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THE ANNUAL MOVEABLE COMMITTEE…

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.-MAY 22.

THE TU RF.

!PONTNEWYDD.

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PONTNEWYDD. SUDDEN DEATH.—VERDICT OF MANSLAt/GH- TElt AGAINST A HUSBAND. An inquiry took place on Wednesday morning last, be- fore W. H. Brewer, Esq., deputy coroner, touching the death of Mary Gardener, who fell suddenly dead on the Canal side, at Pontnewydd, on Saturday morning last. Deceased was the wife of Ezra Gardener, a shoemaker, living in the village. Circumstances having transpired which gave rise to a suspicion that deceased had come by her death in consequence of violent treatment which she was alleged to have received at the hands of her husband, more than ordinary interest was excited in the neighbour- hood with reference to the case. The Deputy Coroner visited Pontnewydd on Tuesday, when the jury (foreman, Mr. Richard Clark, of the Cwmbran Shop) were sworn, and viewed the body. The inquiry was then adjourned to the next morning, when the following evidence was taken Caroline Gardener, a girl fourteen years of age, and a daughter of the deceased, deposed that on Saturday last she was at home with her father and mother. Her mother was sewing up the heel part of a boot, and her father told her it was all on one side deceased said it was not, and upon this, further contradictions followed. During the altercation, her father threw the boot leather, with the last in it, at her mother, and it struck her in the forehead. Her mother then went into the kitchen, saying, Oh, my poor head." She afterwards went to the front door and in about 20 minutes she came in and eat her dinner. Wit- ness did not know whether her father swore, or what lan- guage he used during the quarrel. She had many times known them to "have words." Her mother was not a strong woman. She had often heard her complain of pain in her head. Deceased went out between seven and eight o'clock the same evening—taking a little boy with her she went as far as the Lock on the canal, and shortly after she had gone, witness heard that she had fallen down dead. She went to the spot, and her mother was lying on the ground, her head being supported by some neighbours who had gone to the spot—they said she was dead. She never saw her again alive after she left the house. Sarah Jones, wife of George Jones, of Pontnewydd, said that deceased came to her house on Saturday, soon after one o'clock, and told her that her (deceased's) husband had flung a last at her she showed the place on her forehead where the last bad struck her the part was swollen, and she said she was suffering great pain from it she said she thought she would not be able to continue with her hus- band, because he abused her and, being a weak woman, his conduct agitated her and made her very nervous she said she would write to her son in the north of England, to take her to live with him she also stated that her hus- band had not been in the habit of beating her until lately but latterly he bad done so. Witness lived next door to them some time ago, but never heard them quarrel. De- ceased complained of pain in the back part of the head and down her back. In speaking of her husband, she called him that old villain of mine." Martha Kelly, wife of Jeremiah Kelly, of Cwmbran, and eldest daughter of the deceased, s iid she had sent her little boy on Saturday to spend the day with de- ceased (his grandmother). In the evening, about 8 o'clock, deceased brought him as far as the lock on his way home, and from there she sent a little girl to witness to say th >t she was waiting for her to fe!ch the little boy. Deceased did not like to cross the lock, especially when she felt unwell. On being sent for, witness went at once to the lock to fetch the child. Deceased said she had brought the child, and remarked that he had provoked his grandfather by his mischief during the day. In the even- ing, when witness' husband came home from his work, he told witness that he had called at her father's house on his way home, and seen their little boy-and that the child told him that his grandmother had had a blow on the head and on learniDg that her husband had not seen deceased, but that she was in bed, witness felt very anxious to go and see what was the matter she, however, altered her mind, and afterwards told her husband that he should go to fetch the child down. Before he could go, fL little girl came with the message from the look, to fetch e c I Witness went immediately, and on reaching^ le spo asked her mother what had happened a» 8ul «' your father asked me to put a < counter' in the boot and I did so, and had given it to him he complained that it was not put upright-not straight-she said it was; he then put the boot ou the last and flung it at her, saying, -1 now see if it is upright.' She said she was leaning forward at the time, and it strnck her on the forehead she called her husband a wicked villain, and said he did it in his passion. Deceased showed her a swelling on her fore- head from the blow she saw no blood or wound she seemed in great trouble about it, and witness endeavoured to soothe her. She asked her mother to go to her house; she said no, it is getting late, and it is wet." Witness thought deceased did not look as well as usual. Witness having taken the child from her, and being about to cross the lock, deceased said "Martha, take care how you cross the lock." Witness then loft deceased standing on the canal side. Soon after she had reached home, Mrs. Green came and said there was some one in a fit at the lock. Witness went to the spot immediately, and there she saw her mother lying on her back quite dead. This was about ten minutes after she had left her standing at the lock. For many years her mother had complained of pain in her head, and palpitation of the heart. She often said she should not live long. W itnoM hsd been inwrlod abawt five years, the greater part of which time she had lived with or near to her mother her father and mother were not much given to quai-reiling—they quarrelled occasionally about the children-she had never seen her father strike deceased. Witness had heard from her motheu that during the last few months her father had been rash and unkind towards her, principally ou account of differences about the children deceased had tls ) expressed pain at hearing her husband swear lately moie than he formely did. John S. Cousins, Esq., surgeon, Cwmbran, deposed to having made a post mortefti examination of deceased on. Tuesday last. He said: I first examined the hotly externally I observed a contusion on the forehead, and also a contusion on the external part of the left eye, with a slight abrasion of the skin. I observed no other maiks of violence externally. I then opened the head, and care- fully examined the contusion on the forehead, underneath the skin the skin in this spot was considerably congested. Opened the skull, but found no marks of violence inter- nally to correspond with the external contusion. On re- moving the dura malcr-from the brain, I discovered a con- siderable amount of coagulated blood over the entire sur- face of the brain-the vessels of which were highly con- gested. I think there was more coagulated blood at the posterior, than at the anterior part of the brain. I also discovered adhesions between the dum mattr and the skull, and also between the surfaces of the arachnoid membrane, which adhesions I consider to have been caused by sub-acute inflammation of that membrane. This in- flammation I consider to have-existed a considerable time previous to her death. The coagulated blood found on the surface of the brain must have been caused by the rupture of several small vessels. 1 examined the chest, and found tubercles in the upper and back part-of the left lung—the greater portion of the left 4ung w»yery friable: the right lung was healthy. 1.r Lvitv heart, and found it healthy. I then examined the cavity of the abdomen—the liver was- diseased. 1 he stomach and intestines were in a healthy state. I found nothing in the chest or abdomen to account for death. irom the excitable tempsrament of tho deceased, and the previous condition of the brain, described, I consider the blow she received may have caused her death, by producing the extravasation of blood resulting from the rupture of the small vessels on the surface of the brain. Mary Morgan, wife of Henry Morgan, said she was walking acsoss the Lock of the canal which had been re- ferred to-she saw a woman standing on the opposite sitle she saw her fall, and went to her immediately, and told her son (who was with her) to pick her up. He found it was Mrs. Gardener. Sent her son for deceased's daughter, and then took up deceased from the grouni-she felt her pulse, but it ceased to be perceptible in about a minute- she died in witness's arms. Saw soma blood on her forehead. This being the whole; of the evidence,, the Coroner re- marked to the jury that the case was now in their hands j the whole of the evidence had been laid. before them, and they would of course be guided principally, in their endea- dour to arrive at a conclusion as to the cause of death, by the evidence of the medical gentleman. It seemed to be quite clear that deceased had received a blow from her husband and this blow, according to Mr. Consins'a evidence was sufficient to produce the effects from which death resulted. If thoy found that death was occasioned by that blow. then it would be their duty to return a verdict of manslaughter against the husband if, on the other hand, they considered that that blow had not caused her death, they would then say deceased had died from natural causes.. The jury, after a few minutes consultation,, said they were of opinion that death was caused by the blow which deceased had received, and they therefore returned a verdict of MANSLAUGHTER against her husband, Ezra Gardener. Gardener, who watched the proceedings with some interest, but exhibited no emotion, was then placed in oustody under the Coroner's warrant.

RISCA.

, ... hist Wednesday at Tyr

IABERGAVENNY.

ABERTILLERY.

BETMMAWR.

[No title]

LONDON CORN MARKET —FRIDAY.

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CARDIFF.