A cry in the night

Redan fruiterer, Thomas Edward Greenhalgh, was woken by a cry in the night in July 1923. He heard a woman near the Yarrowee River calling "Don't murder me". When he went down to river in the morning, he discovered the body of Emily Tangey floating in the water.

Details
From the Ballarat Star, 31 July 1923: “DON T MURDER ME” A CRY IN THE NIGHT. A WOMANS DEATH. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. Yesterday the Coroner (Mr P.H. V. Elliget), P.M.) resumed his inquiry in to the circumstances attending the death of Emily Tangey, whose body was found in the Yarrowee Creek on 22nd July. Senior Constable Morey conducted the police case, and said that lnspec tor McLennan had given instructions that the fullest inquiry should be made into the ease in view of certain infor mation which had been forthcoming. Dr N. A. Longden deposed that he made a post-mortem examination of the body. There were numerous su perficial bruises about the knees. The cause of death was asphyxia by drown ing. Senior Constable Morey—Did you find anything to indicate that she had been ill-treated? Witness—No. Senior Constable Morey —The only marks were those about the- knees ? Witness—Yes. The Coroner—Had there been vio lence there would have been more bruising? Witness—That is so. I would have expected the bruising to be more gen eral if there had been violence. The Coroner—Were the bruises caus ed while she was in the creek? Witness—l think they were caused prior to that by falling. Albert Pearce, of Armstrong street, north, son of the deceased, who had previously identified the body, said that his mother took drink, but was always able to look after herself. He had told her not to have drink in the house. The suit case produced be longed to his mother, and was in good order on the Saturday morning (21st July). The catch was in good order, and the case was practically new. Agnes Elbourne, married woman, re siding in Scott’s Parade, said that at about 8 p.m. on Saturday, 21st July, Mrs Tangey called at her place and re mained there for about half an hour, having with her the suit case produced, which was tied round with cord. Wit ness promised to take the case to be repaired on the following Tuesday. There were small parcels in the case. There were then no signs of drink on Mrs Tangey, who often called at her place, and on different' occasions had remained there over night. That night she left at about half-past eight, saying she was going to Petch's wine shop in Main road. Witness had known her for about [indecipherable] months. On the previous visit Mrs Tangey had re- mained at her home two nights. That was two months ago. Senior Constable Morey—Did the de ceased ever say to you that she would take her life? Witness —Never. Senior Constable Morey—-Was she al ways in the best of spirits? Witness—Yes. Robert Edward Petch said that at about a quarter to nine on the evening of Saturday, 31st July, Mrs Tangey called at the wineshop for two bottles of wine. He had known her for two or three months. She obtained the wine but did not pay for it, promising to pay his mother. He had never served her with any wine. She appear ed to be quite sober and put the bottles in a small suit case. Margaret Hogan, married woman, liv ing in Scott’s Parade, deposed that Mrs Tangey called at her place at 9 p.m. on 21st July, and remained for a quart er of an hour, being perfectly sober and having with her a suitcase which was tied with a piece of cord. Witness could not say which way Mrs Tangey went afterwards. She had known her for five years, but had not encouraged her drinking habits. The deceased was very insulting when she had drink in. Mrs Tangey told witness that she had a quarrel with her son over drinking and 12 months ago (when the worse for drink) said “You might hear of me be ing found in the Lake.’’ Margaret Trethowan, widow, living in Ballarat East, said that she remember ed Saturday, 21st July, when Mrs Tang ey called at her place at 9.30 o'clock in the evening to see a Mrs Paitern, a former occupant of the house. Witness did not know the deceased, who did not enter the house. The woman was accom panied by a little dog, which was at her place at eleven o’clock that night, whin ing at the back door. Witness did not notice any sign of drink on the woman. Doris May Downing, packer, residing in Ebden street, said that when she was coming out of the Coliseum at about 11 o’clock on the Saturday night, she saw Mrs Tangey, whom she knew by sight but did not know to speak to. Mrs Tangey was going along Little Bridge street to wards Grenville street. The woman was talking to herself and did not seem too sure of her feet. Witness formed the opinion that she had been drinking. Arthur McGowan, fruiterer, of Grant street, deposed that at about 11.30 p.m. on 21st July, he heard a wo man’s voice. Somebody bumped against the side wall of his house, and that drew his attention. The woman said. “I knew it was you as soon as your put your hand on me." He went out to the back of the house and saw a woman with two men. By the des cription in the paper he knew the woman was the deceased. 'The bigger man of the two was holding a suit case. She pushed the bigger man, telling him to get away. She swore at him and said, “I know what you want, you want my money." To the other man she said, “You can come here; I like you.” Witness looked under the fence and said “What's your game?” Both men replied, "We are trying to do this woman a good turn by helping her home.” The bigger one then went as if to throw the suitcase on the ground, saying, “You silly old fool; a man ought to throw you in the creek instead of do- ing you a good turn.” The woman had no hat on. She had been lying on the ground and the men lifted her up. She appeared to be the worse for drink. The men took her away about 15 yards along the fence, and then either fell down or was dropped down. Witness stood there for some time, and then called out, “Can’t you get that woman home? Can’t you get a cab and take her home, or to the watchhouse?" With that one of the men came back along the fence and said, "She will be all right in a few minutes.’ Witness said, "Where does she live,’’ and received the reply, "Down here.” He then asked, "Down where—Mount Pleasant?” and the man said, "Yes" but refused to give her name as he did not want it ad- vertised. Witness remarked, "I am not going to advertise it, but you will have to get her away out of here. If she is left there for the night she will freeze." The man then returned to the woman and said, "Come oh, pull yourself together, as the man is going to send for a cab and get you to the watchhouse.” Witness then went in side and shut the door. Later wit ness went out again, but nobody was to be seem. He peered into the dark ness and saw what appeared to be two men walking back north. The men had on dark overcoats and dark hats. The woman did not want one of the men, but said that the other could go with her. He did not hear anybody calling out. It was a windy night. The creek near the place was guarded by two rails in some places, and one rail in others. It would be a mile from his place to the spot where the woman’s body was found. The woman seemed to lie helpless. He could not describe the men. Thomas E. Greenhalgh, fruiterer, living in Yarrowee parade, Redan, said that he went to bed at midnight on 21st July. Between two and three o’clock he heard voices coming from the creek, which was 30 to 50 yards from his bedroom. He heard a female voice distinctly say, "Don’t murder me.” Within half a minute of that he heard a terrible scream. He lit the lamp, and looked out the window, but could see nothing, the night being very dark. When he got up at daybreak he searched the creek to see if he could find a body. After breakfast he had another look, and at about half past 10 saw a boy running on the opposite side of the creek. Witness and two other men ran down and found the body in the creek. The body was not moved until Senior-Constable Morey arrived. Just below his house the channel ended, and the creek commenced. There was no doubt whatever about his having heard the scream. He called his wife and daughter and they fancied that they had heard somebody call out. Senior Constable Morey — Are you sure you heard a woman call out? Witness - I would not have got out of bed if I didn’t. I heard a cry “Don’t murder me.” Senior Constable Morey —Is your daughter in the habit of calling out in her sleep ? Witness—Sometimes she calls to her mother. Senior Constable Morey—Are you quite sure that it was not your daughter who called out? Witness- I am quite sure, that it was not my daughter calling out. Senior Constable Morey - Could a person get down into the creek there Witness - It is very rough. The voice came from the creek beyond the channel. The Coroner - Did you hear different voices? Witness - I could not say if there were two or three persons. Senior Constable Morey, stationed at Redan, stated that on the morning of Sunday, 22nd July, be proceeded to the creek and saw the body of a woman, fully-clothed, lying in the water. The woman had no hat on, but was wearing a very heavy overcoat. The head was against the overhanging bank of the creek, with the feet towards the centre of the stream, and caught on a rock and a loose picket from a fence. The stockings were hanging down, over the boots, the legs being bare to the knees. There were several bruises on both legs, and he thought that some of them had been caused by contact with the rock and the picket. With the assistance of Mr Greenhalgh witness removed the body to the bank. He and Constable Blanchfield made a superficial examination of the body, but could not find any traces of violence. Constable Blanchfield made a search along the creek for the woman's hat, and found the suit case in the water about 60 or 70 yards beyond the body. Constable Blanchfield had the body removed to the morgue. Detective Hingston deposed that he had seen the body at the morgue and had made inquiries, but could not trace the men in whose company the woman had been. He did think that the water in the creek would have carried the body far. A hatpin was found near M'Gowan’s, where had been lying down, and it had been identified as having belonged to the deceased. The Coroner - Who found the hatpin? Arthur M'Gowan (recalled) said that he found a hatpin near his fence and handed it over to Plain-clothes Constable Brown. He found it on the Monday where the woman had been lying down. Mrs Hogan said that the hatpin had been shown to her, and that she had identified it as having belonged to Mrs Tangey, who on one occasion had dropped it in the house of witness, who picked it up and handed it to her. Albert Pearce said that he had identified the hatpin as his mother’s. He was certain of that. The Coroner—-The general description shows that this was the woman who was with the two men. The difficulty appears to be to trace the men. Senior Constable Morey - If your Worship thinks it desirable, we might try to trace them. We have given you all the information which we have been able to secure. The Coroner—I think it is very desirable that they should be traced. I know that it may be very difficult to do so, but I will adjourn the inquest to a date to be fixed. No harm can be done by that, and you may be able to clear up the matter. Senior Constable Morey - We know what lines you desire us to proceed on. The Coroner - There appears to be no marks of violence on the body, but in view of Mr Greenhalgh's evidence further inquiry is desirable. Senior Constable Morey - If a woman who had been drinking fell into the water in the creek the shock might cause her to cry out. The Coroner—But the witness Greenhalgh says that he heard the words, “Don't murder me.” It does not look like a case of suicide. The inquiry was then adjourned, to a date to be fixed.