A verdict of manslaughter was returned on Tuesday by a
coroner's jury on a very curious bit of circumstantial evidence. Hannah Catlin, wife of Mr. M. R. Catlin, of Holly Lodge, Bedfont, London, was found burnt to death on the 13th inst. Appear- ances showed that she had been dead some days, and as Mr. Catlin had been at home, it was asked why he had not sent for assistance. He said his wife had probably burnt herself on the 8th inst., by upsetting a benzoline lamp, but that he knew nothing about the matter, as he had been ill, and had stupefied himself with laudanum to keep down pain. Unfortunately for him, however, somebody with eyes noticed that a twenty-four hour clock in the kitchen was going, and quite right. Mr. Catlin, being alone in the house, where the couple had for some time lived without a servant, must therefore have descended to the kitchen, and have wound up the clock. He was, therefore, in
possession of his faculties and power of locomotion. The Coroner's Jury found a verdict of manslaughter against him.
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