The Potteries Examiner : — 1872-02-17 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE LATE MURDER IN BOSTON.  [We copy the following from one of the Boston papers of last week.]  _ To the Editor.—Sir—l will accept the privilege extended towards me of vindicating my character in the columns of your journal in reference to the melancholy affair at Boston.  I have known the prisoner, Mr. W. F. Horry, for a period of five years. Four years of the time he was proprietor of the "George" Hotel, Burslem, during which I have been in daily attendance upon him in a professional capacity. At one time, my sympathy for him Waa very extreme so heavily did he suffer, that I was obliged to visit him four or five times daily, and on three occasions I have submitted him to the examination of eminent medical gentlemen in the profession, with a view to assist me in reinstating his general health. During the same period, I have attended his poor unfortunate wife in three confinements: and in cases of no credit, but disgrace to the husband. His.children have suffered from the sequela of such life, and the eldest owes its eyesight to my almost constant attention for three days in the first week of the birth.  In reference to Mrs. Horry, during the whole time I have been necessitated to go to the house, I have not seen nor heard an indecent act. But, Sir, in March last I unfortunately, about half -past seven in the evening of the 27th of that month, went into the Commercial Room to repose, it being an hotel, and that a public room where anyone had access, I thought nothing wrong. After being there some time Mrs. Harry came to ask, me iii would :have a cup of tea. She had not been there more than )wo minutes before Horsy came in. I was sitting m the easy chair, and Horry merely asked who was there? She replied 'the Doctor, Fred." He immediately left the room, and without attacking or asking me for aa explanation, gives vent to an unfounded scandal; and being ill-advised breaks up his home, and talks about Divorce; but instead of prosecuting it like an honourable man, gives way to his old and former habits of revelry, dissipation, and associating with loom characters, from whom he supposes he can glean something to aid and assist him in the Divorce. At the time be thought fit to give issue to the scandal I may say his domestics were of a questionable character. He fosters in his bosom for a period of nine months the injury or injuries he supposes he has received, and whilst his money holds oat (which he spends most recklessly upon parties who laugh and ridicule his conduct), they eulogise him, and pretend to sympathise in a most feeling manner, but he returns to Burslem dejected, penniless, humiliated, in fact destitute. The cold shoulder is shown him, he becomes exaspe• rated and desperate in consequence of his cogitative powers, and as a last revenge (a most cowardly one), resolves upon shooting his wife; invariably the result of a gambler's life. _ _  Now, gr. Editor:ilk you, the public, and the profession which I have the hononr to be a member of, if you or they think, after what I have kinted, that you can possibly give credence to Horry's statement? I have lived in Swan Square, Burslem, in close proximity to the George," fore period little short of sixteen years, and I defy man or woman living (and if it was possible to raise the dead) to say and prove anything derogatory to my moral character. The poor woman who has been hurled into eternity by the hand of her husband, has on many very many occasions, suffered extreme acts of cruelty, both by word and deed; so much so, that in August, 1870, she came to lily house and asked shelter from my wife, afraid of au unlawful weapon. She showed me many marks of discolouration, the result of his ill usages. At that time he wished for a separation on account of betting difficulties. Mr. Editor, I enclose a certificate, which I hope you will read, draw your own inference, and make what remarks you may think fit; but please return the same.  Thanking you for the space occupied by this letter of vindication, and regretting that such an occurrence should have taken place, I remain, yours, dm.,