before him for contempt of Court he would be most severely dealt with. A woman was arrested at the close of the Court for disorderly conduct. A FELLOW SERVANT'S EVIDENCE.

At the Institute, Bagshot, on Tuesday, Mr Roumieu proceeded with the inquiry into the death of Jane Popejoy, who died three days after-being sent home from the service of Mrs Nieholls, living at Pitt street, Kensington. Edith Garrett, a domestic servant, who left the service of Mrs Nicholls only last Friday, deposed to having been a fellow servant with Popejoy. She had frequently heard the latter scream when in Mrs Nicholls 1 bedroom. She had seen Mrs Nicholls beat her with a stiok. One day she beat her with an umbrella until it broke. Popejoy had complained of not having sufficient food, an 1 hail gone into the streets and poktil up crusts or anything else she uould get to eat. Witness had seen bruises on her arms and logs. She knew that the bruises on the legs were caused by Mrs Nicholls knocking the girl down and kicking her. She had Been Mrs Nicholls do it. She had also seen Mrs Nioholls knock Popejoy's head against the bedpost, and when she screamed kick her. "Witness knew that the girl had been kept without food a day, and that she had asked a neighbor for it. When she returned, Mrs Nicholls asked her what business she had to go out, and she replied that Bhe was starvitg, and had been j out to pick up crusts. She afterwards heard the girl screatuiug. On another occation, for the same reason, Popejoy was dragged into the bedroom by I Mrs Nicholls. and witness was seit downstairs. Again she heard her screaming.. This occurred several times; and she had known Mrs Nicholls break aa umbrella in heating Popejoy. She had seen bruises on Popejoj's legs and arms, and had seen Mrs Nicholls knock her down and kick her. Garrett related in detail other acis of violence hv Mrs Nicholls towards Popejoy. Witness further added that last summer Mrs Nicholls took a house at Sout! sea, and there also she beat the deceased girl and kept her without food. Witness knew that Popejoy was allowed to, write home, but she heard Mrs Nicholls telling her what to write, and to say that she was comfortable and had a kind mistress.