The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1885-04-25 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUPPOSED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN LONDON.  Mr. Langham, London City Coronor, conducted a long investigation on Monday at the Coroner's Court, Golden-lane, relative to the death of Thomas Smith, aged 48, landlord of the Citizen public-house, 70, Houndsditch, and his wife, Mary Smith, aged 49, both of whom died under very suspicious circumstances. A few days ago the latter was found in a dying state, her body covered with cuts and bruises and her skull fractured. She died soon afterwards, and on Monday morning her husband was found dead, with his throat cut. Ellen Palatte deposed that she was general servant at the Citizen. When she went to bed on Tuesday night the deceased did not appear the worse for drink. The witness heard no quarrelling, but on getting up next morning found the deceased in a setni-nude state lying in the bar. She appeared stupilied, and there was blood upon her face. The witness believed at the time that she had fallen downstairs, but subsequently found dreps of blood on the top of the stairs, and there was blood also in the kitchen. Mr. Smith told the witness that the deceased had fallen downstairs. The witness asked him if she should send for a doctor, but he made no reply, and no medical man was sent for. She died about two o'clock in the afternoon, and afterwards a doctor was sent for. Inspector Williams, of the City police, deposed that about three o'clock on Wednesday morning a sergeant told him that the landlord was quarrelling with his wife, and the witness heard sounds as of a scuffle. He waited some time, and heard Smith ask his wife to go to bed, but nothing taking place to warrant police interference the witness went away. Sergeant Harper, City police, said he lookad into the bar and saw Smith and his wife there. He used very bad language, and several time; asked the woman to go to bed. Witness hearl a heavy fall, and when the inspector came up he informed him of the occurrence. He knew the parties were of drunken habits. Mr. Quinliven, surgeon, deposed to being called in late in the afternoon of the day in question to see Mrs. Smith, who had evidently been dead some time. The body was shockingly bruised; there were two black eyes, and the skull seemed badly injured. When he made a postmortem examination he found that the cause of death was concussion of the brain and shock to the system. The concussion might have been caused either by a blow or a fall. There were marks upon the body, however, that were evidently inflicted with a blunt instrument. An open verdict was recorded. The death of the husband was then inquired into, and W. Kingston, brother-in-law of the deceased, stated that he appeared melancholy on Sunday night when he saw him. He had been upset since his wife's death, and had drunk rather heavily. The witness saw him about eleven o'clock, when he seemed the worse for drink. George Sawyer, potman, said the deceased appeared in good health and spirits on Sunday night. When the witness came to the house on Monday morning, about eight o'clock, he found the deceased in his bedroom with his throat cut and quite dead. Police-constable Heath, 933 City, said he was called in by the last witness. He found the man lying on the bed. There was a pool of blood on the floor, and a razor lying by the side. A doctor was called, and and he pronounced him dead. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane!'