THE INQUEST.
The following report of the inquest appeared in the special editions of
the evening papers on the following evening:
"The inquest upon the body of the gentleman known as 'Miser'
Farebrother, who was found dead in the grounds of Parksides, was held in
Beddington this morning.
"The coroner, addressing the jury, said that they were about to
investigate what there was little reason to doubt was a foul murder.
Certain witnesses were present whose evidence would enable them to
decide under what circumstances death had taken place. He was informed
that one witness was absent whose evidence might have an important
bearing upon the inquiry, although it would not probably alter the
verdict which would be given. Their first duty was to identify the body
of the dead man.
"This being done, the actual inquiry commenced. The first witness
called was Mrs. Deborah Pamflett. Before she was examined, however, Mr.
Frederick Cornwall, barrister, rose, and asked to be allowed to say a
few words.
"The Coroner: 'Have they any bearing upon this inquiry?'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'A direct bearing. I appear here to watch the case on
behalf of the only child of the murdered man, and I request permission
to put some questions to the witnesses, if I consider it necessary to do
so.'
"The Coroner: 'I shall have no objection to pertinent questions being
put to the witnesses, but it must be done through me.'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'I thank you, sir. You have referred to the absence of a
witness whose evidence would be likely to have an important bearing upon
this inquiry. I assume that the witness referred to is the lady I
represent. An unhappy circumstance prevents her attendance. I hand you a
certificate, signed by two doctors, to the effect that Miss Farebrother
is suffering from brain-fever, and that she is not in a fit state to be
removed from the house in which she is lying, or to be examined either
there or here. Were she well enough she would be present on this
occasion, painful as it would be to her.'
"The Coroner: 'In whose house is Miss Farebrother being nursed?'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'In her aunt's house in Camden Town. You will find the
exact address on the certificate.'
"The certificate was handed in, and the examination of Mrs. Pamflett was
proceeded with.
"'Your name is Deborah Pamflett?'--'Yes.'
"'You are a widow?'--'Yes.'
"'In the service of the deceased?'--'Yes.'
"'In what capacity?'--'As his house-keeper.'
"'How long have you been so employed?'--'Eighteen years.'
"'Were there any other servants in the house?'--'None.'
"'Not at any time during your service?'--'Not at any time.'
"'Of how many persons did the household of the deceased
consist?'--'Usually of three--himself, his daughter and me.'
"'Why do you say usually?'--'Because his daughter was frequently absent
on visits to her aunt and uncle, in London.'
"'Was she absent on the day of the death of your master?'--'She had been
absent from the house for some weeks, but on the night my master met his
death she was present.'
"'Relate the occurrences of that day, as far as your memory will serve
you.'--'My memory is pretty faithful. My master rose at his usual hour,
and the day passed quietly. He received one visitor in the afternoon--my
son, who managed his business for him in London, and who, I believe,
will be examined here. Before my son arrived my master sent me to the
telegraph office with a message to him, asking him to come upon
business. My son, however, anticipated the message, and alighted from
the train just as I sent off the message. He met me in the village, and
we walked to Parksides together. When I went to my master and told him
that my son had arrived, he expressed himself as being very pleased.
Between my master and my son the most friendly and cordial relations
existed; they never had a word of difference. This made my own service
in the house very pleasant, so far as my master was concerned. I was
present during some portion of the time my son was with our master, who
spoke in great praise of the way my son was conducting the London
business. They had tea together in my master's room, and after that my
son left for London.'
"'At what hour did he leave?'--'At about seven o'clock. I did not take
particular note of the time, there being no occasion for it, but that
was about the hour, within a few minutes one way or another. At eight
o'clock my master rang the bell for me, and I went up to him. I was in
the habit of sitting with him often when there was no one else in the
house, and sometimes of reading the paper to him. He was very lonely,
and very much troubled and unhappy about his daughter.'
"Mr. Cornwall (rising): 'I submit, sir, that these observations do not
come within the scope of the present inquiry.'
"The Coroner: 'I think the witness is giving her evidence fairly. It
will, however, be as well that she should confine herself as much as
possible to facts.'
"Witness: 'I am stating facts, sir.'
"The Coroner: 'I mean facts relating to the death of the deceased. It is
sufficient, perhaps, at present to know that there was some disturbance
of those affectionate relations which should exist between father and
daughter.' To witness: 'Under what circumstances did Miss Farebrother,
on the last occasion, leave her father's house? I must request you not
to interrupt the proceedings, Mr. Cornwall. You are here only upon
courtesy.'
"Mr. Cornwall: I might contest that, sir; but I will interrupt as little
as possible.'
"The Coroner (to witness): 'Answer my question.'--'I do not know the
precise circumstances, sir. All I know is that they had a violent
quarrel late at night, and that Miss Farebrother left against her
father's wish, and without his consent. After her departure he was very
unhappy, and shed tears.'
"The Coroner: 'Proceed now with the events of the day you are
describing.'--'I sat with my master till ten o'clock, and then there was
a ring at the gate bell. My master said it was a visitor he was
expecting, and I went down and admitted him. I do not know his name,
but for the last three or four years he came perhaps four or five times
a year--always at night--and he and my master would be closeted together
for two or three hours. On this occasion that he was with my master I
went down to the kitchen, and did my work there. I put everything in
order, and saw that the things were in their right places. Among other
things, the knives, which I kept in the dresser drawer.'
"'Have you any reason for particularly mentioning the knives?'--'Yes,
sir. Among them was a large knife with a horn handle, which I had
recently sharpened. My work being finished, I went up to my bedroom,
stopping on my way outside my master's door, and asking him whether he
wanted anything. He answered no, and that I was to get to bed. It was
his usual answer, and I obeyed him; there was nothing to excite my
suspicions. At a little after eleven I was in bed and asleep. I slept
for over two hours, and then I awoke. Sounds in the lower part of the
house had roused me. I listened, and heard some one moving about.
Lighting a candle, I looked at my watch. It was twenty minutes past
one. I was not easy in my mind, and I went down-stairs. I listened a
moment at my master's door, but all was still in the room. There was a
light there, however, and I knocked softly. I got no answer, and I
gently tried the handle; the door was unlocked, and I took a step into
the room. There was no one there but my master, and he was asleep in his
chair. He sometimes slept so for a few hours; he suffered greatly from
gout and rheumatism, and he has said to me that he felt easier in that
position than in bed. I closed the door quietly and went down to the
kitchen, and there, to my astonishment, I saw Miss Farebrother. She had
a knife in her hand, the knife with a horn handle, and she put it
hastily on the table as I entered. The drawer in which I kept my knives
was open; when I went to bed I left it closed. Miss Farebrother was very
angry at my making my appearance, and she asked me how I dared to play
the spy upon her. I told her that I was not playing the spy, and that I
had been disturbed in my sleep by a noise in the house, and I came down
to see what it was. I said something, too, about how astonishing it was
that she should come home at such an hour, and she replied that it was
no business of mine, and that I was to go to my room at once, or she
would have me bundled out of the house the first thing in the morning.
It was no use answering her; she was my mistress, and I had to obey her;
so I went up to my room again. I can't exactly say how long it was
afterward, but it could not have been very long--perhaps half an hour or
three-quarters, bringing the time to past two o'clock--that I heard the
voices of my master and his daughter outside the house. Whether she had
gone up to him and woke him, or whether he had gone out, as he sometimes
did in the middle of the night, I don't know, but at the time I heard
them they were in the grounds. They both seemed to be very angry. Miss
Farebrother, as well as I could make out, was insisting that her father
should give her a sum of money, and she was using threats toward him.
Presently he spoke in a more gentle tone to her, and I heard him say,
"Wait till I am dead and it will all be yours, if you will come back and
behave as a dutiful and affectionate daughter to me." And I heard her
answer: "I will do as I please and go where I please. You ought to have
been dead long ago! You had better be careful!" After that the voices
grew fainter and fainter, as if they were moving away.'
"The Coroner: 'Hearing what you did, why did you not go down to
them?'--'I did not like to; and, to tell the truth, it would have been
as much as my situation was worth to interfere. They had often
quarrelled like that, though not in the exact words I heard then; and
twice, some time ago, when I did interfere, I was sent away, and told
not to mix myself up with family quarrels.'
"'Who used these words to you?'--'Principally Miss Farebrother; but my
master also said, very sorrowfully, that I had better never trouble
myself, and that my interference would only make things worse.'
"'Had they ever quarrelled in the middle of the night before?'--'Yes;
and she was continually threatening him, so that there was nothing very
unusual in this quarrel, although it was as bad as any that ever reached
my ears.'
"'When you could no longer hear them, did you fall asleep?'--'Not
immediately; perhaps not for half an hour; I can't be sure.'
"'Did you hear them return to the house?'--'I heard nothing more of
them.'
"'Well, then, you fell asleep. At what hour in the morning did you
awake?'--'At a little before seven--my usual time. By seven o'clock I
was in the kitchen, going on with my work.'
"'Did you observe anything particular in the kitchen?'--'Nothing
particular. Things were pretty much as I had left them on the night
before.'
"'The drawer in which you kept your knives--was it closed?'--'Yes, it
was closed.'
"'The knife with the horn handle--where was that?'--'I did not know. I
had no occasion to use it, and I did not look for it.'
"'At what time in the morning did the deceased usually ring his bell for
you?'--'At nine o'clock or thereabouts; but there were exceptions, and
when nine o'clock passed and I was not summoned, I did not attach any
importance to it.'
"'You supposed Miss Farebrother to be in the house?'--'Oh yes; but I did
not expect to hear her bell for a long time. She generally slept till
ten or eleven o'clock. I waited till half-past ten, and then, being
uneasy at not hearing my master's bell, I went to his room, and as there
was no answer to my knock, I opened the door. My master was not there,
and the bed had not been slept in. Then I went to Miss Farebrother's
room, and she was not there, and she had not slept in her bed. I became
frightened, and I thought I would look about the grounds. It was then
that I discovered my master lying dead, with blood upon him, and the
knife with the horn handle lying near him, with clotted blood on it. I
flew to the village for assistance, and some people came back with me,
and said that my master had been murdered.'
"'How far from the house is the spot upon which you discovered the body
of the deceased?'--'I cannot say. Perhaps a quarter of a mile.'
"'Could you, being in the house, have heard any sounds proceeding from
that spot?'--'It would be almost, if not quite, impossible.'
"'So that if there had been any cries for help, they would not have
reached your ears?'--'No, they could not.'
"'Now, did you observe anything particular about Miss Farebrother's
dress when you found her in the kitchen so late at night?'--'She was
dressed as she usually was.'
"'Fully dressed?'--'Yes.'
"'Did she wear a hat?'--'Yes.'
"'With a veil to it?'--'Yes, there was a veil to it.'
"'Would you be able to recognize the veil?'--'Yes.'
"'Is this it?' (Veil produced.)--'Yes, this is it.'
"'Did she wear any ornaments?'--'I noticed only one, and I should not
have noticed that if I had not presented it to her as a birthday gift.'
"'What was the ornament?'--'A brooch.'
"'Can you identify it?'--'Oh yes; it is a very particular brooch. My
mother had it before me.'
"'Is this it?'--'Yes, this is it.'
"'That is all I have to ask you.'--'Thank you, sir.'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'A moment, please.'
"The Coroner: 'You understand, Mr. Cornwall, that I shall check you if
you ask any questions irrelevant to this inquiry?'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'I quite understand it, sir.' To witness: 'Are you
positive that your memory is faithful upon all the events you have
described?'--'I am very positive, sir.'
"'As to what took place between you and Miss Farebrother in the
kitchen?'--'Everything is as I had described.'
"'The conversation between you?'--'Yes, sir.'
"'And the knife with the horn handle?'--'It is as I have said, sir.'
"'You swear that Miss Farebrother frequently threatened her
father?'--'Frequently, sir, I am sorry to say.'
"'Did you ever mention this continual disagreement to any person?'--'No,
sir, except to my son. I have no acquaintances.'
"'Not one?'--'Not one.'
"The Coroner: 'In this place, Mr. Cornwall, these questions do not
appear to me to be pertinent. Some are repetitions of questions already
asked and answered, others do not affect the particular inquiry upon
which we are engaged.'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'I am sorry to hear that expression of opinion from you,
for there is to me, and doubtless to others, something like a direct
accusation in the witness's evidence.'
"Witness (in a quiet tone): 'I do not accuse any one. I am speaking the
truth.'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'Then it is the truth, and you swear it, that when you
last saw Miss Farebrother she wore the brooch which you gave her as a
birthday gift?'--'It is the truth, and I swear it.'
"'Can you describe the man who visited the deceased on the night of his
death?'--'I can, sir.'
"The Coroner: 'It is a proper question, and it should have been asked. I
should doubtless have recalled the witness to answer it.'
"Witness: 'He is a man not much taller than I am. I am above the usual
height of a woman. His face is dark; he has a large mouth and a small
nose; his eyes are blue.'
"'How dressed?'--'In a dark tweed suit.'
"'Wearing any jewellery?'--'A silver chain and a large diamond ring.'
"'They scarcely match. The man who can afford to wear a large diamond
would be likely to wear a gold chain.'--'I don't know about that. The
diamond may not be genuine.'
"'About what age would you suppose?'--'About forty.'
"The next witness called was Dr. Playfellow. He deposed that the
deceased had met his death by violence. It was caused by the wound in
his breast, inflicted by precisely such a weapon as the knife with the
horn handle. Asked whether the deceased might not have stabbed himself,
Dr. Playfellow said that from the direction of the wound and the
position in which the body was found, it was impossible that death could
have been inflicted by his own hands.
"Jeremiah Pamflett was next examined. He is the son of the murdered
man's house-keeper, and he testified that he had been in the employment
of the deceased since he was a lad, and that he had risen from the
position of a petty clerk to that of sole manager of Miser Farebrother's
business. Between him and his master the most perfect harmony existed;
they had never had a word of difference, and his master reposed complete
confidence in him. On the afternoon before his master's death he went to
Parksides to submit certain accounts to Miser Farebrother, anticipating
the telegram which was sent to him requesting him to come. The deceased
expressed great satisfaction at his attention to business, and in the
course of the interview informed the witness that it was his intention
to admit him as a partner. He, the witness, left Parksides in a very
happy frame of mind at this promised reward of his long and faithful
service. Miser Farebrother was a kind and liberal master; the witness
declared he could not desire a better.
"A Juryman: 'You say he was a kind master. Was he in other respects a
kind man?'--'Very kind and considerate; he deserved greater happiness
than he enjoyed.'
"Being asked to explain the meaning of this statement, the witness
exhibited a reluctance to reply, and said he was sorry he had let the
words slip. He was, however, pressed to explain, and he then said that
the deceased was made very unhappy by the want of affection shown to him
by his daughter.
"The Juryman: 'Was he kind to his daughter?'--'Very kind.'
"'Was there any disagreement between them?'--'There was continual
disagreement; but it was not my master's fault. He did all he could to
please her.'
"'Do you know the cause of this disagreement?'--'It was partly about
money.'
"'That she asked for, and that he would not give?'--'Yes.'
"'But you said he was very kind to her. The deceased was a man of means.
Why should he refuse to give his daughter money?'--'From what my master
said to me at different times, it was because she demanded sums of money
for purposes of which he did not approve. He was exceedingly liberal to
her where she herself was concerned; but he objected to his money being
given to persons who hated him.'
"'To what persons do you refer?'--'To her relatives in London--the only
relatives she has.'
"'What is the name of these relatives?'--'Lethbridge. They live in
Camden Town.'
"'And Miss Farebrother wanted money for them?'--'According to what my
master said, she was always wanting money for them.'
"'Was she in the habit of visiting them?'--'Continually.'
"'With the consent of the deceased?'--'Against his consent. He
frequently remonstrated with her for paying long visits to persons who
bore him such ill-will.'
"'In spite of these remonstrances she continued to visit them?'--'Yes.'
"'Mention has been made of a man who was in the habit of visiting the
deceased in his home at Parksides late at night. Do you know anything of
him?'--'Nothing, except what my mother has told me and has told you.'
"'Did he not visit the office in London?'--'No. I never saw him.'
"'Did no conversation ever pass between you and the deceased respecting
him?'--'None.'
"'Then you do not know upon what business he came?'--'No; but it could
not have been upon the affairs of the London business, or I should have
heard it.'
"The only questions put to this witness by Mr. Cornwall were these:
"'By what train did you leave for London on the occasion of your last
visit to the deceased?'--'By the 8.12.'
"'Did you go direct to the office when you reached London?'--'Yes.'
"'At what time did you arrive at the office?'--'At about ten o'clock.'
"'You sleep there?'--'Yes.'
"The next witness called was Mrs. Lethbridge, whose evidence was to the
following effect:
"'You are a relative of the deceased?'--'I am his sister-in-law.'
"'Were you upon friendly terms with him?'--'No.'
"'Nor any of your family?'--'No. But we are not to blame for that.'
"'Was his daughter in the habit of visiting your house?'--'Yes.'
"'Frequently?'--'Frequently.'
"'And of remaining there for any length of time?'--'Yes; generally for
three or four days.'
"'Your intimacy with her, then, was of a thoroughly friendly
nature?'--'Of a most affectionate nature. I love her as a child of my
own.'
"'Was that the sentiment of all your family?'--'Yes.'
"'Were Miss Farebrother's visits to your house paid with the consent of
the deceased?'--'Yes.'
"'Did you learn this from him?'--'No. We very seldom saw him.'
"'In point of fact, how many times have you or any of your family seen
him, say within these eight or nine years?'--'Only twice.'
"'Where? At your house in London?'--'No; at his house in Parksides.'
"'At his invitation?'--'No. The first time we were asked by his
daughter. It was her birthday, but we understood that our visit would be
agreeable to him.'
"'You understood. From whom?'--'From my niece.'
"'On that occasion how long were you at Parksides?'--'For five or six
hours.'
"'Did you and your family partake of any meal there?'--'We had tea.'
"'Was the deceased present at the table?'--'No; he sent word that he was
not well enough to join us.'
"'Was your second visit paid upon his invitation?'--'No; we went of our
own accord.'
"'Who went?'--'I, my niece, and Mr. Cornwall.'
"'Is Mr. Cornwall the gentleman who represents Miss Farebrother at this
inquest?'--'Yes.'
"'Why did he accompany you?'--'Must I answer?'
"'It is at your own discretion. I cannot compel you.'
"Mr. Cornwall: 'Answer the question, Mrs. Lethbridge.'
"Witness: 'Mr. Cornwall had proposed to my niece, and he accompanied us
for the purpose of asking Mr. Farebrother's consent to the engagement.'
"'Was that consent given?'--'No.'
"'Did the deceased turn you and Mr. Cornwall from his house?'--'Yes.'
"'In the question I am about to ask you I will not confine myself to the
last eight or nine years. I will go as far back as the birth of the
deceased's daughter, who is now of a marriageable age. During this long
period did the deceased ever visit your house?'--'No.'
"'Not once?'--'Not once.'
"'Did he correspond with you, or you with him?'--'No.'
"'Not a letter, then, passed between you?'--'Not a letter.'
"'Nor a direct communication of any kind? You hesitate!'--'I was
considering. There was one letter.'
"'Written and sent by you or the deceased?'--'By Mr. Farebrother. It was
a great many years ago. My niece then was scarcely two years of age, and
her poor mother was dying. She wished to see me before she died, and it
was at her direction that her husband wrote to me.'
"'It appears that even previous to that time you were not upon friendly
terms with him?'--'It was so, unhappily.'
"'Did you comply with the request contained in that letter?'--'Yes; and
I saw my sister. I was with her when she died, and I promised to look
after her child and to love her as my own.'
"'I wish you to understand that it is entirely at your discretion
whether you reply to certain of my questions. On that visit, so long
ago, did you gather the impression that the deceased was glad to see
you--that you were, in fact, welcome in his house?'--'I must speak the
truth. He was not glad to see me; I was not welcome.'
"'We can, therefore, arrive but at one conclusion--that there existed an
absolute and distinct antipathy on one side or both. I come now to the
night upon which the deceased met his death. Your niece was living with
you then?'--'Yes.'
"'I will not inquire into the circumstances of her taking up her
residence with you when her father's home was open to her.'--'It was not
open to her.'
"'You say that? Not under any conditions? Had he positively refused ever
to receive her again as a daughter?'--'Unless under conditions which
were repugnant to her.'
"'Then her father's home _was_ open to her if she were prepared to
behave dutifully, and to obey him?'--'I cannot deny that; but as I have
said, his conditions were repugnant to her.'
"'Into those domestic matters it is not our business to inquire. A few
hours before her father was murdered she left your house?'--'She did.'
"'With your knowledge?'--'Without my knowledge.'
"'How did you become acquainted with her movements?'--'She met our
servant, and desired her to give us a message that she was going to
Parksides to see her father.'
"'It was a strange hour for her to leave. Did she return to your house
on that night?'--'No.'
"'The next morning?'--'Yes.'
"'At what time?'--'At about ten o'clock.'
"'Did she give you any explanation of her movements?'--'She could not do
so. She was in a state of exhaustion and was very ill.'
"'What was the nature of her illness?'--'She was delirious.'
"'We have a certificate that she has brain fever.'--'It is unhappily
true.'
"'Do you recognize this veil?' (Veil produced.)--'It is one my niece
wore.'
"'On that night?'--'I cannot positively say, but it is hers.'
"'Do you recognize this brooch?'--'I have seen it, but I do not think
it has been in her possession for some weeks.'
"'Can you swear to that?'--'No, I cannot swear to it.'
"'When she returned home, did it strike you that she must have
experienced some excitement?'--'Yes.'
"'Some very strong excitement?'--'Yes.'
"'And she gave you no explanation of it?'--'She could not, because of
her condition.'
"Mr. Cornwall asked no questions of this witness, who several times in
the course of the examination was much agitated.
"Witnesses were called who proved that the veil and the brooch were
found near the body of the murdered man.
"The coroner having addressed the jury, they considered their verdict,
which was that Miser Farebrother had been murdered by some person or
persons unknown.
"We understand that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Phoebe
Farebrother on the charge of murdering her father, Miser Farebrother."