The Express.
London, England, 1855-07-23 00:00:00

WIFE MURDER.

Oa Saturday Mr. WAley he Id an inquest at the
Load of Hey Tavern, Paddington, to inquire sourbing the
death of Snell Watts, aged 36, a respectable married women,
the wife of Henry Watts, matey years pest proprietor of the
Railway Ina bsershee, opeueile tee relins', terminus. The
investigation had been adjourned, in order that an applica-
tion might be made to Sir George Grey, for the prod ection
of the scrueed, who had been taken into custody ly the
police. Sir George Grey readily complied with toe re qui-
sitioe, and the twisoner, about 11 years of age, leas sutured
into the court, in the custody of Inspector Grant.
The jury having viewed the body, proceeded to take the
deposition of the principal witness, Berth Browning, who,
ever sinew the murder, bee been ceeffned to her bed, dan-
gerously ill. She resided with her husband, a tailor, in the
name house with the deceased, and wit:reared the violence
which the deceased received from tee prisoner tan Saturday
week. Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon she
heard • bevy fah, accompanied with screams, and
went out to see what was the matter, when she
found the deceased lying at the foot of the stairs on the floor
of the passage. Deceased exclaimed, upon seeing witness,
"Oh, Mn. Browning, he hes knocked me down at in."
The children were scramble, and Watts was etandirg on
the stairs at the time. Witness tried to lilt her up, but wee
not strong enough, and called to her busbaed to help her,
but ho weuld not. Her sister came, bud they carried her
lath the ream, whither Witte had followed them. Re tried
to drag the poor creature toicibly from them and out of the
room, but they resisted, and he struck at her with his fists.
She was then Trite incapable of stirring. (Sensation.) Her
sister then held her up, while she pushed Watts cot of the
room. The deceased kept crying oat " I shall die ! Oh, you
cruel mar, Watts; what have I done to deserve this ?" He
'eked what he had done to her, and she replied that he
kneeked her down the stairs because she tried to rescue Billy
(one of thsirchildrem) from his vialencis. She then went into
the nest room, and Watts followed her, with his fists
clenched, saying, in an excited tone, " Where is the d— L—?"
He then west to the hid-ruom deer, but she held him by
the wrist, saying, " You shall not strike her in my
presence." Refreshed his way into the mem, exceehning
that he weuld do ter her. At lergth she got him out of the
room. The deceased complathed much of her heed, but
alter • time managed to get into her own room. A few
ininutes afterwards, witness heard terrible ,creams, and
Watts came down from the ro .m in which his Wile was
lying. Deceased was by that time insensible. One of the
children was in the room crying, cud said her lather had
struck her mother twice on the temples as she ley on the
side of the bed. Witness then ran down stem, and said
to the prisoner, " Watts, your wife is dying; send fur •
doctor." He replied, "1 will not fowl for a elector; let
her die, the sooner she is dead the better." Witness
then fetched Dr. Reeoe, who found the deceased inseusib:e.
Watts then entered tho room, end told the doctor that to
had no Erwin'', there, and struck the deceurd•s head
violeritly. (Cries of "Shame," end great eentution.) Dr.
Reece refused to leave the room, as he believed
Mrs. Watts was suffering under coecussion of the
brain. Dr. Forbes was then sent for, and witness
went down stairs to let Dr. Reece out, nod upon re-
turning found that Watts had begun to ill-twee: the deceased
again. Ile dragged her off the bed, and commenced stak-
ing her. lie exciaimed, "She is wily drunk. I will
bring her to her senses!" He then took her up, and
dashed her head twice on the Lew thstone. Ile laid hold of
her by her clothes in the front of her chest, seed raised her
by that means. He said he would le thg her to her seem,
as he had :lone the same thing before, when she was drunk.
He then stretched her out straight on her bark, her head
and the upper part of her person resting on the teurthetone,
saying no one should touch her. lie !b..32 put her in a
sitting posture, and knocked her along the lay MAUI
of his knee and foot. (Great sensation.) Ile oleo ext. Wand,
"1 will bring yen to your SCOW; 1 know whir re to vouch
you to meet. you feel. I*ll bring her to, the drunken —."
Witabas sereamed out loudly, and the servant come tip. He
then put deceased en to the bed, and squeezed her tightly by
the neck, and she clutched hold of him with her hands
while he woe doing it. Witness pushed him away, but
after that lie took hold of her toes and punk(' them, until,
with pain, she drew up her leg. (Increatstel iscaietiens of
horror )
The inquiry was at this stage adjourned.