The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-18 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCB.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Yoßzezzar, Dec. 16.
BURGLARY AT MAirros.7--G: Thompion, 32, and T.

Whole, 35, were charged with a burglary in the 'dwelling-
house of Elisabeth Arkeey, at MarWo, on the 16th of No-
vember last —The proisecutrix is • widow, and lives at a
detached cottage in the village of Marton.—During the night
of the 16th of November last she was awoke by • noise, and
en getting up to tee from whence it proceeded found that
mese one was attempting to prise the door open, which the
party outside eventually succeeded in doing. The door being
forced open, four men entered the house with a lighted
candle; they were dressed in diegmee, and had their faces
covered so ea to prevent their being recognised. The prose-
=aria asked what they wanted, when they replied it was her
money that they had come for, and that she was
to go beck to bed, as they would not do her
any harm. She ecrismed out for assistance, when one of the
men pot his hand over her month, and said that if she
did not be quiet they would murder her. Three of the
men then proceeded to ransack the house, whilst the fourth
remained at the door, to give an alarm in the event of any
one coming. In the drawers they found a number of silver
teaspoons, a pair of silver sugar-tongs, and 2s. 10d. in
money; but in their search they luckily mimed a " house-
wife," which contained two sovereigns. The cries of the
pr.:meat/a attracted the attention of two watchers in the
service of Sir Clifford Constable, Dirt, and they imme-
diately proceeded to the oottage to render all the assistance
in their power. They entered the house, and • violent
struggle ensued between the men and the watchers ; during
which the burglars succeeded in making their escape out of
the house. The watchers pursued them, and after some
difficulty two of them were captured, but the other two are
still at large. Near to the place where the prisoners were
apprehended two crowbars and a hat (which belonged to ene
of them) were found.—Guilty. To be each transported for
fifteen yeah. His Lordship directed that the two watchers,
whose names are James Raw and Jonathan Milner, should
receive U. each for their praiseworthy conduct in appre-
heading the prisoners.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.—Before Mr. Justice W*bonen.
ROBBERY or Ma. BaLtactonneus.—At the sitting of the
court, the prisoners Doyle, Lloyd, and Davis, who were ac-
quitted yesterday upon the charge of murdering Mr. Bell-
chambers, were arraigned for stealing his watch, &c., and no
evidence being offered on behalf of the prosecution, a verdict
of Not Guilty waii recorded.
MATRICIDE.— W. S. SEEVid4O, 36, clerk, wall indicted
(or the murder dills mother, Frances Sheridan, by adminis-
tering arsenic to her. The prisoner was also arraigned
upon the coroner's inquisition for the seine offence.
Catherine Sheridan examined by Mr. Clark for the prose-
cution: I am the daughter of the deceased. She was a
widow. My father was an officer in the arm 7. My mother
resided in Mare-street, Hackney. Our Suouly consisted of I
myself, a married sister. named Jlohason, and her child, and
the prisoner. Mrs. Johnson was separated from her hus-
band. The prisoner filled an office in the Excise, to which
he was twointed by Sir John Mortlock, who was a friend of
my father's, and the prisoner allowed my mother 161. per
quarter, which I used to receive at the Excise-office for her.
He had an insurance upon his life on account of my mother,
Sir Joke Mortis* dewing that some provision should be
made for my mother in ease of m 7 brother's death. I have
heard my brother say that Sir J. Mortlock gave him the
situation upon the express condition that he should support
his mother and his sisters. The last time but one when
I received the quarterly allowance the prisoner toll me that
I should never have it again. He repeatedly objected, and
there was generally a disturbance when I went for the
moue?. I heard him my that he regretted having taken the
situation upon the condition of allowing his mother so much.
I once heard the prisoner very violent with my mother, but
I did not hear what he said. My mother was feeble about
the 17th October, but her general state of health was good.
She was 66 yearn old. On Sunday, the 17th of October,
was ill in bed in the back room. My Water was with me in
the back room at the time, and my mother was in the sitting
mom, where the prisoner remained the greater part of the
day. At tea-time my mother appeared very in, and I thought
dm was dying. She had got up in the naornlng la her usual
Mato of health.
_About dg or seven la the maims oho was
led into the bedroom by the peignoir. She was matting
wry moth, and spooned very bad, End la a suet at grow
eami apparently unable to stand. My Moe bad bola ellb
ass the whole of that eq. I said to *spinner How tea
maw h—erbat bove yea bear doing to lot r' The pelmet
mho no Rawer and left the Poem. I Wino 1.7 dem
otatioant k a Ma of darn all that night, and vaidiad
wry voneb, and bot bomb swami very rt7risl.
Mho andlateed la the alio lola on Ilathay, Mak
gun evening I sent hr a nallod ma. Oa Mg
oboe ray nether vas ton Woo It I ilmargin albe vary
ad, and I Aid the pdttar • ems big Iblillesemb

lie had a holiday all that week, and had been at home the
greater part of it, but he did not come into the bedroom to in-
coinafter the health of the deceased. When I asked him to
q •
come in on the 24th the prisoner just came into the room,
and went out again directly, without saying a word. My
mother died on the 29th October. During the period of my
1 mother's illness I accused the prisoner of poisoning her. I
I got out of bed and went into the other room, and told the
prisoner that his mother was very ill, and I believed he had
poisoned her. The prisoner made no reply. My mother
had arrow-root very frequently during her illness, and
shortly after her death, I was going to send out for some
I arrow-root, but the prisoner told me to take some that was
lin the cupboard, and I did so, and shortly afterwards my
tongue was swollen and my throat was very sore. No one
else partook of the arrow-root but myself. I saw my brother
strike the deceased on the temple about a fortnight before
her death. She was in bed when be struck her. The policy
of insurance was kept by my mother in a drawer, and it was
in her possession at the time of her death. On the day she
died I think my brother said he wanted the policy, and she
gave him the key of the drawer in which it was kept, and he
went out directly he had got the policy. My mother was
entitled to a penman of 101. a year from Ireland, which was
paid by post-office order. The day before my mother died
the prisoner wrote a letter to Ireland in reference to that
pension, and upon my making an enervation in reference
to the letter, the prisoner tore it up. I wanted to know why
he desired the money to be sent in William Stuart Sheri-
den's name instead of my mother's 2 The prisoner replied
that he did not think hie mother won't' lut long, and she
might not be able to sign her name. I said that she would
get better, and Mr. Heron, the medical man, thought she
would rally. Prisoner said be was sure she would not. My
brother allotted 701. a year to his mother, and his whole in•
come was about 1501.—8 y Mr. Clarkson, for the prisoner:
Did not recollect whether her sister was drunk on the day
of her mother's death.
Frances Johnson was then called : lam the sister of the
last witness. My husband is a fire lighter in the Excise
office, and we bane been separated more than two years. I
lived with my mother after the separation, and for the last
six weeks of her life was entirely dependent upon her
bounty, my husband having stopped my allowance of bee
shillings per week which he formerly allowed me. The pri-
soner frequently complained of having tosupport me and my
child, and said that he would not have me in the place; but
I my mother used to say that I should be there ; and a con-
versation of this description took place a few days before my
mother was taken ill. The witness detailed what took place
on the 17th of October in the same terms as the last witness.
Some arrow-root had been ordered a few days before, and it
was kept in a paper in the front room. The deceased par-
took of this arrow-root, which witness generally prepared,
end the prisoner was in the room on Wafted every occasion when
she did so, and she frequently left the room while
the arrow-root was in the course of being prepared.
On the Wednesday after deceased was taken ill, she rallied,
and appeared to get better, but there was a speedy change
for the worse, and they found it necessary to send for Dr.
flacon. Witnessitad given her mother some arrow-root at
eight o'clock, and she was taken worse about ten or eleven.
On the day she referred to the deceased bad relied se far as
to know witness and her sister; before that she had been in
a constant state of stupor. Alter her mother's death her
siAteritook some of the arrowroot, and immediately after-
wards she complained of a burning pain in her mouth and
stomach.—Cross-examined : I put on my bonnet and shawl
before I went out on the night of my mother's death, which
night I spent out of the house. I was so anxious and mad-
dened with despair I don't know much about the mutter. I
did swear that I had slept at the house of a friend on that
night, but it was a mistake. I certainly did take a little
drink when I was in the state I have described. I had half
a quaftern of brandy at a pnblichouse. I don't know where
I went after this. . . . .

Mr. Clarkson cautioned the witneu, and told her that her
brother's life might depend on ber answer.-IVitneee : I
have no knowledge of what happened. I cannet say whether
I went into sia different publie.housee during that night. If
I did I don't know it. I felt very lick from grief. Ido not
know whether I fell down drunk in the street.

Were you not so drunk when you were to be examined as
• witness before the coroner, that the beadle would not admit
you ?—I don't recollect it; I may have had a little to
drink.
On the night before your mother died, when you left the
house did you not attempt to conceal a satin scarf t—l did,
in order t take care of it.

Did soy one take it away from you T--Yes, my brother.
Whose shawl was it poor mother's.
Where did you get it from ?—From the drawer in the
bedroom.
- -

While your mother was dying?--Yes.
On the Wednesday before your mother died did you not
take away this unhappy man's trousers ?—Yes, I was
starving.
What did you do with them ?—I sold them for a shilling.
Were you not lying asleep and drunk on the same day
your mother died ?—I have heard them say they would not
let me he in the room. I will swear I was not drunk that day.
F. Johnson, the daughter of the last witness, a child ten
years old, deposed that on Sunday, Oct. 17, prisoner sent
her out for some gin, and witness gave her grandmother a
glass of it before her uncle had any. Her grandmother
seemed very well then. She went to the Sunday-school, and
returned at five o'clock, when she found her grandmother
lying en the sofa, and the prisoner sent her for some more
pin, but she did rot know what was done with it. At this
time her grandmother was sick and appeared to be very ill.
She also saw her grandmother was sick after she had taken
the gin the fist time.--Cross-examined Three half-crows
I were given to her by the prisoner to pay a tailor's bill, and
her mother took one half-crown and her aunt another, and
this made her uncle angry.
Mr. W. Eyre, a surgeon at Hackney, depor d that he saw
the deceased on Oct. 19. She was labouring under severe irri-
tation of the bowels end affected by a degree of stupor. He
thought she was labouring under an attack of cholera
arising from the use of intoxicating drinks ; and he treated
her for the symptoms he observed. He only attended her
till the following Sunday, when she was still suffering under
the same symptoms, but he ascertained in the meantime
that his medicine had not been regularly administered. The
symptoms he observed were those which would be produ ed
by the administration of ersenic.—By the Court : Autumnal
thole= joined to intoxication might have produced all the
symptoms he saw.
Mr. W. Tidy, another surgeon, who saw deceased after the
last witness, said the symptoms be observed immediately
excited his suspicion that some irritant poison had been
taken by the deceased. He was at first informed that no
medical man had been called in, but he afterwards Amer-
tained that there had, and he therefore declined to act any
further in the ease.
Mr. Toulmin, another medical gentleman who was called
in to see the deceased, said that the appearances exhibited
by the deceased were those that would arise from so irritant
poison, but might result from many other causes.
Mr. E. flacon, the partner of the last witness, gave evi-
dence of a similar character with regard to the state of the
deceased. On the Wedneday after witness was called in
the prisoner comp to his house, and, from his boisterous con-
duct, he believed he was intoxicated. He wished him to go
to see his mother, and he despatched his assistant. Witness
went himself the neat morning, and found a great change for
the worse in the condition of the deceased. Sbe appeared to
be dying.
Dr. Letheby, lecturer on chemistry at the London Hos-
pital, deposed that he analysed the contents of the stomach
of the deceased, the intestines, and a portion of the liver.
He described the teats he employed, and stated as the result
the detection of arsenic to the extent of about six grains in
the liver and the intestines,_ and this quantity, he said, was
quite sufficient to cause death, and, according to his judo.
ment, the arsenic had not all been exhibited at once, bat en
successive portions, which had quietly and gradually infused
themselves into the system, eventually occasioning a fatal
result ; and from the circumstance of his finding a portion
of arsenic in the intestines and none in the stomach itself,
he was of opinion that a dose had been administered shortly
before death.
Mr. Randall, the landlord of the house in which the
prisoner and his family resided, proved that there were
frequent quarrels between them, and upon one occasion he
heard the deceased say that the prisoner had struck her
three times on the head.

Mr. 8. Oiles, clerk to the London Life Assurance Corn-
pany, deposed, that on the 2fith October the prisoner came
to the aim respecting a policy of insurance for 5001. upon
his own life, effected in May, 1829, which he wished to
dispose of. Witness gave him the necessary form, and the
prisoner filltd it up, and brought the policy to the office on
the following Friday, and received 961. 2e. 6d.
Mary Armstrong deposed, that on the day after the de-
ceased died she saw the prisoner throw two little papers,
doubled up, into the fire. The prisoner's sister Catherine
followed him about, tad said be had poisoned his mother;
and the prisoner looked about as if he was silly, and made
no answer. She met the prisoner afterwards, and he abused
her very much, and said it would never have come out if she
had not gone to Dr Tidy.
Evans, the beadle of Hackney, deposed that he was in
company with the prisoner while the surgeons were making
the post mortar examination, and he appeared very ranch
excited, and said he should be ruined. He was also very
anxious that a report of the proceedings should not appear
in the newspapers.
Martha Mills said that she was called in to amid in laying
out the deceased shortly after her death. The same after-
noon she saw Catherine Sheridan stirring some brandy and
water, and the other sister was sitting by her, and Catherine
said to her, " You have killed your mother." The other
sister replied, " Indeed I have not; if I have, I have not
done it myself."
Mr. Clarkson then rose to address the lure. He did not
at all complain that the present inquiry had been taken up
by the government, nor of the mode in which the cam had
been presented to them by the utore ; and he wished
he could say the same of another public functionary, the
coroner, who had taken a very active part in the preliminary
inquiries, and that he could have been spared from making
the observation' which he felt it his duty tooffer in reference
to his conduct. If he had not been present perhaps he might
have refrained from making. those observations, but
as he saw he was in court he would beg him to take
an example from the conduct of the anr, and practice
in future the patience and forbearance he had vritameed that
day, and that when he wail conducting ea bgairy in which
the life of • Mew-creature was involved, that le would not
take use Unroll to decade that he was dallty. The law-
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littad, mad Thith bid bite preyed to be eirteelly mated,
awe ameepeeed, la hat aphasia, ef a of ignoramus, sad
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me drab. that bat kr that ematbst up the eareames jury
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ban Iheasteaet hal Went yea .V to alter a mad-
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