Hannah Vicars, Bentham, Westmorland, England, 1863

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A YOUNG WOMAN AT BENTHAM.
An inquest was held at the Victoria Inn, on Wednesday, before the deputy coroner, to inquire into the death of Hannah Vicars, whose body was taken out of the river Wenning, on the 29th ult., not far from the railway station. She seems to have been a respectable young woman, 21 years of age, in the service of her father, John Vicars, of Grasmere. She had the management of a lodging-house, and left home without her father's knowledge on the 12th ult. She had formerly been in service at Bentham House, and formed acquaintances in the village, and had occasionally come over on a visit, consequently her father was not uneasy at her absence until recently, thinking that she had again visited Bentham. He wrote to inquire, and came over on the 28th ult. to seek for her, but hearing no tidings, he returned home, and the day following he received a telegram stating that she had been found. No evidence could be adduced at the inquest to show how she came into the water. The only person who spoke to seeing her was Edward Brisco, railway porter, who reproved her for stepping out of the train at Bentham station before it came to a stand; it was the last train at night. She made no reply, but walked hurriedly on, and in presenting her ticket she was recognised by him. When found she was full and well dressed, had a brooch, a gold ring on her engaged finger, and 2l. 15s. 8d. in her purse. No marks of violence were found upon her person. The jury, being guided by the coroner, returned an open verdict, "Found dead in the river Wenning." Her body was taken by her father in a shell to Grassmere. --- Lancaster Guardian

(We understand that a young man at Bentham with whom the deceased was acquainted has since been arrested on suspicion, and that the body is to be exhumed.)