The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-08 00:00:00

Coroner.—Had you not a friend to visit you in the evening ?
Witness.—Yes ; he came at 5 o'clock, and went with me
to the stables at about half-past six.
Coroner.—What is his name ?
Witness.—His name is Henry Carr. He had been coach-
man to Mrs. Fector, with whom I lived for two years. We
were fellow-servants there.
Coroner.—Where is Carr now to be found ?
Witness.—He is now; I believe, to be found at the'Royal
Exchange public-house, Adam's-mews. • •
JuJor.—Are you quite sure you secured the street-door
after the cook came in ?
Witness.—l am quite positive that I did.
Coroner.—Did the police-officers find nothing in your box?
Witness.—Yes, they found a chisel and a purse.
Coroner.—What_was the chisel for ? - - -
Witness.—l had it by me for two or three years, and used
it to cut wood when I lived at Dover. • • -
Coroner. Are you quite sure that you locked the area-
gate after you fetched the beer for the cook ?
Witness.—Yes, I am quite certain that I did.
Coroner.—Where did you place the key ?
Witness.—l hung it up in the kitchen, as usual.
Coroner.—Are you aware that his lordship had any money
in the house ?
Witness.—l don't think he was in the habit of keeping
money by him, but about three days ago I remember that
he had a £lO and a £5 note.
The Foreman of the Jury.—Where did you get the £5
note which you gave to the police-officer?
Witness.—Lord William gave it me about a week ago to
get it changed for him. The witness then stated, that he
missed from the pantry five table-spoons, three dessert-
spoons, five large forks, and one salt-spoon.
Foreman.—Has Henry Carr any situation now ?
Witness.—No. He has been out of place about three
months. About twelve months ago he lived in the service
of a Mrs. Green. Carr is not in reduCeJ circumstances, to
my knowledge.
Coroner.—Would you have any objection to write the
name of Lord Canterbury in the presence of the jury ?
Witness.—Not in the least. He then wrote the name on
a slip of paper, and it appeared that the object was to com-
pare the handwriting with the name of Lord Canterbury
which was written on the £5 note.
Coroner.—Have you any further statement to make?
Witness.— No, sir, I have nothing more to say.
The foreman of the jury then observed, that he thought it
but fair to the witness to state that he bad seen Mr. Fector
that day, who gave the witness an excellent character during
the time he was in his service.
Another of the jurymen corroborated that statement.
The witness then withdrew.
The Coroner then asked the jury if they wished to give
their verdict at once, or adjourn the inquiry for further evi-
dence ? He observed that it was quite clear from the evi--
dence, that as no instrument of destruction was found in the
bedroom, the deceased could not have committed suicide ;
and it was for the jury to say whether they thought any ad-
ditional light could be thrown on the matter by postponing
the inquest for two or three days. They might now,'if they
thought fit, upon the evidence produced, return a verdict of
wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.
The Foreman of the jury said, be could not see that any
advantage would be gained by an adjournment. For himself
he was quite prepared to assent to the verdict suggested by
the coroner. By prolonging the inquiry they would only
keep up the excitement which prevailed in the neighbour-
hood, and throw out a suspicion, not in the, slightest degree
warranted by the evidence, that the deceased had committed
suicide. A Postponement would also have the effect, perhaps,
of prejudicing some persons, and, upon the whole, he
thought it much better'to come to a conclusion at once, and
allow the police to pursue the inquiry.
The rest of the jury concurred in the view taken by the
foreman, and 'unanimously agreed to return a verdict of
" Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."
After the coroner had formally registered the verdict, the
jury retired. A considerable number of persons had col-
lected in front of the house, anxious to hear the result of the
inquest, and great excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood.