Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-02-05
2 Y

DESCRIBES THE %CORONERs INorrEsr ruv
NATURE OF THE EvIDENCE AND THE RE-
suit.
Inc inquest was opsnel on Tuesday morn
ing. The body had been iien5. f. by the
oeceaseds brother Henry AMI by the butler
several personal friends were present. in
Guiding two members of parliament. There
mad noe been the smallest doubt, of course
as to the suicide, and the evidence of I'll,
servants showed how completely Needham
had laid his plans. Some of the iurv wbile
chatting among themselves. had expressej
surprise that the deceased should have
taken SO much trouble about it, and that he
should do such an odd thing as to drive IN
to Hampstead. In an wer to this il was
suggested that he might have done these
curious things for the purpose Of leading I'D
to a verdict of insanity.
This was the nature Of the con versation
that took place while the jury was going
10 view the body and returning to Jack
Straw's Castle, where the inquest was held
James Rogers was the first witness called
He deposel that he was butler of the da-
ceased, and resided at his masters bouse
Portland place. He had seen AMI identifel
The body as that CT Mr.. John Needhom
whom he a last seen alive at about siy
o'clock on Saturday evening, at which
time he waited upon him at dinner Mr.
Needham mad sent the footman and the
coachman to Leighton Buzzarl an hour or so
before. His master took very light dinner.
and afterwards he Rogers) went with the
other servants to the opera. The witness
then related the circumstances under which
he and the rest had gone to the opera. and
afterwards to supper. They did not retnrn
home until W in thu morning. Fonnd
the house very mucn as 1t was when ba
left. In the library there were the remain,
of soma coffee, and the spirit bottles and
other things We're On the table. Mr. Neal
ham had, he should say, had his cnn If
coffee and cigar as usual. The cun bod
since been washed, and SO also lad tho
coffee pot. OF course if he had known ~
the sad business he would have had tbo
things remain as they We're. Nobody bod
been TO the house during the day exccnt
Mr.. Nolan, the solicitor. He came to
breakfast, and the master drove him boma
In the afternoon. The carriage used was the
pair horse brougham, and the coachmon
and footmln were on the box. Had NOT
observed anything peculiar in his masters
manner during the last few months
Thought it curious at the time his TREATING
everybody to tho opera ami being so mar.
t~icularly affable, but put it down to q
sudden act of generosity and beino hic
birthday, though he must say it astonisboJ
aim very much. The parlor maid, however
had said she thought the master was mad.
but it was a way she had"
"A way she hadN the coroner asked.
Eyes, sir. Any one ADDING anything sbo
don't quite see, she'd say, oh. he's mad
mad as a halter" Daughter
"And she did not quite see the m,s+o,su
invitation to the opera, eh2'
That was it, sir; AMI so she bounco,
/ understands, into the kitchen and saHS 90
masters mad V"o
"Yes, that will do; we don't want 70
near what you understand, but what vo1
know of your own knowledge 'Ou
'Ye', sir; that's what I was a-sayiu-n I
That will do; the next witness. I
laid he was a bird catcher-"deoit in ,0n ne
and lived at IicIh,el court Hamn.+e On 1
Game across the body at eight O'CLOCK 'I sru.
day morning. Saw the horse first: tbar
the body; then the brougham; called iC' ! )