GRAYS AND TILBURY GAZETTE 1900 to 1904 1 6 January 1900 YOUNG WOMAN LEFT TO DIE BY THE ROADSIDE AT SOUTHEND NOT THE NATURE OF ENGLISHMEN – CENSURE BY CORONER On Thursday night a young woman named Jane Gillman, aged about 25 years, who had been living at home with her parents at Hadleigh, left the house between eight and nine o'clock after strange conduct, during which she is said to have put an apple into the teapot before pouring out tea, stating she was going to visit her sister, who lived nearby. Just about midnight, a groom employed at the Half Way House, Southchurch, named Gooderham, was walking along Southchurch Beach Road when he kicked against something, which turned out to be Jane Gillman. He found she was not dead, and when he spoke to her she muttered that her home was at Hadleigh, and added that she had been in the water. Gooderham did not think she had been in the tide, but her clothes were wet and there were puddles of rain in the road, that night being wet and windy. He found that she was unable to stand, but he did not think she had been drinking. His evidence to the Coroner's inquiry was that a lamplighter named Henry Harrison then came up and they took the woman a little way. Gooderham added that he afterwards left the woman in Harrison's charge, who was going to see her towards Southend as he put the lights out on the way. Harrison says no one was with the woman when he found her lying in the road, and almost immediately somebody came up – he could not say who it was, as it was dark – got hold of her arm, helped her along a few yards with his assistance, and then left her with him (Harrison). He tried to get her along towards Southend, but afterwards, giving as the excuse that he was behind in putting out his lamps and that he did not think the woman was in a serious condition, left her lying by the side of some iron railings in Southchurch Beach Road. A bargeman named Perry next came across her about five hours afterwards. He lifted her head from the ground ; she groaned, but was unable to speak. He immediately called up a Mr Clark living nearby, and they removed her. Some port wine was procured instantly for the poor woman, who was then dying, but “her jaws was fixed” and they could not get the stimulant into her mouth. Dr Deeping found no marks of violence upon the body which, he said, was well nourished but very poorly clad, and he attributed death to exposure to the cold during a series of hours. The jury expressed themselves strongly concerning the action of Gooderham and Harrison, and they were the subjects of severe censure by the Coroner. THE INQUEST was held at the Court House, Southend, on Monday, before the Coroner (Mr C E Lewis) and a jury, over whom Mr J Keith Sykes was foreman. Joseph Gillman of Hadleigh, labourer, said deceased was his daughter and 26 years of age next May. She was a single woman. Witness last saw her alive on Thursday night at his home in Hadleigh. She lived at home with witness, and left the house between eight and nine o'clock, saying she was going to her sister's – about five minutes' walk from his house. She did not return, and witness saw no more of her. The Coroner : Was she in the habit of leaving your house and staying out? - Yes, she was ; she would sometimes stay away a week at a time. Can you give me any more information? Witness said on the same night he went out and fetched a pound of apples, which were all eaten except one. Deceased put it in some tea and then poured out the tea, which they thought was a very strange thing for her to do. He turned round and saw her tapping her hair about, and he thought it was a “rum state of things”. She afterwards got her hat and went off out. The Coroner : Then did you think she seemed somewhat strange? - Yes ; she did seem strange in her mind. The Foreman : When she absented herself on these occasions, when she returned did she not give any reason? - No. Did you ask her? - Yes, but she would give me no reason. About how long had she been in the habit of absenting herself in that way? - I should think it is about a year and a half. Do you know of any trouble that would cause her to get into the state you suggest? - She used to lie abed until the middle of the day. Why? Because she was ill? - No ; because she would not get up. She was in bed all Christmas Day. Did she give any reason then? - She would not give any reasons. If she came down it was to get her victuals and would then bolt upstairs again. Did it not strike you as an extraordinary thing for her to remain in bed and not give any reason for it? - She often did it. I have a wife nearly dead and a child seventeen years ill. Is her mother alive? - Yes ; but only just alive. You say you have not the remotest idea what caused her to go away? - No. Had she any acquaintances as you know of? - No. Do you know of any acquaintances in Southend? - My daughter lives there. I suppose you always supplied her with necessaries in the way of food? - There was plenty to eat and drink. The Coroner : Was she in service? - She would not go to service. Did you support her? - I used to keep her and I gave her 1s a week, and when my son opened her purse he found 13s in her pocket, but when she came back she had sevenpence. A Juryman : Do you know whether she cohabited with any man at all? - No ; we saw her once with a married man. Do you fancy she came to Southend to see a young man? - No ; she was such a girl that if anyone spoke to her in the street she would not stop. Do you think her mind was queer? - She seemed strange a little while ago. George Gooderham, groom at the Half Way House, Southchurch Beach, said he was willing to give evidence, and said he was returning from Southend on Thursday night at about 12 o'clock, and in walking in the middle of Southchurch Beach Road kicked against something, which he afterwards found to be deceased. She was not dead, and he spoke to her and asked her where she came from, and she answered, “Hadleigh”. She added that she had been in the water, but witness did not think she had, except that in the road. He lifted her up and she was unable to stand ; he could not say she was drunk. A lamplighter came along, and he and witness led deceased to a light in front of the Half Way House. The Coroner : What did you do when you got to the light? - Tried to get more answers from her, but could not, and the gas man said he would bring her back up the road towards Southend. Then you left them? - Yes, sir. Then what did you do ; did you go and get anyone to assist? - No. The Foreman : Was this young woman known to you? - I had never seen her before. Had you ever seen her in the Half Way House at any time? - I had never seen her before. You say the lamplighter took her up the road. Did you know where he was going to take her? - He said he was going to take her towards Southend. A Juryman : Did you see the lamplighter take her away? - I went in as he took her away. The Coroner : Did you see whether her clothes were wet? - Her clothes were wet. Henry Harrison, lamplighter in the employ of Southend Gas Company, living at 5 Richmond Avenue, said on Thursday night, at about 12 o'clock, he was going along Southchurch Beach Road putting his lamps out, when he saw something in the middle of the road. He was going to turn a lamp out just there, but first looked to see who it was, and could not. He then found it was a woman. As soon as he pulled her up, a man came up, but he could not see who it was. The man got hold of her arm and helped her along a few yards, and then left her with him. He then tried to get her as far as possible towards Southend. When they had gone a little way he left her, because he was behind in turning out his lamps, and they had to be all out by a certain time. He took her to the side of the road and laid her on the ground close against the railing, thinking that if she stood up, she would fall down. As he continued his way to put the lights out, he looked to find a policeman whom he might tell. The Coroner : Are you a married man? - No, single. Did you know who she was? - She was a perfect stranger to me ; I had never seen her before. Did she have any conversation with you? - No ; only mumbled something about Hadleigh. That was all I could get out of her.