The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-06 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.
BRIDGEWATER, At'orfer 4.
Caown Cover.—Besoas Ma. lorries Causww.
MIIRDZIL—A JURE or Mexatorre.
The trial of Chariot* Barris, for the wilful murder of
her former husband, Henry Merchant, by poison, which was
commented yesterday, was resumed this morning Imbue Mr.
Justice Crisswell The charge against tke pr.:wooer was sup-
ported by the following eircumrances
In the month of April last the prisoner was livi^g with ter
husband in Angelbuildinge, Bath. Her age was 32, his 28,
and they appeared to live on coneforteble and happy terms,
he as a Eonemasen earning very good wages, and she adding
to their weekly income by selling oranges in the Bath
market. They had two children who lived with them in
their house. On the 3lat of March deceased was at work
at a quarry, with two fellow-workmen. lie was in
good health and spirit*, and after his elsy's work he tp.,nt
an hour or two at a public house. He returned home late,
and the prisoner gave him some tee. He went to work, as
meal, nest day, but was compelled by illness to return
home. The symptoms of lois illness were those that are
usually observable in a case of poisoning, and they continued
throughout the day. The prisoner was advised to send
for a surgeon, wh:ch she declined to do, asserting that the
deceased objected to it, but afterwards she went for a sur-
geon, and as he did not come, she went a second time. The
deceased was attended by Mr. Lloyd, who treated the case
as one arising from natural causes, and, after linger-
ing a week, the man died on the 13th. He
was buried ; but, in conuquecce of suspicions
being excited by the conduct of the prisoner, the body we s
disin'erred, an inquest was held, the viscera of deceased
were sent for examination to Mr. Herapath of Bristol, and
the presence of arsenic was indisputably proved. It further
appeared that at a short distance from the prisoner's house
lived en old man named Harris, who was possessed of some
little property, end six or seven weeks before Merchant was
taken ill the prisoner told two persons that Ilues had
offered her marriage, observing what a good thing it would
be if she were a widow. On the very day that the husband
was taken ill she went to Harris's house, was with him in
his room for a considerable time, and took tea with him. On
going away she represented to a woman named Shay ler, who
lived in the same house, that she was shout to be married to
Harris. On the day atte r the death of her husband she was
teen in Harris's company, and about a week afterwards she
was actually married to Harris, having given the informa-
tion necessary to enable that ceremony to take place on the
very day of the burial. In addition to this evidence it was
sought to show that about the time of the deceued'a illness
the prisoner actuall/karchssed poison at the shop of Mr.
Bright, chemist, of
After a trial of two days the case was brought to a conclu-
sion, and the jury retired. After an absence of an hour the
jury returned into court with a verdict of Guilty.
His lordship then yelled senteuct of death upon the pri-
soner, observing that he fully concurred with the jury in
their verdict.
Mr. Saunders, who conducted the defence, then put in a
plea in arrest of execution that the prisoner was pregnant.'
His lordship ordered the doors of the court to be cloud,
and addressing the high sheriff, commended him at owe to
empannel • jury of matrons from females within the court,
for the purpose of trying the prisoner's plea.
A dozen ladies who had entered the court as spectators
were then (much against the inclinations of some of them)
compelled to enter • bcx, and were sworn in by the crie r.
His lordship said they had heard from the oath that bad
just been administered to them the nature of the duties upon
which they had been empannelled. They would at once
retire and perform thou duties, and they might be &melte
in them by a medical man.
The jury of matrons were then escorted by the High
Sheriff to the rear of the court, and in • few minutes they
returned.
The Clerk of Assize.—Ladies of the jury, are you agreed
upon your verdict ? D , you say the prisoner is with child
of a quick child or not ?
Several ladies—We say she is.
The Judge.—Let the sentence be respited.
The prisoner, who appeared to be weak from her etua-
tion, but to be little affected by her awful position, was then
assisted from the bar.