The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-09 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MURDER OF A WIFE

BY HER HUSBAND.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Plymouth, Monday Night, July 6.
THE SECOND DAY'S INQUEST.
We yesterday gave the particulars connected with this toe;
lancholy case, and the proceedings of the inquest on the 615
day, which had been adjourned to two o'clock this afternoon,.
Long before this hour, crowds of persons filled the val
space in front of the Inn where the Jiiryslvere to meet, as w'
as the various avenues leading thereto. The prisoner (ele,
ceased's husband) having signified his desire to be present!:
the inquest, he was about this time removed from the Guila_,
hail in a carriage, in the custody of the police to the inquest'
room. The police, however, experienced great difficititl
in removing him from the great mass of people who filled tbe
way through which they had to pass. Prisoner, when
entered the inquest room, was unhandcuffed, in consnquenceci
h's fainting away. He was dressed in an old blue COat'
old drab trowsers, dark spotted waistcoat, and bad on Wellingi
ton boots; he is about six feet in height, fair complexion, ligb
hair, and dark eyes. At about half-past two the Coroner
opened the Court. He then stated that there was an imulen,s/
number of persons assembled outside, who required and 1°:
sisted on admission to the inquest-room, and added, that ,
his opinion they could not be admitted without material incon,i
venience to the Court. He mentioned this, in order that,
the Jury wished, an adjournment might be made to sonic Or,
place. The Jury, however, said they would prefer proceo
ing there without delay. Business was then cornmea,
l
police-officers being in attendance to preserve order withing 6
without.

Charles Hingston, of Plymouth, M.D., being a member°
the Society of Friends, solemnly affirmed, that being y'estl
day, about half-past twelve or twenty-five minutes to one,.
Frankfort-street, was accosted by a-girl; who inquired whetstet
ii
he was a surgeon, as a person had cut her throat. He
he was a physician, and requested a surgeon to be called, Ow
then repaired to the house; which he found surrounded:,
a number of persons. On entering it, and proceeding toy!,
back parlour, found a female, now deceased (whom he basso;
been informed was Jane Honey) laying on the flow' id
her back, supported at the head by a man now preset!,
and on the left side of the neck was a person holding the wound;
part in his hand. The person was a man. He was Doi
j
Wright. Did not know him at the time, but has been inforl
it was Air. Wright. The blood was flowing freely on therig,
side in jets. It was then apparent that a severe cut had bee
made across the neck. An aperture in the larinx was pouf
out blood and air. Witness immediately applied his hallo ~'
the right side of the neck, and found that the blood was stay
on a pressure being made upon a vessel proceeding downwd;
Witness ordered the head to be raised, so as to close as few
possible the opening in the larinx. She remained faint dor!:
this time. In the course of about three or four minutes
.5;

had so far recovered as to be able to speak, but inaudibly,
after inquiring what she was trying to say, witness heard
distinctly say in reply to questions put to her by a woman 0,
was standing by, " Henry did it." That was all she 600,
Witness asked her, " how he did it ?" and her reply
" With a razor." She then asked, "Is there any hope,'
and turned to her right side. On the entrance of
husband at that moment, and his inquiring of veil
whether she could be saved, she became agitated.
was agitated at the time he entered--greatly. The
bands and the lower parts of the sleeves of his shirt 7'
blooded. She raised herself up, and the vessel of the eepi
slipped from his (witness's) fingers, and a 'crush of blood
lowed. Witness again seized the vessel, and begged
Fortescue, surgeon, to prepare ligatures at once. Al`4
time the blood was flowing from the opposite side, (the ;1
and the breathing became more and more difficult, at
the time the ligature was prepared, she had awri
expired, so as to render its application useless. Just afterPi
husband, Henry John Honey now present, came jar
room. He went on one side by desire of witness, 85„
greatly agitated her. The husband, in an agitated mkt
and with emotions of agony exclaimed, " I have done I
whole myself." That was the purport of what he said,
witness cannot be positive as to the words used. \V"'"
then spoke to Mr. Willis, . who was then supporting
ceased's head, and begged him to get a eonstable
take the husband into custody. A person prey
said he was a constable. Witness desired biro
take him into custody. The person left the ~31
and some one came in with him on which they led
room, and the husband with them. Deceased
_ _

within two or three minutes after. Witness then left the bawl t
Returned again about eight in the evening, at the reque„s
the Coroner. Examined the body of the deceased, and I°-,
that the wound had been the immediate cause of her dd.,
The body was very blanched. An incised wound extend°
about four inches, almost directly in front of the larinx, ra
more superficial on the left than on the right side. e
examining the left side it appeared that an anastronOre
branch of the external jugular vein had been divided
across. The muscles in front of the larinx and the ta,
cathaloge were divided. The thyreed cathaloge was6;e' t,
more than two-thirds of its circumference, immediately "' (
the vocal cords. On the right side, the superior thyroe•dartic:
was cut through within half an inch of its being- given °,i
the external carotid artery. No other large vessel on ths';'o
was wounded. The chest was then eetimined, and the "',,'
ay
pipe, the bronchial tubes, and the smaller branches of 11-•`",
vessels of the lungs, especially on the right side, coal!
much blood. The stomach was much distended, and coats'
about a pound of fluid blood. The wound in the necL
occasioned by some keen-edged instrument, apparently or,
from the left side to the right, and death ensued from the
of blood and the obstructed respiration.
The evidence was then read over by the Coroner, and
wards signed by the witness. 11
The CORONER here inquired whether the prisoner Wis.-. 0,
ask the witness any questions ? He replied in the negatli
By a Juramee—Witness is of opinion ehat the wotiv
inflicted from behind—he should think to.
Herbert Fortescue, of Plymouth, surgeon, sworn initio
amined by the Coroner—Was passing through King'
yesterday between twelve and one o'clock, when he Wet
sired by a person to go to a house to see a woman whose tci
was cut. Proceeded to the house of Mr. Honey, urns' t
where he saw a female lying on her back on the floor ill .
parlour. There was a great quantity of blood over her 1.0
Dr. Hingston was present, holding a wound on the right 'eV
the neck, and Mr. Wright held the left side. Mr.
was on her left side, supporting her head. Observed a',
quantity of venous blood flowing from the left side, ac,g
panied with the air. Has heard the evidence given beYBl
Hingston ; it is substantially correct. He would add, 00'
the time the deceased's husband entered the room, he inq(eo, '
if her life could be saved ; ho walked towards the '°,l'
and clasping his hands, appearing in great agony, sr ti .
that some women had informed his wife that he had bees,.
the girls, and that when he either was about to shsliettfl
shaving, he did it. These expressions were made use ° ydi
ing the time witness was preparing the ligature. Tile..efo!
band appeared to be much excited. Witness cannot the
say whether or not he was drunk. he i''
By a Juryman—The husband did not state whether f.
it up-stairs or down. 111-
Ihe prisoner did not ask this witness any questions' i
evidence was therefore read over and signed. et
_ei•
Dr. John Reed Roberts, of Plymouth, sworn and asmiee f
by the Coroner--About 1 o'clock yesterday was inforenetio,
01 was some accident, and proceeded to the house of Mr. e
musician, in King-street. Was directed up stairs to a Pi
..1..
that had swallowed poison. Witness found, on the first bor,:
ing-place, a man struggling, with two or three persons- it
ing him. His shirt sleeves and hands were blooded 4
said, " It's no use, its no use, I shall soon be gone," Or roe (
to that effect). lie was in a violent state of excite"-
His eyes were exceedingly blood-shot. Witness then
deavoured to sooth him, and asked him what he had tele
He said he had taken laudanum. Witness asked bin' , i
the bottle was. He said, Up stairs. Witness went uP:eO
with a constable (Millett), and found in the first he°7,oo
room several bottles—among them an empty hall
phial bottle with a label marked " laudanum." • '
found on a small dressing table. The room was i° ,e)'
disorder, and the bed aas in disorder ; on which the Niro(
took up in his presence a razor. Witness examined it, ans le,
appeared three or four recent spots of blood. The le;
the blade had not the appearance of having been cover -
blood. Witness immediately went down stairs and 55 e
husband of deceased near the spot where witness left• eh()
medical men were then there. Witness sent his son (% t
also a surgeon) for sulphate of zinc to administer to de°°;l4
husband. Shortly after witness gave him some water, 0.4
made him vomit. A copious discharge followed, such as ~. oi.
come from a man who had taken fermented liquors,.b°,",e2
ness could not detect laudanum. A considerable deg'tllll
excitement continued ; he fell on his knees, but said 1h°0,4
then ; after he complained of a burning- heat in his strittl9:
he became more tranquil, and was then handcuffed an„"setlei
away from the house in the charge of some constables. ' Itlvi
viewed the body of the deceased with other medical me'''an
he had seen the effects of the emetic. She was lying "ecl
the floor—her clothes highly saturated with blood, aoit
saw a large cut across the neck inclined upwards on the")
side at the termination. On examining the wound 50.01
ficially, the only vessel he then saw divided was the le4l
ternal jugular vein. Witness attended the post-exact
with Dr. Hingston and others, and having heard his 0 g
read over by the Coroner, confirmed the appearance() p'scribed by Dr. Hingston. His evidence was then res
and signed. e?
Just at this time a desperate rush was made by.theTiolil
outside the inquest room, with a view to gain admission, ice ify
they succeeded. The Coroner said, that in conseclnjerci eeei
he thought it best to adjourn, which he aecordinglY le 1
Council-room in the Workhouse. In order that t
log j
might procure some refreshment, the adjournment preie
half-past six. It was then about a quarter to six. Troov;
was cone-eyed back to the Guildhall, as he said he 11a. ei
sire to be present during the remainder of the Inqueehote'r
Soon before the time for meeting the Council.. l'" /i
filled by upwards of one hundred persons. be C el
The Court having been formally again opened by tdoio ,
ner, and the jury called and answered to their names' titi.
was resumed about a quarter past seven o'clock. of
Mary Honey, of No. 14, King-street, the rnetheere./eIY
prisoner, was then sworn and examined by the Cdr°llobeefe
ceased Jane Honey was witness's daughter-in-law. ,• . JO'"
vied witness's son. His name is Henry John H°lbefl. jir
ceased's age was 21 years last September: They olly,
married about three years. They resided first at a Mr' Vd
in Russell-street. Neither witness nor -her huslttael TO
anything of the marriage until it had. happened. 4ias,
married at Stoke by license. DeceaSed's mother pl.'eeo:Bi
money for the expense of the marriage. This ono A
told by deceased and her son. He went afterwards
~c 1
rica to try for a situation. During his absence cteneaP'