The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1873-03-15 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

CORONER—Both of them have been bad at times; sometimes better and sometimes worse. She had not taken much notice of what her mother said at times. _  ELIZABETH RHODES, wife of Thomas Rhodes, Pyrah's buildings, Carlton-road, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, sworn, said—My husband is a slater, and Jane Rhodes, the deceased, was my mother-in-law. I last saw her alone on Sunday night about half-past six. She came to my house with her husband on Sunday morning. They had been accustomed so to do: she scarcely missed a Sunday coming. They stayed all the day, but I did not notice anything different about them. They were very content with each other. They stopped at my house until half-past six at night. I did not notice anything different in the manners of either of them. They said they were going home. I next saw Peter Rhodes about halfpast eight o'clock the next morning. He came alone; he had not been to Pearson's then. When he came in my husband said, " Where is my mother, father." He replied, "She has gone to Wakefield, but I think she has gone to Morley." I said "have you had your breakfast?" and the old man replied " Yes, what I can eat." He looked rather wildish when he left. He said he was going up to his daughter's to stay. I did not see that he had anything with him, and I did not notice anything particular about him. She had sometimes left him in, but only when she went to see some of her friends. He could not bear to go about the same as her. He came to our house in about three quarters of an hour after he left; and when 12,e returned he said "I have come to stay with thee to-day lass." I said "have you ;" and he replied "Yes." He asked if he might lay him down, and on my consenting that he should do 80 he laid down in bed. I disturbed him at about ten minutes to three to try to awaken him. I could not do so; so I went into one of the neighbours' house and said"' can't awake my father : will you come in." He was snoring as if he were in his right sleep. He had all his clothes off with the exception of his trousers. lie left his key on the house table, but made no remark as he did so. When my husband came home he took the key. That would be about half-past five to a quarter to six o'clock. I previously asked my husband to look at his father, and he did so, and he then seat for his sister. I did not see any paper or bottle in his possession. Mrs. Pearson said she saw nothing. He was only away from our house about threequarterg of an hour. He has not been accustomed to drink—at least not for the last two years. He did not work. He often complained of pain in his body: he wore a truss. Ho said it hurt him and therefore he wanted to lay down. He was taken from our house by the police. He had often complained about the truss; he did so on Sunday, when he laid him down. I did apt go to see Mrs. Rhodes. Emsti FIELD, a widow, residing at Common-side, Earlsheaton, deposed as follows :—Peter Rhodes was my uncle, and his wife was my aunt by marriage. I last saw them both together, on Sunday night, as they were coming from my cousin Tom's. I met them at the top of the Middle-road, and I talked to them both. They seemed to be on friendly terms. My aunt was saying when I first saw them, that she enjoyed the last two cups of tea she had at my cousin Tom's. I saw my uncle last Friday, and he looked melancholy. He said he was nearly tired of life, and he would not be so long before he committed suicide, _  ALEXANDER ADAMS, a West-riding constable, on being sworn said—l knew Peter Rhodes, but I did not know his wife. I first noticed her at about a quarter to eight on Monday night: that was when I went to the house. A girl called for me, and when I went by myself Thos. Rhodes was there with the key. The old woman was covered in bed, and Thomas Rhodes took the quilts from off her. She was covered with blood, and there was blood on the floor close to the bed side. It had been trampled on, but he could not see distinctly as he had only a lighted candle. I asked where her husband was, and a woman said "He has gone to Batley Carr." I gave Mary Preston the key when I had locked the door. I went with Thomas Rhodes to Batley Carr, where the old man was. WILLIAM AIRTON, superintenant of the Dewsbury ' division of the \Vest-riding Constabulary, said—l did not know the woman: but from information received, I came to Earlsheat on with Sergeant Beevers about halfpast eight on Monday night. The daughter—Mrs. Pearson—was in the house when we got there. She was along with other women, who did not seem to be doing anything. I saw the deceased woman on the bed, which was saturated with blood. There was also a pool of blood beneath the bed; it had gone through. There was also some spots of blood on the wall near the top of the room. We searched the house, and I saw the sergeant take from a corner a hatchet which was besmeared with blood. The place consisted of only one room.  The