The Sun. — 1858-06-19 (London, England)

SMYTH."  CORONER'S INQUEST.  On the 2d July, 1857, the plaintiff wrote to Col. Smyth to say that the whole subject was one which had better be discussed through the intervention of their respective friends, and requesting Col. Smyth to give the plaintiff the name of a friend, and be would lose no time in appointing one of his friends to confer with him. On the same day Col. Smyth wrote to the plaintiff to say he wished him distinctly to understand that he (Col. Smyth) was the person friend,rson toararnaangtehtaltieatin2atter o'clockwith it e the shouldplaintiff be and prepared to meet him at No. 29, Duke-street, Piccadilly. The same day the plaintiff wrote to Col. Smyth to say that his friend Colonel Brownlow Knox had advised him to di eine a personal interview, but that he (Co'. Knox) would himself be ready to see him the next day at White's Club, and Col. Smyth wrote to deel ne any interview wit's Col. Knox, or any other person but the plaintiff and flied on so delicate a subject, 'and adad, " Unless granted I shall be forced to'have recourse to other measures." That letter was simply acknowledged by the plaintiff, and Col. Smyth then wrote the following letter : " U. S. Club, July 4, 1857. " Sir,—l ctn no longer refrain from saying that your conduct in refusing to meet me for the purpose of your either substantiating or retracting a charge so false and so seriously affecting the character of my sister, a lady of position and connexion of your own, proves that you are unfit to mix in the society of gantlemen, and I shall take every opportunity of making public your unmanly conduct, and to your face if I meet you anywhere. Your now screening yourself under false representations to those you call your friends will be of no avail when your conduct is clearly laid before impartial persons. Your not meeting me is only attributable to total want of feeling as a gentleman and a man of honour. —Your obedient servant, " H. R. Hughes, Esq. J. R. SMYTii."  suicide Yesterday afternoon Mr. Wakley held. an inquest a tlio King of Denmark Tavern, Park-road, entatofxthoe. ICoo,uprta Barnsbury-r ad,. Islington, respecting the death of icnrniinisttdeedP Mr. lie ory Robert Hodges, aged 25 years; a clerk (,f Eliz a Phillips, aged 35 year,r who was murdered years, f by him there. ~ or Part.-road, Cr ohaadn, e earnyd wa lhs oo o Inspector Judge, of the N division of police, attended. , . The jury having viewed the bodies, the flrq_wit-7 ness examined was Lorenz-) Phillips, of 19, Trinitystreet, Liverpool road, Islington, who eaid--7The deceased wotnan was her sbter. _ Shelia*, her„alive T last Tuesday evening. _he deceased Hodges came aoout ten, o'clock to. see her sister, andSirrah-Scot, the servant, lea tlem sitting in tho-pettletir, and then retired to rest, h..r (the servant's) ,bedroom • tieing over the floor in which the tragical occurrence happened. Mr. William John Hodges, residing at No. 2, Pot Cand-road,, Now North-road, identified-t he deceased as his son, and knew him by his' club-foot. He stated that a silver watch and gold chain were in liii son's possession on Tuesday night when he hft home. The police produced a revol • large S • revolver, a Spanish knife, an I other articles. Mr. Hodges said they belonged to his son. He waq a steAdy, careful young wan until he became acquainted with this woman some months ago. The Coroner desired the policeman to go to the house and search for a silver watch,, which be did, but it was not found. The remainder of the evidence was a mere re capituiation if what has already appeared. The Cur. ner observed ,that there did not appear  The witnass was cross-examined on this coirespondence, and said,-1 refused t,) meet Colonel Knox on the ground stated to Mr. Hughes. I said Mr. Hughes was the proper person to decide a subject of so delicate a nature, and I declined an interview with Colonel Knox. In my letter I said if he would not meet me I should have rt course to other measures. A charge has already been made in this court that I have killed two people. It happeuel once, but it has been a caution to me. I should have exposed him as slandering a lady behind her back. I did not approve of Colonel Knox because I did no approve his character. When I said " I should have recourse to other measures," I had no intention of a duel. I did not think him worthy of a duel.  to bc the slightest evidence of insanity. The jury retired for some time, and returned a verdict that " Henry Robert Hodges wilfully murdered Eliza Phillip', and afterwards murdered himself."  Re-examined—l was acting as a brother on bechhaalfrao eftear.siater. who was slandered by a man of no (I'nere was here some applause in court.) Lord Campbell—l will order any person to be taken into custody who behaves so indecently. Cross - e x a m i ne d bywisesMnrt. djlo Walliseawtn le: letters sd— before. nTo t'e J. P. Martineau, examined by Mr. Lush, said he was one of Lady Dinorbeu's solicitors, and knew her handwriting, but did not beleve the letters were hers. Mary Smyth, examined by Mr. Macaulay, said, —I am Lady Din orben's niece. I lived with her for 10 years to September, 1852. I went abroad in September, 1852, and came home in 1857. I have constantly seen her handwriting, and correspond with her. I went to Mr. Bloxam's iu November, and saw a letter which had been wtitten by myself in my aunt's name. It was an invitation to Mr. vn aeddlmwy rwe Di traioinnntgye. Humberston. Ido not think either No. lor No. 2 are in Lady Dinorben's handwriting. of both appears to be slightly disguised. I was at said he would now adjourn the St. Leonard's at the time of my cousin's, Miss theoW r baLel ilonui rsvd'ir Campbellaodttei wrote nthh?.. r businessml leh herself.aal of her property. This concluded the case for the defendant. ICouit till the morning. I The Court was accordingly adjourned.