The Warwickshire Herald. — 1890-10-30 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CORONER'S MUTEST.  The inquest on the bodies of the deoesised was opened at the Drill Hall, Hampstead, on Tuesday morning, before Mr. Dent ,rd Thomas, coroner. Mr. Prank S. Hogg, husband of the deceased, was the erst witness. He repeated the evidence given on Monday before the magistrate, adding that, shortly before 1 o'clock on Saturday he saw an account in a newspaper of a woman having been found murdered at Hampstead, and he felt sure it was his wife. He wanted to go up to the mortuary to see if his fears were correct; but his sister and mother dissuaded him. As be left home that morning to go to Chorley Wood he saw Mrs. Pearcey at her door, and asked her if she had seen his wife and child. She said she had not. Only on one occasion, about eight months ago, had there been any difference between his wife and himself. It was owing to his wife receiving and sending letters which she refused to shew him. That was all condoned afterwards, and since then he had had no fault to find with her. He had not thought about the matter since. So far as he was aware his wife and the emitted never rutted each other The witness added: e I am going to speak the truth, sir; it's beet. I confess that I was intimate with Mrs. Pearce), I don't think my wife knew about it." The 'witness went on to explain the cause of the difference between himself and his wife. After the dispute about the letters his wife said, el will have these letters. I will have them sent to Lizzie." This was a niece of hers, who he thought had been the cause of all the differences between them. He could not think of any possible object that could have induced his wife to renew the intimacy with Mrs. Pearcey. The reason for thinking of going round to Mrs. Pearcey was that he had never heard bin wife say a cross word about her, and he was so confused that lie , hardly knew what he was doing. There had never been any quarrel between himself and his wife concerning the accused. About last February his wife was unwell and stayed about a week at her brother's, but they were on the most friendly terms. Mrs. Pearcey nursed her. At no time did his wife make any statement about the accused, except that she had nursed her very kindly.—Replying to Mr. Prete Palmer, the accused's solicitor, the witness said he was sure the gold ring found on the accused's finger WU not his wife's wedding ring. His wife's ring was of 18 carat gold, whereas that. In the possession of the police was only of 9-carat gold. Mr. Macdonald, a gentleman residing at Belsizepark, spoke to the finding of the body of the deceased, and a police-coustable gave evidence of being called by the last witness to the body. Mr. Hogg, recalled at the request of the jury. said he had made inquiries at the railwaystation I to ascertain if his wife had left the perambulator there and had gone to Chorley Wood without it. He was informed that it had not been ,left. When the perambulator was wheeled into the room for the numaann to identity he threw his arms twee It and sobbed. Be was assisted by twe officers to another seat. The cardigan *kW serer had been his. Detective-inspector Wright described the body en be maw it on the ground. DT. Wells deposed to being called to see tbe body. The deceased bad been dead for about twe bouts. lbe throat was oonepletelv mewed, the bead being attached to the body by col, • Piece et skim,