The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-10-21 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CABO. There had been a deal of rumour in circulation, but the question was now how deceased came by his de ith. He thought the evidence upon that point was most clear. Was he driven to the course by the conduct of other persons? He could not see there was the least evidence to show that deceased had reason to commit suicide. There was not sufficient evidence to show that he was kept short of food, and he certatnly did not die of starvation. As to the harsh treatment on the part of his niother.in-law, Mrs. Spencer was in a delicate stata of health, and she was to be kept quiet or the result would be disastrous to her, and she (Mrs. Henley) acted as ehe did to keep deceased away from bee husband. He considered Mrs. Spencer Cleared up any difficulty in the case, and proceeded to dwell upon the salent points in the evidence adduced. The Coroner then addressed the jury. At first be thought the case appeared to assume a very serious aspect indeed, but no doubt more light hal now been thrown upon it. They had to consider whether deoeased died by his own hand or at the hand of another. It by the hand of other or others, the result would be murder or manslaughter. Taking all the facts, there was no doubt the deceased committed suicide. There was no evidence to show that the couple quarrelled between theres.lves until the separ. Won was spleen of, and it was sworn that deceased had access to his wife, but whether the man was received by his parents-in-law with sweetness of temper he doubted, but of course that did not bring it within the pale of man. slaughter. The fact of the wife remaining with her parents, and the manner in which his food was provided was enough to make deceased low-spirited. Things were at last brought to a climax ; deceased went home, and to the cloatat, and hung himself. He (the Coroner) still thought there had been a deal of harshness shown to the young man. If the jury returned a verdict of manelaughtsr he thought no jury would convict, for be did not see corrob)retive evidence enough to show that either Mr. or Mrs. Henley ehould be committed for manslaughter. He (the Coronet) had felt strongly to get all the facts in the case elicited. The jury expressed a desire to consider this verdict. They were locked up for about a quarter of an hour, and on the re opening of the court they returned a verdict that " Deceased hanged himself whilst of unsound mind." The jury wished Mr. and Mrs. Henley to he severely censured for the parts they had taken. Both were c died and addressed by the coroner. Mr. Leggin, addressing the father-in-law and mother.in.law of the deceased, observed there had been disclosures of harsh treatment to the deceased. It was easy to keep within the law, and at the same time within the moral of the law. He had no doubt deceased had his wife kept from him, and he was not received as he ought to have been received. There were many ways in which things could be done, and the spirit in which they were done. He believed both Mr. and Mrs. Henley did their duty as far as they were bound to do it; but not as a father and mother-in-law should do it. He earnestly hoped they would now both take this matter to their heart, and feel regret that they had so treated a fellow creature bound to them by go olon II VA PA PrOC/404iUga Una tormiutvd.  To the Editor.  Dear Sir,—S-eing the unfounded, grimis, and untruthful statement cirmlated by the Bridport Neto3 of the 14th inst , stating that Ellen D. Spsncer, wife ot Henry Thomas Spencer, who has just committed suicide, caught a chill by sleeping in a damp bed at Portland, and as her husband and herself slept at any house, and on a bed belonging to me. I beg t) state that it was a good, dry, healthy featherbed thee slept on, and also an excellent dry, healthy bedroom. The clothes, tar), were dry and healthy, every requisite required tor comfort was there. The same bed and bedclothes were constantly slept on for a week previously, with the exc,iption of one night, so that it was impossilbe for the said bed or its belongings to have been damp. In my opinion a long space of time will elapse bafore the same Ellen D. Spencer will be permitted t 3 sleep in such comfortable quarters again.—Signed by me,  GEORGE SAMPSON, Chesil, Portland. A wrongfully persecutfKl matt in this painful affair. Dtd Broaalcak, Dorset, October 17th, 1681.