Mary Ann MCarthy

Mary Ann MCarthy was found beaten to death in her home at 25 Charlton Street in Portsmouth.

Her body was found naked on the floor and covered over hastily with a man's overcoat.

She had marks of violence on her head and it was thought that she had been battered to death by the fist of a powerful man.

Her lodger was initially detained in connection with her death. At the inquest he later gave evidence as to how he came home late and found her lying on her bed in the back room on the ground floor.

Her inquest heard that her death was due to asphyxiation from unnatural causes, but that they were not able to say how.

An open verdict was returned.

Charlton Street has since been demolished but was once just to the west of the Clarence Street car park.