The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-18 00:00:00

N

questions except did her master look any different. Mr.
Briggs was then present. He did not say anything to her
then about the shutters. Mr. Briggs had not been with her
before the police came. He came in whilst they were in the
parlour. She is sure Mr. B. said nothing to her about her
master having told her to put up the shutters. Mr. Bolam
has been very kind to Millie. She has ktrown Bolam give
Millie clothes besides the coat which she mentioned, and
also meat. Mr. Bolam bought boughs of beef and she stewed
them, at Mr. Bolam's request, and Millie's children came
for it. Bolam bad been in the habit of doing this all last
winter and part of the summer. She was in the habit of
taking his dinner and tea to the bank. It was on the occasion
of Millie being elected a clerk in the savings' bank that he
dined with her master. When she broke the pane of glass
in the window she did not cut her hand at all. When Mr.
Bolam wen away at six o'clock on Thursday night he did not
seem at all agitated. He always came in at the back door.
They were checked, not striped trowsers, which Mr. Bulam
had on.

Jane Dees said that she lived at the end of Jackson-street,
in Gateshead. She was Mr. Bolam's housekeeper for three
years and a half, and she left him about three years ago. She
was at Mr. Bolam's house on Friday last, and has not been
there for six weeks before that. She went there in conse-
quence of hearing of Mr. Bolam's misfortune, and hearing
that he was not come she continued there and is now staying
there. When she went on Friday before dark she saw no
one but Mary Walker. Walker said she had seen her mas-
ter, and hs said a bad job had happened, but she has so bad
a recollection, and her hearing is so dull, she often does not
hear what is said to her. Walker told her that Bolani had
been at home on Thursday night for a short time. She
did not say that he had broken a pane to get into the house.
She said that he had come home to caution her to shut up
the house. She did not say the reason, nor did she say any
thing about the letter on Friday night. Witness was there
about an hour before the police came over. She does not
know anything about Millie.
The inquest was adjourned to Thursday morning at nine
o'clock.

THURSDAY.
The evidence given by the surgeons to-day was very im-
portant. We extract the following passage from that of Mr.
John Baird :—The cut on Mr. Bolam's throat was about two
or three inches in length, and merely went through the skin.
The cut in the neck is so clean a wound that I think any per-
son giving it could not have intended to do him any serious
harm. If the blood on the shirt proceeded from the wound
in the neck, I should say that Mr. Bolam, after he had re-
ceived that wound, must have been either standing or sitting
upright. The wound is in such a situation that a person cut-
ting himself would naturally cut on the left side, and not the
right.—Mr. Baird stated that he had examined Boland's head
and found no contusions upon it.
Mr. Glenton, another surgeon, said that he observed a
contusion, though not a violent one, over Mr. Bolam's right
temple, and three marks over his body, which appeared to be
the effects of blows. He thought that if Bolain had been
lying on his back the blood might have stained his shirt in the
way in which it was found. He might have lain insensible
for four or five hours.

Mr. Nesham, another surgeon, was of opinion that Mr,
Bo►am had been rendered insensible by smoke, and not b)
any violence he had sustained.
the incittest was again adjourned to Friday.

FRIDAY.
The inquest was resumed at ten o'clock, the excitement in
the public mind increasing as the proceedings advanced.
T. M. Greenhow—l am a surgeon in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Last night I went to the gaol with Mr. Stephens, and Mr.
Heath, surgeon, to examine Archibald Bolan'. In my pre-
sence he was partly dressed in the clothes which I was told
he had on when he was found in the Savings' Bank—his
pantaloons, shoes, and gaiters were not put on—but his coat,
waistcoat, shirt, and flannel shirt were put on, and his stock
and handkerchief were tied about his neck. 1 examined the
marks on the skin of his right side. I found some scratches
on the skin which did not appear to have penetrated so as to
draw blood. 1 think there were three running in a parallel
direction, and one which crossed them in a direction rather
diagonal. I did not observe any abrasion of the skin, I
should think the scratches were about two inches in length—
but perhaps hardly that—they appeared to have been made
by a sharp instrument which had not penetrated the skin—
certainly they had been made by repeated blows or strokes,
not by only one blow or stroke. Any sharp instrument, and
therefore a penknife might have made them. A penknife
might have effected the appearances I saw. As the cuts on
Bolam's body corresponded exactly in situation with the cuts
on the cloths, I think it probable that the marks on the skin
were caused by an instrument which passed through the
clothes. It did not appear to me that the marks on Bolom's
body were likely to have been produced by a violent thrust
made against him. I also examined Bolam's neck. I found
a cut on the left side—which was nearly healed; it was under
the jaw bone on the left side, and it had been about an inch
and half or two inches long. It appeared to me quite a su-
perficial wound. I also examined the stock. There was a
cut on the front part of the stock which had cut throught it ;
the position of the cut on the stock did not correspond with
that of the wound. I think it not probable that the same
cut which cut the stock could have cut the neck, unless the
had been in a different position from that in which it was. I
had no opportunity of examining Bolain until yesterday. I
think it quite possible that Bolam might have received a
blow on his head on Thursday night about seven o'clock
which made him insensible. And that he might have reco-
vered at the end of five hours without any medical treatment.
I think it very unlikely that insensibility should have taken
place a quarter of an hour afterwards, if it did not immedi-
ately follow the blow. If even insensibility had come on a
quarter of an hour after the blow, I think he might have re-
covered at the end of five hours without medical treatment.
If a person were returning from a state of insensibility caused
by concussion of the brain—he might gradually recover his
senses—he might have very much the appearance of a per-
son awaking from a deep sleep—his breathing might be some-
what labourious and oppressed, or it might be natural and
calm, so much depends upon the extent of the injury. If a
person were recovering from insensibility caused by the ef-
fects of smoke, in all probability his breathing would be very
labourious—his pulse would nearly leave him altogether, and
become feeble and oppressed. It is probable that the pupils
of his eyes would be much dilated; it would probably be a
considerable lenghth of time before lie recovered his voice ;
also, if insensibility had been caused by a concussion of the
brain, and a person recovering his voice would not be effected
in the same manner as if insensibility had been caused by
the sotnke. It is probable that a blow or. the temple suffi-
cient to knock Bolain down and cause insensibility for four
or five hours would leave a swelling or other mark ; but it
does not necessary follow that it would do so. The appear-
ances of the blood on the shirt, flannel shirt, waistcoat, and
coat, would have led me to suppose that Mr. Bolain ha•l re-
ceived the wound in the neck whilst in an upright position.
I think if Mr. Bolain had received the cut on his neck whilst
lying on his face or his back that the blood would not have
flowed upon his clothes as I find it to have done. I have just
now examined Mr. Bolam's coat and the lining of the right
sleeve. There are stains of blood upon the sleeve near the wrist
There are corresponding marks on the lining inside. As far as
my judgment goes there is some appearance of an attempt to
wash out the stains on the cloth part. If the insensibility had
been caused by a blow, and Bolain had recovered, and then be-
come insensible from the effects of the smoke, the symptoms on
recovery would have been the same as if the first insensibility
had not taken place from the blow. From the appearance
of the wound I should think that no large vessel had bee❑
injured, but there might have been an oozing of blood from
it for some hours. I think it probable that the scratches
made o❑ the skin were made by the same blow which cut the
clothes ; that is a mechanical question which any one might
answer. I have ❑ow examined the coat more particularly;
it appears to me that the cuts correspond in direction with
the diagonal scratch on Bolana's clothes had he been on his
face when he received the wound, and had continued to re-
main there.

Henry Heath.—l am a surgeon at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
I examined Bolam last night in company with Mr. Green-
how. The coat, waistcoat, shirt, and flannel shirt, which I
am told he had on when found in the Savings' Bank were
put upon him. I then examined the scratches on his right
side. I did not count them—they are several. They were
in two directions, from above downwards, and from behind,
a little higher up, forwards and downwards. I examined the
cut in all the clothes corresponding in point of situation
with those marks. The marks might have been made by
any small sharp instrument passing through the clothes. I
now look at the coat, and I think that the scratches on the
body could not have been made by the same cut which cut
the coat, because the cut on the coat is not in the same di-
rection as the scratches on the'body, and because I think the
scratches had been made by repeated scratchings with the
point of some instrument. I observed several other cuts on
the coat, but no corresponding marks to those cuts on the
body. I also examined Bolam's neck. I found a wound on
the left side just under the jaw from an inch to an inch and
a half in length. It might have penetrated the skin, but not
more. If Mr. Bolan' bad been lying on his face when he
received the wound on his neck, and continued to lay on his
face, I think the blood might have run down the breast of his
shirt as it appears to have done. I also examined the right
sleeve of the coat, and also the lining of the same sleeve.
There are marks, which I think to be marks of blood, on
both sleeve and lining. I think there has been an attempt to
rub out the blood on the right sleeve. I should think that
the attempt has been made with water, and that the water
and blood had gone through the cloth and stained the lining.
There is an appearance of roughness on the nap of the cloth
on the outside. It is the appearance we often find upon our
own coats after an operation, if we take a towel dipped in
water and rub the coats with it. 1 think, from the appear-
ance of the wound, Robins must have received the wound
whilst he was lying down. If this wound had been received
at seven at night, I do not think that any blood might be
oozing from it at two o'clock the next morning. I think it
would be entirely dry by that time. The wound on the neck
could not have bled many minutes. I do not think Bolam
could have received the marks of blood on his coat and waist-
coat whilst he was lying on his face. I give my opinion as
to the time the wound might have bled with considerable
hesitation, the wound having been healed when I first saw it. '
Joseph Armstrong. —I am one of the partners of the firm
of Blackwell and Co. printers, in this town; and I act as
cashier to the Savings',
Bank. About a quarter before two
o'clock on Friday morning. last as I was coming out of the
printing room, when one of our men called down the yard
that the Savings' Bank was on fire. I immediately ran
down. I saw a policeman at the head of the Arcade. There
were two or three people coming to the Arcade at the time.
I was there before any of the fire-engines arrived. The outer
door of the Bank leading into the Arcade was open; but the
door into the Bank and the door into the waiting room at
that time was shut. I did not at that time try whether they
were locked or not. The flames were coming through the
waiting room door. I then went into the street, and assisted
to drag the fire-engines to the plug. After the pipes were
fixed I went into the passage with the fireman, and directed
him to play at the corner of the waiting room, where the safe
containing the books was. By that time, Sub-Inspector
Bell came into the passage. I believe be attempted to go
up stairs to see if any person was there. Those stairs are no
way connected with the Bank or waiting room. The flames
were soon got under, and the firemen commenced removing
papers from the safe. I received a parcel of papers from one
of the firemen at the entrance to the waiting room, and in
taking them into the Arcade I met Sub-Inspector Bell. I
asked him where I should put them far safety. He told me
to give them in charge to one of the police. I returnee into
the passage with Bell and one of our own workmen named
Little. I then tried the large room door and found it open.
I remarked to Bell that it was queer it should be unlocked.
I believe I was the first person who went in at that door after
the fire. Bell said we had better examine it. 1 am not cer-
tain whether he or I examined the lock first; but I think he
did. We found the key in the lock in the inside of the room.
I think that Bell and I were the first who went into the large
room. Bell had his lanthorn lighted. We made two attempts
to get in before we did get in. On account of the smoke we
went cautiously into the large room, being afraid of the floor
being burnt underneath. When we got near the fire-place I
touched something with my foot. I said, "Good God ! here's
a man." Bell was in the act of speaking at the same time.
I did not see any other person in the room at that time; but
after Bell had turned the body over, other people had come
in. We stood some two or three minutes over the body. I
was not then certain it was the body of Millie. The candles
by that time were lighted in the room, which I suppose was
done by some of the police. On looking round the room, in
company of Inspector Little, we came to the body of Mr.
Bolam. He appeared as if resting on his left arm. I did
not perceive any person near him at that time. Mr. Alder-
man Dunn came up immediately. The head of Bolam was
not erect, but hanging down, and I am not sure whether it
did not touch the ground. On Bolam being turned up, I
think by Inspector Little, he opened his eyes. He appeared
then to be in a state bordering upon insensibility. He did
not speak. I think Mr. Alderman Dunn said that he was
alive, and a surgeon bad better be sent for. -I immediately
ran for a surgeon. Mr. Glenton was the first surgeon who
came in. I went into the Bank with Mr. Glenton. Bolam

t 41.

)

bad been raised up, and supported by some people. On Mr.
Glenton's arrival I left, and went back to our own office. In
about ten minutes afterwards I went to Mr. Glenton's, and
found Mr. Bolam there. About three o'clock I returned to
the Bank, and continued to go between the Bank and our
office all the morning. When we found Millie in the morn-
ing, there was a little fire in the grate. I could just perceive
it. I did not see in what state the candles were, but I sent a
supply from the Courant office. I had known Mr. Bolam
about sixteen years, during the whole of which period he bad
been actuary in the Bank. He was always very correct in
his accounts with the Bank, and I have no reason to think
there is now any incorrectness in his accounts, nor any de-
falcation in his accounts:—there cannot be, because none of
the money passed through his hands. He might receive
money from individuals, but it would be at their risk, and not
at that of the Bank. I have not heard that he has received
money in that way, and not accounted for it. I found the
keys of Bolam's desk in the lock of the desk on the morning
of the fire. It is the desk nearest the window. The desk was
open. There was no money in that desk ; but there was some
copper in the one adjoining, which was also open. I have
known Millie for about 12 or 14 months :—during that period
he has been occasionally employed in the Bank up to May
last, and since then constantly employed. He had not, how-
ever, received his appointment as permanent clerk until
Tuesday week, when, at a meeting of the directors, he was
so appointed. I believe Mr. Bolam had interested himself
with the directors to get Millie that appointment. Bolan
and Millie were upon good terms, at least as far as I ever
saw. 1 have seen Mr. Bolam wear an office coat at the
Bank:—it was a blue coat. Ile has not lately been wearing
sleeves above his coat. I cannot say how long it is since I saw
him wear his sleeves. Al r. Bolam had the charge of the keys
of the safe; but there is a safe within the large one, the keys
of which Mr. Cooke or I kept when any money belonging to
the Bank was put into it. Mr. Bolam had the key of the
inner safe on the night of the fire. The key of that safe has
never yet been found. The inner safe has been opened, and
amongst other things found in it were about £BO in notes, be-
longing to Mr. Bolam, and his own money. I was not aware
before the fire, how many keys there were belonging to the
door of the large room leading into the Arcade. I then learnt
there were three. lam not aware that any key was taken to
Sir Matt. Ridley and Co.'s Bank every night. About 10 or
12 months ago, I heard Mr. Bolan say something about an
anonymous letter; but I do not recollect what he said about
it. I think if he had said it contained a threat to take away
his life, I should have recollected it. I am quite sure that
within the last six months tie has not said anything to me
about any anonymous letter. A. person passing from the
Bank door to go to Mr. Bolam's desk would go within six
feet of the place where Millie was lying. When I went into
Mr. Glenton's about four o'clock on Friday morning, Bolan
said that he had received some anonymous letters.—Mr.
Blackwell then asked him if he had ever shewn any of the
letters to any one—he said be had shewn one to Mr. Bulman
—and moving his body towards me, said Mr. Armstrong you
know about them. Ido not know whether the letter he had
shewn to Mr. Bulman was the one he spoke to me about 12
months ago was the one he meant, or it was one he had lately
received.
Mary Bolam.--I am a single woman living in Pilgrim-street.
I clean the Saving's Bank offices and have done so for nearly
six years. To enable me to get into the offices I have a key
which opens the door of the large room. I have also a key
which opens the waiting room door. I cleaned both the offices
on the morning of Thursday the 6th inst. There is generally
water left in the jug for the use of the wash-hand basin. On
that morning there was water left in the jug as usual. There
were two towels hanging up in the closet, sometimes called
the safe. There would also be two I think in the washstand
drawer. They were what we call chamber towels. They were
all of the same kind. lam quite sure of that. These towels
were marked, and the mark upon them was S.B. I did
not mark them. 1 left the offices that morning after clean-
ing them about nine o'clock. Millie had come to the.
office before I came away. I had both my keys that morning.
I keep them in my pocket. 1 use the large room key only;
I take them both home afterwards. I have only one now;
Mr. Armstrong got the other; the key now produced is that
of the waiting room door leading into the Arcade. [The two
towels fouud in the drawer of the washstand and waiting room
by Inspector Grey were here produced and examined; one of
them was stained wills blood. A piece of paper was found
at the same time which was also produced; it was stained
with blood, as if a person had wiped his fingers upon it.]
These towels are the same as those usually employed. !Two
other rough towels were also produced, having been found in
the safe by Inspector Grey.] These rough towels are not the
towels which I have just alluded to—they are used for another
purpose. lam quite sure there were four towels in the Bank
on Thursday. I do not think I ever saw that key before. The
key is like the one which I have, and which opens the door
of the large room. I cannot say that ever I saw Millie's key.
The reason why I asked Bell to allow me to take the key out
of the door was to see if it was Mr. Bolam's key, which, I
think, I have had sometimes in my possession. I.was at my
own house all Thursday afternoon. I did not see Mr. Bolaria
on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Bolam was not at my house
that afternoon; he has not been there for some weeks. I did
not see him at all on Thursday. I was always first in; the
window shutters of the Bank at this season of the year are al-
ways put in—the bars on the end windows looking to Pilgrim-
street are always fastened. The shutters of the windows look-
ing into the Manor Chare are always shut; the bars are very
seldom fastened.
John Bulman.—l am secretary to the Savings' Bank. I
have known Archibald Bolan for several years. I cannot
bring to illy recollection that he ever told me he had received
any anonymous letters. As far as my recollection goes I
never saw any anonymous letters which he shewed me. I
have not the least reason to suppose that there is any thing
wrong in Mr. Bolams accounts with the Bank. I know that
Mr. Bolam interested himself very much to procure Millie the
situation in the bank ; he was uncommonly kind to Millie;
no one man could be kinder to another. I recollect Bolan
once shelving me a letter from a person whose name he told
roe he could not find in the books—that however was not at
all a threatening letter, but merely a letter to give notice for
the withdrawal of money.
Ralph Little.—l am an Inspector of Police in this town; on
Saturday morning last, Mr. Smith, task master in the gaol,
gave me the whole of Bolam's clothes, except his flannel shirt.
They consisted of coat, waistcoat, trousers, shirt, shoes, and
gaiters, and a pair of drawers • I took off on Saturday morn-
ing Bolain'S flannel shirt myself; they are now all in the same
state as when they were delivered to me, except the lining of
the coat sleeve which has been cut up by the seam this morn-
ing for the purpose of examining the inside of the lining.
When I searched Bolam on the Friday night I found a pen-
knife in his waistcoat pocket. There are no marks of blood on
that penknife—and from the dust inside the haft I imagine it
has not been cleaned—l also produce a pair of half gloves,
which I found in Mr. Bolam's desk on Friday morning ; there
are two or three marks upon them, but I do not think they
are marks of blood. I also produce three keys which I found
in Mr. Bolam's pocket; the largest one Mr. Bolam told me
was the key of the front door of his own house.
John Smith.—l am task-master at the gaol. About half-
past eight on Friday night Archibald Bolan was brought to
the gaol. I took off his clothes that night. I left the flan-
nel shirt upon him. I delivered those clothes to Little, an
inspector of police, in the same state they were in when I
took them oft Bolam.

George Grey.—l am one of the inspectors of police. I pro-
duce two towels which I got yesterday in the wash-hand-
stand drawer, in the right hand safe in the wait ing•romn. I
had found the stand on Saturday last in the same state. It
was locked away by Bell. I never forced the drawer until
yesterday. It was not locked, but for some cause or other
I could not get it open. The reason why I removed the wash-
hand-stand from the safe was because I saw some marks on
it, which I then thought were marks of blood. I brought the
wash-hand stand away from the bank on Saturday last and
gave it over to Mr. Bell, who locked it up with the other
things. I also produce two pieces of paper found in that
drawer; there are marks upon these pieces of paper which 1
think are marks of blood. A very short time atter Bulam
was removed from the bank I examined the place where he
had been found lying, and I found no blood on the floor—
not a single mark. I examined the place the same morning
by daylight. I found no marks of blood whatever. [The
wash-hand stand was here produced and examined by the
jury
William Armstrong, Policeman 72.-1 am one of the po-
lice-officers of this town. I produce a stock and handkerchief
which I took off Bolam's neck On the morning of Friday last,
whilst he was lying on the floor of the Savings' Bank. They
are in the same state now as when I took them off his neck.
The blood on the outer handkerchief was rather damn but not
wet. I did not see
.any blood flowing at the time from Bo-
lam's neck. I saw no blood on the floor where Bolam was
lying. Mr. Bolain never spoke during the time he was car-
ried to Mr. Glenton's.
John Blackwell.—l am a printer in this town. On Friday
morning last, about half-past two o'clock, I went to Mr.
Glenton's, and found Mr. Archibald Bolero there; he was
lying on the table in the kithen. Mr. Glenton was adminis-
tering something, Ido not know what. When he came to
• himself the first words I heard hint say that I am sure of,
were in answer to a question front Mr. Glenton ; but what
the question was I cannot say. His answer was, " Yes,
sir." After that some questions were asked him, out how
he came tdbe in that state? He said "It was the man who
followed me into the bank." Some one said, "what man ?"
He said, "a man disguised, his face was blackened." He
was asked "if he knew the man ?" He replied "No." He
was asked "if he suspected any one having against
him ?" He replied " No, but he had received several anony-
mons letters." I asked hint if be had shown those letters to
any one. He said Mr. Bullman had seen one, then looking
at Mr, Armstrong, he said, "you know about them."
John Blakev.—l am a shoemaker in Newcastle. I knew
Millie, the de-ceased, I have been well acquainted with hint
for the last 18 months. On the evening of the 10th of Octo-
ber last, Mr. Millie called upon me to pay a small bill. We
entered into conversation, after he had paid his bill, about
the Savings' Bank. I asked him "if he was likely to get
appointed ?" He stated, that the person who was in the
bank, or who had just left, was doing every thing in his
power to prevent him getting the situation ; stating that the
.same person had sent letters to Mr. Bolain, defaming his
character. That Mr. Bolam had behaved so honourably to
him as to let him see two of the letters that had been sent.
He also stated, that notwithstanding these attempts to pre-
vent his appointment, he expected that, with Mr. Bolam's
assistance, he would succeed. He thought it was very cruel
on the part of the person who had left the bank to act towards
him as he had done. Mr. Bolain did not show me any of the
letters which he had received.

John Turnbull.—fam a cabinet-maker in Newcastle. I
knew Millie, the deceased, quite well. I have heard him
say that he had been threatened by some one six or nine
months ago. I heard him say that a letter had been sent to
Mr. Bolam about his character. He said be was afraid of
having some harm done to him by the person who was in the
situation before him. I heard him also speak very highly of
Mr. Bolam. He said that the person who had held the
situation before, had written to all the directors to try to get
the situation again. I understood that Millie had obtained
that information Loin Mr. Bolam. I understood from him,
that the wife of the person who had filled the situation before
had wrote that letter. He never told me that he had been
directly threatened by any person.
Anne Turnbull, (wife ofthe above witness.)—l knew Millie
the deceased. I have heard him say that he had been threat-
ened by a man, whose name he did not mention. 1 under-
stood him to say that he had heard from Bolam that he was
in danger of losing his situation. I heard him say it was
strange that this person's wile could have taken part against
him when she could have known nothing about it, except
what was told het by her husband. I never beard Millie say
that any person had to himself threatened to do him any harm.
I heard him say that the person was malicious, and that he
(Millie) was afraid. I have often heard him speak about this,
so, I may say, I know much about it, The last time I heard
him mention this was four or five weeks ago.
Here the evidence was brought to a close, and the usual
proclamation as to whether any other persons were ready to
come forward, and give evidence in the case having been
made, the Coroner proceeded to read over the depositions.
Turning his face towards the Jury he said :—lt now becomes
my duty before reading over the important evidence which
has been brought before you to make one or two observations
on this very mysterious case. That the crime of murder has
been committed is a fact upon which there can be no ques-
tion; but a most important question does arise, and that is,
by whom was that murder committed? It will be your duty
carefully to examine the evidence, and to draw your own
conclusion from that evidence, and from that evidence only.
I need hardly tell you, and I am sure I need not caution you
as to any reports which you may have heard, during the
course of this enquiry, that those reports ought to have no
weight on your minds at all. Dismiss from your recollection
all reports which you may have heard, and attend to the evi-
dence, and to the evidence only, because it is from that you
are sworn to form your opinion, and to deliver your judg-
ment in this case. There can only be two verdicts which you
can, from a consideration of the evidence, give in this case.
One would be_a verdict of Wilful Murder against sonic per-
son or persons unknown. Upon a full consideration of this
evidence, should you be satisfied that Mr. Bolam is the man
who has committed the murder, (because there is against no

other person the slightest suspicion at present,) you will di-
rect your attention to the statement given by Mr. Bolam,
and which will be afterwards read to you. You will con-
sider whether that statement can be true. You will examine
the evidence, and see whether that evidence contradicts his
statement; and if it be contradicted in material points, it
will be for you to consider whether or not the act has been
done in a moment of madness and passion, caused by some-
thing which we shall never be able to find out. If Bolam
committed the murder upon Millie, we shall probably never
be able to find out the cause, because it appears that up to
the very time it was committed, if it ever was committed,
Bolam was acting to Millie as a friend—almost as a brother.
Bolam acted towards him with unmeasured kindness. That
is a circumstance in favour of Bohm, for, generally speak-
ing, when a ma❑ commits murder, you are able to discover
some motive for the act, and there is evidence of no motive
that could have induced hiin to do it. Therefore I call upon
you, and caution you, not to suffer your minds to be influ-
enced by any reports which you may have heard, because
there is no evidence upon which you can come to a conclusion
on that point. I mention this to you because it is possible,
that you may have heard all kinds of reports—reports with-
out the slightest foundation—reports which have been fully
contradicted by the evidence which has been brought before
you. Gentlemen, I have no doubt that you will calmly and
dispassionately consider the evidence. In the absence of all
motive you will be compelled to look well at the evidence
which has been produced against Mr. Bolam before you say
whether he is guilty or not; but if after considering the evi•
deuce you coins to a conclusion that the statement made by
Bolam is not true—that he has told a tissue of falsehoods—
that his statement is contradicted by the evidence—that the
appearances on his clothes and person could not possibly
have happened under the circumstances which he re-
lates, then, however painful it may be, you will consider
yourself bound to find him guilty of this murder. 1 would
mention, one fact, in my opinion of importance. There has
been some contradiction as to the state of the door leading
into the great room, and as to the parties who first entered
it. One man had stated that be was the first person who
went in, and that he found the door locked inside. We all
know the anxiety of firemen to get into the front rank, but
after Mr. Armstrong's evidence you will, 1 think, be satisfied
that the door was not locked when the parties first went up
to it, but that it was open. This is important, as if the door
had been locked inside it would have raised a presumption
against Bolam. Now, Gentlemen, I will go through the
evidence which has been laid before you, and make such ob-
servations as occur to me upon the subject.
After carefully reading over the whole of the evidence,
and commenting on such parts of it as appeared to bear
strongly on the case, the Coroner addressed the Jury pre-
vious to their retiring, as follows :—Now, gentlemen, I have
read the whole of the evidence over• to you, and you will
have to retire to consider your verdict. You will have to
say whether or not the statement put forth by Bolam is alto-
gether founded in falsehood. If from a careful consideration
of the evidence before you, and from your own inspection of
the dress which was found upon Bolam, you are satisfied
that the marks upon the body were not inflicted by a sharp
instrument—if you are satisfied that he himself made those
wounds, you will have no difficulty in coming to a conclusion
upon the subject. There are many points to which I have
directed your attention, but from the manner in which you
have listened to the whole of this important investigation,
as well as from the attention which you have paid to the
reading of the evidence, you will, I think, be able to make
up your minds. You will be left to find a verdict, if you
think proper, against some person or persons unknown, and
if you have any doubt upon the evidence, that the statement
made by Bolam is altogether untrue, then from the situation
in which Millie was found, you will probably have no diffi-
culty in coming to a.conclusion on that point. You will
now, gentlemen, retire, and make up your minds upon the
subject._

The Jury then retired, and. after having remained in de-
liberation for about half an hour, returned into court, and
delivered a verdict of " Wilful Murder against Archibald
Bola m."

When the verdict was announced, signs of approbation
were manifested-by the people assembled in the court,
which, however, the Coroner instantly suppressed.

PARTICULARS OF BOLAM.
We have not been able to gather much information relative
to Mr. Bolam ; but we are given to understand before he ob-
tained his appointment in the savings' bank, he had prac-
tised some time as a teacher, in which capacity he was en-
gaged in Mr. Bruce's school, in Percy-street, and subse-
quently as master of the Royal Jubilee school, in this town.
He has held a situation in the savings' bank upwards of six-
teen years, and a very high opinion has been formed of him
by his employers. He appears to be about forty years of
age. He is a native of Harbottle, near Rothbury, and has
a brother residing there in good circumstances.

THE
,DESTITUTE CHILDREN OF POOR MILLIE.
It will be seen with much satisfaction by an announcement
in another column, that the directors of the savings' bank
have, with admirable promptitude, taken upon themselves,
not only to see that immediate want shall not be added to
the sorrow and bitterness which have befallen the four
young and helpless children of the unfortunate Millie, but
to originate a subscription in their behalf, with a view to
their being brought up and placed out in the world in a cre-
ditable manner. There never was an appeal made to the
public more entirely entitled to the generous sympathy and
assistance of the public at large than the case of these poor
children. Let it. then be responded to in a manner worthy
a christian people. The subscriptions necessary for accom-
plishing the desirable purpose alluded to should not be con-
fined to the locality alone where the awful tragedy occurred;
and we should hint that the public at large in all the neigh-
bouring towns would do well to aid such a benevolent object
as the provision for the care and education of these destitute,
innocent creatures. The children are four in number; a boy
14, and a girl 12, (these two have been examined on the in-
quest,) the others are a girl between 8 and 9, and a boy 5
years of age. And it may be stated, to the honour and credit
of their parents, that thus far they have been brought up iu
the fear and admonition of the Lord.

ARCHES' COURT, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12.
DECISION IN THE TOMBSTONE CASE, BREEKS Y. WOOFREY

•
Sir Herbert Jenner gaVe his judgment in this curious case
to-day. he learned judge, having gone over the whole facts,
which are already sufficiently well known, applied himself in
the most elaborate manner to the consideration of the ques-
tion, whether prayers for the dead implied a necessary con-
nection with- the catholic doctrines respecting purgatory.
He referred to many authorities to show, that, long anterior
to the doctrines of purgatory being adopted, prayers for the
dead were used by the primitive Christians; and that in later
times, down to Edward IV. the same practice had been con-
sidered a good and wholesome proceeding. It was not until
the time of Edward VI. that prayers for the dead were
omitted in the forms of the established church. The Com-
mentators of that period, as well, indeed, as the acts of par;
liament establishing the Book of Common Prayer, referred
to the alterations as having arisen in consequence of the
Roman Catholics promulgating the doctrine that in our own
church purgatory was assented, the prayers for the dead
being a necessary implication that such was the fact.
The learned judge went over a great number of authori-
ties,
,which bad led him to the conviction, that although
prayers for the dead were omitted in the liturgy and other
forms of the church, still no express prohibition had been
.made to the use ,of such prayers. No offence, therefore, had
been committed by Mrs..Woolfrey in inscribing upon the
tombstone raised to her husband—" Pray for the soul of
Joseph Woolfrey. It is a good and wholesome thought to
pray for the dead," 2,1 Mac. c. 12. v. 46. Wherever this
latter passage was taken from, whether from the English
version of the Scriptures or from the Romish one, it did not
contain any violation of the doctrine of the church, nor was
it contrary to Scripture, as there was no passage in Scripture
against such a practice. The judge then proceeded to refer
to the inscription on Bishop Barrow's tomb, which contained
a prayer for his soul; and yet this prelate was well known as
no advocate for the doctrine of purgatory. He was bound to
say, that the articles exhibited against Mary Woolfrey were
not sustained by the authorities cited in support thereof; and
the articles, even if admitted, could not subject the party to
ecclesiastical censure. In the 2d article it was pleaded, that
this tumbstone was erected without the permission of the
vicar of the parish of Carisbrooke, and this undoubtedly
would subject the party to the admonitiou of this court ; but
the erection of the tombstone was not adequate to the cita-
tion, without the additional offence of placing thereon an
illegal inscription, and the inscription in his (Sir H. Jenner's)
opinion was not illegal, and the court was bound on this head
also to reject the latter article, and to dismiss Mrs. Woolfrey
from the suit.

Dr. Blake, on behalf of Mrs. Woolfrey, prayed for costs.
Sir H. Jenner said he had no discretion; Mrs. Woolfrey
must be dismissed, and with costs.
The judgment, which occupied Sir H. Jenner nearly two
hours in delivery, excited the most lively interest, and the
court was much crowded. A slight murmur of satisfaction
followed the close of the judgment.