The Express. — 1862-08-05 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS APPALS AT COBHAM.  An inquest on the two bodies found on Friday in • wood near Cobham, as reported in our yesterday's impression, was held yesterday at the King's AT= before W. Carter, Fag., coroner for East Burley. The facts in reference to the discovery of the bodies as report yesterday having been deposed to with no material variation, and medical evidence as to the muse of depth having been taken, Susanna 31oreham, a married woman, residing on Waltoncommon, said—last Thursday week, between seven and eight o'clock, I was is my yard when I heard two reports of firearms in the direction of Paine's- hill, at an interval of a minute or two between each other. It is not as unusual occurrence to bear reports of firearms near my house, but not so soon after each other. 1 saw no onoc• the common that night. Min Mary Ann Jupp, of Westcott, near Dorking, stated that she was staying with her sister-in-law at the W bite Lion Hotel on Thursday week last, when two gentlemen came to the house and asked for two pints of port wine. She informed them that they kept nothing lees than quart bottles, one of which they thou bought, and for which the younger of the two paid. Witness wrapped the bottle is a pie* of • Daily Telegraph newspaper. He tried to put it into a fish-basket, but was unable to do eo, in consequence of a pouch which he handed to witness, which he desired her to keep. It contained • pair of 1161101 s, some tweezers, dies, and lines for fishing. On the fly-wrapper was written the following:—"C. 8., 5, Laytou-place, Brixton, or 11, Angel-court, City." They were respectably attired, and the younger one wore a light suit and cap (corresponding with that produced). The elder man said they were going to the Plough, at Stoke, and that he knew two young women living there 10 or 15 years ago. They left the house and proceeded towards Walton-common. The older ooe appeared to be last in his manner, and was going away without paying for the wine, and the younger one then paid for it. A gentleman named Brown, who had entered the room, stated, in reply to the cceoaer, that he went on Saturday to 11, Angel-court, City, and from information there received he proceeded to 11, Nevill-court, Homey, where he saw a gentleman named Biddlestone, who told him that his two sons left home on Thursday, July 24, with the avowed object of going on a fishing excursion. The elder one, who held a situation of 20111. per annum in • marine assurance company, was 38 years of age, and the latter, who was a clerk in the City, was 23 years of age. The circumstances brought to his knowledge left no doubt that they were his sons. He was deeply affected, and was unable to account for the melancholy affair in any way. He declared that they were on friendly terms, and he could not shed any light upon the affair. The coroner here suggested an adjournment should take place to enable the father to attend, but as the jury were '1 about to leave the house the father entered, and iu reply to the coroner said he bad just been shown the several articles mimed in the evidence, and he identified them as having belonged to his two sons Charles and Herbert, whom he last saw se the Mid alt. Leytouplace, Brixton, was their former residence, and they still resided with their father. Mr. Biddlestone also Meted that on their leaving home he requested them to return in good time, and they said, " Yea, father, we will return at the usual time," which was about 10 o'clock, p.m. Witness had received DO ' motion of the muse of their absence in writing, and he therefore bad caused some of the family to sit up fur them. He could in DO way account for the act, and be behaved the writing was in a disguised Mod, or written by cue of them while in a state which would alter the customary band. The writing as deciphered was read, and Mr. Biddlestone thought it was written by Herbert, the youngest, who he supposed might have been labotiriug at the time under some mental feeling. Herbert was exceedingly food of his sister Emily, sod he believed the writing was written by him because of the terms a:expressed therein. By the Coroner—At what conclusion do you arrive rerespecting the words " Charles is nearly dead ; I have pro. mised to me him safely dead before I quite put— r Witness-11st they individually committed suicide. They were friendly towards each other, and oil equal terms with my other sons. I cannot account for the words, "The writer asks feegivesees from all whom he may pain by this going away to Me." I have not heard from the office in which they were employed, that the amounts of either were is se suratisfacitery condition. 1 had never known any weakness of mind is either. I believe, from the circus:salaams, that they both left home with • pre-determinetioa to destroy their lives. I directed inquiries to the Thames polies, thinking they might have been drowsed. They were not addicted to intemperate habits. By a juror-1 think the wilting alluded to my dsaghter Emily, sod I am not aware that there was say MU/Mum to a young lady by either of them. The Coroner haring maned up, The jury, after mese lima two hours' onnetiltatkm, retuned a verdict of hie de se against the Yeller! Penns. Herbert, sad that the elder died by a piled ghee woad, but by that mewed wee hinted. theme was net .us t evidence to show.