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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 01 Mar 1933
Page 8 Column 1 to 3
VILLAGE DROWNING SENSATION.
INQUEST ON SCHOOLGIRL ADJOURNED.
STOMACH CONTENTS TO BE ANALYSED.
QUESTIONS ABOUT RUM.
STATEMENT BY THE GIRL'S UNCLE.
INVESTIGATIONS BY SCOTLAND YARD OFFICERS
References to a statement made to the police by an uncle of a dead school-girl, who was found drowned in the River Rag at Curry Mallett, near Taunton, on Friday, were made by the Coroner for West Somerset, Mr. Geoffrey P. CLARKE, when he opened the inquest on the child on Monday morning. The victim of the tragedy, which created a painful sensation, was Dorothy Winifred BREWER, aged 12 years and nine months, who had lived with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. MORSE, at West Hatch.
It was revealed in evidence that the child was in a certain condition, and the Coroner said it was only fair to her uncle, Mr. Fred MORSE, who had also lived in the house, to state that he denied being in any way responsible for that condition. Mr. MORSE, a man of about 30, sat in the body of the Court, with his mother and other relatives, and was not called. More evidence will be heard on March 14th, to which date the inquest was adjourned.
The statement attributed to MORSE described his movements with the girl during the morning of Thursday, the day on which she disappeared. The finding of her body followed a long search by police and villagers, aided by dogs, whose task was rendered all the more difficult by heavy falls of snow and rain.
Shortly after the inquest adjournment, Somerset Police called in Scotland Yard officers to investigate the mystery. Chief-Inspector BENNETT, accompanied by Sergeant SALISBURY, left London in the afternoon for Taunton.
At the outset of the inquest, the Coroner asked, “Is Mr. Fred MORSE legally represented?” He rose and replied “No, sir.” Later, the Coroner said he thought that MORSE would be well advised to be legally represented at the adjourned hearing. There were, he added, no facilities in a Coroner's Court for granting legal aid.
WITNESSES BOUND OVER.
He also stated that he had provisionally to bind all the witnesses over, “in the event of Fred MORSE of any other person being committed to the Assize on a Coroner's warrant.” He added that this did not indicate the verdict, but it was and ordinary legal formality.
Considerable public interest was shown in the inquiry, which took place in the Woman's Institute Hall – a re-conditioned farm building. There were many villagers present.
The Coroner was assisted by a jury of farmers and villagers, of whom Mr. PERRY was foreman. Others in attendance included Police-Inspector CARTER (Taunton), P.S. HARWOOD (North Curry), who directed the search for the missing girl, P.C. SMART (Hatch Beauchamp), who acted as Coroner's officer, and Dr. Godfrey CARTER, hon. pathologist to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital, who made a post-mortem examination of the body.
Groups of parishioners watched the arrival of the principal figures in the case. The proceedings lasted 2¼ hours.
“A DIFFICULT CASE.”
The Coroner, in his opening address to the jury, said he did not think it would be possible to complete the case that day. It would be, he thought, quite a difficult case for them, and certain further investigations would have to be made. The weather had been all against the police in making their inquiries during the last few days, and his intention was to take a number of formal witnesses, so that the jury would have a brief outline of the facts, and to call medical evidence.
“In the first place, will you entirely delete from your minds any local rumours you may have heard concerning this case?” the Coroner continued, “I want the jury to confine themselves to the evidence which will come before them, either to-day or at the adjourned hearing.”
EXCEPTIONAL PHYSIQUE.
Proceeding with his outline of the facts, the Coroner said Dorothy Winifred BREWER, the dead girl, was aged 12 years and 9 months. She was a girl of exceptional physique for her age, and he thought it was quite correct that she could easily have been mistaken for 16 or 17. He must tell the jury at the outset that she was pregnant. It might be important in dealing with the facts.
The girl was not living with her parents, but with her grandmother, and was going to school. It was essential that he (the Coroner) should refer to a man named Fred MORSE, who was her uncle. He had, at some length, given a voluntary statement to the police, and it would be for the jury to decide whether they accepted his version of the events of the morning and afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 23rd, or whether they thought what happened, as stated by him, was not correct. The cause of the girl's death was drowning.
The Coroner indicated on a map, which was exhibited in the room, the point in the River Rag at which the body was found, and also other material spots in the vicinity of the tragedy.
UNCLE'S STATEMENT.
MORSE, said the Coroner, went to his work at a quarry on Thursday morning, and after breakfast he met the girl by the cross-roads, which were about 200 yards from the lime kiln. He had apparently made an appointment to meet her. “I will not go into all the conversation (Mr. CLARKE continued), but
“According to his version, he wanted her to go to school. I think they got to the school and she started crying and said she did not want to go to school.
“They had some further conversation, and he told her he was going to Curry Mallett to pick up some wires and traps, and it was arranged that she should go there with him. He told her to get on his bicycle and they went towards Hatch Beauchamp and eventually came round by Curry Mallett.
PURCHASES AT AN INN.
“Among other places which they visited was the Bell Inn, Curry Mallett. He had two pints of beer, two packets of potato crisps, a packet of cigarettes, and half a pint of rum.
“From there they went on the Fivehead road, got off the bicycle, and walked down the fields to Park Farm. They left his bicycle about three-quarters of a mile back on a piece of waste land behind some bushes.”
Continuing with his summary of MORSE's narrative, the Coroner stated: “He said he took the girl across the footbridge over the river, which runs into Ile Abbots.
“He showed her a gateway and a galvanised-iron shed across the fields, and told her to to the shed and wait there until he came. He also said he wanted to get back by dinner-time.
NOT IN THE SHED.
“What happened in the next hour or two hours is very important to this case – that is a crucial time.” observed the Coroner. “He had two packets of potato crisps, and he gave her one to eat in the shed. He also gave her a watch and an attache case. He saw her go up the field, but he could not see her go all the way to the shed. He says he pulled up some of his wires and after about three-quarters of an hour he went to the shed expecting to find her there, but he did not find her. He saw her footprints.
FELL INTO THE RIVER.
“Any footprints that existed then have been entirely obliterated since.” remarked the Coroner. “He says he searched down the field, all along the river, and back past the footbridge, but he could see no sign of her.
“Then he started searching again until he came to a stretch of barbed wire, which is roughly, I think, 250 to 300 yards from where he was found. He says that at this point he fell into the river.
“Time was getting on now, and after that he went back.
“I think I am right in saying that the first man he passed was Walter Alex WOODS, and he states he saw him about 3.45. Shortly after he also saw his brother.
“Enquiries are being made as to anyone who(?) was working in that district at the time, or in any of the adjoining fields.
“An attache-case was found very near the spot where he says he fell into the water. Just around there the bushes are very thick. It is difficult to get from the shed to where the girl was found.
QUESTIONS FOR THE JURY.
“The important thing from your point of view.” the Coroner told the jury, “is to decide from the evidence we can collect from outside sources whether the version which MORSE has given to the police is the correct one.
“Really it comes to this: Was he with the girl at all during this material period? In other words, did she go to the shed by herself and then, of her own accord, enter the river, or by some other means come into the river? Or was he a party to her entering the river? Was he present or anywhere in the near vicinity at the time she entered the river, and was he in any way responsible for it?
“I must tell you that he denies being in any way responsible for the condition of the girl. I do not propose to call him to-day.”
FATHER'S EVIDENCE.
Frank BREWER, carter, Lillesdon, North Curry, said Dorothy was his daughter and was 12 years and 9 months old. She had lived with his wife's parents for the past 5½ years. She went there owning to Mrs. BREWER's illness and the fact that they had five other children at home. Witness last saw her on Tuesday, about 5 p.m., when she visited his home. She was quite cheerful.
Alice MORSE, wife of Albert MORSE, of Slough Green, West Hatch, said Dorothy was her grand-daughter, and had lived with her since she was seven years old. On Thursday morning, about 7.50, she left home to go to school, and she appeared in her usual health and made no complaint. That was the last time witness saw her.
The Coroner: Had you noticed anything unusual about your grand-daughter recently? Had you any cause for suspicion? - I thought she was getting a bit stout, and I questioned her, but after she went to the nurse early in February I thought it was quite all right. I questioned her again on Monday, February 20th.
HER UNCLE'S CUSTOM.
In reply to Inspector CARTER, Mrs. MORSE said the girl had lived with her since she was seven. Her three sons – Herbert Ernest, Harold, and Fred – also lived at home. Herbert generally returned home at week-ends, and Harold and Fred slept there every night. Witness went to bed between 9 and 10 o'clock on Wednesday night, leaving the girl downstairs with Fred, who was plaiting her hair, as was his custom every night. Fred and Doris came upstairs to bed about five minutes later, and the girl wished witness good-night.
MOTHER'S SUSPICION.
Lily BREWER, mother of the deceased, said her suspicions were aroused as to her daughter's condition when the girl visited her a fortnight ago. Previously witness said to her brother, Fred MORSE, “Is there anything the matter with Doris?” and he replied “No.” On Tuesday, February 21st, deceased went to the nurse's house, and the doctor was also present and examined her. Deceased came home after the examination, and that was the last time witness saw her.
The Foreman: Why did you ask your brother Fred if there was anything wrong with the girl? - I thought he would notice it, as he was living in the house.
The Coroner: When were your suspicions first aroused? - Mother mentioned it to me some time in January.
Was this the only occasion on which you spoke to Fred about her condition? - Yes, sir.
Answering Inspector CARTER, witness said she had only seen her daughter about twice during the last six months. Fred was with her when she visited witness a fortnight ago. Neither of witness's other brothers took Doris about, as far as she knew.
In reply to the Coroner, witness said she had never made any request for Doris to return home. Her grandparents were very fond of her.
BROTHER'S STORY.
Albert Edward BREWER, labourer, Lillesdon, said about 8.30 on Thursday morning he was working with his Uncle Fred and other men in Mr. SMALL's lime kiln, West Hatch. Just before breakfast, about 8.30 a.m., Uncle Fred said he was going away for a quarter of an hour, because he wanted to meet someone up the road. Witness did not see him again until he visited his uncle's house about 9 o'clock the same evening. His uncle left his food bag in the quarry. About a week earlier his uncle told witness he had finished rabbiting.
Inspector CARTER: Had your uncle left any other morning since he had been working at the quarry? - Only on Tuesday, February 21st, when he went to my sister's as <sic> Lillesdon. My uncle commenced work at the lime kiln on February 14th. Witness said he had no conversation with his uncle when he saw him on Thursday evening.
AT THE VILLAGE INN.
Winifred Annie CROSSMAN, daughter of the licensee of the Bell Inn, Curry Mallett, stated on Tuesday morning, about 10.40, she saw a man whom she now recognised as Fred MORSE go into the kitchen. Her sister attended to him. When witness entered the kitchen he asked her if she had a bottle into which she could put seven shillings worth of rum. She replied “Yes.” and handed him a penny change out of 8s after giving him the rum in a whisky bottle, together with a pint of beer and a packet of cigarettes. MORSE was alone.
Witness noticed he was shaking as he placed the money on the table.
Inspector CARTER: Is it a most unusual thing for a person to ask for 7s worth of rum? - Yes. I am generally asked for half-a-pint, or some other measure. Witness said she knew that several men were working in the lime kiln, and she thought they wanted it between them.
Cecilia CROSSMAN, sister of the previous witness, said on the occasion referred to she supplied a man with a pint of beer and two packets of potato crisps.
“LIKE AN ORDINARY COUPLE.”
Mrs. Daisy Maud BURT, of Morel, Curry(?) Mallett, said that while in her garden on Thursday morning, between 10.30 and 11 o'clock, she saw a man and a girl walking
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along the road towards Curry Mallett. She was holding his left arm, and he was carrying a small attaché case.
Inspector CARTER: Did they appear to be happy? - Just like an ordinary couple?
Witness did not overhear any of their conversation.
Albert SANSOM, labourer, of Higher-road, Curry Mallett, said on Thursday morning, about 10 o'clock, he was sitting by his kitchen fire and looking out of the window, when he saw a man and a girl walking arm-in-arm towards Rock House Inn. The man was also pushing a bicycle.
“After they had passed,” witness said,
“I went outside and watched them. They kept stopping in the road, and it appeared to me that the girl wanted to go back towards Hatch.
“When I first went out they were about 20 yards away, and the girl was looking very strange. They stopped, talked, and walked on again, and they did this five or six times before they got to Rock House Inn. I watched them for about 20 minutes. When the girl wanted to come back the man seemed to direct her towards Rock House Inn with her arm, but there was no struggle of any description. Just afterwards I passed the Rock House Inn, and I saw them standing in the porch.”
“NO ATTEMPT TO BREAK AWAY.”
In reply to Inspector CARTER, witness said he did not recognise MORSE on Thursday morning, as he did not see his face. He knew him, but had not seen him for some time.
The girl made no attempt to break away from the man.
Witness said he noticed that the girl was nice-looking, and that was why he went outside and watched them.
There was some laughter by a number of those present, and they were sharply rebuked by Inspector CARTER, who observed: “It is no laughing matter.”
In reply to Fred MORSE, witness said that two grooms and four horses passed his house just in front of the man and girl.
Answering the Coroner, SANSOM said he did not know now who the man was, because he did not see his face.
Frederick PAUL, licensee of the Rock House Inn, Curry Mallett, said MORSE and a girl were standing in the porch of the building on Thursday morning about 10.30.
In reply to MORSE, witness said he mistook him for someone else, and said to him. “You are not living around this part now?” to which MORSE replied, “No, but I have some rabbit traps down at Mr. SLADE's to pick up.”
TRAGIC DISCOVERY.
P.S. HARWOOD (North Curry) said he received a communication on Thursday and made a search in the River Rag and in the district. On Friday morning, in company with P.C. SMART, Mr. MORSE, and others, he continued the search, and eventually found the body in the River Rag in the parish of Curry Mallett. The body was conveyed to Park Farm, and afterwards to Taunton.
FAINT BRUISES ON CHEEKS.
Dr. Godfrey CARTER, hon. pathologist to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital, who conducted a post-mortem examination at Taunton, said the girl was exceptionally well developed and broad of build. She looked more than her age. She was fully dressed, and had on a pair of long gum boots and an outdoor coat, which has a right-angled tear on the right side.
There were no marks of injury beyond a faint bruise on the prominence of each cheek.
These were recent and the bruise on the right cheek was composed of several very small one <sic>; they were distinct from one another, and were only visible on close inspection. There were on the cheeks particles of masticated food corresponding with what witness afterwards found elsewhere. Rigor mortis was present.
EXAMINATION OF THE NECK.
Very careful search was made in the region of the neck, Dr. CARTER continued, but no marks of bruises or other abnormal conditions existed, either externally or under the tissues beneath. Examination of the scalp, head, brain, and membranes showed nothing abnormal. The larynx showed no evidence of pressure or injury. The stomach contained about four ounces of well-masticated food, but
whether alcohol was present he was unable to say without an analysis.
There was evidence of the deceased being in a certain condition. Witness concluded that the body had been immersed in water for at least several hours. The cause of death was asphyxia, due to drowning.
ANALYSIS OF STOMACH CONTENTS.
The Coroner: You cannot definitely say, without analysis, whether there is anything to indicate the presence in the body or <sic> rum?
Dr. CARTER: Not without analysis of the stomach contents.
The Coroner said he thought it would be more satisfactory to have the analysis. Something might turn upon it. He thought that the police also would be to pursue their investigations.
The enquiry was adjourned until Tuesday, March 14th, at 11 o'clock, the Coroner saying he would try to complete it on that occasion.
<NOTES: Doris Winifred or Dorothy Winifred BREWER, daughter of Frank BREWER and Lily MORSE
Frank BREWER son of George BREWER and Sarah Elizabeth or Elizabeth MILLER, married Lily MORSE
Lily BREWER daughter of Albert John MORSE and Alice WADHAM, married Frank BREWER
Fred MORSE son of Albert John MORSE and Alice WADHAM>