From the Kentish Chronicle, 25 May, 1861.

CANTERBURY FRIENDLY SOCIETY. THE BLACK DOG FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

The members of this society to the number of about 190, walked in procession from their lodge-room, at the “Black Dog” public-house, to All Saints’ Church, where an eloquent sermon was preached. The total number of members are about 260, and the receipts for last year, according to the published statements including a balance in hand of £42 amounted to £430 11s. 2d., and the disbursements to £509 11s. 2d. showing a balance of £70 against the society, that amongst being charged upon the previously accumulated capital. No reason is assigned for the heavy expenditure of the year, but the largest item is made up of payments to sick members. The accumulated stock of the society amounted to the commencement of the present year to £1,013 16s. 1d.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 22 June, 1861.

SUICIDE AT CANTERBURY.

On Friday evening, Mr. Delasaux, coroner, and a respectable jury, held an inquest at the “Black Dog” public house, Castle street, to inquire into the circumstances attending the death of Sarah Wetherley, of St. Mildred’s, in this city.

Francis, wife of William Partridge, mariner, deposed:- I have known the deceased many years, and between ten and eleven o’clock this morning I saw her in bed in the room in which the jury have just viewed the body. I spoke to her but she made no reply. She looked wildly, casting her eyes towards me. About half-past four o'clock this afternoon I heard the husband of the deceased call out, on which I ran into the house and proceeded upstairs where I saw the deceased in her husband's arms. He had just taken a piece of rope from her neck and she was then dead. One end of the rope was round a nail and the other about her neck.

Elizabeth, wife of Cornelius Reed, painter, deposed:- The deceased is my aunt and I have known her all my life. About two months since she was low-spirited and melancholy and attempted suicide by cutting her throat in consequence of which she was removed to the Union Workhouse. She suffered from depression or spirits about seven years ago.

Ruth, wife of William Mackett, hawker, deposed:- The deceased has been in a strange way for the last seven or eight years—I mean low-spirited. I have seen her nearly every day and had, therefore, a good opportunity of judging of her conduct and state of mind. She was better when she left the Union about a week since, but had become worse again during the last two or three days. The coroner summed up and the jury, after brief deliberation returned a verdict of “Temporary Insanity.”

From the Kentish Chronicle, 2 April, 1864.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN CANTERBURY.

On Sunday evening, between 7 and 8 o’clock, a young man named Horton, son of a fruiterer residing in this city, attempted to murder a young woman named Cullen, to whom he has for several years been paying his addresses, and he afterwards committed suicide in the most shocking and determined manner. The young woman, Esther Cullen, is 21 years of age, and is a domestic in the service of Mr. Rigden, of Castle street, and Horton, who was 28 years of age, was a labourer in the employ of Mr. Small, builder. Horton had been keeping company with the girl for upwards of three years; but his conduct towards her was occasionally very violent. Two years ago she summoned him before the magistrates, and he was bound over to keep the peace. Since that time the girl is said to have frequently expressed her intention of breaking off the acquaintance altogether. On Friday, however, she went with him on an excursion to the Crystal Palace, and on Sunday afternoon they were out for a walk together. On Sunday night Mr. Rigden and his family went to church, leaving the girl Esther Cullen and her sister, who is about 12 years of age, in the house. Between 7 and 8 o’clock Horton knocked at the front door, and on its being opened by the sister he walked in. The sister invited him into the parlour, but instead of following her, he walked straight into the kitchen. What transpired is not exactly known, but in a few seconds the little girl heard the report of a pistol, and Esther Cullen rushed into the street, exclaiming that she was shot. She was bleeding from a wound in the neck. An alarm was raised, but some time elapsed before anyone ventured to enter the kitchen, and when at length Mr. Davies, Supt. of Police, did so, he found the room filled with the smoke of powder. He heard a gurgling noise, and on looking round discovered Horton lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with a large wound on his right temple and another in his throat. Beside him were two pistols, both of which had been recently discharged, and a knife. One of the pistols and the knife were marked with blood. It is conjectured that after his intended victim left the kitchen. Horton first stabbed himself in the throat with the knife, and afterwards discharged the pistol at his head. A surgeon was sent for, and Dr. Tassell’s deputy was promptly on the spot, but his services were of no avail as death ensued in a few minutes. An examination showed that either the wound in the neck or that on the temple was sufficient to cause death. The injury sustained by the girl was, fortunately, not of a very serious character. The pistols were of the ordinary description, but evidently quite new, and in one of deceased’s pockets a ball was found. It is difficult to account for the superficial nature of the girl's wounds, as the pistol was discharged almost full in her neck. But it may be that, having been hurriedly and unskilfully loaded, the ball had rolled out into the pocket of the deceased while he was on his way to the house of his intended victim.

THE INQUEST.

The inquest on the body of Horton was opened at the “Black Dog Inn” on Monday afternoon, before T. T. Delasaux, Esq, coroner, and a respectable jury, under the foremanship of Mr. G. Ellen. The girl, Esther Cullen, being unable to attend owing to injuries she had sustained, the jury retired to Mr. Rigden's house, where her evidence was taken as follows:- I have known the deceased about two years and six months. About two years ago he paid his addresses to me. Twelve mouths ago last Whitsuntide, in consequence of his threats, I applied to the magistrates, and he was bound over to keep the peace for six months. On Friday last I went to London with the deceased and my married sister and her husband. Nothing unpleasant occurred till we got home. While standing at the door we had some words about his drinking. Yesterday week he told me if I would not go out with him he would take care no one else should have me. I asked him how he could prevent it. He said, “I will cut your throat and my own afterwards.” We then parted. Yesterday afternoon, about 2 o’clock, I went with him for a walk. We went past Nackington. My married sister and her husband were with us. We had a few words about his getting tipsy. I returned home about 5 o'clock. About 7 o'clock he came to this house and rang the bell. My little sister went to the door, and he said, “Is Esther at home?” She said, “Yes.” He came into the kitchen, where I was sitting by the fire. He said, “What is the matter?" I said, “Oh, nothing; I shall be better presently, you had better go in the parlour.” He left the kitchen, but almost immediately came back again and shot me. He did not say anything, but discharged the pistol and wounded me behind my right ear. I fell on the floor, but got up again and went into the street. I do not know anything more. Both yesterday and on Friday he appeared to know perfectly well what he was about. He was not at all excited. He was sober yesterday, but he had been drinking lately more than usual. There was no light in the kitchen except from the fire.

Superintendent Davies deposed:- I was at St. Margaret’s Church last night, when I received information that a woman was shot in Castle street. I proceeded to Mr. Rigden's house and found P.C. Woolland at the door. I then entered the house and went into the kitchen. The room was full of smoke, and at first I could see nothing. I heard a gurgling noise, apparently on the opposite side of the room, and proceeding in the direction of the sound. I kicked against the deceased. I found the deceased, who was sitting on the floor. When a candle was brought I found the knife produced (a common shut knife with two blades), and shortly after I found a pistol (produced) near the deceased's feet. There had been no ball through the barrel of the pistol to the best of my judgment. It might have been loaded with a ball, but the ball had not been discharged. I say this because the muzzle has not that bright appearance it would have presented if a ball had been shot through it. Another pistol was found in the room, and I also examined that, but no ball was discharged from either pistol. The deceased had doubtless put a ball into each pistol, but from his not knowing how to load them the balls had fallen out into his pocket. He died in about five minutes after the surgeon arrived, and I had him removed to the “Black Dog.”

Richard Thompson deposed:- I am an assistant to Mr. Miskin. On Saturday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, the deceased came to the shop and asked to look at a pair of pistols. He looked at the pistols produced, together with a bullet mould and a key to take the barrel off with. He asked me to put them away for him, and he fetched them about 8 o'clock in the evening. He said he was employed as night watcher at Hales's Place, and wanted them to protect himself with. He took one of them in his hand, and as he held it his hand trembled very much. On going out of the shop he ran foul of the door post and nearly fell. I believe he was under the influence of drink.

Harriet Gudgin deposed:- My husband is a gunsmith in Canterbury. On Saturday night, about 9 o'clock, the deceased came to my shop and asked for an ounce of powder and 1d. worth of percussion caps. I also served him with half a dozen bullets. He told me he was going to be night watchman at Hales’s Place. He had, in my opinion, been drinking.

Sarah Beck, landlady of the “Castle” deposed-: The deceased came into my house a little after six o'clock last night. I did not consider him intoxicated, He was perfectly sober and quiet. He called for some “half and half” and a screw of tobacco, and walked about in front of the bar. He appeared to be very dull. He left a few minutes before seven. He appeared to me to be half asleep.

Isidore Lyon, surgeon (Dr. Tassell’s deputy) deposed:- I was called last evening to see the deceased, whom I found in the kitchen of Mr. Rigden’s house. He was lying with his face on the floor. I turned him over and called for a light I found he was nearly dead from loss of blood. On further examination I discovered a wound on the right side of his neck below the jaw. I also found a gunshot wound on the forehead. I cannot say whether there is a ball in the head or not, but it appeared to me that the wound had been caused by powder and wadding only. The wound on the neck might have been caused by the knife produced. Either of the wounds was sufficient to cause death. I should say the wound in the neck was inflicted first, as, if the deceased had shot himself he would probably have been so much stunned that he would not have been able afterwards to cut his throat.

The Coroner having summed up in favour of a verdict of felo de se, the room was cleared, and after consulting two or three minutes, the jury requested that the mother of the deceased should be examined.

Caroline Horton said her husband was a labourer, and the deceased was her son. For the last fortnight or three weeks he had acted very strangely. He had nothing to eat or drink in her house during the whole of last week. He did not return home till about twelve o’clock of a night. On Friday last he was in a very low state. She had no medical advice for him. On Saturday night he went to her stall, and she asked him what he wanted with a pair of pistols he showed her, and he said he was going to be night watchman at Hale’s Place and he wanted them.

George Henry Westcott, a driver in the R.H.A. stationed at Canterbury, deposed:- On Friday morning last I saw the deceased and Esther Cullen and two others together. I went with them to London. They all appeared very happy and comfortable. I met them at the London Bridge station at ten minutes past five and we left there at half-past seven. I came home with them. The deceased had some liquor in the carriage. They appeared very comfortable till we got to Ashford. I asked if any of them were going to the races on Monday. The men said they could not go, but Esther Cullen said, “If you call for me I will go.” The deceased did not speak to me afterwards. I did not know the deceased not Esther Cullen. The deceased did not appear excited. I left then at the station yard.

The room was again cleared, and after a short deliberation a verdict of Felo de se was returned by a majority of 9 to 4, the jury voting as follows:- For Felo de se -- Laming, - West, R. Smith, G. Cole, G. Ditch, T. Stone, W. James, James Marsh, and George Ellen. For Temporary Insanity – W. Streer, R. Dutnal, J. Ford, and John Badcock.

In consequence of this verdict the body having been placed in a coffin, was the same night between 11 and 12 o’clock conveyed to St. Gregory’s Canterbury Cemetery by four policemen and were buried. We have received the following particulars from an eye-witness who was present at the internment. “Great pains were evidentially taken by the authorities to render it as private as possible, and the body was removed from the Station-house by the police at 11 o’clock at night, so St. Gregory’s Cemetery, in a very hurried manner, taking the route of Best-lane to secure security. The darkness of the night and the awfulness of the circumstances, added to the necessity of being led to the grave by a lanthorn, rendered the scene a solemn and touching one. By mere accident the Rev. C. Kirtland and Mr. John Elgar heard of the event, and manifested a disposition to improve the opportunity; the former at the grave side informed by the standers to number of about 50 or 60, that he would address the people outside the Cemetery; the police, with the greatest civility, said nothing could be said there; to which Mr. Elgar appropriately replied, all must be aware that no clergyman of the Church of England could, under present circumstances, use those solemn words, “In sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection,” over the departed; he hoped the scene would not be without its profit, and be too would be pleased to address a few words to these assemble outside the Cemetery. The opportunity was embraced, and two short addresses were listened to with eager and respectful attention, and we hesitate not to say, a feeling of real solemnity marked the occasion. The father and other relatives were present.”