The Sun. — 1868-03-17 (London, England)

MARCEI 17, 1868.  TEE TODMORDEIV MURDERS.  We are glad to be able to preface our report of yesterday's proceedings by stating that Mrs. Plow is greatly improved in health, and that there is good reason to look for her speedy convalescence. The inquest on the late Rev. A. J. Plow was held yesterday, at the Black Swan Inn, North-street, by Mr. F. Dearden, the county coroner. The jury was composed of nearly the same persons as returned the verdict against the condemned convict in Jane Smith's case. The jury having taken their scats the Coroner inquired if there were any reporters present, and on being told there were, he said that a vast amount of rubbish had been reported. He then said, "I forbid all reporters, without exception being present." A question was put to the Coroner as to whether he really intended such an inquiry to be a secret one, and he replied, with asperity, that he did. The reporters thereupon withdrew, to ponder over this latest manifestation of the proverbial wisdom of coronets. The exclusion of the reporters gave great offence to the jury, who were unanimously of opinion that the inquiry should be public. The Jury proceeded to view the body, which was lying coffined in the deceased's bedroom in the Vicarage. The room presented an appearance somewhat unusual. The deceased was dressed in black trousers, and the full robes which he wore on high days in the Church. A splendid stole, which had been recently presented to him, was the most conspicuous part of the display, the'effect of which was heightened by a number of lighted wax tapers. The coffin was also of a remarkable shape —very wide at the head and narrow at the foot. Upon the lid was a cross and the coffin plate bore an inscription in memory of " Antony John Plow priest," who bad " fallen asleep in Jesus." Nea to the body was a coffin containing the remains of the baby, which, it will be remembered, died at Littleborough within a few hours of its parent. The shape and decorations of its coffin were similar to those of the late vicar.  The jury returned to the inn, and a formal request was preferred by their foreman, Mr. Thomas Priestley, for the withdrawal of the remark by which the reporters had been excluded. The coroner refused to change his decision, and said that he never admitted reporters to inquests. As this statement was known to be contrary to the experience of every person present, the Coroner hastened to qualify it by saying that the exclusion was only practised at second inquiries, by which he was understood to mean second inquests in the same case, whenever they may have been held. Be stated that he had been coroner for 50 years, and pledged his experience and authority for the wisdom of the course he was pursuing. The jury, however, were not convinced, but the inquiry was allowed to proceed. _ _ _  Elizabeth Spink was called and examined by the Coroner, who put a few questions to her as to the attack by Weatherill upon her late employer. Having obtained a statement from the witness substantially the same as that she gave at the assizes in this city, the coroner expressed a decided opinion that it would be unnecessary to call any other wit