The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-02-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE MURDERER'S WILL AND LAST LETTERS. called for a bottle of champagne. The deceased was sitting on his knee, and she (Mrs. Burke), seeing that Mr. John Cooper stated at the inquest that on the her husband had had too much to drink, left the room 31st January, Derby came to his shop and asked himand spoke to Police-constable Elmslie, who was in self and a Mr. Ritson to sign a will, which he would the passage. While talking to the officer she heard the not allow them to read. He seemed to be in a normal report of a pistol, and on entering the room saw her condition, and purchased some syrup of chloral. The child lying dead on the floor, and her husband lying will was read. It said: "(1) I give, devise, and beon a long settle. Her husband was attended by queath to my father is., and to my two brothers, Dr. Sadler, and subsequently removed to Barnsley. William John and Alfred E. Derby, and to my sister, George Taylor, landlord of the Norman Inn, deposed Sarah Jane Derby, a like sum; (2) I bequeath to Mr. that Dr. Burke had been in his house in the afternoon• Edward Brooke, chemist and dentist, the sum of £2O, a few hours before the occurrence. Some slight alter- in addition to £6 I owedhim ; (3)lbequeathto my sister cation appears to have arisen with respect to the Caroline the whole of the residue of my property, of change given for the champagne, and he heard Mrs. every description whatsoever, including my interest Burke say, You are to give me the change," and also under the will of the late John Derby, of Magherafelt, exclaim, .." You coward ! " During the after. and Derry-Garden, Ireland." noon witness had seen Dr. Burke 'kneel at the The following letter from the deceased man to Mr. table and write with a pencil. Dr. J. Blackburn Brooke was read :—" Mr. Brooke,—l could not go who made the post-mortem examination, stated without saying good-bye. You have always been that death was instantaneous, the ball having kind and considerate with me, and even much more passed through the child's heart and lungs. Police-. so than I deserved. You know, my boy, how three constable Elmslie corroborated the evidence given by years ago my money, health, and friends went all at Mrs. Burke, and deposed to finding the revolver on the once; my hopes were crushed, my life became a floor of the apartment. It had six chambers, four of misery. Barely supported, I struggled hard for a which were loaded. The jury, without hesitation, re. while against the horrible feelings which possessed turned a verdict of wilful murder against Dr. Burke; me, and I thought that leaving Cross-lane and taking and the coroner made out the usual warrant of corn. a good holiday would set me right; but it was rnittal on the capital charge against the doctor, who only a temporary benefit; I became worse was still in the Barnsley Hospital, making satisfactory instead of better. A year ago, as I told you, my attention was attracted by the railway progress towards recovery, rails, and that certainly roused me more than I had thought possible, and so far a good thing for me. My greedy brothers and sisters have taken care that I should not benefit by it. I have found out my idea was not a new one, and that in fact it was acted upon several years ago by one company, and therefore was not patentable. My dear friends did not know that I only learned it about a fortnight ago. I was disappointed, of course, but very little compared  NEGRO AGRICrIATCRAL