The Sun. — 1862-08-11 (London, England)

THE INQUEST.  On Saturday morning an investigation was held by Mr. John' Humphreys, one of the Middlesex coroners, at the Queen's Head Tavern, Pitfieldstreet, New North-road. Inspector Webster, of the N division had the management of the case on the part of the Commissioners of Police; and Mr. T. W. Rogers, solicitor, of Fenchurch-street, attended on behalf of the accused. The jury having been empanelled, proceeded to view the body of the deceased, whtch lay on a bed in the room where the murder had been committed, and presented a fearful spectacle, being covered with blood. The carpet on the floor was also saturated with blood. Mr. Mark Coole, 18, Brunswick-place, City-road, the father of the deceased, said that he left home on , when his son was quite well, Thursday afternoon having dined with himself and Mrs. Cool& Witness was the tenant of the house, but occupied only a portion of it. His wife had been an invalid for some years, principally with rheumatic fevers, which broke up her constitution. Dr. Davis lately informed him that oue of her lungs was gone, and that there was no hope of her recovery. Since her illness she occupied the front room, and they dined in it on Thursday. She was not confined to her bed, but was only strong enough to walk up and down stairs, and she had a nurse to attend to her. That was because Dr. Rogers said she should be kept quiet. Witness did not notice any indications of insanity. On the Thursday, after dinner, she was reading her Bible, and she was very low spirited, and said that she was afraid her soul was lost. Witness told her to cheer up, and not to give way to such notions. Her father's sister went out of her mind three or four years ago, and she had said that she was afraid she should go out of her mind also. She had been very nervous and debilitated for some time, and if anything happened she would apparently become like a maniac, but would recover and apologise for her passion. She was not given to drink. About two hours after witness left the house he was sent for, and found what had happened. Elizabeth Frere, servant to last witness, said that on the day in question she was in the kitchen with the nurse, when Mrs. Coole came down and kissed the child, which was playing at the bottom of the stairs. She kissed him and took him upstairs, saying nothing to witness. About four or five minutes after she returned, and was very pale and agitated, trembling violently. She said nothing and her hands were all over blood. Witness ran up stairs, and upon going into the back room on the first floor saw little Charles on the floor bleeding, and in a pool of blood. The carving knife produced (a very large one, with a rough handle) was on the floor. It was usually kept behind the door in the front kitchen, and Mrs. Coole went into that kitchen before going upstairs with the child. Witness had asked Mrs. Coole whether she should take the child upstairs for her, and she said " No, let him alone." By Mr. Rogers—Mrs, Coole was very fond of deceased.  By the Jury—There was another little child, older than deceased, in the house, and when witness went upstairs he was looking at deceased lying on the floor.  Maria Hayden said that she had been nursing Mrs. Coole five weeks. At three o'clock she left the deceased asleep in the front room. About halfpast three Mrs. Coole brought the child downstairs, and left him in the kitchen, going upstairs again directly. She might then have possessed herself of the carving-knife. She returned in about ten minutes, and took the child, who was running about, upstairs again. Witness heard no cry, but in 15 or 20 minutes she entered the kitchen, pale and speechless. Witness said, " Oh, you have broke a blood-vessel," when she observed that there was blood on her throat, dress, and hands. Mrs. Coole said nothing, and was placed upon a chair, when a wound was seen in her throat. Witness ran upstairs to call the lodgers, and suw the deceased with hia throat cut and quite dead. Upon going down to the kitchen they et Mrs. Coole coining