Woman

A woman was found drowned in the Chelsea Basin.

It was not known who she was and the police took her fingerprints in an attempt to identify her, which was a first for the Thames police.

She was a well-dressed woman and had been lodging at a house in Walham Green, however, the manageress did not know her name. The manageress said that the woman had been very reserved and refined in her manner, and gave the impression of having been well educated.

She was described as having been between 45 and 50 years of age.

She had had a handbag in her possession in which about £6 in Treasury notes and other money was found.

It was noted that on the day of her funeral that a man named March of Shepherds Market, Mayfair, came forward and declared that it had been the body of his wife, and she was accordingly buried in the name of Mrs March. However, the man later informed the police that his wife had reappeared. It was further noted that Mrs March very closely resembled the dead woman.

It was also noted that Mrs March's Christian name had been Maude and that a handkerchief found on the dead woman had had borne the initial, 'M'.

An open verdict was returned.