Drowning near Coney Island - 1851

Not the best few days for this blog...

FOUND DROWNED.--On Sunday morning August 10th, a body was discovered floating near the wharf or dock at Brook's Pavilion, Coney Island Point. The coroner being indisposed, Samuel Hubbard Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace of the town of Gravesend was informed of the circumstance, whereupon he proceeded to summon a jury, and went to the place where the body lay. The following facts were elicited during the examination and inquest. The body was that of a female apparently about 25 to 30 years of age. She had on a black silk dress, plain straw bonnet and half slippers. The head and neck were much disfigured probably caused by lying in the water.--There were no perceptible marks of violence about her, excepting a small scratch on the back of each hand. She appeared to have laid in the water from two to four days. The only marks by which she could possibly be identified were a wart on each thumb and one on the forefinger of her right hand. Her body was conveyed to the Kings Co. Hospita. The verdict rendered was "death by drowning."

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, August 11, 1851