Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1884-05-17 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE DEVONSHIRE MYSTERY.  The body of Mrs. Laura Shortland, wife of Mr. Hugh Shortland, solicitor, was exhumed on Wednesday morning at the Dartmouth Cemetery, and a post-siortern examination was subsequently made by three surgeons appointed by the Home Secretary. The coffin was removed from the grave at a very early hour, in order to prevent the possibility of the attendance of spectators. The body was opened in the tool house attached to the cemetery, and the contents of the stomach were most carefully removed, an l placed in two jars, these being subsequently handed over to Major Bruton, one of the superintendents of the Devon County Constabulary, for conveyance to London, with & view to& chemieal analysis by the celebrated °demist, Dr. Dupr6. The medical men made most careful soles of all that came within their knowledge, but they declined to express any opinion until they had received Dr. Dupre's report on the viscera. It is not expected that this report will be received for at least a week, and hence, when Mr. Shortland is brought up for examination, a further remand will be applied for. Hugh Shortland, barrister, of Australia, was charged before the Kingsbridge magistrates on Thursday with the murder of his wife, Laura Shortland. The Town Hall was densely crowded. Mr. Bennett, of Plymouth, appeared for the prisoner, and Mr. Square, of Plymouth, represented the Dimes family. Inspector Boots, of Scotland-yard, the first witness, said he had been instructed to make inquiries late toe ease, but his investigations were not yet completed. He had seen an order from the Home Secretary authorising the exhumation of the body of Mrs. Shortland. He was present on Wedneaday at Dartmouth Cemetery, when the remains were examined by Dr. Elliott, of Kingsbridge, and Dr. Soper, of Dartmouth. He saw portions of the body despatched to London, in the oars of Major Brutton, of the Devon constabulary, for analysis by Doctor Du prO, of the Westminster Hospital. Witness proinced a letter from the Treasury Solicitor requesting that a remand should be granted until it was decided what °muse should be pursued. The analysis w ceid oceapy about eight days. The solicitor for the prisoner protested against his client being sketche I by an artist in court, and askei to address the Benah on the subject of a remand. The Bench, however, declined to hear him, and prisoner was remanded until Thursday next. _  PLYMOUTH, Thursday Night—The Devonshire mystery seems to thicken. There is now a general disbelief that an analysis will disclose any evidence of poisoning, although several doctors in the locality are only able to reconcile the appsarance of the body when seen in the water with the administration of strychnine or some other powerful poison. Certain documents, however, which were found amongst the prisoner's papers when he was taken into custody are believed to have an important bearing upon the case. The prisoner was notoriously much attached to writing, and whilst in his place of concealment has, so far as is known, communicated no knowledge to the Hyders that he was acquainted with the death of his wife marl toey brought him home a newspaper abstract ()oaten:king the report of the inquest upon the body, when he told them he knew all about it. When the search was instituted by the police papers were seized, which now prove to have been in the way of instructions to counsel, seeming to indicate that prisoner had anticipated the possibility of his being arrested on a charge of being concerned in the murder of his wife, and formulating suggestions as to the mode of sustaining an alibi, and giving reasons to show that he could not have been present at the time his wife met with her death. The papers, however, do not indicate any defence against Bay particular theory of death ; they simply, although in a very rambling fashion, would lead the reader to believe that Shortland wished to be considered innocent 1 any complicity in the murder. The poiice are unable to trace him to any point about the time Mrs. Shortfall,' met her death, but they have definitely ascertained that he was seen outside of Ryder's house within a few days of the occurrene, although with what object is not explained. The police authorities are evidently unprepared with any direct theory, and almost despair of throwing light upon the ease as matters now stand. The prisoner's conduct in court was that of a very resolute and determined man. He showed no signs of the least sorrow at his wife's death but appeared determined to allow no indications of emotion whatever to eszape him. It is understood that the conduct of the prosecution will be entrusted to Mr. Poland.