West Cumberland Times - June 8th 1895

Transcribed by Patricia Clews for the Cumberland Mailing List

SUSPECTED SUICIDE AT KESWICK

A painful sensation was aroused in Keswick yesterday (Friday) evening by the circulation of the sad news that Miss Annie FLETCHER, a young woman of 23 or 24, living with her brother-in-law, Derwent Street, had committed suicide by taking poison. From inquiries made it appears that the deceased, who was keeping house for Mrs RAWLINGS, had yesterday afternoon purchased some carbolic acid at Mr SWINDLE'S. When Mrs RAWLING returned to the house in the evening she was horrified at finding the poor girl beyond all aid. No motive has been assigned for what is regarded as a case of suicide. An inquest will probably be held to-day (Saturday)

West Cumberland Times - June 12th 1895

Transcribed by Sam Greany for the Cumberland Mailing List

Painful Suicide At Keswick

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A Young Woman Poisons Herself

An inquiry into the circumstances of the death of the young woman, Annie Elizabeth FLETCHER, at Keswick (which occurred on Friday, and was reported in Saturday's issue) was held on Saturday in the court buildings, Keswick, before Mr. Gordon FALCON, coroner, and a jury composed of the following: -

Messers. J. C. CALDBECK (forman), Jona. SCOTT, I. TYSON, D. POOLEY, D. MELVIN, R. BOWMAN, W. IREDALE, C. SMITH and C. ALCOCK.

Mrs. Ellen RAWLING, of 14 Derwent Street, Keswick, said the deceased was her sister. She was a domestic servant, 24 years age. She had been living with the witness since March, and on Friday Mrs. RAWLING, sen., witness's mother-in-law, asked her to go and look after her house in Garden Terrace, Main Street, while she went out somewhere. Deceased went, and witness heard nothing more until after seven o'clock the same evening, when she learned that she was dead.

She had never seen deceased with a bottle of carbolic acid and didn't know she had such a thing. Deceased had no trouble, except the death of her sister and mother in  February and March respectively. She had been much cut up when they died, having been with them both. Deceased never made any complaints, but witness could remember her being in low spirits just before Christmas. She had never threatened to take her life. Her father committed suicide about twenty years ago. When deceased left her house witness thought she seemed to be in her usual good spirits.

Mrs. Mary RAWLING, of Garden Terrace, said she went to the last witnesses house on Friday afternoon, and asked deceased to look after some bread which was in the witness's oven while she went out to Mrs. HOWSON's to work. Deceased, who seemed "quite jolly and cheerful," came to her house in Garden Terrace, and witness did not see her alive again. Witness got back home about half past six, her husband having come for her. On Thursday morning, witness went into deceased bedroom (she having been sleeping at witness' house that night) and found a strong smell of something and questioned the deceased who said she had been using something for her toothache. Witness never knew deceased to have toothache, and had never heard her complain. She went into her room again, and finding the smell stronger than before, asked what it was. Deceased produced a small bottle and said, "this has spilled in my pocket."

Two bottles were here produced, the smaller had contained a mixture for toothache, and Inspector LOGAN said he found it in the pocket of the deceased's dress. Another, and larger bottle containing Carbolic acid was found by Sergt. DIXON in the back kitchen.

Witness continuing, said the bottle she saw in the deceased's possession was similar to the smaller one produced, but the smell which she found was that of the contents of the larger bottle. During the last week the deceased had been very bright and lively.

Mrs. Elizabeth STEWART, living next door to the last witness in Garden Terrace, said she noticed Mrs. RAWLING's door open on Friday afternoon about half past three, and knowing that Mrs. RAWLING was out, she went in and called "Annie," but received no answer. She didn't suspect anything wrong, but thought deceased had gone out and forgotten to lock the door. She put the cat out on account of the birds, and locked the door, taking the key into her own house. Mr. RAWLING came home in the evening and got the key, and when he found the dead body in the back kitchen he called witness. Witness and her husband went in, and found the body quite stiff.

Samuel RAWLING, waller and stonemason, deposed that he went home about a quarter past six and got the key of his house from Mrs. STEWART. He discovered the body in the back kitchen, but didn't touch it. There was a cup on the table in the back kitchen , which he supposed was the one produced. The house was locked when he got home, and all seemed quite in order.

Sergt. DIXON said he was called to the house of the last witness about twenty-five minutes to seven on Friday night, and found deceased lying dead in the back kitchen. She was lying on her back, with her legs doubled up beneath her, her head thrown well back, and the mouth open. She seemed to have been dead sometime, as the body was quite cold and stiff. The cup produced was handed to him as having been found on the back kitchen table. He searched the back kitchen, and found the bottle produced concealed behind some preserve dishes on a shelf.

Mrs. RAWLING, se., being recalled said the bottle of carbonic acid produced did not and never belonged to her. She didn't know of it being in the house.

Norman V. SWINDLE, chemist, said he remembered selling a bottle carbolic acid similar to the one produced to a young woman on Thursday. She asked for carbolic acid, and inquired about the price. She got a sixpenny bottle, usually sold for disinfecting purposes, but didn't say what she wanted it for. He didn't ask her. Carbolic acid was not in the schedule of restricted poisons, although it was a strong irritant poison. He could not say how much it would take to kill a person; but thought the quantity taken out of the bottle was sufficient to kill several people. It was a strong, burning poison, and could not possibly be taken by mistake on account of its strong smell.

The coroner read a report from Doctor CRAWFORD, who made a post-mortem examination of the body. The doctor said he found several ounces of carbolic acid in the stomach. Not withstanding the evil rumours which had gained currency in Keswick about the girl since the rash act was committed, the doctor certified that she was certainly not pregnant.

The coroner said that it seemed the girl had not been well, and had got into a low way. Her excuses about the bottle must have been made just to put off the mother and it did not seem probable that she could have taken such a quantity in mistake on account of the strong smell. One never could say why people should do these things, but it seemed to have been in the family, her father having committed suicide.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."