“On the Jury having assembled on Monday evening, they proceeded to
view the body of the deceased, and, on their return, a number of
witnesses were examined, mostly relations, who swore positively to the
body. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased had lived with
Mr. Wood as a servant for four months, but his wife being jealous, she
was discharged about a month ago, since which time Mr. Wood had
secretly supplied her with money, and kept her from want. Mrs. Baker,
the mother of the deceased, and other relations, in giving their
evidence, spoke in severe terms of the conduct of Mr. Wood, and said
that they had no doubt but that he had seduced the unfortunate girl,
which had caused her to commit suicide.
“The Jury appeared to be very indignant, and, after five hours'
deliberation, it was agreed to adjourn the case until Tuesday
afternoon, when they re-assembled. Mr. Wood, the alleged seducer, was
now present, but he was so overcome by his feelings at the melancholy
occurrence, that nothing could be made of him; in fact, he was like a
man in a state of stupefaction. Mrs. Wood, the wife was called in; she
is twenty-eight years older than her husband, and shook her head at
him, but nothing was elicited from her, her passion completely
overcoming her reason.
“A Juryman.—The more we dive into this affair the more mysterious it
appears against Mr. Wood.
“This remark was occasioned on account of some marks of violence on
the body; there had been a violent blow on the nose, a black mark on
the forehead, and a severe wound on the thigh. The Jury were
commencing to deliberate on their verdict, when a drayman in the
employ of Messrs. Whitbread and Co., brewers, walked into the
jury-room, and said that, he wished to speak to the Coroner and Jury.
“Mr. Carter.—‘What is it you want?’
“Drayman.—‘I comes to say, gentlemen, that Mrs. Baker's daughter, you
are now holding an inquest on, is now alive and in good health.’
“The Coroner and Jury (in astonishment).—‘What do you say?’
“Drayman.—‘I'll swear that I met her to-day in the streets, and spoke
to her.’
“The Coroner, Witnesses, and Jury were all struck with amazement, and
asked the drayman if he could bring Eliza Baker forward, which he
undertook to do in a short time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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