The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-29 00:00:00

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Mrs. Bryant, Mr. Westbrook, and myself—came
from the opera in a cab, and there was a dispute
about something that occurred at the o.icra after
supper. We had met a lady there who did not ap-
pear to wish to be seen. It became an angry
altercation. I was standing with Mrs. Bryant near
the door, talking to my mother, when I saw the knife
pass or thrown across the table. It appeared to
strike my mother flat, and I believe it fell on the
table, but I afterwards understood my mother drew
it out and put it ou the table.
By a Juror—There were blows before the knife
struck, but I was not in the room. I heard so from
Mrs. Bryant. I flew at Mr. Westbrook, and I believe
I struck him.
Coroner—Of course, thinking the knife had been
thrown at your mother ?
Witness—Yes. Mrs. Bryant and my mother
separated us. My mother said at first that she
was nor, wounded. She then went up stairs and
showed the wound to Mrs. Bryant. I was
told to go for a doctor, and I did so —:for
Mr. Young, who is here. Mr. Young came and said
the wound was serious, but he thought there was no
danger. My mother said "I am wounded, but I
do not think it serious." Mr. Young attended my
mother up to Thursday morning, and administered
a quantity of medicine, but it took no effect. My
mother passed a bad night. I found a change take
place at 6 the next morning, and went twice for Mr.
Young, but before he arrived my mother died—
about 8 on Thursday morning. Mr. Westbrook was
no relation. He had been a lodger in our house in
Buckingham-street, Strand,about a year and a half.
He was not a single man, but three months ago
obtained a divorce from his wife. I saw him strike
my mother once, but that was more of a push than
a blow. He was allowed to do as he liked in the
house. My mother said the blow on her nose was
the effect of an accident, but I have since heard
that it was not. I believe he hurt my mother's
arm in Buckingham•street 21 years ago.
By the Coroner—There were mutual recrimina-
tions. The lady at the opera appeared to give my
mother the cold shoulder.
By a Juror—l do not believe there was any pre-
meditated malice. I believe the wound was acci-
dental.
By another Juror—My mother lived with Mr.
Westbrook on the terms of a friend. It was a table-
knife, but one that had been worn. I took up a
knife that I believe did it—the only one that it was
possible to do it with.
Coroner—ls that the knife ?
Witness—Yes ; but it has been cleaned.
The Coroner's officer said it had not.'
Witness—lt is the same knife in my belief, but I
cannot swear, because it was dirty then. [lt is an
ordinary table-knife, but sharp both back and front
from being worn.] I saw the knife come against
my mother. My mother never wore stays, and
had on a thin dress and three petticoats.
Coroner—lt seems almost an incredible thing
this knife should have done it.
Witness—The knife was used at supper. I saw
Mr. Westbrook make a movement with his hand
and the knife go across the table as if it left him.
They had moved from their places at the table.
They were on friendly terms, but words might pass
between them. Mr. Westbrook is a violent-tem-
pered man, and I have at times fallen out with him.
Mr. Westbrook is not in practice at present, but I
believe his name has been put in the Law List this
year. He has always retained his certificate, but
not practised.
Coroner—Do you blame any one for your mother's
death ?
It was caused by the knife. Mr. Westbrook
begged of me to send for a doctor.
Mss. Catherine Bryant, residing in the same
house, said—l am the wife of a wine merchant, who
is out of London. I am the adopted daughter of the
deceased. The only persons residing in the house
were the deceased, Mr. Westbrook, Mr. Cathrey,
Mrs. James, Mrs. Cathrey's maid and two servants,
and myself and two children. We had all our meals
together. We all went to the opera and spent a
pleasant evening, but a difference arose through a
lady offering a slight to the deceased. I said the
lady slighted deceased, and Mr. Westbrook said,
"I am glad you noticed it. lam of the same opi-
nion ;" but Mrs. Cathrey said she did not think the
lady had. That is all the quarrel was about.
By a Juror—Mr. Westbrook is a passionate man.
After supper I wished Mrs. Cathrey to go to bed.
Witness—Mr. Westbrook seemed much agitated,
but was perfectly sober. I saw Mr. Westbrook go
to the table, take up a knife, and throw it at Mrs.
Cathrey. I then saw Mrs. Cathrey take up the
knife and throw it to the ground. Young Mr. Cath-
rey seeing this got up and struck Mr. Westbrook
and marked his eye. I got between them, and Mrs.
Cathrey whispered something to Mr. Westbrook.
Mr. Westbrook then said, " For God's sake send for
a surgeon ! for I believe I have wounded Mrs.
Cathrey, but I did not intend to do so." Mr. Cath-
rey went immediately for a surgeon, and the
deceased then said she wished to see me alone.
I then locked the door, and deceased said, " Pray
nerve yourself, for I think I am wounded more
than I expected." She then asked me to undress
her, and I did so, and saw a wound, and was much
shocked. She begged me not to be alarmed, for
it was " a mere scratch." and she aid not feel the
knife enter nor when she pulled it out." It bled
very slightly for such a wound. The deceased said,
" I think I shall die, but I gave Mr. Westbrook
great provocation. It must have been purely acci-
dental, for I am sure he never could have intended
to harm Me." The deceased said the same thing
many times before her death, and Mr. Westbrook
seemed very sorry. I had never seen any ill-feeling
previously displayed, and never saw Mr. Westbrook
strike her before then.
By a Juror—There were blows before the knife
was thrown. It was all about the same thing. Mr.
Westbrook used an angry expression, but I can't
remember what. Mrs. Cathrey provoked him. One
of the blows was on the chest, but it was not a vio-
lent blow. I was not mixed up in the quarrel.
Mr. Cathrey, recalled, said that Mr. Westbrook
and his mother were not living together as man and
wife.

Mr. T. Young, M.R.C.S., 8, Sackville• street, said
—I had attended the deceased lady for 20 years.
On Wednesday morning her son came to fetch me
and said Mr. Westbrook had sent him to fetch me,
as his mother had received an "accidental wound."
I went, and saw her lying on the second floor, and
saw the cut, the size of the table-knife shown me.
On inserting my little finger I found it was the
size of the knife. The deceased was an extremely
portly woman and had a protruding belly, and it
was just the sort of wound one might expect from
the knife. To have caused her death the knife must
have entered three-quarters of an inch. It just
passed through the walls of the belly, and went
through both layers of the peritoneum and the
bowels. I have made a post-mortem examination,
and found an opening of the intestines. The de-
ceased became exceedingly oppressed after 20 hours,
and I found her dead next morning. There were
no other marks of violence. She told me that she
was certain that Mr. Westbrook would not hurt a
hair of her head.
By the Coroner—J have only done sufficient to
ascertain the cause of death. I found an opening
into the cavity of the bowel, and it had penetrated
the ilium. The cause of death was hemorrhage of
the superior mesenteric artery, and it would
become peritonitis. Death was caused by the
wound. There was not much loss of blood. The
deceased told me 20 times it was an accident.
Inspector Robert Hubbard, E division, said
,
Hearing Hearing of the death of a woman by stabbingtethe
the house, I sent Sergeant Watts to invtehseiga
affair, and I believe he was told that
Idoacfttoer's
certificate had been sent to the registrar.Mr• Westbrookr-
wards went to the house and a
he
that
as in. the. habit
of s'twarose, and he said
and asked him to explain how
regardingi a lad
it was through an altercation
the opera. He also
in doing so
of throwing his arms about,d and
the knife slipped out an.
said
tha
that
struck the deceased. I
d to
told him I should be oblige take him into cus-
tody. He
said I am. a solicitor, and was laying
the time.'
down the law at
Mr. Young. recalled, said,—l believe it was done
as stated. When I wrote the certificate he offered
to take it to the registrar himself.
The Coroner—l am sure no registrar would
have
taken s-ach a certificate under the
circumstances.
Inspector Hubbard said Mr. b est rook was pre--
sent.
The Coroner—lf he ch
ooses to give evidence I

Id to take it, but he must be sworn, and it

may be used against him.
Mr. Westbrook was then sworn, and said—l am
a solicitor, and resided with the deceased for four
years. I met with a great misfortune some years
ago, and went to Liverpool. My wife eloped, and
then I went to reside with the Cathreys. I have
always been treated with the greatest kindness by
the deceased. I subscribe to all the witnesses have
said with a few exceptions. I had been out, and
on going home I threw myself on the sofa. Mrs.
Cathery, with her usual kindness, said "Lie on
the sofa, you are very warm. I shall insist on your
going to the opera." Mrs. Cathery had a peculiar
habit of insisting on things. I declined to go, but
she would take no refusal. I dressed myself, and
we went to the opera and spent a very pleasant
evening. We saw a lady there, and I think there
was a show on her part of the " cold shoulder"
towards Mrs. Cathrey. Poor Mrs. Cathrey was a
lady of extremely violent temper, but possessed of a
good heart and great good-nature. She had. how-
ever, a vehement way of expressing herself. Young
Cathrey and myself were like brothers, and used
If to
go through the sword exercise and such like.
contradicted Mrs. Cathrey she would sometimes
collar me in a playful way. The altercation ja
Buckingham-street which has been alluded to was
this :—I wanted to go out, and she half playfully
and half in earnest said I should not go, and, my
foot slipping, I seized her arm and hurt it very
much. On the night of the sad affair I was very
excited. but it was wrong that I walked up to the
table and threw the knife, as Mrs. Bryant saYs-
We had not moved, but were talking very vehe-
mently. The deceased contradicted me, and I took
up the knife as I should a spoon or anything else
near me, and I was saying, " Now, it's too bad of
you to say so." I am a powerful man, and the
knife as it went from me had great impetus, but I
repudiate the intention of hitting her. She had
attended me in sickness and looked to my welfare.
I did not know that she was even touched. She did
not know it herself till some minutes after, while
walking backwards and forwards in the room. She
then stopped and beckoned to me, and, turning
pale, said, " I believe the knife has struck me."
replied, "Is it possible ? If so, have medical assist-
ance at once." As the knife passed the son said,
" You threw that knife at my mother," and Mrs.
Cathrey rushed and squared her fist over me and
said, " Tom, how dare you attack Mr. Westbrook ?"
The:son struck four or five blows at me, one marking
me. Mrs. Cathrey pushed her son away, being very
angry with him, and desired him to go to bed. She
then whispered to me, " I am afraid that knife has
struck me." I said, " Vly God, is it possible ! Send
for Dr. Young immediately ; lose not a moment.'
I then told the son to go for Mr. Young, of Sack-
ville-street, for his mother was wounded, and Mr.
Young came. The rest you have heard from the
doctor.
This being the whole of the evidence, the room
was cleared of strangers, and the jury were left in
deliberation for some time, and at ten o'clock, the
inquiry having lasted nearly four hours, it was
adjourned till this evening (Monday).
Such has been the excitement caused since the
occurrence, that police have been specially put on
to keep persons from collecting in front of the
house in New Cavendish-street.