The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-03 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON

ALLEGED MURDER OF A GE
ISY HIS HOUSEKEEPER.

yisii.rday Elitabelb Vickers, a middle-aged and
a,-...an.sed female, was charged at Lambeth Police-mart
co bs„,i,/ by violence caused On death of Mr. William
roan an &did gentleman of considerable property, with
gb.lll she had lived for many years as housekeeper.
Th,,,Latle of M. Jones was discovered on the 10th ult.,
lays after it occurred, and Its causes were investigated
"h
bit pl •
ty who attrihw te event to a fall. The faets
bplol, howevere , d ledh to the prisoner's apprehension,
inu.ediii,,..tiestaadieig the verdict of the inquest.
tie int was', called yesterday was Mr. David Key,
„oral, of Unstun, who said—l attended Mr. Jones, who
mast tteringfield Cottage, near Aere-lane, at intervals
provers:years. On the 10th of January I was called to
J Jnees house about half-past five or a. (Mink
the monied, and went there a light ahoy
ee.t. I found Mr. Jones dead, lying MSS a
mthe hack parlour. He was dressed as ads
se; :viug or. a blanket which was wrapped runnel Yes.
he. • 1V44 in the ',cent at that time. I asked IMR
bow hag be had then lying there. She said she amid Melt
rot Ms ep to bed the night Wets ; that he asked her far •
brae water, +(hied she gave him, and that he died at hall.
pest three iieock is the gunning. She said she could not
.t lma up staff., bee ,use he was so helpless, and that be
,spre.ed a wish that she should act up with him. I
.ho what tme he was down on the Sunday (the day
Info.), and the s .id she could not tell me the elect Mmes
but that he had owed up-stairs, and after that he stem
a Ass. I asked her if tie had had any spirits, and she midis*
bad a little gin and water, but could nut tell the enact
quantity. bur said he had lain on the sole from the
lea came down until he died. I asked her if he bed
any steering wine, and she said no. I asked her if
was inenoible, and she said no. She said he died di-
why after talsics the water. I asked her if he had swat.
tit it, aittlalf) said she we. not certain whether
be had swallowed any. It appeared to mo to be a eery
valved account that she gave. I then ezamined the
bdy, and found several wounds on the forehead.
Ice witness here described the wounds with considerable
antennas they were contused wounds, and seven or
subt in Dumber, but the two prin: ipal were use on the
lap:heed and the other on the right temple. The lower
whites, of the nose was also broken. The injuries could
wr. hoe been enacted more than five days before, bat
chiht have been ut much later date. Corresponding with
the bruise on the 'epic temple, there was sufficient effusion
st blood between the dura meter and the skull bone to
press upon the brain, by whi h death was caused. The
limner told witness the injuries had been caused by Ms.
The old man was di cideelly a healthy subject. Nu simile
WI would produce such wounds, nor, in witness's opinion,
PAN they he accounted fur by a succession of falls. Whi-
m* added-1 have been to see the deceased several times,
when I could not get in, but not for a month or two before
his death. I saw him once in August last ; he had then
two black eyes and a slight scratch or two upon the non,
and likewise uphn the thin. The prisoner was present at
the time, and I asked him, in her presence, if he had fallen
doin stairs. Ile made n's answer; but the prisoner, before
be had tame to do so, exclaimed, "Don't answer," and he
did cot.
N.ss SlOll Allen, of No. 5, Springfield Cottages, Am-
ine. heist in, said—The deceased resided uezt dour to me.
the New Year's-lay last Mr. Juan came to the fence of
the garden and spoke to me. He was then in excellent
health and very cheerful, but he had a very large bruise
si big as a walnut, on the right side of his head, near thi;
temple, an/ • large bruise above that as large as a middle-
sired teacup un the right side of the head. lie had his
nightcap en at the time, and it was much stained with
blood. It was put on so as not to cover the injuries, so
that she could pluihly see them. I have frequently seen
bruises on him before this, sad he has complained to me
about them. I have seen the prisoner beat him violently
and pull hintabout by his grey hair. I have seen her pod
him from the garden fence to his own house by the hair,
beating biro on the head and shoulders with her cinched
fics. I have seen her beat him with both her fists Omen
the head. That was in the course of last spring. I have
son violence used by her in the autumn before. She pulled
him in thee by the hair of the head, and beat him with her
data on his head ; and she said then she would make him Te
member ring out, as she had desired him not wh I. she
was out. For the last twelvemonth not a week had j used
without my hearing her beating him. I eau hear it from
outside the house. I had listened at his request. The prisoner
frequently come home intoxicated. I believe she has scare*
been sober fur an entire day for a year. She told me WA
Mr. Jones had made over 1,0001. in their joint names, and
she wished it in her own name, but Mr. Key bad persuaded
Mr. Jones not to dose; but she would make bun remember
going from his promise as long as he lived: that she weak'
let him know that she was a Leon resolved; and, as be
had called upon Mr. Key unknown to her, he should never
go out of the house by himself again; and if Mr.
Key came there, she would kick him out. Os
the Sunday following Mr. Jones cams to me and
showed me bruises on his head. His eyes were blackened,
and his head bruised and bleeding. I have repeatedly
heard her drive him up stairs and lock him up, then go
out, and come home drunk. On the Friday night before
he died, at about II o'clock, the prisoner came home drunk
and lay on the ground °amide their door for about three
quarters of an Usti, abusing. Mr. Key, and calling out,
"Old Jones, come and let me in." Then the door opened,
but was shut again, for the policeman was then with her.
When the policeman went away the prisoner went in and
shut the door, and in two minutes after I beard a heavy
fall la the passage or en the stain. It appeared to me that
the prisoner had fallen on Mr. Jones at the door. I went
inside then, and went to bed. The nest morning, at seven
o'clock, heard the door of the house shut. At nine o'clock
I found the shutters still closed. At one o'clock in the
day I saw the prisoner, and was going to speak to her about
Mr. Jones, bat she shunned me. I listened the whole
of that day and night, but evil not hear Mr.
Joan. 11. had a cough, white I Waal gemerally,
bat oa that day I could not hear it. Oa amp essariNgswg
I leaked for the prisoner, but could mod see or
i=
Wag of her, and at eleven eas Me Isarde I went
Whea I returned, at one o'clock, Ilia found the diallem
Weld. I then looked at Mr. Jaass's window, and aim the
Iliad up, and the primer stood at the side of the win.
dew. She looked very ashatMl. and I nodded to her, but
tie did not return it, ad emend mash ountased. I re-
postal ray sod to her. but she did sot aides it. sad I then '
wen to the beck of the bow, sad hued it fastened. I
notsised the home, but sew as sae go est. At five o'clock
I nevi a cab drive away hem the gen. sad Mee penes
. At that mmemet the F
= NM an awl
up the popes that bed beset lato the
the mime at sin o'slesk ibe mmalogo astraZ
hem Meg then all day. I waled the Yaw all day sad
sew on lien or nerd say peens tent the Merily, wins
I saw Mr. Key den with the imisoleher. Oa the New
Year's Day, whoa the bens In the ems, the ri-
sme/ beet Ides sod theselseed that If he idesared himself
eat main she weal kish tie Mb out. I disdastly heed
the pinion " ter year eyes out, you 'old devil,"
sat thel baud Metes soda sewed se if • dish was
geed. The elseseesd all minim aminisel est
Ms best him se I tick be was pen dela
saythiag. She t= OM
Ids le inn ea the oat
eM she should leave han, sad be begged her set to de so.
She went eat at Wilma en, leaking him ups imittimm ie
was iatoxicated
Mrs. Annie Gray, a respectable mauled boa* mil the
bow I lived is we ant deer to the We Mr. Jeseeli, but
that loess was 1.1 ea the ith of Destiabor lest. "I knew
Mr. Jens well, but sew had a ornemation with him but
twin The Ihet i.e, la July, I Oil Wm I was lorry to
les bin so peed/ mad faint, and 'Mid that it was a pity
to as him Is dr some be was in. His reply to me then
any "lam • shied& mos." I veld !anent if he wanted
*glides sad lapped at in wall, I would render him all
the seassese Ia my pew*. I have sties beard cries In
the hem el the dmesed Mr. loam and the prisoner
teed te in. mine &pates about mosey natters. I hays
Wei Mee king eat, me the mosey and let me go."
M ease Vile I her beat the on man. The de-
emed need to say to her, "don't leave me." I distinctly
nerd the send of a elm; on the face which the prisoner
gave the deceased. I have frequently' heard them quarrel
sad beard the deceased utter the cries of " mur-
der" ea two or three occasions. The Ant time I heard
these Wee was in the month of July I thick, cm that
oillaha huebead heard them asirell es myself, sad he
spoke to a penman about it. The next time I board the
sties of " murder " was is the latter end of November.
Most that time they wen
the* nerd the soiled 34'n'Iling and
I
Mows. Is on • these
Wallah I lewd the prisoner say gin ma she
:17 sag id no ead hie was,
mean Ices you." She the,yeeked inee'Dcabow"sal:
findimputrierntOrallibior.,lxy ? The eld mu sot answering her,
and greens, as if they earns from a
penes in Wean spay. I have sea a-"m
lashilen, but refased. Ia apply for
have let gentlemen over the
wall of my garde., on their tailing me that the print ner
would not let them in, though I knew she time. This was in themonth of October. They ra
was
al
at
then the
g
hen, and Mr. Joie same to he could not admit them. "Tthry swaYtknetopliettssef, saittiesmiade-
wend, and said they particularly wished to take Mr
awn, as:they understood his life 'in d GINS
Min Maria Hammond, who also lived nest door to the
decemed, detailed at some length the particulars of what
she saw and heard of the '
061 that oa the eight on prisoner
reteeeld the
deceased.
son
nub „flatbed Mr. ones died, she. mite
by the quarrelling between the prisoner
lad the deceased. In the coarse of the night she was awoke
by one of these quarrels. From the voices she could dis-
tinctly tell that there were only the primer and the de-1
tameezbraran the. room (the back, parlour) at the time. Div
a the prisoner talk angrily sad heard the do-
omed say, "Oh, what do y
Ibis she beards heavy fall on she sa.y andieunthitedia.liteaoaftewedr
by a perfect deathlike silennot kesr ce, donna which winless did
or whisper. This was broken by
i;',',_Y!'?° Mutts the door and adasittiag, as the witness
believed, some person to her amistaaes, as she maid die
thelinetli_hear several Totem, and, for theNeaailli" part
of
morning, the noises from the room appeared to be moat
unpleasant.

ir. Elliott—What did this noise resemble ?
Witness—The scratching and scraping of the floor with a
shovel.

Police-constable John Grant, 170 P, said that on the
morning of the 10th of January he was on duty in Acre-
lane, Brixton, and at about five o'clock in the morning he
saw the prisoner come out of the house of Mr. Jones and go
in at the gate of a person named Evans, which win throe
doors oft• He wished her "good morning," but she made
bias no reply. She appeared to him to have been drinking,
sad seemed much frightened. He saw no more of her that
fig•

Mr. Wm. Jones, 153, Tottenham-mart-read, said the de-
ceased Mr. Wm. Jose* was my aside. In the swath of
August last I visited at his late midair., and on say ear
temp the hems I found him shaving kinsielf, and could
see that be had marks of serious siolence on Ms fem. I
asked him bow he had receive! there, upon which he ex-
claimed, " Hash, hush, she's in the met room; I can't
tell yea sow, bat will presently." The door of the nest
room was opened, and the prisoner, who must have beard
my qualities, eatered the room whew ire were, and my
awls seemed se nervous 'boat it that I did not press the
question a emend time, as the prisoner took care not to
leave us Gloss or give us en opportunity. I have made
four or are attampts to we my uncle, but could not. as the
prisoner would sot admit me inside the house or to his
presence.

Mr. Elliott laving announced his intention of sending
the cue before a jury, the whinnies mere bound over to
pros..i.uto, but the pris ,ner was remanded. She left the
bar with a carelmanese amounting to levity.

SUNDAYS.

A general meeting of delegates of the working
dame of the 'metropolis took plus, last evening, at St.
Martin's hall, " use orgaaited danooatration of the hal-
m° end opinions of the labor:mg popaletioe of the metro-1
polio in &mu of the opening of the Crystal Palace is
Sundays." It was stated that delegates bed been elected
fronievery branch of labour, representing the sentiments I
of 92,600 working men. Abort one honored delegates oc-I
copied the platform, arid the body of the hall and spacious
gallery were deasely crowded with the general public,
chi" fly members of the working elcsses.
Mr. HINDI MAYHEW was called on to preside amiast
load sheering. He said the meeting was a remarkable
from the numbers present, nearly double the inhabit-
ants of some German principalities ; u was still more re-
markable from its representative character, the whole of
the London trades having been polled, and the delegates re-
nrcseated abut 100,000 of their fellow-workmen.

(Cheen.) It was ode of the most righteous
meetings ever held. (Cheep.) Their übjeet was not to en-
courage Sunday labonr to*lxidge the poor man's rest,
but to ensure to him the meanie' rational rest and improve •
went. (Rear, hear.) The puritans would hare them be-
lieve that this was to eummit a national sin. Was it na-

tional righteousness to keep the people brutally ignorant
and deny them any pleasures more intellectual than gin and
tobacco ? A country which did this could be neither
nationally righteous nor nationally wise. The question was,
was there to be any medium &Unction on the Lord's-day
between religious esereiwe and debasing sensuality ? It had
been proved to be impouible to make the people religious
by act of parliament; multitudes would not go to church ;
and it was at least desirable to wean the minds of such, by
. .

intellectual pursuits, from gram and debasing pleasures.
(Cheers.) Some urged that there was a divine command
for the Sabbath to be kept strictly, and to this
consideration they first addressed themselves. They
did not reject the authority of a divine command,
but merely claimed the common protestant right of
interpreting the injunctions of Scripture according to their
consciences. (Cheers.) The theological obection being
the main one in this cue they could not overlook it, unless
at the risk of being charred with playing Hamlet, and
omitting the chief part. (Hear, hear.) Christians, be it
remembered, observed their Sabbath, not on the seventh
day, as commemorative of the rest of the Almighty after the
work of creation, but on the first day of the week, as com-
memorative of the resurrection of Christ. The one was a
Jewish, the other a Christian obeervince. Without
quibbling it was impossible to deny that the Old Testament
commecd referred to Saturday. (Rear, hear.) What
authority, then, was there for the present Sabbath law ?
It was admitted that the Saviour enunciated no such law ,
the Sabbath of which he spoke was the Jewish Sabbath of
Saturday. Nor did the Apostles lay down any such in-
junction ; and there was no evidence that they ever re-
garded any other than the Jewish Sabbath, the observance
of which was believed to be obligatory en all
Jews and Christians, till the destruction of Jeru-
salem. Some relied on the pas-ages which spoke
of the disciples coming together "on the first day
of the week." But this merely showed that the
early Christians were accustomed to meet on that
day, not in compliance with any direct command. There
was no injunction to abstain from labour or worldly enjrry
anent on that day. So far from this the observance of the
day was evidently regarded as one of the " weak and beg-
garly element s"of Judaism. During the lst mid 2nd centuries
of Christianity, it appeared, from a letter of Pliny, jun.,
that the Christians were accustomed to meet for prayer on
• certain day of the week ; but there was no mention of
abataiuing from labour or worldly occupation on that day.
Thu same appeared from the writings of Justin the Martyr
and others. As early as Tertullian's time Sunday was °b-
ogeyed as • day of Christian rejoicing, the Christians in-
dulging in mirth and festivity. (Rear, hear.) A decree of
the council of Demarco, io Paphlagonia, A.D. 357, anathe-
matised those who passed the Sunday in bodily mortifies
tion ; and cn edict of Constantine, while exhorting to •
general rest from labour, made an exception in femur at
agricultural labourers. lieu declared that the prone. at
a total abstinence from labour on Sunday,though beensfillin
by Constantine with good intent, was to be condemned,
as not abolishing Judaism, but merely shifting it to undue
day. The early reformers held similaropimions. Cranmer,
in 'his Catechism of 1188, claimed for Christians full liberty
to select their own day for religious observances and rest
from labour. Melancthon declared that the non-observance
of such day ought not to be regarded as sin. Calvin pro-
posed to transfer the observance from Sunday to Thursday,
as a proper exercise of Christian liberty, at the same time
denying any obligation to observe use day in seven. It
was a tradition that when John Knox visited Calvin on the
Sunday, he found his austere coadjutor bowling on the
bowling-green, and it was customary with the bishops and
clergy to recreate themselves in this way after divine ser-
vice. (Cheers and laughter.) The notion of a strict rest
on the Sunday being obligatory on Christians was first pro-
mulgated by Dr. Bone, in 1694: it was opporied by many
divines, bat was warmly espoused by the Puritans. The
dogma found its way into the "Westminster Catechirm,"
mid had thus come down to our day. Paley, in his" Moral
and Political Philwrophy," admitted that there was no
injunction by Christ or his Apostles for an ab-
Wsenee from labour on the Sunday, but that it
was merely an ordinance of human institution. (Rear.)
BOWS might ray that, even if this were so, the fact should
be withheld from the people, lest it should lead to a greasesl
desecration of the Sabbath. This would be one of the piens
frauds for which bigots were so notorious. (Cheers.) If
the strict observance of the day were an idol of the ear
venticle, the sooner it was overthrown, and the institatieni
plaited on its right footing (the improvement of the beep
and mind of the labourer), the better. (Cheers.) The ob-
servance should rest on the necessity of our physical nature
for a certain portion of relaxation, and to those eternal
principles of justice, which were at least as obligatory as
revelation. (Hear.) The social grounds for the observ-
anm of the day he should postpone till next Wednesday, to
which time this meeting would be adjourned. He would
conclude by reading the declaration of the working men
which had been drawn up and s*ned. It was as follows ;
a 1. That the working men wash it to be understood that
they are in no way desirous of questioning the authority of
the decrees upon which the 'institution of the Babbitk I.
this country :is founded, but merely assert for themselves 1
the right to interpret those dunes as their conscience die-
tates.-2. That the mode of observing the Sunday sung
the early Christians proves incontestably that the present
sabbath is a social rather than a divine institution.-3. That
the sabbath, whether viewed as a divine or a social institu-
tion, is designed especially for the benefit of the labourer.
4. That while the working classes are dethrone of obtaining
such a relaxation of the putout rigorous mode of observing
the Sabbath aa will bring it beck to its true eses—the recre.
diem sod seilmaing of the labourer--they Si. likewise
apeciay cashes to guard the day of rest soaks' an other
emereseimment than what is absolutely seemessy, mil at the
sues time to ppe[aoersnfor their Maur weakens whe may be
sopped la to their seconshise ea as Sunday
eons saber llap el rest in the weak, ee net the less of the
Who* any be equally extended to all.—S. That the work-
lag 11111111110, 'moreover, emirs no ent of the day of
rose, but stash as is absolutely required intrkgem for their physical
sad intasetual neensities.-6. That physical recreation is
as I. the working man oohed and drink is to him
on the h.-7. That refined and ildiestioaXenjoyment
as well as the moans of oblniang ialbsmation are even
more seesenry to the worths ereassonsal=isel reenation
oa the sabbath ; and that if dues In denied Mtn
on the present day of rest, dila two salmis, must be sp-
polnted is the week, one day le he obeened se a day of
mere repose, and the other as a day hr the recreation of
W mental and bodily angles of the labourer."
Mr. PAIDLITI, a delegate from the cabinet-makers
moved the adoption of the declaration. Me said this was
twitber mare nor less than a betds with and creed-
= (Cheers.) It was a only priests sad
:gems
were God's ministers ea red . (Cheers.) They
swill not Mint that Belgravia bat up its nose at the
=Palms, and convened it le !ad a better site, where
Ins Mined by theme ellefebersey. (Cheers.)
Immediately Ihe new sift woe istennieed on, the bigots
hod mocked the "Clergy List" to get up en opposition
to it; but they might as well seek to stop the waves of the
Atlantis as to Tall bosh the tide of intelligence. (Cheers.)
The declaration lantana no Infraction of any individual
right ; It left every one free to act eceerding to the dictate.
ehis sosseknes.
Mr. W. NSWTOW esommded the resolution with gnat
limsom• and said he subscribed to every one of the pita-
dvhe embedied in the declaratim.
Kr. Ihmair•ano delegate of the silk weaversoaid he
segensated the inhabitants
of lipilelnelde sed Bnknal-
where there had lately bees a Meg* espply of
iesebce; but he could state Mat cot men them me in
INV of the weavers atteadal Sees churches. Maar,
teres
eralTkey were low is the and male, sad their PIM.
WY II positive Mist Mn essenuatty.
Kr. MAD (the bakers' ea thee we dot mete
weeded beellittal retreallea leek be represealsd.
limy bed Mimes bees dowlel rye medial mt, by tbe
imp sneers ethers; brew Ulm et Lades mil that
by ewe baker staying at home, twenty peruse wars stewed
Elf le shun*. (Hear, bear.) The bakers of the meter
wo to rked from 16 21 hours • day, with chest sad
latervals for net, and some at the east ad se-
eseighlreediedf men that 144 hours in the week. It was meet imported
te Ole bogy o
Om Mislaid be afforded them. (Rear hear.) Dr. Cum-
ming admilied that not non than • dOsea bakers, though
number of them were Sootchmen, attended his
ear.)
Ven=h was thea put and carried, with not more
Ilia wieis diewatients. Loud cheering followed the an-
of the result.
agiblartrl. T. BATLIN, Secretary of the Lord's Day
Oballismes Society, who announced himself as a working
di expressed his wish to speak.
VralliliAN said the meeting was confined to work-
ing. men and their representatives, but he was willing to
waive the rule in favour of the rev. gentleman. (Cheep.)
Mr. BAYLIS said he claimed the privilege of an English-
man to correct some misrepresentations that had been made.
'lb Ardmore, argument had gone to prove that the &b-
-link woe taped both for the recreation of the workinngg
ass wed ht his labour. (" No, no," and interruption.)
was an advocate for every man enjoying the Sabbatfih
Wording to his conscience, but let him do nothing to inter-
erre with another's enjoyment of the same. (Cheers, and
cries of " The bishops.') He for one never employed his
follow men on the Sabbath. (" Rear, hear," and erns of
-'s Time.") The meeting becoming impatient and some-
what clamorous, the rev. gentleman exclaimed, "Ah !
you're afraid; you due not listen to argument or to the
truth." (Uproar, amidst which the rev. gentleman retired.)
Mr. Nawrox announced that the meeting would be ad-
journed at its elms till Wednesday next.
Mr. WIMITEI proposed a vote of thanks to the chair-
' epees, which was seconded, and unanimously agreed to.