Suspected murder 1879

Liverpool Mercury, Oct 10th 1879

The suspected murder in Liverpool

Mr Clarke ASPINALL, held an inquest yesterday on the body of Ann HENRY, wife of a sailor at present at sea, whose body was found under circumstances of a suspicious nature in an entry off Bath St early on Tuesday morning. The jury having viewed the body, evidence of identification was given by Ann KELLY with whom the deceased lodges at 57 Sawneypope St. Witness said the deceased and her husband had lived there about 3yrs, the husband went to sea about 12mths ago, in his absence the deceased earned a living by needlework. The deceased left the house between 6 and 7 on Monday night, and witness did not see her alive afterwards. She was sober at that time. Inquiry adjourned for a week.

Liverpool Mercury, Oct 10th 1879

Mysterious death of a woman in Liverpool

Verdict of wilful murder

Mr Clarke ASPINALL, held an inquest yesterday on the body of Ann HENRY, whose body was found in an entry in Bath St, on Tuesday morning the 7th inst. The deceased throat was cut, and the belief was that she had met with foul play.

Mary GRIMES, who lives in Sawneypope St, said she had known the deceased for about 6mths. On Monday night week she met the deceased about 12 o' clock at the top of Hatton Garden. The deceased was very drunk, witness asked her if she was going home and she said she was not. She was alone and walked away in the direction of the docks.

Frederick BRIDLE, a young man, assistant to his father who keeps an eating-house at 49 Denison St, said that on Tuesday morning, 7th inst, he found a clasp knife covered in blood on the cellar window of his father's premises, [about 69yds from the place where the body was found].

Dr J. Kellett-SMITH, Russell St, said he made a post mortem examination on the remains of the deceased. He found a wound on the left side of the throat, one and a half inches long, it appeared to have been made by two cuts, the first or longest cut about an inch long, the second cut about half an inch long and more superficial. The first evidently a clean incised wound. There was also an abrasion on the right temple, evidently caused by a fall against a rough surface. There were no other marks of violence. He could find nothing to show that the woman had been violated. The wound on the throat was very deep, reaching as far back as the vertebrae, the carotid artery was cut clean through, and the jugular vein was divided. The wound would be five inches deep. The cause of death was the injury to the carotid artery, and the consequent loss of blood. A clasp knife, such as the one produced, would be as likely an instrument as any to inflict the wound. He did not think it possible for the deceased to have inflicted the wound upon herself, it would require too much force for any person to have inflicted it with their own hand. The jury found a verdict of, "Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."

Liverpool Mercury, Oct 20th 1879

The mysterious murder in Liverpool

The Home Secretary, having been supplied with a copy of the depositions taken at the inquest on Thursday on the body of Ann HENRY, who the jury had found had been wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown, in an entry in Bath St, on the night of the 6th inst, has intimated to the borough coroner his intention to advise the Government to offer a reward of £100 for such evidence as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer

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