The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-15 00:00:00

NARROW ICBC.AIR OF THE HUSBAND.

Since the adjournment of the coroner's Inquiry Into
the case s.t Marshallsay, much excitement has
prevailed in the vicinity, and, indeed, almost through-
out the county, and opinions regarding the issue of the
pod neortene examination, which last Monday the jury
directed to be made, have been rife. It will be
remembered that when the inquest was adjourned, the
jury decided that Dr. Wills, who professionally
attended deceased during life, and who was called
when the body was discovered, should, in conjunction
with Dr. F. Scott, of Bridp,rt, make • poet marten
examination, and report thereon at the adjourned
inquriry. 1)r. Scott, being absent from home, could
not attend, but the services of Dr. William LeGros
Denziloe, of West Allington Bridport, were secured,
and he with Dr. Wills made& minute examination of
the remains on the day following the inquest.
The appearance of the body having been critically
eaammed externally and internally, the remains
were deposited in the sequestered village church
at Marshallsay, on the afternoon of the follow-
ing day (Wednesday), the ceremony being attended
by numbers residing in this isolated district.—
The court was re-opened on Saturday last, at 2 p.m.,
before N. M. Loggin, Esq. Coroner, J. B. T. T.
Bullen, Esq., of Marshwood Manor, again acted as
foreman over the same jury.—In his opening remarks,
the Coroner referred to the object of adjournment,
which was to obtain more complete evidence arising
front the pad stoned which they had directed to be
made, and also to call other witnesses, He (the
Coroner) did not think that the latter evidence would
throw much additional light upon the matter. —The
Foreman: "We shou'd like to hear the additional
evidence.—Frederick Smith, who stated he was •
carpenter, of Marshalbsay, was first called and
deposed being in the kitchen on the 4th inst. (Friday)
between five and six in the evening. He saw deceased,
and each enquired for their health. She WM sitting when
the witness arrived, hnt went to the door to speak t
some one, returned, and sat down again. She went to
sleep in her chair, and Matilda Warren, sister of
deceased, tried to rouse her, but could not do so. At
the request of the sister, witness assisted to carry
deceased to the upper kitchen, and he left her there
with her head reclining on the corner of the settle, and
did not see her again.—ln answer to Coroner and
Jury ; She was sitting when witness first came in.
She was drunk. Had no drink that the witness was

aware of whilst he was there. Deceased usually drank
very much. She required the assistance to get her
into the settle. Deceased was usually in good temper
when in drink, but might sometimes say things to
cause a "Little noise." The husband, James, was not
present. Witness was in the house three-quarters of
an hour. Deceased had then a scar on the chin, and
a black eye, which did not appear to be fresh. Could
not tell if deceased had anything the matter with her
He had seen the husband the worse for drink,
but not ao often as deceased.—ln answer to the fore-
man, witness said he had seen blows passed four or
five years ago. On that night I did not hear anyone
say to deceased "If you do sot Icp into the higher
kitchen you will meet with it again. —The Foreman
remarked, he simply pet that qoration, as a report to
that effect had reached hint—Witness continued, he
heard the sister tell deceased " She had better go into
the higher kitchen as master was coming," but James
did not come whilst witness was there. He (vritnew)
was not in the house on the previous Tuesday.—
Frederick Hays, ' labourer, of Holditch, in the
adjourning parish of Thorncombe, next sworn, stated
being present on Tuesday theist February. Deceased
was sitting upon a form in the kitchen when James
Came in and ordered her from the room; but she did
not go away. Her husband gave her two or three cuts
with a stick he had with him. It was a "
James having been out horse-back. The husband had
had a drop, but deceased did not appear to be very
tipsy. She did not cry out much when James struck
her, but she left the room.—John Smith, of Marshall-
say, was next sworn, 'eying he was in the kitchen
between six and seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, the
Ist bust Deceased was seated in the lower kitchen.
As she did not get up when James asked her to do 113,
he struck her with the whip.--Sergeant Hill then
gave evidence. James told me he had given his wife
live or six stripes with a "whip-stub" across her
shoulders, "but there was one little thing." This
was repeated several times by James, and I thought
James meant "the drink." Sergeant Hill produced
a long horsewhip, such a one as would produce the
marks. William LeGros Deasiloe, • registered
physician and surgeon, of Allington, Bridpmt, said be
had made • post maim examination of the body, in
conjunction with Dr. Wills, on the Bth February
Inst. The datable( the doctor's minute evidenoe were
as follows :—We found the external apesarano. of the
body well developed and well nourisheS with a super.
abundance of fat; on the back several marks of large
weals were observed, a contusion of the left eye, a
bluntly incised wound on the chin, 1 inches long,
and an incised wound of an inch long through the
hairy scalp on the back part of the head, not accent-
Ponied with contusion or ecehyrnosis. Indeed, the
wound would have escaped notice from outside had we
not discovered itduring dissection of .the calvarium,
This blow' he thought, could not have been
inflicted during life. There were siva cif superficial
congestion of the pia aster, but nothing abnormal with
regard to the diem n nate ; the Innge much congested
and gorged with veal* ; heart abnormally
covered with fat, flabby in texture, with its right aide
somewhat dilated; there was no valvular disease; the
liver WM slightly enlarged, and in an incipient state of
fatty degeneration ; kidneys much congested ; stomach
hwithy containing the remains of a small meal of
animal and vegetable matter partially digested. The
intestines were dilated with wind was not
t. Cause of death, congestion of the lungs,
aboet by imperfect respiration due to the
position of the head and neck (the deemed being in a
s lase of intoxication) accelerated by a weak and flabby
condition of the heart (the result of chronic alcoholism)
which, when called upon for increased exertion, felled
to overcome the obstruction to the circulation through
the lungs.—ln answer to the Cerener, " Meath was
evidently brought ate ed by chronic alcoholic poisoning;
as to the effect of tho violence, he did not know
that it would altpr the cause of death, death
might have occurred without violence, In feet,
the doctor thought she had killed herself with
drink.--Superintendant istac,l44 of the Dorset
Constabulary Asked if violence would accelerate
death I—Dr. Denziloo, "Possibly, but I should not
make a decided statements' to that; the heart was pale
and flabby, not of a red appeerance which indicetess a
healthy heart. "—ln answor to the lemonlike the &cue
thought continual beating might death, but
then the heart of dece
rendered unhealthy. —With by y habits, was
ih oven' rtatement made by
Dr. Ilensibse r. Wills coincided. He believed
deceesed was enflocated from the position of sitting anti
death resulted from suffocation. Beating might have
added excitement to the system, —l4 long Pr, of
beating would accelerate death, giving more labour to
the Imert.—Mr. Loggia here reminded ills jury that