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Message: Emoticon Listing HTML Help	[quote]FEARFUL TRAGEDY AT HEANOR WIFE MURDER AND SUISIDE. INQUEST YESTERDAY VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER RIPLEY AND HEANOR NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 22 1891 The inhabitants of Heanor were thrown into a state of excitement about noon on Tuesday by the report that Ann Fiddler, aged 31 years, the wife of Charles fiddler, 32 years of age, a brick-maker, of Nelson Street, had been found dead in the cellar of their house, having apparently been strangled, and that the husband had been discovered drowned in a cistern. Large crowds of people immediately assembled in the vicinity of the place, and the rumour proved to be only too true. The house in which the couple lived is a small detached one in a well populated part of Heanor, and it belonged either to the executors of Fiddler’s father or to the man himself. Adjoining it is a large brickyard which belonged to Fiddler, and in which he employed four or five men. Somewhere about nine o’clock on Tuesday morning a carter named Charles Millington, employed by Mr John Holbrook, surveyor, in leading bricks from the yard in question to Ray Street where some building are in course of erection, saw Fiddler, and as he had not as usual, been out working that morning, said to him “How is it you are not assisting us this morning to lead up the bricks?” The answer he received was “I have other business on hand,” or words to that effect, and having made this laconic reply he walked into the house and shut the door after him. This was the last occasion on which he was seen alive. Some time afterwards William White, a man employed by Fiddler, had occasion to go to the house on business matters, but he found the door locked and no one answered when he knocked. His suspicions became aroused and he deemed it advisable to go to Mr Isaiah Aldred, the father of Mrs Fiddler, who lives about half a mile away, and informed him of the circumstance. He and White immediately returned reaching the house about half past eleven, and one of the doors was forced open. In the kitchen there were signs calculated to inspire the worst forebodings. There had evidently been a struggle, for several broken articles were lying about and others were disarranged. An anxious search was commenced, and at the bottom of the cellar steps Mrs Fiddler was found lying dead. P.c. Shearer was at once sent for, the body being allowed to remain in the position in which it was first seen, and when he arrived, and saw what had occurred, he despatched a messenger for Mr Eames, surgeon. The doctor was not long in reaching the place, and it required little examination on his part to convince him that life was extinct. The body was thereupon removed upstairs. On the throat were seen to be several marks, apparently caused by fingers, and the general and reasonable supposition is that the woman had been strangled. Dr Eames, however, who was afterwards visited by our representative, declined to express any opinion as to the cause of death until the Coroner’s inquest. A further search was instituted, and it was before the body of Fiddler was discovered in a cistern in the cellar, close to the spot where the woman lay. The structure is a brick one, and it faces the cellar steps. It is 8ft square, and was nearly full of rainwater, which was stored for use for domestic purposes. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the body out, for there is only a space of about eight inches between the top of the cistern and the ceiling, and Fiddler must have had some trouble to get his body in. The water was, however, run out of the cistern, and the task was then accomplished. At present no motive whatever can be assigned for the crime. Fiddler was of a reserved disposition, and was somewhat peculiar in his habits. It is said that he did not live on the most amicable terms with his wife, and of late he has been subject to fits, which would seem to have upset his temper very much. Two or three months ago he was found in an old disused pit in his brickyard, after having been lying there for two or three hours, and at that time it was supposed that he had fallen in whilst in a fit. Now it is generally believed that he was seized with a paroxysm of temper on Tuesday morning, and when in that state committed the dreadful act. The news of the tragedy spread like wildfire through Heanor and district, and caused no little consternation amongst the inhabitants. It was the workpeople’s dinner-hour when Mr Fiddler’s body was got out of the cistern, and Messrs Morley and Fletcher’s hands flocked to Nelson Street in shoals, and eyed the house with morbid curiosity. Hundreds of people lingered about for hours, and the crime seemed to take all aback, because Mr Fiddler was considered quite a harmless man. Until recently he taught regularly in the Heanor Wesleyan School, and on several occasions he has given addresses to the young people. Mrs Fiddler before marriage figured in the same Sunday school in a like manner. Recently a series of revival services have been held in that particular chapel, and the conductor was the Rev. Matthew Hall, of Riddings Mr Fiddler, it is stated, took a very active part in the mission, and almost nightly he walked with others in procession through the streets of the town, and at points exhorted the populace to “attend their services and be saved” At times he infused a deal of religion into his general conversation, but much more so latterly, and it has been thought that he occasionally was subject to religious depression. It is a fact too, that he frequently had fits. These had their origin in a little incident which happened when he was quite a child, a gentleman frightening him into his first fit by discharging a gun whilst in close proximity to him. Last week Mr Fiddler had three of these fits. It is stated that before they came on he became suddenly passionate, but immediately he was acutely attacked he fell to the ground in a dead faint. He has not, we are informed, lived on the happiest terms with his wife during the 11 years of his married life, and money matters are said to have been at the bottom of the domestic troubles. Mrs Fiddler’s father who follows the occupation of a shoemaker in Derby Road, Heanor, has some money, and once he is known to have given an amount to his daughter to meet her husbands wants. The works and house property in Nelson Street, inherited by Mr Fiddler from his father, are stated to be mortgaged to some extent, and business and other things seen to have landed the owner in financial embarrassment. Recently he is known to have approached his wife with a view to a further advance of money, but she declined all his overtures, telling him that she would never let him have any more, This it is believed, considerably exasperated him, and led to repeated disturbances in the family circle. Their family included four children, aged 10, nine, seven and five respectively. Two were at the Mundy Street Board School when the tragedy was enacted, and the other two were at Miss Par kin’s seminary in Derby Road. Their grandfather and others took care to meet them when they were on their way home to dinner, and he led them to his house. The sad news was not broken to them for some time, but when it was told the frenzy of the poor orphans was heartrending. Equal care was also taken to keep the news from the ears of aged Mrs Aldred, their grandmother, and a neighbour sitting with her to keep the sad intelligence from her. In the evening the facts were made known to her, and the old lady was completely prostrated by the shock. THE INQUEST. Yesterday afternoon Mr W. Harvey Whiston, county coroner, held an inquest at the Lord Nelson Inn, Heanor, touching the deaths of Charles Fiddler, 32 years, and Annie Fiddler, his wife 31 years. Mr Isaiah Aldred said he was a joiner, and father of the deceased woman. Charles Fiddler, his son-in-law, was a brick maker, and lived in Nelson Street Heanor. They had been married 11 years last August and had had four children. He last saw his daughter alive on Monday night at his house, when she was in good health and spirits. In fact he had never seen her better. There was no cause for them quarrelling. Fiddler was not very fond of work, and was not very right in his mind. He was subject to fits. There had been a recent revival of religion at the Wesleyan Chapel, and deceased had attended the meetings. They seemed to work upon him by getting him into a vengeful way of mind. He was very religious and rather excitable. Witness’s daughter did not attend the revival meetings. Fiddler’s business had not been very prosperous lately, and he knew he was in a little difficulty. Witness had helped him, but he had not applied for further help. Deceased had not attended his work, as he ought to have done. William White came and informed witness that he could not find Mr Fiddler, and the house was locked up. Witness went with him, and on arriving at the house of his daughter he found all the doors of the house secured. They went to the back door and forced it open, and on entering the kitchen he found that several things were disarranged. The table was turned over and a few saucers broken. Witness then went into the parlour and upstairs into the chambers, but could find no one there. They next descended the steps leading to the cellar. On arriving at the bottom he saw the body of his daughter lying dead on the cellar floor. Witness only touched her with his foot, and then came up the steps again and sent for P.c. Shearer. He could see by her features that his daughter was dead, because she was discoloured. Witness then sent for the doctor, and the body was taken upstairs and laid out on the bed. Witness told the policeman he thought Fiddler would be found in the soft water cistern, although he had no reason for thinking so. They looked all about but could find nothing. Mr Wm. Oldershaw and Mr Walter Hicking came on the scene, and carefully examined the soft water cistern, which was just at the foot of the cellar steps. There was about 15 inches space for him to get into the cistern between the floor – boards and the wall, and between the wall and the joist there was only the small space of about eight inches. Mr Oldershaw got the clothes prop and put it into the cistern and felt something which convinced him it was Fiddler. They then let the water off and witness thought they took the cistern wall partly down. Witness did not see the body of his son-in-law brought out of the cistern. The deceased was a sober man, and his daughter had made no complaint to witness about her husband. He was not aware of any quarrel between them. To his knowledge deceased had never thrashed his wife, but he had been subject to fits from a boy. Deceased was at school when a person let off a gun close to his head which frightened him very much, and the result was that deceased had never been himself since. Witness had never seen deceased in a fit of passion. Witness remembered deceased falling into an old disused pit shaft about a couple of months ago, but he never told witness how it happened. Witness reprimanded him for committing such a rash act. On being questioned by the coroner and Superintendent Lumbley, witness said if he spoke the truth he believed at that time deceased intended to commit suicide Mr Ernest Eames, surgeon and physician, stated that he was called to see Ann Fiddler on Tuesday morning last, and found her lying on the cellar floor on her back. He made a careful examination of the body and found marks on her neck. The face was livid and presented a mottled appearance. She must have been dead between three and four hours. The body was removed upstairs, where he made a more minute examination, especially of the throat. On the throat there were marks of a man’s nails. The skin was torn, and there was a thumb mark on the left side. The whole neck presented an appearance as if it had been contracted. There was some clay in her left hand. He believed the deceased had been throttled, as there was a fracture of the larynx, and the injury could never have been caused except by being suddenly attacked, which would render her helpless, and she would be suffocated instantly, and unconscious death would take place in three or four minutes afterwards. He had not the slightest doubt that he deceased had been murdered. On examining the deceased man Fiddler, he found only one mark on his nose, which might have been inflicted by himself with his nails, or might have been the result of a scratch. The coroner here remarked that they were very much indebted to Dr Eames for the very lucid way he had given his evidence. Charles Middleton stated that he was a carter and lived at Heanor. He knew Mr Fiddler, and his wife also. Witness went to the brickyard on Tuesday morning about half-past eight o’clock, when he saw Mr Fiddler, and spoke to him saying, “Are you going to come and help me to load this cart, Charlie?” Deceased gave him no answer at first, but walked away from him, but in about two minutes came back to him and said “I could not come to you just then; I had business on hand” Deceased had not helped him to load that morning, but did not say why he did not help. Deceased walked away towards his house, and the next thing he heard was of the sad event that had taken place. Witness went on with his business, but did not hear any screaming, quarrelling, or scuffling. He had never seen Mr and Mrs Fiddler together although he had known them four or five years. A juryman: Did you see Mr Fidler as you went through the brickyard any more than once that morning? Witness said he went seven times that day for bricks. Witness had seen deceased have fits at the chapel. He used to fall down suddenly and sometimes had to be carried out. The fits lasted a considerable time. William White, nephew of deceased, said he was a labourer, and worked for Mr Fiddler, and he had worked for him ever since last March. He went to the brickyard about five or ten minutes past nine in the morning but he did not see either Mr or Mrs Fiddler. The other men in the yard saw Mr Fiddler about eight o’clock. They could not go on with their work, so witness went to seek him, but on reaching the house he could not gain admission. He went at once to fetch Mr Aldred, and they broke open the door and found Mrs Fiddler lying dead at the bottom of the cellar. His uncle had been very queer. Witness corroborated the evidence given by Mr Isaiah Aldred. Thos Fiddler, 10years of age, son of the deceased, said he and his brother went to the Mundy Street School on Tuesday morning about half past eight. His mother had her breakfast first, the children next, and his father afterwards. His father gave him a jacket to take to his auntie’s to be mended. His father and mother had slight quarrels sometimes about money. His mother spoke to him about giving her more money, as his father had only given her a £1 a week, but last Saturday his father gave his mother 3s more making 23s. His father was very poorly last Sunday and did not go to chapel, and they were all at home. Their father read a book to them. Sometimes they had only a little food, and his mother told him that morning to call and have his dinner at his grandfathers as they only had a bit of rabbit. P.c. Shearer, stationed at Heanor, gave evidence as to being called to the house of Mr Fiddler on Tuesday morning. He also referred to the examination of the bodies. On the woman he found 7s. 4 1/2d.and some keys, and on Mr Fiddler he found 9s. And several coppers. He remembered being called on the 13th Sept to the old disused pit shaft where it was alleged Fiddler had fallen, when a ladder was obtained and some ropes, but Fiddler came out himself and informed him (witness) that he knew nothing about it. The body of the man was with difficulty got out of the cistern, through a hole broken in the well. The water being let off, with assistance the body was got out and taken upstairs. The coroner, in summing up, made some lengthy remarks, saving that there was no evidence to show how the act was committed, but according to the doctor’s evidence there was no doubt that Fiddler had first inflicted tremendous violence upon his wife and strangled her, afterwards committing suicide. After a brief deliberation the foreman (Mr Reuben Hohaes?) said the jury were of the same opinion as the Coroner, and a verdict against the male deceased was returned, also that he afterwards committed suicide whilst in a state of unsound mind. THE RIPLEY AND HEANOR NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 11TH 1891 The inquest at Heanor yesterday on the bodies of Mr and Mrs Fiddler did little to throw any light on the immediate cause of the terrible tragedy, which occurred there on Tuesday, and what took place between the deceased man and wife in their house in Nelson Street on that fateful morning must for ever remain a mystery. So far as appearances indicate there was absolutely no motive for the crime, and but for the fact that the unfortunate man was subject to fits and violent paroxysms of temper it is difficult to imagine anything that would lead him to commit such a rash act. That Fiddler was involved in financial difficulties, was established by the evidence of Mr. Aldred, his father-in-law, but the deceased had made no application for the latter’s assistance, although assistance had been given him on a previous occasion. The deceased had always been a temperate man, and his wife had never complained of ill usage, or even that her husband had threatened her. The deceased was also of a rather weak intellect, and subject at times to religious depression, but whether he quarrelled with his wife there was no evidence to show, but he must have attacked her with frightful ferocity to have strangled her as he did with his own hands. Then when his passion was expended, reason seems to have returned sufficiently to have aroused remorse, and the poor fellow thrust himself into a cistern and completed the tragedy by drowning himself. The inquest yesterday was not a protracted one, and the jury had no difficulty in coming to a verdict.[/quote]
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This message was updated on 9/20/2005 3:05:55 PM by RMMee

Fidler - Murder & Suicide on Nelson Street
replied on: 3/26/2005 2:12:35 PM

FEARFUL

TRAGEDY AT HEANOR

WIFE MURDER AND SUISIDE.

INQUEST YESTERDAY
VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER
RIPLEY AND HEANOR NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 22 1891
The inhabitants of Heanor were thrown into a state of excitement about noon on Tuesday by the report that Ann Fiddler, aged 31 years, the wife of Charles fiddler, 32 years of age, a brick-maker, of Nelson Street, had been found dead in the cellar of their house, having apparently been strangled, and that the husband had been discovered drowned in a cistern. Large crowds of people immediately assembled in the vicinity of the place, and the rumour proved to be only too true. The house in which the couple lived is a small detached one in a well populated part of Heanor, and it belonged either to the executors of Fiddler’s father or to the man himself. Adjoining it is a large brickyard which belonged to Fiddler, and in which he employed four or five men. Somewhere about nine o’clock on Tuesday morning a carter named Charles Millington, employed by Mr John Holbrook, surveyor, in leading bricks from the yard in question to Ray Street where some building are in course of erection, saw Fiddler, and as he had not as usual, been out working that morning, said to him “How is it you are not assisting us this morning to lead up the bricks?” The answer he received was “I have other business on hand,” or words to that effect, and having made this laconic reply he walked into the house and shut the door after him.
This was the last occasion on which he was seen alive. Some time afterwards William White, a man employed by Fiddler, had occasion to go to the house on business matters, but he found the door locked and no one answered when he knocked. His suspicions became aroused and he deemed it advisable to go to Mr Isaiah Aldred, the father of Mrs Fiddler, who lives about half a mile away, and informed him of the circumstance. He and White immediately returned reaching the house about half past eleven, and one of the doors was forced open. In the kitchen there were signs calculated to inspire the worst forebodings. There had evidently been a struggle, for several broken articles were lying about and others were disarranged. An anxious search was commenced, and at the bottom of the cellar steps Mrs Fiddler was found lying dead. P.c. Shearer was at once sent for, the body being allowed to remain in the position in which it was first seen, and when he arrived, and saw what had occurred, he despatched a messenger for Mr Eames, surgeon. The doctor was not long in reaching the place, and it required little examination on his part to convince him that life was extinct. The body was thereupon removed upstairs. On the throat were seen to be several marks, apparently caused by fingers, and the general and reasonable supposition is that the woman had been strangled. Dr Eames, however, who was afterwards visited by our representative, declined to express any opinion as to the cause of death until the Coroner’s inquest. A further search was instituted, and it was before the body of Fiddler was discovered in a cistern in the cellar, close to the spot where the woman lay. The structure is a brick one, and it faces the cellar steps. It is 8ft square, and was nearly full of rainwater, which was stored for use for domestic purposes. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the body out, for there is only a space of about eight inches between the top of the cistern and the ceiling, and Fiddler must have had some trouble to get his body in. The water was, however, run out of the cistern, and the task was then accomplished. At present no motive whatever can be assigned for the crime. Fiddler was of a reserved disposition, and was somewhat peculiar in his habits. It is said that he did not live on the most amicable terms with his wife, and of late he has been subject to fits, which would seem to have upset his temper very much. Two or three months ago he was found in an old disused pit in his brickyard, after having been lying there for two or three hours, and at that time it was supposed that he had fallen in whilst in a fit. Now it is generally believed that he was seized with a paroxysm of temper on Tuesday morning, and when in that state committed the dreadful act.
The news of the tragedy spread like wildfire through Heanor and district, and caused no little consternation amongst the inhabitants. It was the workpeople’s dinner-hour when Mr Fiddler’s body was got out of the cistern, and Messrs Morley and Fletcher’s hands flocked to Nelson Street in shoals, and eyed the house with morbid curiosity. Hundreds of people lingered about for hours, and the crime seemed to take all aback, because Mr Fiddler was considered quite a harmless man. Until recently he taught regularly in the Heanor Wesleyan School, and on several occasions he has given addresses to the young people. Mrs Fiddler before marriage figured in the same Sunday school in a like manner. Recently a series of revival services have been held in that particular chapel, and the conductor was the Rev. Matthew Hall, of Riddings Mr Fiddler, it is stated, took a very active part in the mission, and almost nightly he walked with others in procession through the streets of the town, and at points exhorted the populace to “attend their services and be saved” At times he infused a deal of religion into his general conversation, but much more so latterly, and it has been thought that he occasionally was subject to religious depression. It is a fact too, that he frequently had fits. These had their origin in a little incident which happened when he was quite a child, a gentleman frightening him into his first fit by discharging a gun whilst in close proximity to him. Last week Mr Fiddler had three of these fits. It is stated that before they came on he became suddenly passionate, but immediately he was acutely attacked he fell to the ground in a dead faint. He has not, we are informed, lived on the happiest terms with his wife during the 11 years of his married life, and money matters are said to have been at the bottom of the domestic troubles. Mrs Fiddler’s father who follows the occupation of a shoemaker in Derby Road, Heanor, has some money, and once he is known to have given an amount to his daughter to meet her husbands wants. The works and house property in Nelson Street, inherited by Mr Fiddler from his father, are stated to be mortgaged to some extent, and business and other things seen to have landed the owner in financial embarrassment. Recently he is known to have approached his wife with a view to a further advance of money, but she declined all his overtures, telling him that she would never let him have any more, This it is believed, considerably exasperated him, and led to repeated disturbances in the family circle. Their family included four children, aged 10, nine, seven and five respectively. Two were at the Mundy Street Board School when the tragedy was enacted, and the other two were at Miss Par kin’s seminary in Derby Road. Their grandfather and others took care to meet them when they were on their way home to dinner, and he led them to his house. The sad news was not broken to them for some time, but when it was told the frenzy of the poor orphans was heartrending. Equal care was also taken to keep the news from the ears of aged Mrs Aldred, their grandmother, and a neighbour sitting with her to keep the sad intelligence from her. In the evening the facts were made known to her, and the old lady was completely prostrated by the shock.

THE INQUEST.
Yesterday afternoon Mr W. Harvey Whiston, county coroner, held an inquest at the Lord Nelson Inn, Heanor, touching the deaths of Charles Fiddler, 32 years, and Annie Fiddler, his wife 31 years.

Mr Isaiah Aldred said he was a joiner, and father of the deceased woman. Charles Fiddler, his son-in-law, was a brick maker, and lived in Nelson Street Heanor. They had been married 11 years last August and had had four children. He last saw his daughter alive on Monday night at his house, when she was in good health and spirits. In fact he had never seen her better. There was no cause for them quarrelling. Fiddler was not very fond of work, and was not very right in his mind. He was subject to fits. There had been a recent revival of religion at the Wesleyan Chapel, and deceased had attended the meetings. They seemed to work upon him by getting him into a vengeful way of mind. He was very religious and rather excitable. Witness’s daughter did not attend the revival meetings. Fiddler’s business had not been very prosperous lately, and he knew he was in a little difficulty. Witness had helped him, but he had not applied for further help. Deceased had not attended his work, as he ought to have done. William White came and informed witness that he could not find Mr Fiddler, and the house was locked up. Witness went with him, and on arriving at the house of his daughter he found all the doors of the house secured. They went to the back door and forced it open, and on entering the kitchen he found that several things were disarranged. The table was turned over and a few saucers broken. Witness then went into the parlour and upstairs into the chambers, but could find no one there. They next descended the steps leading to the cellar. On arriving at the bottom he saw the body of his daughter lying dead on the cellar floor. Witness only touched her with his foot, and then came up the steps again and sent for P.c. Shearer. He could see by her features that his daughter was dead, because she was discoloured. Witness then sent for the doctor, and the body was taken upstairs and laid out on the bed. Witness told the policeman he thought Fiddler would be found in the soft water cistern, although he had no reason for thinking so. They looked all about but could find nothing. Mr Wm. Oldershaw and Mr Walter Hicking came on the scene, and carefully examined the soft water cistern, which was just at the foot of the cellar steps. There was about 15 inches space for him to get into the cistern between the floor – boards and the wall, and between the wall and the joist there was only the small space of about eight inches. Mr Oldershaw got the clothes prop and put it into the cistern and felt something which convinced him it was Fiddler. They then let the water off and witness thought they took the cistern wall partly down. Witness did not see the body of his son-in-law brought out of the cistern. The deceased was a sober man, and his daughter had made no complaint to witness about her husband. He was not aware of any quarrel between them. To his knowledge deceased had never thrashed his wife, but he had been subject to fits from a boy. Deceased was at school when a person let off a gun close to his head which frightened him very much, and the result was that deceased had never been himself since. Witness had never seen deceased in a fit of passion. Witness remembered deceased falling into an old disused pit shaft about a couple of months ago, but he never told witness how it happened. Witness reprimanded him for committing such a rash act. On being questioned by the coroner and Superintendent Lumbley, witness said if he spoke the truth he believed at that time deceased intended to commit suicide
Mr Ernest Eames, surgeon and physician, stated that he was called to see Ann Fiddler on Tuesday morning last, and found her lying on the cellar floor on her back. He made a careful examination of the body and found marks on her neck. The face was livid and presented a mottled appearance. She must have been dead between three and four hours. The body was removed upstairs, where he made a more minute examination, especially of the throat. On the throat there were marks of a man’s nails. The skin was torn, and there was a thumb mark on the left side. The whole neck presented an appearance as if it had been contracted. There was some clay in her left hand. He believed the deceased had been throttled, as there was a fracture of the larynx, and the injury could never have been caused except by being suddenly attacked, which would render her helpless, and she would be suffocated instantly, and unconscious death would take place in three or four minutes afterwards. He had not the slightest doubt that he deceased had been murdered. On examining the deceased man Fiddler, he found only one mark on his nose, which might have been inflicted by himself with his nails, or might have been the result of a scratch.
The coroner here remarked that they were very much indebted to Dr Eames for the very lucid way he had given his evidence.
Charles Middleton stated that he was a carter and lived at Heanor. He knew Mr Fiddler, and his wife also. Witness went to the brickyard on Tuesday morning about half-past eight o’clock, when he saw Mr Fiddler, and spoke to him saying, “Are you going to come and help me to load this cart, Charlie?” Deceased gave him no answer at first, but walked away from him, but in about two minutes came back to him and said “I could not come to you just then; I had business on hand” Deceased had not helped him to load that morning, but did not say why he did not help. Deceased walked away towards his house, and the next thing he heard was of the sad event that had taken place. Witness went on with his business, but did not hear any screaming, quarrelling, or scuffling. He had never seen Mr and Mrs Fiddler together although he had known them four or five years. A juryman: Did you see Mr Fidler as you went through the brickyard any more than once that morning? Witness said he went seven times that day for bricks. Witness had seen deceased have fits at the chapel. He used to fall down suddenly and sometimes had to be carried out. The fits lasted a considerable time.
William White, nephew of deceased, said he was a labourer, and worked for Mr Fiddler, and he had worked for him ever since last March. He went to the brickyard about five or ten minutes past nine in the morning but he did not see either Mr or Mrs Fiddler. The other men in the yard saw Mr Fiddler about eight o’clock. They could not go on with their work, so witness went to seek him, but on reaching the house he could not gain admission. He went at once to fetch Mr Aldred, and they broke open the door and found Mrs Fiddler lying dead at the bottom of the cellar. His uncle had been very queer. Witness corroborated the evidence given by Mr Isaiah Aldred.
Thos Fiddler, 10years of age, son of the deceased, said he and his brother went to the Mundy Street School on Tuesday morning about half past eight. His mother had her breakfast first, the children next, and his father afterwards. His father gave him a jacket to take to his auntie’s to be mended. His father and mother had slight quarrels sometimes about money. His mother spoke to him about giving her more money, as his father had only given her a £1 a week, but last Saturday his father gave his mother 3s more making 23s. His father was very poorly last Sunday and did not go to chapel, and they were all at home. Their father read a book to them. Sometimes they had only a little food, and his mother told him that morning to call and have his dinner at his grandfathers as they only had a bit of rabbit.
P.c. Shearer, stationed at Heanor, gave evidence as to being called to the house of Mr Fiddler on Tuesday morning. He also referred to the examination of the bodies. On the woman he found 7s. 4 1/2d.and some keys, and on Mr Fiddler he found 9s. And several coppers. He remembered being called on the 13th Sept to the old disused pit shaft where it was alleged Fiddler had fallen, when a ladder was obtained and some ropes, but Fiddler came out himself and informed him (witness) that he knew nothing about it. The body of the man was with difficulty got out of the cistern, through a hole broken in the well. The water being let off, with assistance the body was got out and taken upstairs.
The coroner, in summing up, made some lengthy remarks, saving that there was no evidence to show how the act was committed, but according to the doctor’s evidence there was no doubt that Fiddler had first inflicted tremendous violence upon his wife and strangled her, afterwards committing suicide.
After a brief deliberation the foreman (Mr Reuben Hohaes?) said the jury were of the same opinion as the Coroner, and a verdict against the male deceased was returned, also that he afterwards committed suicide whilst in a state of unsound mind.

THE RIPLEY AND HEANOR NEWS
FRIDAY DECEMBER 11TH 1891
The inquest at Heanor yesterday on the bodies of Mr and Mrs Fiddler did little to throw any light on the immediate cause of the terrible tragedy, which occurred there on Tuesday, and what took place between the deceased man and wife in their house in Nelson Street on that fateful morning must for ever remain a mystery. So far as appearances indicate there was absolutely no motive for the crime, and but for the fact that the unfortunate man was subject to fits and violent paroxysms of temper it is difficult to imagine anything that would lead him to commit such a rash act. That Fiddler was involved in financial difficulties, was established by the evidence of Mr. Aldred, his father-in-law, but the deceased had made no application for the latter’s assistance, although assistance had been given him on a previous occasion. The deceased had always been a temperate man, and his wife had never complained of ill usage, or even that her husband had threatened her. The deceased was also of a rather weak intellect, and subject at times to religious depression, but whether he quarrelled with his wife there was no evidence to show, but he must have attacked her with frightful ferocity to have strangled her as he did with his own hands. Then when his passion was expended, reason seems to have returned sufficiently to have aroused remorse, and the poor fellow thrust himself into a cistern and completed the tragedy by drowning himself. The inquest yesterday was not a protracted one, and the jury had no difficulty in coming to a verdict.

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