The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-15 00:00:00

I 5311155393 N 010H3S110H

THE MURDIOI. OF A VICAR.

- -
THE CURANE CO XIIIITTED FOR TRIAL.
At Framlinghatn Police-court Arthur Edward
Gilbert Cooper, curate of Cretingham, Suffolk, Las
been again brought up on a charge of having murdered
his vicar, the Rev. William Meynott Farley, on
October 2. The court was crowded. The case was
watched by a solicitor on behalf of Mrs Farley. The
pasoner, when brought into court, at once took off
his hat, but lcoked round him vacantly. He made
no reply to the formal charge.
The Magistrates' Clerk handed to their worships a
letter from the resident surgeon 3f an asylum. who
said the prisoner had been under his care, suffering
from homicidal mania, so strongly developed that his
removal to another institution was necessary. Another
London doc-or wrote, offering to give proofs of pri-
soner's insani,y, while the Vicar of Milton (Ernest
Bedford), informed the Bench that Mr. Gilbert
Cooper was some years ago dismissed summarily
from a school at Godalming, where he was assistant
master, for a passionate attack on a pupil.
Mr. Moseley opened the case for the prosecution,
specially dwelling on the singularity of the fact that,
whereas on the afternoon of the day of the tragedy
Mr. Farley could not get out of bed, he did so during
the minute while his wife was in the curate's room
after the occurrence. He also commented on the fact
that the fall of the deceased, who weighed nearly 20
stone, was heard by no one in the house.
Mrs. Farley was then examined. She was dressed in
deep mourning, and seemed greatly affected whiie
speaking as to the events of Oct. Ist. She was inter-
rupted by the prisoner, who rose in his place and
muttered borne unintelligible words, at the same
time staringaimlessly about. After some persuasion,
he resumed his seat, and the examination proceeded,
but he several times repeated this action at later stages
of the proceedings. Mrs. Farley's examination brought
forth few fresh facts, except that the prisoner had for
a week been very ill and melancholy.
• At the close of Mrs. Parley's cross-examination,
Mr. Machen. her solicitor, said he need hardly ask the
question, but had there been any impropriety between
her and Cooper?
Witness: No.
Dr. Jones spoke as to Mr. Parley's wound, and as
he was describing its nature a painful incident
occurred, the prisoner again rising, and passed his
forefinger across his throat, trying, as it seemed, to
describe the manner in which the wound was inflicted,
though his words were unintelligible.
At the close of the case for the prosecution, the pri-
soners solicitor reserved He defence. The prisoner
was then committed to the assizes on the charge of
wilful murder. lle-again muttered some incoherent
words on hearing the decision, but left the court
quietly, first putting on his hat and insisting on
remaining covered, though a constable tried to re-
move it...

INTERMENT OF THE MURDERED
CLERGYMAN.

The funeral of the late Rev. William Meynott
Farley has taken place in the churchyard of Creti:ig-
ham parish. Many residents limn the surrounding
parishes were present, together with many of the
neighb3uring clergy. The cortege left the vicarage
at two o'clock in the afternoon, the body, enclosed in
an unpolished oak coffin, being conveyed upon a bier
drawn by a pony. Mrs. Farley, the widow, was the
chief mourner, and there were also present three sons
of the deceased and two daughters. The Burial Ser-
vice was read by the Rev. M. Allen, of Winston. In
the church and at the graveside Mrs. Farley was
apparently overcome with grief, and the ceremony
altogether was very sad and impressive. The de-
ceased was interred in a plain grave, close by his
second wife, who died in 1881.