Widnes Examiner. — 1882-04-15 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WESLEYAN CHAPEL, SANKEY BRIDGES.-A service of song, entitled " The basket of flowers," was rendered on Monday evening, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Sankey Bridges by a choir of 50 voices and the following instruments (under the leadership of Mr. Walter Brough) :—Harmonium, W. Tomkinson ; first and second violins, W. Phillips, T. Tronter, and Whftfield ; violincello, C. Ball; flute, S. Tomkinson ; cornet, T. Armstrong. The chapel had a gay and ' festive appearance by several choice plants and profusion of of flowers. The part songs and solos were giv,en by the Misses George, Taylor, and Spark; Messrs. J. Taylor and Travis. The committee secured the able services of Mrs. Garnett, of Hall Nook, Penketh, to give the connective readings. , On taking the rostrum on her arrival evoked , hearty cheering and rounds of applause. She had with her a basket of beautiful flowers, and placed it on the reading desk. Her reading was pleasing and effective. The service was well attended, and throughout gave great satisfsction.  not do that. When you made arrangements with Mr. Shearer this was over, or close upon it, It is a shocking thing for this woman to have caused her death, and to have been driven to it by you or by some mistake of yours. It is a shocking thing.—ln answer to a juryman the witness said he had not turned the deceased out of the house.—The Coroner said his answer must be taken with a reservation. If this woman was not turned out he never knew one who was. The door was locked and she was unable to enter the house.—Permission was given to Mr. Alban Boyle, of Manchester-road, the brother of the deceased, to question the witness. In reply to Mr. Boyle's questions, the wi ss said he had a policy of £lOO in the 1-'ruclential Assurance Company on the life of the deceased. He effected it four years ago in order Lek make provision for her death.—Mr.Boyle : But surely you had sufficient money then in case of her death? I don't think so.—Not four year's since! Did she ever threaten to expose you how that policy was effected? In which way, sir ?—Was it effected properly? For anything I know.—Was she examined by a doctor? I believe so, but I don't know whether it was Dr. Fox, or a doctor from Widnes.—Didn't Dr. Fox examine her and refuse to pass her? I believe so, but a doctor from Widnes came.—Did that doctor see her? I cannot tell; I was at my work.—Kr. Boyle: The deceased told me this policy had been effected fraudulently. (To witness.) Did you ever kick her off the steps? No, I did not.—Did you ever illuse her? I have not illused her these two years.—You have illused her In times gone by? Yes. I have struck her in self-defence.—You have never struck her when she has been sober? When she has aggravated me I have.—Have you ever struck or pinched her privately in the bedroom? She showed me marks on her arms and said you had caused them. They were caused by her tumbling —The marks that I saw could not have been caused by tumbling. She gave me to understand that she had gone through systematical illusage in private. You could not face to do it in public. What was she doing with a cut lip the other day ?—Witness said one day at noon she was striking him and he struck her in self defence.—Mr. Boyle: Did you ever keep her without money ? No. If anything she has had too much.—Do you recollect the time I lived with you when you kept her without wages? I remember that time, and she had money then, although I kept the house.—Did you give her sufficient for the daily means in a morning and I then reckon her up to the farthing every night ?—Witness: Every night !—Mr. Boyle: You have had many a row over a halfpenny in my presence.—Witness: Yes, at the time she was taking drink.—Never mind what time. It has caused much unpleasantness; did it not? Yes, because I thought she was " doing " me.—When did she pawn things? I cannot say.—Did you never give her occasion to pawn? No. I don't know that I have.—Did not you think she would pawn things when you kept her without wages? I did not think so.—Well I do. When you missed these things did not you threaten to kill her? No. Such a thought never came into my head.—James Monks, rope and twine manufacturer, Arpley Fields, who said he was a distant relative of the deceased, deposed to the deceased sitting on a form on the river bank near his works. She was very low spirited, and looked very poorly. He lead known her all her live, and was not aware that she was addicted to drink. Had anyone asked him if she was a drunken woman he should certainly have replied "No."—Edward Jeffries and Alfred Cooper having been examined, the Coroner addressed the jury. After a short consultation the jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane, adding: "And they further say that in their judgment there has been, and perhaps for a considerable time past, an amount of harshness exhibited to deceased by her husband, John Speakman, which they cannot but deem exceedingly reprehensible on his part."