SKELETON MYSTERY
“The bones are of extremely ancient origin, and there is no evidence procurable as to how they came in the place where they were found,” was the coroner’s verdict at the inquest held at St. Lawrence, Ventnor, yesterday, on the discovery of the skeletons of a woman and child. The discovery was made in the ornamental gardens at Craigie Lodge, St. Lawrence, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, now in the occupation of Mrs. Capel, and formerly the residence of Mrs. Craigie (“John Oliver Hobbes”). The coroner was Mr. Francis A. Joyce, and the inquest was held in a schoolroom, while the bones, which had been removed from the police-station, were deposited in an adjoining room.
A feature of the proceedings was the evidence of an octogenarian resident, who related a discovery of a skull some fifty or sixty years previously. Mr. William Carpenter, a labourer, of Old Park Lodge, St. Lawrence, who was 81 years of age, said he had lived in the neighbourhood for many years, and remembered the spot where Craigie Lodge now stood before any houses were built. It was ploughed land, and “up against the orchard,” he went on, “when they were building two cottages, workmen took up a man’s head which was as perfect as you like, with teeth shiny like silver.” Answering the coroner, witness said this happened fifty or sixty years ago, and occurred about half a mile away from the spot where Craigie Lodge now stood.
George Wright, postmaster at St. Lawrence, told the coroner that the bank where the discovery was made was a dumping place for stones in 1889, and was now lower than it was originally.
Alexander Barter, of Inglewood Old Park, gave evidence of the laying out of the gardens at Craigie Lodge in 1907. He quarried out a bank of stones, but did not come across any bones.
Charles Hobbs, the gardener employed at Craigie Lodge by Mrs. Capel, was the next witness. He related how on Oct. 5 he was digging holes in the bank in order to plant some trees. He encountered a large piece of rock, and, raising this with a crowbar, found beneath a lower jaw with a complete set of teeth. The jaw was broken in two. “Removing the piece of rock,” proceeded the witness, “I discovered the bones of a human being in a doubled-up position. The legs were drawn over the shoulders.” He informed Mrs. Capel, and the police were sent for. Witness continued his digging, and on Oct. 13 came across another skeleton lying about 12in from the spot where the other bones were found. There were stones lying across the chest, one resting on the fractured part of the skull and another just by the right shoulder. The bones were old.