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THE KENSINGTON SENSATION.

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THE KENSINGTON SENSATION. INQUIRY INTO CLERGYMAN'S WIFE'S DEATH. The resumed inquest on Mrs. Grace Han- oock, wife of Mr. Walter Swinburne Hancock, a retired clergyman, of Alfred-place West, South Kensington, was held on Thursday in London. The lady died last March, and, owing to suggestions the coroner ordered the exhuma^ tion of the body and the analysis of t«he contents of the stomach. Mr. Artemus Jones, represented Mr. Samuel Beech Chester, a barrister, who is the son of the deceased, and Mr. George Elliott appeared for the Rev. Mr. Hancock, who was present in court. The Coroner said that since the inquest was adjourned the Home Office had authorised Dr. Wilcox to make an analysis of the contents of the viscera.. Miss Anne Iaobel Dixon, a nuree, in answer to the Coroner. said she had no com- munication from Mr. Haneock as to the cause of death, but only as regarded the signing of the will. The Coroner: May we take it that the suspicion you told us of on the last occasion was a spontaneous suspicion? Witness: Yes. Can you tell us why you had any reasooi to I believe that this dea,th was not a natural one?—No, I cannot say. I Mr. Elliott: With regard to the relation- ship between the husband and wife, do you suggest that there was anything of an un- friendly character? Witness: That is too difficult for me to answer. How long had you an opportunity of noticing the relations between the husband and wife?—Five days. LEAVES NO TRACE." Dr. Bayford, a medical practitioner, of Fleet-street, London, who was present when Dr. William Wilcox, of St. Mary's Hospital^ made a post-mortem examination, replying to Mr. Artemus Jones, stated that certain poisons oould be administered and would leave no trace. That could occur in regard to the administering of antimony, which, after vomiting, might disappear. Mr. Elliott: Do you mean to tell the coroner that in a case of antimonial poison- ing there would be no trace left? Witness: Well, that is a very wide ques- tion. An extremely small dose of ipecac- huarn wine and of antimony would cause death, but it could not necessarily be traced. Do you mean to say that it could be ad- ministered in such small doses that it might exude from the body, and do you say that such doses would be fatal ?^-Yes, L do. Do you not know that in the case of Chap- man, the poisoner, traces of antimony were found in the body of one of his victims five years after death?—That I quite admit. Does not that strike you as against your opinion that in case of ANTIMONIAL POISONING there is no trace in the body? You have no knowledge of the facts yourself of this d Witness: I only know what I saw in the po8t mortem room. The Ooroner: "Vv jat do you think was the cause of death? Witnees: In my opinion it was heart failure, induced by some means or other. Do you think it wae due to appendicitis, of breakdown of the heart, and syncope?—I think not. To what was it due?—It was du^ to some cause which was not a. natural cause. Mr. Elliott: Do you seriously suggest tha.t the deceased was poisoned?—There must have been some subeta.nce given which acts as a poison. In plain language, yon sngrgeet that she must have been poisoned. Do not let us beat about the bush. Do you suggest that this liady's death was caused by improper megjie? —Yes, tha.t is my opinion. Have you any evidence before you that Mr. Hanoock has administered poison to his wife cf any kind or description ?—No. And you simply come to your conclusion because you think the other oausea were not sufficient to bring about the fatality?—What I say is that other causes were likely to bring about, the breakdown and accelerate death. I may add that mental excitement would also term to affect the heart and bring about death. Have you heard that on the occasion of the visits of her son the deceased got into a condition of great mental excitement?—Yes, that is so, but I believe Mr. Chester had not seen her for days. A letter was then read, which Mr. Chester had written to Nurse Dixon in May, a.bout a month after his mother's death, in which he asked for information to elucidate wha.t occurred at the time of the death, ajul especiaJly with regard to a will which he understood his mother struggled to sign in his favour. A youth, named Thomas Tyler, in the employ of Mrs. Hancock, deposed to fetch- ing Apenta water for Mr. Hancock during the lady's illness. Questioned by the Coroner, the youth said they lived on pretty good terms, though the reverend gentleman was always disagreeing. The reverend gentleman did not take trouble to go into the bedroom during his wife's illness. He added that Mrs. Hancock had told him not to let her son and Mr. Hancock meet or they would fly at each other's throats. When Mrs. Hancock was so very ill Mr. Hancock told witness to fetch Mr. Cheater, as he believed Mrs. Hancock was dying. NO TRACE OF POISONING. Dr. Wilcox, Home Office analyst, stated that he had made an analysis of the con- tents of the stomach, and he did not find the slightest trace of poison. Death was due to heart failure, the result of blood-poison- ing caused by appendicitis. He found in the stomach and intestines some sulphate of magnetism, which might have come from one of the medicines. Everything in the and intestines was quite harmless. also examined five medicine bottles which by deceased. He found that they a tr* with the prescriptions. There was proix^6 H°f ^Poison in one, but it was quite a The (W cause of What do you eay was the Dr Wilco^ ? failure the* cause of death was heart was cau»ed ht?Ult of Wood-poisoning, which TV) -we nn^J. Appendkitie. in. any wav S.and that the death was not wa,t,er?-Nwo.ay connected with the Apent. 330t Mt all This aperient was thk in a ca«e of to g!ve You »ay deMh do<> —Yeg. Mr. Elliot't sai that after Dr Wilcox's evidence 'he did not propose to cross-examine Tyler or to make any obeervatS The Cor°n^dd^ng th* jury, allegations of thLS h« 'need hardly tell them, were frequently made to h^f ^d the ft-ep he took a thos« oases was to see if there was any ^a-tion. There were certain inniiinr him think it wise to have further inju ry lu thifi cas-e, but it was now were groundless, and th d,ea;th was cattsed.na.tural 1 y. He had bad iZ:rgeexp"e-noe of suspicion attaching to persons through- out life when allegations of™ wore made, and he was glad, there that this case had been thoroughly cloa,roo UP. and that there was no doubt that death was due to perfectly natural causes. The jury returned a verdict oi Death from natural causes," and Mr. Hancock as he left the court thanked them for their Patience.

|MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S HEALTH

FOUR HUNDRED MEN AT A COCK-FIGHT.

DESTROYER IN COLLISION.

t FIRED HIS DWELLING AND SHOT…

DIED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

GENERAL IN THE DOCK.

£30,000 BORROWED. i

ERITH STRIKE ENDED.

THE "OIL KING" IN COURT. ------------

ISLAND COVERED WITH 1WRECKED…

r SIR H. MACLEAN'S SAFETY

TEN SHILLINGS IN THE C.

I OFFICIAL INSIGNIA WORTH…

BOOTY WORTH £ 14,000.

BRICK IN THE GUN. -

"TUMPTY" CASE ECHO.1

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----ACCIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

BELFAST DOCK STRIKE.

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LOCAL TRAGIC INCIDENTS.

T.V.R. PASSENGER GUARD

-= CHILD BURGLAHS.

RHONDDA "SIAMESE TWINS." ;

-------CARDIFF DIVORCE SUIT.

ON THE BROAD ATLANTIC.