Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1881-11-11 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

LATE SUICIDE.  An attack was made on Saturday night last (sth inst.), on the premises of Mr. and Mrs. Henley, of Broadoak, in the parish of Symondsbury: by a band of persons belonging to the immediate district. Our readers will remember our recent reports of the death of Henry John Spencer, who hanged himself at Broadoak, about a month since, under most painful circumstances. Since that time a general feeling of disrespect, not to say hatred, has been openly shown to Henley and his wife. Without warning, a mob of persons, numbering nearly a hundred, some of whom wore masks, or had their faces blackened, commenced an attack upon the premises. A couple of ignited effigies, representing a man and woman, hoisted on long poles were thrust beneath the thatch of the house, ostensibly with the design of burning the house down. Fortunately, however, for the premises, the thatch being literally soaked with the recent rains, reiisted the fire. Finding they could not make a bonfire of the house, some of the band proceeded to smash in every pane of glass on the premises, and to destroy the front doer. In this they were successful, for the windows were smashed to atoms; the door unhinged and taken to a distance, where, what remained of it, was made into a bonfire. Henley, himself, seemingly half dead with terror, appearing upon the scene, was fired at nearly a score of times, but the weapon or weapons, being, no doubt, filled with blank charge, he fortunately sustained no hurt. Young Mrs. Spencer, wife of the late suicide, appearing at one of the windows, had a blank charge pass so near her (and the weapon must have been within short disoance), that much of her hair was singed. The attack was kept up until the house was almost uninhabitable, for most of the rural .constables being drafted for Bridport on Saturday night, and the intended " demonstration " bein4 unknown to them, the mob had the matter Wholly in their own hands for several hours. We are informed that early the same evening a number of persons, seated in a waggon, with black faces, and carrying on poles faithful representations of a couple residing at Broadoak, wended their way from S dwayash, where the father of the unfortunate suicide, Spencer, live.. The wind,ws are now protected by boarding, and a watch is kept on the premises. Whatever the reasons for damage and assault, such a proceeding as this is certainly of the most lawless and disreputable character, and the offenders could hardly feel surprised were they called upon to mower for taking the law intot bon own Mari  The chance" call 11°4 announo advance! 'and in 18421 Gener-2 the pall. 41111 LinaerlCA and a P 6 plitee "  At 6 1 secretor Hoban ' oud Joh the Coel  geilWar, chief *lt Tile iv iforeth° belhotio. ooluoiti tios ern F well odt celled tr girder% to thd but self wag 11`!il bore 111! • mord I yhoLosr was Prg , arms, u. oPPlite° In tO  " Roc s the jun  Tie Swath Willis° prisons The endia.4o , a toe w variowl nal. thee tv was TWOS beard b her. travelb returnt Walwo sod at belooit to Low good 111 Londor  hung Mond*. of wluc the nal battier  recenU broullb