The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-05-18 00:00:00

THE INQUEST

On the body of Mrs Mary Ann Garland was held at the
Lily, West-street, on Saturday evening, at seven "clock.
before Nantes, Seq. Deputy Coroner.
Walter Garland des=sl I am the husband of deceased.
MY wiite's age was t 60—only my wife and myself
lived in the house. We went to bed last night at eight
o'clock, she (deceased) had not been from home, and her
health was as usual; she did not complain. I got up this
morning about • quarter to five, leaving my wife in bed.
She asked me to beat out the mat, the one before the fire.
I came down, best out the mat, brought it in and placed
it down-stairs. I then went into my workshop, at the
rear of the premises, where I remained until seven o'clock.
I then returned to the kitchen, lit the fire, and put the
kettle on, afterwards returning to my shop until eight
o'clock. My wife generally called me to breakfast I
entered the kitchen about eight, and found the kettle
boiling, but not finding deceased there, called her from
the foot of the stairs. Receiving no answer I went up
and found her hanging from a crook in a beam. I went
In for Mrs. Brinson, • neighbour who returned with me.
I
I caught hold of deceased when saw her, to see if there
was any breath in her
A Juror: Are there sot bruises about your wife I
A. • Perhaps by falling down the stain (The entrance to
the. attic, where the deed we, committed, is by • wretched
flight of stairs The approach is very dark, and the stairs
are in a most deagerous condition). Deceased had no
trouble that I am aware of except, perhaps about • baby
she had to keep from London. She had had the care of
the baby 9or 10 months, and it died last week. Deceased
had Bs. per weak font I have often heard her saY " I
wish the mother had it again." There was a balance due
to my wife from the mother of the child. The mother
came down for the funeral. I can't tell if the baby
troubled her. I believe she was fond of the child. She
has not been induced to drink on account of the child
that I know of. There has been • word or two lately in
the family. The child was buried last Wednesday, aged
11 months. _

--Mrs...Martha Brinson h:td known deceased from &child.
A few minutes before ei.ht that morning. Garland called
her, saying hie wife had hung horse E She followed him
upstairs where she saw deceased hung by • rope to •
hook in • wooden beam. The rope was twine round her
neck, witness believed the loop end was attached to the
hook. When the body was taken down the rope broke in
two Mews. The actions of dammed had been very
of late. Deceased had said earwig times she =ft
die would hove to pot the child in the Union. Witness

- --a- I_noon a__ n-;-1 saw her on the pre- ..ous gave her sonic tea
and cake. She then appeared better, she (witness) went
to Garland twice in one day, asking him what he was
going to do with his wife, but he replied she would be
better when the trouble about the child was over. Her
husband was very kind to her. The bruises on her arms
and side might lave been caused by taking down the
body, as she was very fleshy. There was • scuffle 111 the
house • few days since, but witness believed the &mead
was not interfered with.

-In7irsir-eTt.o—q-u-ssiiinis by the coroner and jury, witness
dated that lately demand had been drinking, but not
much on the day before her death On the day Wont the
child was buried, there was • duffle and disturbance, but
wither refused to interfere. The coffin of the child wee by
the request of its mother brought into witneen's house and
carried from thence to the cemetery. The deceased did
not complain of being struck, witness fancied the scuffle
was between the son-in-law and father-in-law.
Benjamin Studley, son-in-law of deceased, and recent]
• lodger at the house, said on Monday last deceased
told him the baby was dead, she had found it dying by her
side. She was then drinky. He also saw her on Thurs-
day, which was the last time he went there for his goods.
On Wednesday afternoon the mother of the baby was
harping deceased for something to drink. He (witness)
locked his door (of the room containing the conies of the
child) and went out for • walk. When he returned home
he found some in the room drinking. He told them
they should not be there drinking in the room where
the come was lying. Some words ensued. On
Thursday deceased appeared restless, and wither joked
her about going to an asylum as she was very queer.
Witness thought the Ices of the child and drink was
the canoes for committing the deed. She had fallen down
stairs several times before; believed she was fond of the
. .

Custard stated the woman was quite dead when
he got to the house. A box was on the Boor under the
Iron book. . . . . . . . .

without hesitation concluded that deceased
committed suicide whilst in an unsound AMA of mind.