Mary Jane Pratt

Mary Jane Pratt was a woman who drowned in the Redan quarries.

History
Mary Jane Pratt was born c.1872, the daughter of William Pitcher. She was married to Alfred Pratt.

Pratt was found drowned in the Redan quarries on 8 September 1901: "An apparent suicide, with some mysterious surroundings, occurred at Redan yesterday, the victim being a woman named Mary Jane Pratt. The deceased’s husband, Alfred Pratt, called at the Redan Police Station at six o’clock in the morning and stated that he had found his wife in a quarry-hole, and Constable Stallard and Pratt subsequently recovered the body, which was floating in eight feet of water. Pratt Stated that on the previous night he and his wife had quarrelled, and she had said 'good-bye, you won’t see me again,” and left the house. The body was removed to the Morgue and an inquest will be held in due course. Full details of the affair will be found in another column." "An inquest on the remains of Mary Jane Pratt, whose body was found in a quarry hole off Surrey-street, Redan, on Sunday, was held before Nr J. L. Anderson and a jury of five this afternoon. The husband of the deceased gave evidence to the effect that on Saturday night his wife, who was then intoxicated, asked him to kiss her, for she was going. She went out, and as she did not return he thought she was going to obtain more liquor. The deceased attempted to take her life six months ago by poison, but she was taken to the hospital, where emetics were applied with satisfactory results. The medical evidence showed that death was due to asphyxia, and a verdict of suicide by drowning was returned."