Relationships
Relationships
The following extracts show the complex relationships between the Griffins and the Coates in
Bowden/Brompton. For more detailed descriptions of the murder, see George John Griffin: "Murder of
Cousin Sarah Jane Coates".
*** Register Saturday 31 August 1895:
THE RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED.
Our Hindmarsh correspondent writes:— Some relatives of the late Mrs. Willis are living at Coglinstreet, Brompton Park. The maiden name of the unfortunate woman was Sarah Jane Coates, and Mr.
John Thomas Coates, brickmaker, of Coglin-street, is her brother, and for nearly three years he did not
know where she was. He last saw her at the residence of Mrs. G. J. Griffin [Mary Ann Ryles], who was
a cousin of hers.
Mrs. Griffin, wife of Mr. A. Griffin [presumably Mrs Alfred Griffin, Caroline Jones], of Frost-street,
Brompton, states that the deceased with her brother, Mr. J. T. Coates, lived with her husband's
mother, the late Mrs. Ann Griffin [Ann Coates], at East-street, Brompton, until the death of her parents.
When Mrs. Griffin's death took place, about thirteen years ago, they made their home chiefly at Mr. G.
J. Griffin's. John, the brother, following the brickmaking trade, and she going to service. The last time
they saw her was at her brother's house, and Mrs. Coates, the sister-in-law of deceased, who was ill,
could not accompany her to the station, although she wished to see her off. The deceased said she
was going to Alma.
Mrs. Griffin, wife of Mr. Frederick Griffin [Margaret Ellard], also of Coglin-street, and another cousin
to the deceased, when speaking of the affair said there were five in the Coates family, and they were
unfortunate in being left orphans previous to coming to Adelaide [from Wallaroo]. Their father was
killed by a horse and cart running over him. At that time they lived near Wallaroo, and it was after their
father's death that the children came to Adelaide and became dispersed among various relatives. The
eldest married soon after, and later on the second of the family married a Mr. Marriott. John and Sarah
Jane lived with Mrs. Ann Griffin until she died, when the former went to Mr. G. J. Griffin's and the latter
to Norwood, where she entered service. The youngest of the family was a boy, and he lived for years
with another relative named Mrs. King, who resided at Plympton. He was married, and lived in the
North. [Charles Henry Coates died in 1878 when he was run down by his own dray - he was a
woodcarter - in Port Pirie, allegedly while drunk. He had 3 children with his wife Betsy Brown, who died
in 1876, then 2 more with Elizabeth Ludgate (who I don't think he married).]
Mrs. Griffin did not know the whereabouts of any of them except John, who was new married and
lived near her. She had not the least doubt that the deceased was Sarah Ann Coates, because she
left to go in the direction of Hamley Bridge. Mrs. Griffin was not surprised at not hearing from Mrs.
Willis, as she could neither read nor write. The late Mrs. Willis was rather short and thick-built.
*** Chronicle Saturday 31 August 1895:
THE LATE MRS. WILLIS'S RELATIVES.
Relatives of Mrs. Willis (nee Miss Sarah Jane Coats), who live in Coglin-street, Brompton Park,
were interviewed on Thursday evening.
Mr. George John Griffin said: — "I am a cousin of Sarah Jane Coats, whom, I suppose, is the
woman murdered at Alma Plains. The name given in The Advertiser is Sarah Coats, and on seeing
that I concluded it was my cousin. She was born on March 12, 1868, and when 10 years old she and
her brother, John Thomas Coats, after their parents' death, went to live with my mother, who kept a
grocery store in Mr. S. Coombe's shop, East-street, Brompton. On the death of my mother, 13 years
ago, Sarah Jane Coats and her brother made my house their home, and have continued to do so
since. Sarah has not been living at my house all that time, for she has been at service as a general
servant. Her brother and I will proceed to Alma Plains on Friday morning by train to see if we can
identify my cousin. I am, however, of opinion that it is she who has been murdered. She was about 5
ft. in height, stoutly built, and of quiet disposition, and would, in my opinion, not make a quarrel with
anyone. Her hair was naturally frizzy and light brown in colour, and she usually wore a long fringe to
her eye brows. She had light blue eyes."
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Relationships
Mrs. Griffin, wife of Mr. G. J. Griffin, who appears to have exercised a motherly care over Miss
Coats, says: — "We last saw her about two years and eight months ago. She had been living at
service with Mrs. Hogan, Chapel-street, Norwood, for about three years, and came home during the
Christmas holidays — that will be three years next Christmas. She next went to live with Mrs. Ragless
at Norwood, and remained with her six weeks. Then she advertised for a place and showed me a
letter she received, which I believe, although I am not sure, was signed Willis. After reading the
account of the murder in The Advertiser this morning we concluded that she went as a servant to Willis
at Alma Plains. We have not seen or heard of her for about two years and eight months. I called on
Mrs. Hogan to-day, and she stated that she had not heard any thing of Sarah until she saw the
account in the newspaper. As the young woman was usually called Jane, Mrs. Hogan thought that
perhaps the murdered woman was her sister. We have not received any information as to whether she
went to Alma Plains, and were not aware that she was married." Mr. John Thomas Coats has no
knowledge of his sister's whereabouts and has not seen her since she was at Mr. and Mrs. Griffin's
about two years and eight months ago.
***
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