Kentish Gazette, 19 September 1854.

Suicide or a Lady's Man.

A melancholy occurrence took place in this town on Thursday but. As a young gentleman was walking along the sands to Pegwell bay, he saw the body of a woman lying on the beach. He ran back, and meeting with two men in a cart, proceeded once more to the body, which was found to be quite dead, though still warm. It proved to be the body of Charlotte Challice, a lady’s maid in the service of Mr. Waller. It was at this time supported that the unfortunate woman had been accidentally blown over the cliff by the wind. A coroner's inquest was held by Mr. Delasaux on Friday, at the "Shakespeare Hotel," Chatham-street, when the following witnesses were called:-

Joseph Beaman, who deposed:— I am a gentleman from Covent Garden, London. Yesterday morning, about a quarter to 12, I was going from Ramsgate to Pegwell Bay on the sands. When about half-way, I observed the body of a woman lying on the sands. I was frightened; and running back, I met two men in a cart, to whom I told what I had seen. I then went back with them to the body; on arriving at it, I discovered that it was a woman; she was quite dead, though still warm. We put her in the cart, and when we came to the pier, I left the men.

William Roach deposed, I am a commissioned boatman in the coast guard service, stationed at Pegwell Bay. Yesterday morning, between eleven and twelve o'clock, I saw the deceased walking on the cliffs, in the direction of Mr. Waller's house. She was alone. She walked down to the look out. I accompanied her a few yards; she then returned towards the house. In about four or five minutes afterwards she came back again and said to me, "If I were you, I would go away; for the ladies are coming down." I made no reply, but went away. I saw her just over the spot where she was found dead. She had neither bonnet nor shawl on. I do not consider it is a place where she should have fallen over accidentally.

Mary Carter deposed:— I am matron of the women's infirmary of Ramsgate. My husband is a policeman. I was present when the body of the deceased was brought to the infirmary in the cart. I assisted in removing the body from the vehicle to the bed where it now lies. I was also present this morning when the body was examined by a surgeon. I saw that the neck was broken. I believe that that was the cause of her death. The injury might have been received through a fall from the cliff. I searched the pockets, and found in money £2 17s. 6d., a purse, two pocket books, some keys a knife, a pencil, and some other trifling articles.

John Osborne, carrier, deposed to the fact that what the other witness had said was correct; and that he had nothing to add thereto.

Susanna Warthan deposed:- I am house-keeper in the service of Mr. Waller. The deceased has been my fellow servant as lady's maid for eight years and upwards. I observed her particularly depressed in spirits ever since Sunday last; she was also very absent. I saw her yesterday between eleven and twelve o'clock. I spoke to her; she answered as usual, only very low and weak; her voice trembled before she had finished speaking, which is not generally the case. I had remarked to the other servants before this occurrence, that she appeared strangely absent. She told me about a fortnight ago, that a strange sensation passed through her head, like a knife cutting, which she thought would be the death of her; also, that her mother had died in a moment from the same cause.

Harriett Brown corroborated the above evidence.

Edward Keans deposed:— I am butler in the service of Mr. Waller. The deceased had been with me for eight years. For the last fortnight I had observed that she had been very dull, and more reserved than usual. There was a circumstance which I consider might have caused the depression of spirits. She had spoken to me about making a will.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict. "That deceased destroyed herself by throwing herself over the cliff, during a temporary fit of insanity."