The Daily Times. — 1860-07-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DEAR GEORGE—You know very well that since I came out of this infernal, infernal prison, I became mad and furious for having been made the victim of this incomparable woman. You know that she had the wickedness and ferocity to premeditate everything in order to send me to prison. "And it is this idea which upsets me and which renders me more than mad. I have been cruelly sent to that house of sufferings and degradation by the hands of my own wife. Oh! when I think of it my head bursts ; there is no more happiness upon earth for me, who have been so cruelly treated by this cursed woman.  . . . . I recollect the 12th of October, '5B, when she came to my place during my absence and basely drove away this poor little woman, with whom I was happy. Ah ! when all this returns to my mind Ido not know any more what lam doing. Ido not deserve so much from a wife who ought to be your best friend in this world. The sufferings which I endured in this prison made me hate this woman to such an extent that I always had in my mind to give her on my coming out the just punishment which she had drawn upon heiself. But you know well that you represented to me the abomination of such an idea ; and, therefore, at last I determined to bear my grief and remain quiet." In English, but very badly written.  " Oh, dear George, how distracted you will be at hearing the fatal news of her death, and that by my own hands. Mercy ! mercy ! mercy ! lam not a guilty man. I always condemned those who take life, and now I am guilty myself of a most atrocious deed. Mercy ! mercy for me ! lam guilty ; it was the work of a moment—Saturday evening. She wanted to go to her sister, to tear her liver out for what has happened in James-street, No. 4. I remonstrated with the unfairness of the deed, and let all be quiet. She began to abuse me and blackguard me in a most shameful manner, which excited me so much that I became quite out of my mind.  " Oh ! mercy, mercy, mercy of you, and in the eye of society ! I struck her dead. * * * All my past animosity flashed into my mind, and then, in the heat of passion, I struck her dead. "Ever since then life is burden. I cannot live. I have rendered myself guilty of a most atrocious crime that ever can be done by degrading myself to low rank of murder. Poor, dear woman! she has suffered death by the hands of her own husband. But, fortunately, I am a man, and will pay with my own life for what I have done in a moment of frenzy. 376, Oxford-street. Now that I am no more, you will pity me, and say, like me, that I do not die a villain, but a poor unfortunate victim of having so unfortunately met with a most violent woman, like myself, which is the only cause that now I am obliged to sacrifice my own life instead of being happy in the world and be respected. . . . Poor, dear creature ! her poor lifeless body is lying as I struck her. I hope for mercy in your eyes and of society, for our human frame is very weak, as per example, the Catholics murder the Protestants, and the Protestants burnt the Catholics in Smithfield. So that will show to you what man is really. Ah! is it possible that I have committed such a crime ! Oh, mercy, mercy! lam not guilty. Nature has not favoured me. I have a most violent temper, and, unfortunately, instead- of having been united to a docile woman for partner for life, I have met with a most violent woman that could be found. But I forgive her, the poor dear creature."  On another sheet, in pencil, very illegibly written 376, Oxford-street. Mercy! . . . She came during my absence, turn out everything, and took my keys, and when I came home she insulted me, . . . and even . . . . exasperated me, as it naturally would, and I only give her slap in the face, which was well deserved, and for this I suffered ignominiously four long months, which she could have prevented had she not appeared against me.  " But, alas! that is what she had premeditated, for she told it to all my acquaintances I write this within a few mi— . . . omy death " The rest is not legible.  The brother was recalled by the coroner, and asked if he could explain the meaning of the reference in the letter found on the deceased, to " the poor little woman with whom he was happy." Witness said, about eighteen months ago the deceased and his wife had quarrelled, which resulted in a separation by mutual consent, she going to her friends in Liverpool; and he remaining in London; that for about a fortnight he took home a young woman whose acquaintance he had made; that one day his wife returned unexpectedly in his absence, and,, finding the young woman in question in the house, she abused her, tore her clothes, turned her iato the street, and then locked up the house and was going away, when tke husband taad, his uppeatance, and on learning what had happened had a violent quarrel with his wife, whom he struck. She summoned him for the assault to the Marlborough-street Poliee-court, when he was ordered to be imprisoned fox fbur months. Witness added, in answer to a juryman, that the deceased had no family, and that he (witness) had not the slightest reason to believe he was jealous of his wife. The corc4ier then recapitulated the chief points in the evidence, and briefly explained the law as applicable to the case.  The jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict that the deceased connnitteci suicide while in a fit of insanity.