The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-28 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(THIS DAY.)

(Before Baron Martin.)
THE MARYLEBONE MURDER.

S Emily Miklull, 24, a married woman, who appeared
in a dreadful state of mootAl suffering, was charged with
the wilful murder of her illegitimate child, Sarah Emily
Adeline Chappell.
In another count the deceased child was described sr a
newly-born child, mown by the name of Sarah Emily
Adalme.

Mr. Clerk and Mr. Beasley conducted the prosecution on
behalf of the Treasury; Serjeant Shee was specially retained,
with Mr. Sleigh, for the defence.
This case was one of a very painful character, and it was
opened by Mr. Clerk in such a manner as to show that the
prisoner wu not at the time in such a state of mind as to be
a responsible agent when the occurrence took place. The
prisoner, some time back, had gone to reside at Liverpool
in the service of • gentleman named Chappell as house-
keeper, and while there an intimacy sprang up between her
and Mr. Chappell, end she afterwards gave birth to
the child which she now stands charged with having mur-
dered. She come to London with Mr. Chappell in 1862,
and always appeared extremely food of the child, and
showed it a great deal of care and attention. The child
lived with her, and she was constantly visited by Mr.
Chappell, the father of the child. In April in the present
year Mr. Chappell engage 1 apartments for her in Meryl,-
bone, where she afterwards gave birth to another child.
She still showed great fondness for her first child, but ap-
peared to have had some feelings of jealousy towards Mr.
Chappell, and was heard to threaten to do something wrong
to herself and her child. At this time the prisoner's sister was
residing with her. On the day in question (July 31) her sister
had been oat with the child, and upon returning the pri-
soner wished her to go and get her a peach. Her sister
went oat, and upon her return she found the blind of the
prisoner's room drawn down, and on trying the door found
it locked. Thinking something had occurred to the pri-
soner, she went for Dr. Cothran, the medical gentleman who
had attended her, and upon the door being forced
open the prisoner was found lying on the floor
in a Ante of insensibility and covered with blood.
Cyan examining bee a jagged wound was found
across her throat. The child was found lying
oe the bed insensible, and • wound was found it the
left side. The prisoner was properly attended to, and the
wound in the child's side was dressed, bat it died on
August 2. After the child died • dagger was found behind
the shutter, and blood upon it.
Mr. Clerk, in his opening address, said that one question
for the consideration of the jury would be whether at the
time the act was committed the prisoner was legally re-
mono-hie. From the facts of the case there could be little
doubt that hers was the hand that committed the act. The
doctor who had attended her in her first c^ofinemeot had
noticed that at that time she was in an unusually
excited state of mini, and previous to this ono-reoce
her sister was so alarmed at her conduct that
Ow went to Dr. Cothran about her, and he
having seen her, had a consultation with another
medical gentleman as to whether she ought to be put
ender restraint or not. This was only a few hours be-
fore the act was committed, and they foiled her at the
time reeding her Bible, and after some conversation with
her, she appeared to become more calm, sad they left her.

Evidence was thee adduced which want to show that far
same time previous to her last confinement, which was pre-
mature, the prisoner had had a quarrel with Mr. Chappell,
and that her mind was in a very excited state. She was
at times very low io spirits, had frequent attacks of hysteria,
sad had very peculiar fancies, and complained of people
talking to her while no one was near at the time. The opi-
nion of the medical gentleman who bad attended her since
April last was that her mind was not in a sound state.
Since her list coofinement she bad complained greatly
of pains and di:names in her head and suffered greatly
from want of sleep. It appeared, however, that up to the
time she had committed the a-t, the prisoner hrd showed
extreme fondness for the child. treating it with the greatest
possible kindness, and repeatedly urged her sister not to
allow her child to go away, apparently being under an appro.
!tension that some one was going to take away the child, and
place her under some restraint.
The jury, without hearing the learned counsel for the
prisoner, stopped the case upon the medical evidence, and
returned a verdict of Not Onittp upon the ground of
insanity.
The prisoner was ordered to be detained in safe custody
during her Majesty's pleasure.
The unhappy woman, who was in a fainting state, was
carried out of the dock by the turnkeys in attendance.