The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, - 1863.

weak and sensitive nature. Pity him we must.
' But in the eye of the law, and in the opinion of
every reasonable man, he was guilty of murder.
There is very little doubt that this man went
I with the deliberate intention of putting Miss
Goonwix to death ; that he provided himself
with the means of perpetrating the crime ;
and that he perpetrated it with a distinct
knowledge that he should be held responsible for
the act, and should suffer death as the punishment.
Under these circumstances, Mr. Baron hisnrix
I told the jury that they were bound to find the
prisoner guilty, and the jury did their duty in
returning that verdict. An ingenious attempt
was made by Mr. lif.scstrtsv to prove that the
prisoner was not responsible for his ac-
Cons, and following the usual custom on such
1 occasions he called Dr. Fosses WINSLOW to prove
his case. That distinguished specialist was of opi-
nion
that the mind of TOWNLEY was such as to
relieve hint from responsibility. But any one who
reads the account which Dr. Wuestow gives of
his interviews with this young man, will find it
difficult to agree with him. So far from Towrasy
acting without reason, he acted with a strict
adherence to the theory which he had adopted.
It is true that he feared neither the scaffold nor
the pains of hell. But neitheratheista nor infidels
I have hitherto been deemed necessarily mad.
Acting upon the theory with terrible consistency,
he considered that the woman who had solemnly
promised him marriage was already his wife,
and that she was as much his property
as his tables, his chairs, or his pictures,
and that "he had a perfect right to kill or to do
" what he liked with her." "He looked," says
Dr. WiNsLow, " upon Mils GOODWIN in the
" light of a wife who had committed adultery, and
" having, according to his conviction, so acted, he
" was justified in killing her." These are startling
theories. Dr. Foasse WINSLOW no doubt did his
best to answer them, but it would be
unfortunate indeed if those who commit
murder in obedience to them were to be deemed
lunatics because they refuse to acknowledge the
cogency of Dr. WINSIAWS reasoning. That
Tows-tree mind was in a disordered condition may
be admitted, but a defective judgment or even a
perverted moral sense has never been considered
conclusive proof of insanity. When self-control
is lost there are precipices of passion down which
the fever-stricken human mind rushes into abysses
of madness and crime. The hate of love is some.
times sooverpowering that men with theireyes open
are driven almost irresistibly to commit acts which
nevertheless they know to be wrong. This may
palliate their guilt but it cannot relieve them from
responsibility. It is well settled that no man is to
be excused from responsibility if at the time of
committing a crime he knows the distinction be-
tween right and wrong. An eccentric man may
think that under certain circumstances he is en-
titled to take the law into his own hands, but if
he acts upon this principle when he is perfectly
aware that this is forbidden, he must suffer the
punishment which the wilful violation of law
entails. Society cannot subsist if every man is
to be allowed to do with impunity whatever seems
to himself right.

REPLY OF THE KING OF DENMARK TO
THE OONGRESS PROPOSITION.

The following letter has been addressed to the
Emperor Napoleon, by the King of Denmark, in
reply to the congress proposition :

Oopeahaim, Nov. 20.

Monsieur mon Frrs,—Within the ism d;ye that I have
occupied the throne of Denmark, I have bad to take two
resolutions of great import for the destinies of asymmetry. '
Providence has been pleased, in an unforeseen and afflict.
lug manner, to terminate the career of my angtist prede-
cessor at the very moment when the nation ex-
pected to see him consecrate by his signature
the new constitution for the common affairs of
his non-German provincee, and to accept the invitation
which your Majesty bad addressed to him for a congress.
It has been reserved for me in his place to iscoomplish this
double task. These two decision,, supervening at the name
solemn hour in the life of my people, concur to the urns
end ; for if use of them regulate, the present, the other
will, I hope, assure the future of the Daniell monarchy.
Your Maim, has taken the glorious initiative of endeavour.
log to submit the decision of the questions now pending in
Europe to the arbitrament of reason and justice rather then
to the force of arms.

Denmark. which remained the conatantally of the empire,
hoe decided to adhere frankly sad without reserve to your
Majesty's generous effort. for the realisation of this grand
idea. I therefore accept with real pleasure your Majesty's
invitation to take part in the European congress. Ido not
yet know whether circumstances will permit me to attend
in person, but I prey your Majesty to believe that I shall
feel most happy to be 011011 more able to enjoy your cordial
hospitality, end to address to you rim wee my warmest
and most sincere congratulations. I congratulate myself
that the relations which I shall have the honour of enter-
tamping with your Majesty open under the auspices of this
grand inspiration, and I eagerly seize this opportunity of
offering you the assurances of the high esteem sod inviolable
friendship with which I am, Monsieur mon Frain, your
Imperial Majesty's good brother, Crouerter.

SHOCKING MURDER IN LAMBETH.

A murder was committed at No. 11, Waterloo-
road, yesterday morning, which vividly calls to mind the
minder of Eliza Grimwood, in one of the houses of the
SW row.
It appears that for some months past • bricklayer of
the name of Samuel Wright has been living with a pens=
named Maria Green. They occupied one room at the top
of the hones, and according to the statement of Mts.
Redbours, the landlady, they were quiet people. The
man has been for some time at work at the &tread Music
Hall, now in course of erection on the site of the Exeter
Arcade, but it would appear that he did not go to his work
all List week until Friday morning, in oonsequeoce of the
women having made a discovery which probably led to the
commission of the fatal set yesterday morning. Up to Saber
day week last they lived happily together, but on the *us-
ing of that day it appeared that the woman met Wright is
the company of another female, and • violent quarrel en-
sued; not, however, in their lodging; but, according to
the cleansed woman's etatement to Mrs. Redbourn, they had
two or three fights during the week while they were out, le
one of which she got a black e. After the discovery of his
infidelity he went what is ly known among that CLIMB
as "on the drink," and ' not go to his work on Monday
morning, and constant quarrels have ensued between them.
On Saturday the woman went down to her landlady
and told her that her husband, as he was always supposed
to be, bad not done much work during the week, as they
were slack, and therefore they were unable to pay the rest,
but would do so in the course of she ensuing (this) week.
It his since been ascertained that she went out about
o'clock, and was in company with a female friend i f hen
and Wright at • public-hones, where the female called for •
quarter of gin between them, but the doused took up the
measure and drank off theliquorat adraught, and then calling
herself for a pint of ale. she drank off that asrapidly. Between
10 and 11 o'clock Wright and the other woman took her
home, she being at the time so drunk as to require meet-
sow. Wright, himself, had also evidently been drinking,
front the peculiar huskiness of hie tone when speaking to
her. They went upstairs together and nothing further was
heard of them, it being supposed they had gone to bed.
Shortly before 4 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Hansel
Ireland who occupies • room immediately undo-Death the
one when Wright end the deceased lived, was aroused from
her sleep by • knocking on the floor of the room above.
Being alarmed at its coutinienoe. though feebly sustained,
i Mrs. Ireland partially dressed herself, during which the
knocking ceased, and went up-tairs ; but as she was doing
so met Wright coming down, with his right hand and the
sleeve of his shirt covered with blood. Terrified as she
was she asked him what was the matter, and he said, quite
calmly and quietly, "Go and see." She went up to
the room door, sad looking in said. " What's the matter,
Mrs. Wright!" She faintly replied, " He's cut my
throat." Mrs. Ireland returned to her room in much fear,
determined to dress herself and find • policeman, the mu
Wright having gone downstairs after speaking to her as
above narrated. Mrs. Ireland went into her room for the pur-
pose of finishing such dressing as would enable her to so out.
She locked her door, and immediately afterwards Wright
knocked, and she told him she would not open the door, but
as soon as she was dressed she would go and fetch a police-
man, to which he replied, in a cslm and collected tone of
voice, "All right," and went upetairs, where he remained.
Meanwhile Mr. Redbourn, the son of the landlady, had been
aroused by the knocking, but being deaf, did not beer
wham it prooseded, and at first looked out of window,
thinking there was • fire, hat not observing anything, he
dressed and went down to his mother's room, just at which
time Mn. Ireland came oat, and an alarm being raised in
the house, Mrs. Ireland went for • policeman, young Mr.
Redboiern walking up and down the passage, so that Wright
should sot escape.
After some delay. Mrs. Ireland found • police-000stable,
Edward Newton, 76 L, who went to the house with her,
and having goes upstairs, found the unhappy woman lying
on the floor weltering in blood. Both Wright and the
woman were dressed. and there was • very large fire in
the grate, more than usual. A surgeon was at once sent
for, and Mr. George Harrup, who has the management of
the branch banners of Mr. Dodd, the parochial doctor,
191, Waterloo-road, attended immediately, it being then
about tee minutes past 4 o'clock. The man Wright was
this standing in the room at the window, and the poor
woman lying on the floor in a large pool of blood. With
the assistance of the policeman she was lifted on to the bed,
it being observed, however, that there was a quantity of
blood on the bed clothes, giving an impression that the
awful deed had been first attempted while the woman was
lying down. On examining the body Mr. Harrop toned that
her head was nearly severed from bar body, there being two
very deep cuts, one from left to right extending from behind
the ear to the windpipe, and another on the opposite side
from right to left, almost meeting it, but not so deep.
though nearly as extensive. In the opinion of the medical
man, death must have ensued In leas than half an hour after
the wounds had been inflicted. There was also evident marks
of a severe blow on the month, which must have bees given
immediately or very shortly before death. The first impres-
sion os looking at the poker was that he had inflicted the
blow with that, and as the handle was bloody. it confirmed
that view, hut it is more probable that the unfortunate wo-
man had laid down in a state of stupor from drink, and that
the first attack having been made upon her she struggled to
the fireplace, after rolling off the bed, and seizing the poker
tried to use it, which caused the knocking that aroused the
tomato*. During the time that Mr. Harrup, the surgeon.
was making his examination, which was, however, but •
few minutes, Wright stood at the window nervously
feeling at the hasp or fastening, as if about to undo it,
which being noticed by the inspector, who had by that
time arrived, • constable moved nearer to Wright, who
had been glancing furtively about while he was so occupied
at the window. When the policeman stepped over to
his side he asked for something to drink, and wanted the
policeman to take him out of the room as quickly as he
could, as he did not like to remain there. As soon as Mr.
Hump pronounced the woman to be quite dead, the police-
man told Wright that he must consider himself is
custody, and also cautioned him that anything be might
say would be tau down and used in evidence against him.
He was then carefully searched when it was found that
his hands were quite clean, and some bloody water was found
in the basin, so that no doubt, after go,sg upstairs. the mar-
derer coolly web ed his hands while his victim lay there
dead at his feet. On his being examined a piece of hair
was found on his arm similar to that of the murdered
woman. On the table was a razor and • table-knife, and
upon an observation being made shoat them when
picked up, Wright said, "That's right enough, I did
it. She took the knife, and I took the razor." He was
then taken to the 'Cation, and asked whether be was
married to the woman, to which be replied in the nega-
tive, and further said that he had known her for twelve
months. and had been living with bar nearly ten. He
was asked if be had washed his hands. Rod he mid, " I
went down • few steps to call for assistance, and met the
woman Ireland, and then went back again and washed my
bands, because I did not like to see the blood.* Upoo
being told what he was charged with, he merely said,
"That's right. That's right enough." While he was
standing there, as the charge was being taken, he looked
over to the inspector, and seeing some letters and papers
belonging to him, said, in • haughty defiant tone, " Where
did you get thou papers from?" He lay down in his cell
after being locked up, and slept sonodly for some hours.
The murder was not generally known in London yester-
day. but a few people gathered about the house in the latter
pert of the day. In discussing and commenting on the
crime their attention was naturally drawn to the windows
of the second floor. where the horrid deed took place, and
here. beneath these windows, was • board announcing that
a certain music-hall was the " most elegant room," and
offered the "best entertainment in hoodoo "—a ghastly
, commentary on the deed of blood which had taken place
I within. . .

........
The landlord of the house removed the number from the
house during the day, to prevent the house becoming iden-
tified with the minder.