The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-25 00:00:00

SUPPOSED MURDER AND SUICIDE
IN LONDON.

Mr. Langham, London City Coronor, conducted a
long investigation on Monday at the Coroner's Court,
Golden-lane, relative to the death of Thomas Smith,
aged 48, landlord of the Citizen public-house, 70,
Houndsditch, and his wife, Mary Smith, aged 49, both
of whom died under very suspicious circumstances.
A few days ago the latter was found in a dying state,
her body covered with cuts and bruises and her skull
fractured. She died soon afterwards, and on Mon-
day morning her husband was found dead, with his
throat cut. Ellen Palatte deposed that she was
general servant at the Citizen. When she went to
bed on Tuesday night the deceased did not appear the
worse for drink. The witness heard no quarrelling,
but on getting up next morning found the deceased
in a setni-nude state lying in the bar. She appeared
stupilied, and there was blood upon her face. The
witness believed at the time that she had fallen down-
stairs, but subsequently found dreps of blood on the
top of the stairs, and there was blood also in the
kitchen. Mr. Smith told the witness that the deceased
had fallen downstairs. The witness asked him if she
should send for a doctor, but he made no reply, and
no medical man was sent for. She died about two
o'clock in the afternoon, and afterwards a doctor was
sent for. Inspector Williams, of the City police,
deposed that about three o'clock on Wednesday
morning a sergeant told him that the landlord was
quarrelling with his wife, and the witness heard sounds
as of a scuffle. He waited some time, and heard
Smith ask his wife to go to bed, but nothing taking
place to warrant police interference the witness went
away. Sergeant Harper, City police, said he
lookad into the bar and saw Smith and his wife
there. He used very bad language, and several
time; asked the woman to go to bed. Witness
hearl a heavy fall, and when the inspector came
up he informed him of the occurrence. He knew the
parties were of drunken habits. Mr. Quinliven, sur-
geon, deposed to being called in late in the afternoon
of the day in question to see Mrs. Smith, who had
evidently been dead some time. The body was shock-
ingly bruised; there were two black eyes, and the
skull seemed badly injured. When he made a post-
mortem examination he found that the cause of death
was concussion of the brain and shock to the system.
The concussion might have been caused either by a
blow or a fall. There were marks upon the body,
however, that were evidently inflicted with a blunt
instrument. An open verdict was recorded.
The death of the husband was then inquired into,
and W. Kingston, brother-in-law of the deceased,
stated that he appeared melancholy on Sunday night
when he saw him. He had been upset since his wife's
death, and had drunk rather heavily. The witness
saw him about eleven o'clock, when he seemed the
worse for drink. George Sawyer, potman, said the
deceased appeared in good health and spirits on
Sunday night. When the witness came to the house
on Monday morning, about eight o'clock, he found
the deceased in his bedroom with his throat cut and
quite dead. Police-constable Heath, 933 City, said
he was called in by the last witness. He found the
man lying on the bed. There was a pool of blood
on the floor, and a razor lying by the side. A doctor
was called, and and he pronounced him dead. The
jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily
insane!'