The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-08-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE BROADSTAIRS TRAGEDY.  At the inquest held at Ramsgate on Monday into the death of Richard Richards, killed at Broadstairs by an explosion of gunpowder, on July 22nd, Frederick Colverd, managing clerk to Mr. Russ, soli itor, of King William-street, proved receiving the parcel about the end of June at his office, addressed to Mr. Richards. He regarded it suspiciously on account of the address being obviously in a disguised hand and the smell of the parcel being peculiar. He subsequently posted it to Mr. Richards at Broadstairs. The deceased had recently had judgment delivered against him at I is brother's suit for £1,200. The litigation between Richards and his brother closed the day before the tragedy. —Witnesses having proved the receipt and delivery of the parcel, Mr. Burrows, Justices' Clerk, produced Mr. Richards's dying depositions, in which he said he suspected his brother.—Mrs. Richards, the widow, gave evidence describing the explosion. Martin, who was injured, was, she said, friendly with her husband. The latter was greatly worried about the lawsuit with his brother. These two had not been friendly, but apart from this her husband had no enemies. When the parcel arrived Mr. Richards said the handwriting was his brother's, but his sight was very defective.—Christopher Lloyd, a labourer, employed by Mr. Martin, stated that on July 22nd he was working on the building at Broadstairs. He saw Mr. Richards airive with his wife and children. The man had a parcel in his hand. He asked for Martin, who came out, and as the party passed witness he heard Mrs. Richards say to her husband, "For God's sake don't do it." Rithards said to Martin, "Here's a present." Mrs. Richards moved away, and Martin refused the parcel. After the explosion Mrs. Richards said, "I knew it was an iniernal machine."—After some further witnesses had been called, William M. Richards, brother of the deceased, who was cautioned by the coroner betore he gave evidence, said he did not derive any benefit from his brother's death. He had a judgment against him for £1,287,and he understood that it would be null and void by his brother's death. He had been on fairly good terms with his I:rother till some time last year, when he paid him £l4O and asked him to apply it to a certain purpose, which he never did.—The Coroner: I think I ought to allow you the opportunity of making a direct statement. Have you sent a parcel to your brother directly or through his solicitor ?—Witness :Never. I have never made an "infernal machine," or employed anyone to do so.—Police-sergeant Highwood and Dr. Garrould, house surgeon at the Seamen's Infirmary, Ramsgate, were subsequently examined, after which the coroner proceeded to sum up. In the course of his remarks the coroner referred to the strained relations which existed between Richards and his brother. There were, however, no grounds for suspicion against William Mark Richards. As to the theory of suicide, there was not a a. mblance of evidence to support it.—The Jury retired to consider their verdict, and after 20 minutes' absence they returned with a verdict of wilful murder by the explosion of a parcel received by the deceased, but by whom sent there was not eviaence to shew.