The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1873-09-20 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

SEPTEMBER  SHOCKING SUICIDE AT BATLEY CARR.  On Tuesday evening, Mr. Thomas Taylor, coroner, held an inquest at the Junction Inn, Batley Carr, touching the circumstances of the death of a married woman, named Mary Ann Brook, aged 26, who lived with her husband at Upper-road, BatleyCarr. The deceased was the wife of Ogden Brook, a cloth fuller, and ever since they were married bad led a happy life. Every comfort tending to make this life a pleasure was at her disposal ; and after a confinement, which occurred in May of this year, she was iery cheerful. On Monday last, however, a desire to put an end to her existence seized her. She visited the shop of a chemist, and purchased ;some vermin powder. What occurred after this is not positively known, but there is no question. ing the fact tat a part, if not all, of the powder was taken, and this, as a matter of course, resulted in her death. The husband, who had been transacting some business at the Shoulder of Mutton public-house, returned home shortly after ten o'clock, and found his wife lying on the floor. He sent for a Mrs. Fenton, who entered the house, found that the deceased was dead; and discovered a letter, of which the following is a copy, verbatim, et literatim, in ler dress pocket: "Dear brothers this is to say that i am goin to put an end to my Life you need not blame Ogden for it but give him a share of my fortone and the rest to my children Mary Ann Brook"  OGDEN BROOK, the first witness called, said that the name of the deceased was Mary Ann Brook; he lived in Upper-road, Batley Carr, and by trade was a cloth fuller. The deceased was 26 years of age, and was his wife. He knew her for ten years; eight of which they had been married. During this period she never appeared to all anythang ; except on the occasion of her first confinement, when she became very low spirited, and refused to eat anything. After the lapse of three months, however, she was again cheerful. On the 25th of May another child was born; but nothing unusual occurred in her manner ; but she refused to have a nurse. On the Monday morning he arose and attended his work at half past six ; and returned home for the purpose of taking his breakfast, at half-past eight; at which time she was rather cheerful. He partook of dinner at half past twelve, but he noticed nothing extraordinary in her appearance. The deceased also sat at the dinner table, but he was not aware that anything unpleasant occurred. There was nothing in the state of the children to alarm her, and whilst he took tea she nursed the baby. He stayed in the house till a few minutes before nine o'clock, when he left to transact some business at the "Shoulder of Mutton," occupied by Simon Day, and returned shortly after ten o'clock p.m. He found that the door was fastened; and on entering, he found his wife lying in the centre of the kitchen floor. On examining, he found that she did not move. He hurried from the house and acquainted a mon named France with the circumstances of the case. Both of them again visited the house ; a woman also put in an appearance; but he was so affected at the time, that he knew not what ensued. He recognized the handwriting of his wife, and the words on the piece of paper produced were evidently written by her—although she had not been in the habit of writing. Her father had died recently, and had left some property, but how mach he could not say. In the house be occupied there were no vermin, and ske had never been attacked with fits.  By the