POSSESSED OF DEVILS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 9

POSSESSED OF DEVILS

VICAR'S TRAGIC SUICIDE

CURSED WIFE AND FAMILY

LONDON, 19th October

That he cursed his wife and children, and violently thrashed tho latter was revealed in evidence at the inquest into tho death of the Rev. Frederick Wool-1 lett, vicar of Leesfield, Oldham, who was found gassed in his bedroom last week. A torn photograph of a daughter was produced, on ■whom the father had invoked a lifo-long punishment and a loveless life, and had cursed her children, if any, as a punishment, for her I callousness.

The widow gave ovidonoo that, in addition to thrashings, tho husband had kept his son and daughter in bed for days and had given them only bread and water. Last New Year's morning he woke her (tho wife) and said:— "God's curse upon you," adopting the attitude customary when imparting a blessing. He left a letter saying: "My will has been arranged on my daughter's behalf. Nothing can be touched for 3.5 years, bo you, a murderess, cannot, benefit. You can spend the rest of your life on charity."

Counsel produced a letter written two and a half years ago, in which he said: ilMy wife is one of God's good women. >Sho has unbounded love and sympathy for everyone in this Gocl-l'nr-saken place, where every vice ever invented is wolcomcd."

A doctor pave evidence that Wuollelt consulted him in February, desiring to commit suicide, his only reason being that he had lost faith in God.

The jury returned a verdict that at the time of his death Woollatt was possessed of an evil spirit, and had been of unsound mind, at various times in recent months.

The Leesfield Church officials invited tho Coroner, Mr. Stuart Bodger, who is ;i lay reader, to take Sunday evening's service, but the 3ishop of Manchester announced in the afternoon that ho had arranged for an ordained clergyman to officiate.