Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-02-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ADELAIDE BARTLETT." There was some years previous some unpleasantness between himself and Mrs. Bartlett. It had nothing to do with this case ; it had more to do with his son than him. Witness went to Claverton-street on the Monday evening and saw the deceased, who said he was a great deal better, and should soon be in business again. Witness used to call at his business place every evening. Deceased, on this occasion, said he had a quantity of wonns crawling about him, and Mrs. Bartlett said, " We call them snakes." Deceased also said it was a good job that Adelaide had to do with dogs, and that she understood the dog. Deceased was a very abstemious man. He seemed very strong when witness saw him. The next thing he heard was from Mr. Baxter, who said witness's son was dead. Witness accompanied Mr. Baxter to Claverton-street, where he saw Mrs. Bartlett in the smoking-room. She said "Edwin's dead." Mrs. Matthews was with her, and, he believed, Mr. Dyson. He had seen Mr. Dyson once before at Claverton-street. Witness went upstairs at Mrs. Bartlett's suggestion. He got riled at having to wait in the emoking-room some 20 minutes. After a long conversation between Mrs. Bartlett and Mr. Dyson, which was whispered in the corner, witness was allowed to go upstairs, and going out of the room she placed her arms around his neck, and said, "My dear fattier ; don't fret, it shall make no odds to you ; I shall see you never want. I will see tc you just as if Edwin was alive." Witness went into the room, leaned over the body, and kissed it. Ile smelt the mouth for prussic acid, but did not find the smell. lie turned to Dr. Leach, and eaid, "We must have a post-mortern examination ; this cannot pass." Mrs. Bartlett was present, and, he believed, Mr. Dyson also.—The magistrate : This is important.—Mr. Lickfold said it was already proved that Mr. Dyson was not there.— Witness said he would not swear to it. He was rather confused as to the two days, being so upset at the death of his son. One of the doctors who made the post-mortem examination said the body was well nourished, and there were no signs of disease. After the post-mortem, witnees saw the prisoner's bag standing on a table in the front room. The bag was on the table when he left the room. His imp-ession was that the deceased's business was worth about /216,000.—Cromexamined : Witness said he had mentioned several additional details which had not occurred to him before the coroner. He always kissed Mrs. Bartlett when he met and parted from her. Frederick H. Doggett, landlord of the house in Claverton-street, deposed that on January let Mrs. Bartlett called !inn up at 4 in the morning, saying that she believed her husband was dead. When witness entered the room he smelled something like chloral ether. Ile saw a glass containing a liquor like brandy, which also had a smell of ether. There was a good fire which witness particularly noticed, as Mrs. Bartlett had told him that she had been asleep for three hours previous to discovering her husband's condition. The case was then adjourned for a week.  The coroner', inquiry as to the death of Mr. Bartlett was concluded on the previous day. In reading over the evidence of the witnesses the coroner pointed out that the Rev. Mr. Dyson had said nothing about the purchase of the chloroform until after the first sitting of the jury. The jury, he supposed, were agreed that Mrs. Bartlett should be committed for wilful murder by the action they took a week ago. The stridence since given had not altered the case as agaißst her, and the main question was how far Mr. Dys 13, who bought the chloroform, was an accessory before the fact. He left it to them to say if they were satisfied with Mr. Dyson's explanation.—The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against both Mrs. Bartlett and Mr. Dyson.—The coroner made out a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Dyson, who was arrested at once. Be turned deadly pale and wept.