The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1865-07-29 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF DR. PRITCHARD. It will be remembered that Dr. Pritchard, nearly a fortnight ago, made a confession as to the murder of his wife, and denying that of his mother-in-law. It was believed at the time to be less than half the truth, as it did not accord with the evidence adduced. Some journals, not very wisely, pitted that half confession against the medical analysis, and suggested that the doctors were now "on their trial" The full confession now obtained shows that our medical jurisprudence is more to be trusted than the assertion of a crafty Criminal at his last shift.  "Confession by Edward William Pritchard, and made in the presence of an Albseeing God, and of the Rev. T. Watson Reid, my present spiritual adviser, on the 19th day of July, 1565, at Glasgow Prison, for communication to the proper authorities. I, Edward Wiliam Pritchard, in the full .nosseasion of all my senses, and .understanding the awful position in which I am placed, do make free and open confession that ,the-sentenee pronounced upon me is just: that -I am guilty of the death of my mother-in-law, Mrs. Taylor, and of my wife, Mary Jane Pritchard; that I can assign no motive for the conduct which actuated me beyond a species of terrible madness and the use of ardent spirits. I hereby freely and fully state that the confession made to the Rev. R. S. Oldham on the 11th day of this month was not true, and .I hereby confess that I alone, not Mary M`Leod, poisoned my wife in the way brought out in evidence at my trial; that Mrs. Taylor's death was caused according to the wording of the indictment I further state to be true; and the main facts brought out on my trial,, I hereby fully acknowledge, and now plead wholly and solely guilty thereto, and may God have mercy on my soul! I pray earnestly for repentance not to he repented of, and for forgiveness from Almighty God, through the intercession of our blessed Redeemer, Mediator, and Advocate, Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour. Fellow-creatures, pray for me, and let me add lam in charity with all men. I have now to record my humble thanks to all who have taken part in any way for my interest. First to their lordships the judges for their great patience, forbearance, and careful consideration of my case, and to the gen-tlemen of the jury; to all the offinials. I cannot help mentioning the Clerk of the High Court of Justiciary, the Governor (Mr. Smith) of the Edinburgh Gaol, the chaplain, Rev. Mr. Russell, Head-Warder Nelson, Warders John Livingstone. and Mackintosh; the Governor of Glasgow Prison, Mr. Stirling; Mr. Armour, head-warder; chaplain, Mr. Doran; his assistants, Messrs. Hogg and Troup;' Warders Matrie, Thomson, &e.; to Drs. Leishman and Dewar, surgeons to Glasgow Prison; and Dr. Simpson, of Edinburgh Geok To the non-officials my heartfelt thanks are specially due; to the Rev. Dr. Miller, of Free St. Matthew's, Glasgow; and to other ministers who have written to me, not adding their names; to Dr. Norman M`Leod, may God bless him; and to my own immediate faith-professors, -Rev.- R. S. Oldham and Rev. T. Watson Reid; to the police authorities— Superintendent M.Call and police at. the central office, . Glasgow; to Sergeant Stewart, of the Edinburgh police force; and the sheriff officers, Wilson, of Glasgow, and Ferguson, of Edinburgh; and to many others wliose courtesy and kindness I oannot forget; above all to Sir Archibald Alison, Sheriff, &o.; lfegoral duties. my e hidsuhtumsane, May andetrea all ac treatment while the thanks o undergoing his dearly penitent sinner, and may Heaven be their reward, is the last prayer of Edward William Pritchard. "JOHN STIRLING, Governor, Witneis. " EDWARD GEARit, Warder, Witnes3. "JOHN MIITRIE; Warder, Witness."  Flying Machines.—The American Geyer-amen': has seriously taken up the subject of aerial navigation and is actually having a machine for the purpose, on a large scale, constructed. It consists.of a cigar-shaped canoe, made of copper, with iron ribs. In the centre of this is placedan engine suffieiently powerf al to work four screw fans with twenty feet blades—one of these being placed above, and another below the canoe, and one at each end; the two • former are to cause ascent or descent ; the two latter for horizontal motion. 1 The whole apparatus, when completed, is to weigh about six tons! It is not difficult to anticipate what the,result of the experiment will be. The American Government was induced to make it by the results said to have been arrived at by the late General (and Professor) Mitchell, in certain trials he made with screwfans, by which it was ascertained that one twenty feet in diameter, would, with a given velocity, raise up very much more than six tons.—Scie2itific Review.  DISTRESSING SUICIDE THROUGh  On Saturday morning Mr. W. Payne, coroner for the City and Southwark, held an inquiry respecting the suicide, under very painful circumstances, of a widow named Jane Steel, aged 45 years. Eliza Salmon, 31, IsTew-street, Horsleydown, said that the deceased was married to a carpenter, who died recently, and was buried on Wednesday evening last. She grieved excessively about her bereavement, and upon returning from the funeral said, "I do not think I shall live long after him. Do not be surprised if you find me dead. You will find a shroud in the house and put it on me." Witness at the time considered that the expressions were merely the result of depression, and took no notice of them. She was left some house property by her hushand and was in no pecuniary difficulties. She had one child living. Henry Manchester, 45, New-street, said that he lodged in deceased's house. On the morning of Thursday hi found his landlady hanging by a rope to a hot kin the kitchen ceiling. He called in some men, who cat her down, but the deceased was quite dead. It appeared that the deceased had not slept during the night after her return from her husband's funeral, and that in the early morning she procured a rope, and having made it fast to the hook while standing on the dresser, put the noose around her neck, and, jumping off. effectually hanged herself. The Coroner having slimmed up, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity."