The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-07 00:00:00

DREADFUL DEATH.

On Monday Mr. Sparke, coroner for Bury St. Edmund's,
Opened an inquest on the body of Mrs. Scorcher, wife of Mr.
J. A. Scotcher, a gunmaker in the Meat-market at Bury.
For many years the deceased is stated to have lived on
affectionate terms with her husband. Of late, however, she
had accused him of inconstancy, and he was only prevented
from shooting himself a fortnight since by the arrival of his
brother. On Saturday Mr. and Mrs. Scotcher passed the
day as usual, and about 5 o'clock they were heard convers-
ing and laughing with an elderly man named Lochwoodo
At about 20 minutes past 5 o'clock one of Mr. Scotch er's
workmen, named Shaw, heard the report of a pistol while
he was in the back shop, but he was not at all alarmed, as

it was a common occurrence for customers to try pistols
when purchasing them. He had occasion, however, to go
into the shop to ask Mr. Scotcher a question. When he
did so he heard his master come from the parlour into the
Passage which separated the parlour from the shop and call
the servant and the apprentice. He was himself told to run
for Dr. Cooper directly. A boy was sent, but as Dr. Cooper
was not at home Mr. Smith afterwards came in his stead.
Shaw went into the parlour, and found Mrs. Scotcher lying
on the floor insensible. Mr. Scotchor began explaining to
him how she had been shot. Ho said his wife had accused
him of something not right, that he could stand it no
longer, and that he had taken a pistol off the counter with
the intention of shooting himself. He then showed how he
was holding the pistol—viz., in his right hand, raised above
him at arm's length, with the muzzle pointing towards his
breast ; and he added that his wife ran after him to prevent
him from shooting himself, and that in a scuffle which took
place the pistol went off. The weapon which Mr. .Scotcher
had taken up is a revolver of modern construction, and,
having neither guard nor trigger, it explodes so readily that
drawing it through the hand is sufficient to make it go off,
Mr. Scotcher assisted to carry his wife, who remained in-
sensible, upstairs and place her upon a bed, and then, find•
ing that Dr. Cooper was from home, ho went himself for
Mr. Smith. On his arrival, Mr. Smith found the sufferer
just alive, but she expired a few moments afterwards. Mr.
Scotcher was in great agitation, and frequently uttered ex-
pressions of affection for his wife. At the inquest Mr. Smith
detailed the results of a post-mortem examination, which
proved that the bullet had entered the right side of the
head just above the temple, passed obliquely through
the brain, and lodged in the opposite side below the ear,
There was also upon ono of her hands a mark caused by
the explosion of to gun-cap, which proves that at the time
the pistol went off she had her hand over the cap. The in-
quest was adjourned for the purpose of enabling Mr.
Scotcher to
give some particulars as to the cause of the
quarrel which terminated so tragically.

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