Transcript
Wigan Examiner 19 Jan 1901
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A WIGAN YOUNG LADY
A MELANCHOLY CLEARING UP OF THE MYSTERY
We deeply regret to have to announce tht the body of Miss Tryphena Mawdsley, daughter of Mr Evan Mawdsley of the Fleece Hotel ,Wigan, whose disappearance since the morning of Boxing Day has excited so much distressful sensation throughout Wigan and such profound grief to her parents, was discovered on Tuesday morning in the the canal, near the top lock at Aspull. The parents have had the melancholy satisfaction, under these deplorable circumstances, of learning what had become of their daughter; but their suspense only, and not their sorrow, that is ended, and now that the worst forebodings have been so sadly realised, all hearts will go out to them in deepest sympathy. Miss Mawdsley was only 22 years of age, and had been in delicate health for some time past.
Mr Barlow, the deputy coroner for the district, held an inquiry at the Top Lock Inn, Aspull, on Thursday morning , into the circumstances concerning the death of the unfortunate young lady. Mr T Fairhurst was foreman of the jury.
Evan Mawdsley, father of the deceased and Mrs Mawdsley, the stepmother, gave evidence to the effect that the deceased returned home from a private party on Christmas night, and after she retired to her bedroom, she was not seen alive again, the body being discovered on Tuesday by a lock keeper in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh. The parents stated that there was no reason to suppose the deceased had any cause to be dissatisfied with her life.
The lockkeeper deposed to finding the body in the canal on Tuesday morning.
Police Constable Johnson gave evidence as to receiving information that the deceased had been found in the canal and to removing her from the water to the Top Lock Inn.
The jury, after hearing all the evidence, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had been “found drowned”, but how or when the deceased got into the water there was no evidence to show.(sic)
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THE FUNERAL
The internment took place at Wigan Cemetery on Friday, when the Rev R Tebbs, Vicar of St Thomas Church, was officiating clergyman. Wreaths were sent by the following: –
The family
Mr and Mrs R Fairhurst sen
Mr Hall of Buxton
Janie, Maggie and Tom, aunt and cousins
Mr and Mrs H Barton
Owen, cousin
Mr and Mrs A K Heaton
Mr and Mrs R Fairhurst jun
Mr and Mrs R Layland
Officers and Members of the Duke of Wellington Lodge I.O.O.F.
Mr and Mrs E Molatt
Mr G G Tarver
Mr and Mrs Joseph Dickinson
The Wigan and District Homing Society
The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
Mr and Miss Bullough
Miss Stopforth
Mr and Mrs Parr
Mr and Mrs Gorman
Mr and Mrs Chadwick
Mr A.H. and A Mason (sic)
Miss Ascroft
Mr and Mrs Pettit and family
Mr and Mrs John Houghton
and Miss Ford
The following were present at the funeral:-
Father, Mother, M J Evan, Nellie Mawdsley, Maggie Bolton and Miss Ascroft
2nd Carriage: Mr and Mrs Richard Fairhurst sen and Miss Barton
3rd Carriage: Mrs Hall , Miss Edith Hall, Mr Thomas and Miss Janet Halliwell
4th Carriage: Messrs, Henry Fairhurst, Jack Fairhurst, Evan Fairhurst, Henry Barton and Edward Barton
5th Cariage: Mr Richard Fairhurst jun, M Mason, Misses Bullock, Pettit and Cunliffe.
Alderman Layland also met the funeral party at the cemetery.
The coffin, which was of oak and brass fittings, bore a plate on which was engraved “Tryphena Mawdsley, died December 26th 1899 (sic)aged 22 years”