Denton & Haughton Weekly News, and Audenshaw, Hooley Hill, and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1874-09-04 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE ASHTON MURDER.  An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at the Artichoke Tavern, Camberwell Green, on the body of Emma Stevitigtou Coppen, who met her deatAt by being stabbed by her husband, Johu Walter Coppen, aged 52, coffee house keeper. The coroner was Mr. Carter, and Mr. H. M. Ody attended to watch the case for the accused, who had been partially examined before. the Lambeth magistrates. •  Charlotte Emily Berry said : I am a single person, and have been living in the service of Mr. Coppeu, 37,- Church-street, and with his wife a mouth yesterday. On Thursday, just before ten o'clock in the forenoon, I was in the kitchen at the back of the coffee room making some puddings. . Miss Coppen was in the room at the time with me. She is my master's sister. Mrs. Coppen came doWa dressed .to go out. She came down the stairs leading from the kitchen to the upper part of the house. Mr. Coppeu was at that time ill the kitchen also, cutting meat to make the puddings with. He was cutting with a knife. She dici not get quite into the kitchen, but he ran towards her. I did not heat a word take place between them. I heard. her immediately cry out that she was stabbed. Si e•said; " I .am stabbed." She ran out of the kitchen, and I followed her. I saw blood coming from her clothes on her left side, a little below the breast. " I undid her dress. No one else came to her assistance at that time. Mrs. Coppen then ran upstairs to the front parlour, and I followed her with her sister-in-law. She hid down on the sofa until the doctor came. No one else saw her before he arrived.  Thu Corairer : Did you see anything to account for the blood coming from her person No.  Did you see Mr. Coppen after the deceased cried out she was stabbed 1 No. the next time I saw him was in the shop. I did not hear him say anything. _ _ _  AC the timn of the exelamatiou "I am stabbed !" could anyone have ly.en uear to her but Mr. Coppeu ? No.  Emily" Caroline Coppin said : Deceased was my brother's wife. Her age Was 29. Never heard him hold out any threat against deceased. I was at the table in the kitchen mixing a cup of cocoa for a customee in the shop. My sister-in-law ran. to me and said, " lam stabbed ; oh, I am stabbed." • The Coroner : What became of her?  Witness: She ran back. I wont into the shop, and asked the customer to go for a doctor. I did not know him. He left ft,r that purpo4e. My sister came back to me and ran upstairs and I followed. She laid down on a sofa. She said, "I am stabbed and I. any dying. The Lord have mercy  on my soul!" The Coroner: Did you at any time after that see your brother in her presence Ys ; she spoke first, and said, "I am sorry it is yoz. I hope you will nOt be punished." He gave her brandy. The medical gentleman had been there some miunteF. After some further evidence the jury retired to consider their verdict, and after being absent about fifteen minutes returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" against Walter John Coppen.  . ii,,, ...' it }Voiriejii(lU A ot. 4. ... .. .. 0414 ‘.- -.se id', .4:3:r.- ; frt* W.,' -.„ t. 27.4 . ~., '.:. ;•,•- il ,tr. Itqi!" 40 , 7t. ,c,.:1 1, , . .• , ' .: . .. . ti, k;.:( ji, i . : . i 4,1 , . ..1.~. . , i. 14 v; , ER 4, 1 6)P4 1:1 VI Yl4 -ii -•1 tt ' ',':,4. O. I ',...-. t. 4.7: : ' • , .. nr-