The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-06 00:00:00

STOURPMNE.

THE term SrWren. lbe inquest on the body of
the Rev. C. J. Tuffnell was held on Monday
morning, at the decametre residence, before W. le
Atkinson. BM.. coroner, and the following jury :
Robert Lewis (foreman), William It. Warren, Henry
Barret, Samuel Kerly. William M. Jackson. John Cole,
Edwin Thomson, Samuel Seeger. James Foot, George
Barrett, Robert Spinney, Daniel Wallis, Thome. BA.
and Oeorge Coles.—Several of the jury, intimate friends
of the dammed, evidently suffered from deep *ant
emotions, feeling acutely the lose both themselves awl
the pariah had sustained by the death of one, whs.,
whole time and study warn given up to the good of his
parishioners. After performing the most painful duty
of viewing the body, the following evidence was
given : —Elimbeth Blake deposed' I am a single woman,
and have lived with the deceased ever since he c•me to
the village. lqyears. I last saw him alive on Saturoley
night, at family prayers. He prayed awl also read the
!Mk. I next save him on Sunday morning, about two
minutes after eight. He was then in his dressing room
on the door, mid lying against the door, so that I could
not open it. I thought be had broken a blood-vesaeL
I went for assistance, end Elise Jane Harvey came. For
some time pant I hays ohs. reed a great change in Mr.
Tufnella demeanour. I thought something was the
matter with him.. he did not come into the kitchen on
talk to me and give orders, as he formerly did. He
seemed very much depressed in his spirits.--In answer
' to a juryman, witness said she thouglit she must have
(offended him in something as he did not speak to her in
the Motning.—laiza Jane Harvey deposed : I am a
single wonious, and have been in the servile of the late
Mr. Tufnell siesta 15 months. I heard Mrs. Tided'
screaming, and when called by the last witness I ran
upstairs, and pushed the dressing room door aa far open
eel could, and stepped into the room, over the Daly ;
Mrs. Tufnell was s here, and trying to raise her
husbands' body. I tried to assist her, and put my hand
over, and touched a wound in the neck- I let go
directly, as I was frightened, and Br. Tufnell and
I and myself came away, and sent for Mr. Daniell. I
did not see the deceased move or bre oth ; he a peered
quite dead. I heard him go upstairs &bust an hour
' before. He bad nothing on but his night dress, and a
1, coat:otoicedver
it, both
particularly on Thursday last, at church, and when he
ofirowinhitimbr.weTuire saneturaw. ted
mannwietr to
read prayers on Raterdsy night. I also noticed he
walked about the garden very fast on Saturday night,
and 1 alio agree with the last witness' that be was
very mush depressed in his spirits. By a jury:nen
The coat he had on was an old cost. He usually weir •
dressing gown 4 the morningd was in the b.hd ei
shaving every vaunting and a bath. Yeasesday
he heal done neither. I maw the razor lying in the mien
but did not touch it.--Goorge Williamson Daniell
deposed: I am a surgeon, residing and practising at
Illandford. I knew the deceased Charles Tufnell,
very well, and have attended his family professionally
for several year.. He has not been • patient himself,
as he has heen • man of good health, until Saturday,
the 20th instant I last saw him alive ess Thursday,
the 2.•Stli, at his own residence. I then observed that
he was in a very low nervous condition, and was out of
order, both bodily and mentally, He was suffering
from want of sleep, disordered digestion, and want of
appetite. I prescribed for him, and he expressed him-
self as being better and refieved by the remedies I had
given. The first time I saw him, as well as sub-
sequently, imagining there was something on his mind,
I taxed him with having some cause for mental anxiety,
anol he acknowledged that the bad moral state of his
parish had been greatly troubling him of late, and
adoleol olespondingly that he was afraid it was because
he hut not done his duty. I strongly recommended
change of air and scene, as being the only thing likely
to restore him to health. I expected some of his friends
would come and take trim away as soon as possible.
Yesterday morning, in company with • friend of his,
Mr. Henry Penfold, of Brighton. a medical man ("rho
slept in Blandford the night before, being unwilling to
disturb Mr. Tulinell so late), I drove over to see the
deeeased, and arrived at his house about ten minutes
to nine and on entering the house I heard and found
he had just destroyed himself. I went upstairs, and
found him lying as described by the previous witness.
I turned him over and found a very extensive wound in
the left side of the seek, which had divided all the
large vessels on that side, penetrating the spine, and
sufficient to cause immediate death. I spins,
on
the fluor the razor produced. (The coroner here
showed the razor to the jury, it was open
and covered with blood, and the beadle firmly fastened
with string to prevent its slipping). I have no doubt
the wound was inflicted with the rigor, and beyond all
doubt by the deceased's own hand. Froze my observa-
tions of Mr. Tufnell's manner and symptoms. I have
not the least doubt teat he was not in his right mind
when becommitted the fatal act. The coroner basin
briefly summoned op, the jury without any hesitation
returned as their verdict 'that the deceased committed
suicide by cutting his throat with • razor, whilst
labounoig unoler temporary insanity." It would appear
from the conversation which passed the deceased
and his medical adviser, that the cause which preyel
upon the unhappy gentleman's mind was the fear thet
he had not olone his duty as a clergyman, and this
acting on • peculiarly sensitive mind was no doubt the
chief cause of his mental depression. It is only right,
however, to add that no clergyman worked harder, or
took greater interest in the welfare of his parishioner's
than the lamented deceased. He devoted no small
portion of his time to the instruction of the young,
iond his peculiarly hind and unobtrusive manner gained
him the love and Worm of all, both' rich and
Poor.
FUNERAL OF THE REV. CHARLES TUFWELL.—
The mortal remains of this deceased gentleman
were interred on Friday last, amidst the lamentations
of his friends and late parishioners. The scene wee
truly distressing, very few of those present being
us Is to refrain from weeping. The funeral took
place at half .paat three, and the arrangements were
confided to the Messrs. ebbott, of 131andford, who,
wite the deceased's medical attendant, er. G. W.
Daniell, preceded the OAR, which was borne to the
grave by six men. 'I be chief mourners were Mrs.
Tufnell and the Rev. Edward Tufuell, brother of the
deceased; W. Beady, Esq. of Reading, Rev. Mr.
Crowfoot, and the Rev. air. Bennett, Sir John and
Lady D'Oyley. Then followed the farmers of the
parish- Mr. Lewis, Mr. Warren, Mr. & Kerley and
Yr. Barrett, all of whom had lived on the mast
intimate terms of Christian friendship with the unforta-
nate gentleman. whose loam they, evidently felt most
acutely. The clergy of the neighbourhood followed,
among whom were the Revs. Mr. Casher (Durweston),
Percy (Blandford), J. Penny (Blindfold), Prebendary
Daymen (Shillinptone), Dowding, Ilminsel (Shroton),
J. Mansfield (Blandford St. Nary) H. B. Vizard
(Spettisbury), It. Watts (Cluuiton), Churchill,
(Stickland), Littlewood (Turnworth), Roberta (Abbey
Milton), Lc., kc. Then followed the servants of the
deceased: the elder parishioners two and two. The
school schildien also joined in the mournful procession
at the church gates, and the church was crowded, with
a sorrowing oongregratinn, The burial service was
Impressively read by the Rev, Prebendary Watts, of
Quinine, who, however, could scarcely perform the
oluty through deep emotion. Such a sight is but
seldom witnessed, and we would fain hope that a deep
and lasting impression will be made by this sad and
solemn event on the minds of those, who, whilst the
deoessed was alive and amongst them, turned a deaf ear
to his kindly warnings, earnest entreaties, and affec-
tionate advice. Of him, it may truly be said, that
though his death was by his own hands, whilst labour-
ingunder temporary derangement, there is every ground
for believing he rests in sure and certain hope of a
resurrection to everlasting life and eternal happiness.