The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-14 00:00:00

LAMBETH MURDER.

INQUEST ON THE BODY.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Carter, coroner for East
Surrey, held so tinieut,
_se the Three Stags Tavern, Ken-
nington-road, upon the body of Elisabeth Wheeler. aged
41 years, who was on Saturday so Mockiegly killed by her
eon.
The jury, having been sworn, proceeded to the house to
view the body, which, not having been moved since Sa-
turday, presented a frightful appearance. The head, the
features of which were hardly distinguishable in conse-
quence of the blood with which they were covered, still
lay upon the table. When the jury had returned to the
room, they were briefly addressed by the coroner, and the
following evidence was taken :
Elirabeth Thorns, of No. I, Durham-place, said that
part of the house was situated in the parish of Lealtigh,
and part in that of St. °carp's. The ram were pail in
Lambeth. Witness knew the deceased, who came to re-
side at the house about 9 months ago. Her son lived with her.
He was 28 years of age, sad his name was Thomas Cathie
Wheeler. Os Saturday last at ghost half-past 12, Mrs.
Phillips, who ere pied the first-floor, came down stairs in a
state of great earn, and said she was afraid that some mis-
, chief had haegmed. Witness listened at the foot of the
stairs sad haraisesno one moving about from one room to
the oths aid hiking • but witness could not distinguish
what was add. Afterwards heard the voice on the landing.
Haw that both Kea Wheeler and her son were at home
atthe time. Mewl sere one, a few moments afterwards,
Mine down stairs, and witness therefore returned to the
parlour from which she saw Thos. Wheeler leave the house
in great haste, throwing • coat over his shoulders as he
went. He had a blue bag in his hand. Went up-stairs
and saw Mrs. Wheeler lying prone upon the floor, about
half • yard from the door. Shook ber to roues her up, in
doing which witness observed a quantity of blood upon the
floor, and that the body was without its head. Witness
immediately gave an alarm, and sent for Mr. Hutchinson
the surgeon. On Mr. Hutchinson's arrival witness fol-
lowed him up-stairs, and then saw a head ly-
ing on the table • but the features were so dis-
figured with blood, that she could not ?meg
nine them. Saw Thomas Wheeler at the police-court
when he was in custody. Had seen Mrs. Wheeler on
Saturday morning, when she told witness that her son was
very bad, and that he had been standing in the room fur
some time with a flat iron in his hand. Witness advised
her to send him t' some asylum, and she said that she
would. lied heard bin threaten to chop his mother's head
off, and he had • hatchet in his hand at the time. Had
no doubt that the deceased's death had been caused by
her son.
Eliza Phillips resided at No. I, Durham-place, Lambs&
On Saturday last, at half-past twelve, witness heard • mai
in the apartments of Mrs. Wheeler. It was • ruining, hi.
lowed by a heavy fall. Thinking that some mischief meet
have been done, witness ran tip-stairs, calling Mrs. Wheeler
by le name. Witness tapped at the door, and it wee
opened by Mr. Wheeler. Asked if Mrs. Wheeler was at
hsme, anclhe answered very sharply that she was not. Was
aimed at his appearance, and ran down to the kit
edam Wheeler had something in his hand when he
acme M the door, but witness did not perceive what it we&
samsral anxious to nerd it. The noise whisk Mi-
ms bid beard lasted far &bawl the space of a wiwnbe.
Ifsad Wheeler come met of W seam, end wham then
went up with Mrs. Them. Wu hems opened the am,
hut Imenediately drew bask, eleemite Blood. limed r
mg no doubt that the act was comalleen by sae wean Ow
diseased.
Policy-constable Lockyer isestibli tbalmel=
the prisoner. Witness's atraika hi
by another person who followed bin. Nis (thew) me
walking at a sharp pace, with • ben ia use lard sod ear
and stick in the other. (The wits= Alm ingwelsd
conversation which he had with
istrinanageal Alb
was printed in the Ewes* of
A
him • table knife, with the blade hemitp Nil.
Au s=
the prisoner if that was the knife he n ? and no replied.
"No ; that is the knife that I meant fur myself." Wttmeie
having conveyed him to the station, went to the hems be
Durham-place.
Inspector Cowling, who produced a hatchet and
knife covered with blood, described the OM MI
with gore : and said that he saw M • brim • amatity Of
water treed with reeks if lemma had dosed his haab
in it. Tie Mai me Est Wien ea die hide where ths
dinar em, but serer Is Ike MO OWL
Mr. Thomas Hutchins% mietant Mg„. limmU, de-
pend le having been wilhd late see the doomed. Wks
be erred at the here be Dedimmeleia. be ram it the
the bait eta bytatlar IWO: the liga
aimmis the dear. Tin ram sal iessm. but
the palsies bed riskily semi set thus warm
that Is hod had been sat slti sad Ye ar
larks am list dram Is the dermikase by kiw-
is. a rims all out that *ism was • head as
dr Win Applied the Mai te the trunk, and
am Whiled that they win pre if the sane body.
fled emmeeisa the spinal nOWO. and Rind that the espd .
arks had taken pleas at abiatthe bet eerier watiam,
the him bares lira shipped Ithenik, and the Irma*
added with sew Win _fteamm Thus win mime a
marl ma the tip et the lath. le the bees.
Cord cyst ay Mother One um= yt wound or
by the implarles. The eat whisk divided the 114a-
meats hellos amid mid la a iambi Maser. The
two ansmailke of the be OM Dr met' and a aim
ladies bed ditsehre beat amis. Was if opinion that
the pmtbooedinlieted with a harlot.
Mr. Glow, in smuning up. said that the only question
*Mills jary would have to conskier was, whether the
imumed had been slain by her sea. The state of the son's
MOO war
form the subject of investigation by another

tribunal.
The jury Wanda verdict of " Wilful murder against
Thome! Cathie Wheeler."

MURDER OF Two BOYS AND SUICIDE OF TILE
FATHEII sr PUTNWL—Tieterday 1110111i121 • lengthened
investigation was held by Mr. W. Cuter, the coroner fur
East Surrey, at the Queen's Head public-house, in Wands-
worth-lane, Putney, touching the respective deaths of Na-
thsniel John Spankhuret, aged 39 years, a basket maker, of
Barking, in Essex, and his two eons, Nathaniel Joseph
Spankbunt, aged 10 years, and William Spankhunt, seed
6 years, who were found drowned on the morning of Good
Friday last full particulate of which event appeared is this
journal on Saturday last. It will be remembered that the
bodas were discovered is a small pig of water near the
river, wider the high bridge adjoining Barnes•elets. The
two boys were fastened together with string passed rood
their waists ; they were face to face, and about sin Wave
from each other. The legs of the man were found tied to-
gether, and he alto had a ligature round his threat. The
inquiry appeared to create considerable interest. The
jury haying viewed the bodies in Putney Church-
yard, returned to the inquest-room and heard evi-
dence of the finding of the deceased. Elizabeth
Spankbunt deposed that she had been married to
the deceased, Nathaniel John Spankhurst, for about 18
months. The two boys were his eons by a former wife,
and there was a little girl still living. About two months
after their marriage the deeeued attempted to cut her
throat with a razor, and he bed on various other occasions
threatened to destroyi her and himself. Latterly , his busi-
ness had been dull, and he had given way to habits of in-
tempuance. When intoxicated, he had fieveiretly ill-
her, and bad given her black eyes. He had also
threatened to take the children from her. Wither missed
her husband and the two boys en Wednesday, the 7th inst.,
and she beard nothing more of them until she received a
letter from the deceased.—The Coroner read the letter,
which has already been published. It was to the effect
that, by the time the wastes received it, the deceased and
' him two boys would be no mon. He regretted that his
, little girl was not with hint, sad coaeluded the letter by
, stating that her (his wife's) temper was the eels cues of
the act. It was also proved in evidence that the deemed
posted the letter at an oil and colour shop in Chunk-greet,
Chokes, on Thursday I set, and at the sum time be par-
' chimed some thin string, for which he changed elizpasee.
I There was nothing in his demeanour to ezeitesespicoon
• and be left the shop without attracting any attention. After
several witnesses had been examined, the Canner summed
up the evidence. When he had concluded, the room was
ordered to be clesred of strangers. The jury, after a short
deliberation, returned a verdict " That the deceased, Natha-
niel Jobs Spankhurst, wilfully murdered his two children
by drowning them, end that he committed soiride while in
is state of unsound mind." The inquiry lasted upwards of
three hours.

GLASGOW AND 80E711 WESTERN RAILWAY.—
Trak receipts for the week nein April 10, 1852,
4,2381. 19e. 54. Ceereepoadiag week la last year,
6,7191.115.94.