THE CASHEL STREET TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 234, 11 February 1911, Page 5

THE CASHEL STREET TRAGEDY

| INQUEST ON THE VICTIM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Friday. The inquest concerning the death of Ethel Bradley opened to-day. The Coroner said that the surgeon who made the post mortem examination believed that deceased met her death by poison. Tht» brother and sisters of deceased testified that deceased was liable to fits of depression, but they knew no reason why she should take her own life. She had spoken of an early approaching marriage. Mr. G. T. Weston, solicitor, said that deceased had been working as house* deeper, but was not suitable, and was given an opportunity of resigning on February 1. She had resigned, and her letter contained the phrase, "I am unhappy." THE LOVEB'S EVIDENCE. Christchurch, Last Night. Harry Alexander Jack, a hairdresser, who had been indicated as keeping com* pany with the deceased, wag called. H« said he had not seen the girl since the , previous Friday, and did not know she was pregnant. On Tuesday night he went to his employer's shop at eleven o'clock, and remained there till two I o'clock. He had had some drinks. He denied having seen the deceased on Tues« day night, and declared he had neveu spoken to her of marriage. Dr. Syroes, who conducted the .post mortem, 'declared his conviction that the girl died from poisoning. All the indica« tions pointed to prussic acid poisoning* PRUSSIC ACID POISONING. NO MARKS~OF VIOLENCE. Christchurch, Last Night. At the inquest on Ethel Mary Bradley, the victim of the supposed tragedy in Cashel street, the evidence of the deceased's brother, Ernest Bradley, wag to the effect that his sister was married to a man named Farrant at Clutha many years ago, and after living together for about three months he left her, and she subsequently got a divorce. His evidence, and that of his wife and sister, went to show that deceased had been keeping company with a young man named Jack, employed in Sadler's tobacconist shop, which is situated near, where the body was found. Detective Eade, who examined the body as it was found, stated that deceased appeared to have been dead for, seven or eight honrs.

Harry Alexander Jack, 23 years of age, stated he last saw deceased alive last Friday night at eight o'clock. He detailed his own and his employer's movements on the night before the body was found. They had remained at the shop from 11 a.m. till 2 a.m., going through the books, and a constable saw them in the street at 2.5 a.m. He had never discussed marriage with the gifj and could not suggest any reason why she should think fie was going to marry her. Dr. Symes stated that were.no mairks of violence, on the body except abrastoto on the right side of the face and ulder the chin. The whole appearance of/the body pointed to poisoning, and 1m examination of the body had revealed evidence of prussic acid. A. A. Bickerton, Government Analyst, stated he had examined the stomach and contents, and found traces of prussio acid. Constable Rough stated that he had visited the lane at 2.5 a.m., and again at 4 a.m., but saw no signs of the body. It was broad daylight when he visited it the second time. The Coroner said tbis evidence introduced a new element, and made it appear most strongly that deceased waa taken into the lane after daylight. Chief Detective Bishop asked for an adjournment, and said he would bring evidence to show that the woman was seen going to the shop shortly after 8 p.m., after which all trace was lost of her. The inquest was adjourned till Friday next. *