A SPINSTER’S DEATH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 22 January 1912, Page 2

A SPINSTER’S DEATH.

There was a remarkable sequel on December 4th to the inquest which was opened on November 23rd by the coroner for Central Middlesex on the body of Eliza Mary Barrow, a well-to-do spinster. Following on the exhumation of the body, a course which the coroner declared to be necessary, the police arrested Frederick Henry Soddon, a district superintendent for the London and Manchester Assurance Company, at whose house in Tollingham Park, N., Miss Barrow had been lodging. The accused was taken to the Hornsey Road Police Station, and charged with the murder ol Miss Barrow.

At the inquest Chief Detective Inspector Ward was present on behalf of the police authorities at Scotland \ard. The coroner stated at the outset that information had come to liis knowledge which rendered full inquiry desirable. Miss Barrow, who was aged 49, died on September 15th, and death was certified by a doctor as being due to enteritis. In his examination by the Coroner, I' rederick Seddon said Miss Barrow engaged rooms at his house in July, 1910. She was not visited by her relatives. She hold various property, including the lease of a public house at Camden Town, and India stock. In consideration for having the l lease transferred to him the witness allowed Miss Barrow £SO a year. The house, he thought, would bring in £l2O a year clear. The coroner: Then for £l2O a year you were going to give her £SJ a year? You kept £7O a yea: for yourself to recompense you for the time she should live after the lease had run out?—There was the possibility of her 'living 10 or 15 years after the lease had run out. The India stock was also, said the witness, transferred to him and sold for £1520, and he granted Miss Barrow another annuity on account of this transference. Altogether •he allowed her £3 2s a week. The deceased woman by the will left all her property in trust for two children of an uncle, and appointed the witness the sole executor.

Ihe coroner: Before this woman came to y T ou she had an income of £l2O net from the houses in Camden Town and another £SO from the Indian stock, which is good security’. In addition she had capital £2OO. She had in all an income of £l7O a year, which you reduced to £124? i The witness: She lived in my house rent free. There was really very little difference in l her position.