The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-10-14 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

HALESOWEN.  INQUEST ON JANE FRANKLIN.  An icrynest was held on Tuesday afternoon, at the Sawyers' Arms, New-street, Halesowen, before Mr. William Steele Hayes, the Deputy• Coroner, respecting the death of Jane Franklin, the wife of a nailer, named Edward Franklin. Superintendent Overend attended to watch the case on behalf of. the police authorities.  Hannah Irately, the mother -of the deceased, stated that her daughter was 26 years of age. On the 2nd instant she went to visit the deceased, and whilst there Franklin told her that he and his wife had been quarrel. hug abut a quantity of nails. The deceased overheard the conversation, came to the shop-door, and asked him " how he could say so." Franklin said if she cause there annoying him he would throw the punch at her. He did so, and struck the deceased on the side of the head. the punch, which was produced, is about five inches long, and was hot at the time.] Witness ran to her daughter's assistance, and carried her into the house. Deceased appeared faint, and complained of the pain in her head. Franklin also attended to the deceased, and appeared very much agitated. The deceased took the punch from her head without assistance, and a surgeon was sent for. The deceased became much worse on Friday, the 6th inst, and died on Saturday last, about 12 o'clock. Deceased had been married ten years, and had lived with her husband on good terms the whole of that time. Witness did not believe the blow was given on purpose. The deceased was about two yards from her husband.  Sandi Hackett, wife of Charles Hackett, nailer, and sister to the deceased, stated that she went into Frank• tin's house and rubbed some oil into the wound, which she found on the left side of the deceased's head. She afterwards put a bread poultice on, and whilst doing so Franklin sent her for the surgeon. Deceased called to her husband and imploredihim not to cry, and requested that he would rub her hands. Witness attended bee sister until she died. Deceased and her husband lived happily together. Ann Jackson stated that she heard the deceased and Franklin quarrelling about twelve o'clock on the same morninz, about a quantity of nails. After the affair had happened she assisted the last witness in her attendance ou the deceased.  Mr. E. B. Phillips, surgeon, stated that about four o'clock on the afternoon of the day in question, he saw the deceased. She was suffering from a burnt lacerated wound on the left side of the head, about an inch above the ear. The wound was about one inch long. The punch had passed the bone, and penetrated to the brain, causing a slight oozing of blood. Witness attended her regularly up to the time of her death. There was no other mark of violence. He had since made a post-mortem examination of the head, and found a large amount of coagulated blood adhering to the skull cap, and an opening in it corresponding to the external mark. Under. 'wall' that, the brain was injured to the depth of half an inch, and contained a small portion of the bone, which had been driven into the substance of the brain. The immediate cause of death was compound fracture of the skull, the wound in the substance of the brain, and extra. vs, ation of blood. The punch produced would cau4e these wounds. The body of the deceased was perfectly healthy.  Polie-sergeant Kennedy stated that he apprehended the prisoner, who had since been lidinitted to bail. The prisoner, who is a young man of about 30 years of age, declined to make any statement. The Deputy Coroner having explained the difference between the crimes of murder and manslaughter, and shown the law upon the ease, the jury returned • verdict of manslaughter against Edward Franklin.