Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1876-10-28 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDER IN MANCHESTER.  An adjourned inquest was held on Thursday, by the Deputy Coroner of Manchester (Mr. Makinsou), at the Coroner's Court, St. John Street, on the body of Winifred Marklaud, alias Walton, a siugle woman, 27 years of age, lately residing at 29, Tyndall-street, Hyde Road. The circumstances of the case were of a remarkable character, showing that the deceased had died from poison; and as the name of the :Rev. Father Daly. of the Roman Catholic Chapel, Ruocorn, was orought into question, Mr. W. 11, Linaker, solicitor, of that town, appeared in his behalf. The rev. gentleman himself was ales present, together with the deceased's father and detictive-iuspector Rowbothant, who had been charged with inquiries concerning the matter. The first witness was Fanny Stevenson, a single woman, who said she was a ens hat maker, and hail lodged whth the deceased, who passed as a wid iw, for nearly two years. The deceased was a machiaitAt, and bad told the witness that h •r husband had left her and gone to America. Thu witness last saw her alive on Monday:night, the 2nd of October. A young pe son, usmed Annie Stetson, hail then been staying in the house sines the previous Friday. About seven o'clock on the night of October 2nd, Miss Stencil' having goue out, the witness left the house to go to her sister's in Ordsall Lane, with whom she intended to stay all night. The deceased, who was going an errand, went tpart way down the street with her. No One had been left in the house. The deceased had looked the door and brought the key with her. That WO.s the last time the witness, saw her alive. The witness returned about half past ten the following morning, and finding the door fast, borreweel a key from a uei4libour to open it. She found she window blinds down in the grouud-fioor rooms, and drew them up. Thou she called upstairs, but received no avower. 'This did not will ise her' 'because the m deceased, who she concluded to be in 4d, was in the habit of sleeping tilldiuner time Soon afterwards, having performed Bellie domestic duties, the witness west upstairs, endue getting to the door of the room in which she and the deceased slept saw the deceased's arm outside the bed clothes. She did not go into the room bemuse the deceased was lying on the ;side which she (the witness) usually occupied, ;and she was not certain whether,someohe was sleeps lug with her. The Coroner: In fact you and the decea,sed received gentlemen to stop all night with you Witness: No, sir. Never 1 No. Whom did you think might be sleeping with her 1 Site had named a gentleman to me whom she expected. When had she named him On the Monday night. Was lie to stay with her all night Yes. Did you know the gentleman else named? I saw hint once at the house, on a SAttairday morning, seven or eight months ago. Hail he stayed all night on that occasion 7: No. Resuming her evidenne the witness said that she came downstairs after seeiug the deceased lying as described, took some work she was engaged on, and weut across to a neiglibotiet house. Before going upstairs she saw two beer bottles on the table--one empty and the other nearly 80. She diet not mention a .yt thing to her friend of whet she had seen in the deceased's house. She went home again about two o'clock in the afternoon of the liaise day, and hem I the house just in the same condition as she had left it a few hours before. Site did not go upstairs, not because she was afraid atenethieg was wrong, but because she thought the gentleman she had named might be upstairs with her. Nike Siersou had come in with her, and timy lighted the fire and went ou with some work. Alnt six .o'clock the witnese went into the deceased's room for the lamp. It was dealt, and she took no light. The house again presented an undisturbed appearance. The witness went upstairs, and lotted the deceased lying on the bed id exactly the same position as before. Believing she was dead the witue-srau downstairs and then went up again with Mrs. Mitchell and Miss Sierson. They noticed . that on a chair against the bed stood a tumbler 'three parts full of some liquid which smelt like spirits flavoured peppermint. Ou the dressing table was a large bottle containing apparently the seine kind of spirit without the peppermint flivonr The witness had never emu the bottle before mud felt certain there was no spirituous liquors in the house when she left it ou the Monday night The body of the deceased lay on its lett aide, with the face downwards on the pillow. Tile arui which VMS outside the bedclothes was discoloured in patches, and there was discolour atieu on the side of the fate which was exposed  to view By the Jury: The deceased took whisky oneasiunally, She spoke of ~the gentleman who was to come and viait her in a tone from whiah the witness inferred that they were on friendly terms. Several gentlemen were in the habit of visiting witness and the deceased. Sometimes, .though they did not come for two or three weeks together. . The Deputy-Corouer : What did these gentle• men do when they came? They were simply friends of ours in the same position in life.. 'llle deceased had boen away trout the previous Wednosdey to the Monday. She told the witness she had been at Runcorn, and had received gl on the Sunday trout the gentleman who was coming' to see her. Fur. ther she said she expected that he wee going to bring her I,:t more, and that he was the father of a child she had had two years before. The child, the witness believett, was still-born. There had never been any chloroform in the house. Mr. Masker remarked that 'half-a dozen ether witnesses might be called in favour of his client, it the jury thougat proper. The Deputy Coroner, however, did not think it desirable the inquest shoidd be further adjourned. Be then pioceeded to sum up. As to the way in which the deceased had come to her death, that seemed to be involved in mystery. They mould not come to the 0011Cillbi011 that she had committed suicide. The evidence tended to show that woe body was with her at the time the poison Wall taken, mid either gave her the poison io gm ,unciwater, or helped her to it, or knew she was taking it. Who that aomebody wee there was no direct evidence to show , hut the evidence given on be. half of Father Daly was strong and satisfactory that he was not there at all. -After some deliberation, the jury foand, "That the decea,ed had been wilfully murdered by the administration of chloroform, but by whom there was not sufficient evidence to show."  QT.