The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-01 00:00:00

THE LUDGAT&HILL TRAGEDY,

FURTHER EXAMINATION OF MRS. VYSE.

(THIS DAY.)

At the Guildhall police-court to-day Mrs. Annie
Cornish Vyee was brought up before Alderman Wilson for
further examination relative to the charge of having wil-
fully administered a certain poison called "Battle's Ver•
min-killer" to AnnieJloward Vyse and Aline Bate
her children, with intent to murder them. .
In order to avoid the inconvenience of a crowded court
the case was proceeded within one of the courts usually ap-
propriated for the use of the judges in the trial of civil caw,
and the public were admitted by the entrance in the Guild-
hall until the seats were filled, when the police at the doors
very judiciously refused to admit anyone except on bud-
Deee.

_
Mr. Charles Pearson, the City solicitor, couducted the
proseentioo ; Mr. Vining, of Moorgate4troetv attending, as
before, for the defence.
Mr. Martin, the chief clerk, baring read the depositions
taken at the previous examination,
Mr. Pearson called . . __ __

Sarah Johnstone, who said—l am cook in Mr. Vyse's ser-
vice. I have been there eighteen months. lam called by
the name of Mary in the house. On the 22nd of May last
I recollect seeing the two deceased children about two
o'clock in the afternoon, ■lid they then appeared in their
usual state of health. They were in the second floor
front room. I prepared the dinner for them, and
gave it to the housemaid to take to Mrs. Vyss.
The dipper consisted of cold roast beef and rice pudding.
I made the rice pudding myself. Ido not know of Battle's
vermin powder, or any other poisonous substance being
about in the kitchen. There was not any of " Battle's
Vermin-killer" in the pudding when I gave it to the house-
maid to take to Mrs. Vyse. I did not see the children again
that day until I saw them in their bedroom. They ware
then lying on the bed, and the clothes were drawn over
them. They had their day dress on; but I did not go
near enough to see if they were alive or dead. There was a
third child of Mrs. Vyse's at Ludgate-hill on that day—that
was aeon. He dined with the other children, and went out
after dinner, and I have not seen him since. He is ten years
of age. Mrs. Vyse came into the kitchen while the
children were there before dinner. The youngest child
asked Mrs. Vyse where she had been, ►nd she said she
had been into the churchyard (St. Paul's). She kissed
one of the children and told them to go upstairs, as the
fire would make them ill. Mrs Vyes then left the kitchen.
Only the two deceased girl' were there it that time. She
told me to send them upstairs, and I did so. The re-
mainder of the family and the workpeople in the establish-
ment partook of the rune dinner.
Alderman Wilson—Whom do you mean by the family ?
Did Mrs. \ryes, partake of the dinner?

Witness—No, sir. The son and the young ladies partook
of the dinner. I saw Mrs. Vyse again that afternoon at a
quarter) to four o'clock. She came upstairs with her
bonnet and shawl on. She went to her own bedroom, and
I then went to my bedroom. I did not see or hear say
thing further until I heard Mies Saunders (Mrs. Vyse's
sister) make an alarm. My bedroom is above Mrs. Vyse's
room from whence the alarm cams. I went down to Mrs.
Wyse'■ bedroom, and saw Mrs. Vyse standing over the
waahing•etanl bleeding from the neck. I immediately left
the room. I have seen Mrs. Vyee linos, but no conversa-
tion has paired between us in reference to these matters.
Alderman Wilson—How many times have you seen her?
Witness—Two or three times before last Friday; but I
bad no conversation with her.

Alderman Wilasu—ls the house infested by rate and
mice

Wither—ltis, sir.

Alderman Wilson— And have they damaged the ceilings
so u to require them to be repaired?
Witness—Yes, sir.
Alderman Wilson—And bare they come into the bed-
rooms

Witness— I have beard Mr. Vyne my so. There are two
more children beside. the two deceased girls and the son.
One is at school, and the other at Mr. Vyse's country house.
The youngest child is about a year and eight months old,
and the one at school is about eight years old.
Dr. Payne, of Artillery-place, Finsbury-square, said—On
the 22nd of May last I was called in to attend upon Mrs.
Vyse. I toned her dandies at the wuhlrand stand, sup-
ported by two persons. I ascertained that her throat bad
been cut, and I removed blood which was interfering with
respiration, and at ► subsequent period, after the lapse of
about 20 minutes, dressed the wound with the assistance of
Mr. Savory. The wound had been inflicted on the right
side of the neck with a cutting instrument, and a razor
was produced which might have been used for that purpose.
There was blood upon it. There was nothing very positive
in the nature of the wound to show that it had not been
inflicted by herself. While dreaming the wound some one
standing near me stated that the children were dead. I then,
supposing that they might have been poisoned, asked what
the children had had! Mrs. Vyse, with some amount or
difficulty, named " Itsttle's Vermin.killer." I afterwards saw
the bodies of the children in the adjoining room. I attended
Mrs. Vyse on the following day, and found her more quiet
and less excited, for she was so very much excited on the
previous day as to lead me to desire assistance in deeming
the wound. She was still suffering very much from the
effects of what had occurred. Arrangements were made,
I know, for policemen to be in the house while she was
in custody there, and a female warder from the
police station was in attendance on Mrs. Vyse, and remained
in the room. On the Friday I deemed it advisable, in con.
sequence of the state of my patient, that the female warder
should be removed, and two nur.ca from the hospital were
accordingly preened to attend Mrs. Vyse in place of Mrs.
Harrison, the female warder.

Alderman Wibion—You say Mrs. Vyae was no excited that
you had to procure assistance in dressing the wound ; did
she on that day or the following my anything to inform you
of the reason why she did it ?
Witness—Nothing at all, sir.
Alderman Wilson—Can you tell, from the nature of the
wound, if it was inflicted with one cut
Witness —I should say more.
Alderman Wilson--Were any of the arteries severed?
Witoess—None of the great reseals.
Mr. Vining—Lid she make auy remark!
Witnees— She said, "Why are you all looking so sedate?
You look as if you wore at a funeral ore laying out." She
said nothing more at any other time.
Alderman Wilson—Are you the family physician ?
Witness—No, sir. but I was at Mr. Keating's at the time
I was called in.

Elizabeth Harrison, housekeeper at the Fleet-street
police-station—l was directed by Inspector Howard to attend
on Mrs. Vyse on the 2't"l of May, and to remain in the
room with her. Police.constables were in the ad-
joining room. I did not leave the room throughout
the night, nor till past ten o'clock the following morning,
when I was relieved. l asked no questions, and made no
statement whatever to Mrs. Vyse. A Mr. Smith came
into the room at 8 o'clock io the morning, having
been sent for by Mrs. Vyse. I heard her say to the
b,mwmaid, " Ten Smith I wish to speak with him."
Miss Saunders came into the room first, and asked
Mrs. Vyse if she could not deliver the message to
Smith, and Mrs. Vyse replied " No." At that minute
Smith mine in, and Miss Saunders left the side of the bed.
Mrs. Vyse put her baud out to shake bands with Smith,
and they both appeared very much excited and grieved.
She said, " Ati, Smith, Mary has been the whole cause of
this" He said, " Keep yourself quiet, ma'am ; if I could
lay my life down, or five thousand live■, to recal what you
did yesterday I would do it ;" and she replied " It is done,
sad it cannot be undone."
Alderman Wilson—Who is Smith?
Witness—The man servant employed in the shop.
Mr. Name—Was any observation made by Mrs. Vyse
at an earlier period io the morning ?
Witness--About half-pest 4 o'clock in the morning
she asked "If her dear children had been atten-
ded to." We msdee no answer, and she asked a
second time, and I said "No." She asked "Why?"
and I said it was not usual until the coroner's inquest had
tat.
Mr. Norma said, as public prosecutor, be should feel it
his duty to call Smith, and make the two nurses his
'inseam.

Alderman Wilson—How did Mn. Vyse sleep on the
Thursday night'
Mrs. Harrison—A little, sir, and appeared to wander a
good deal. She did not say anything, but she made a moan-
iag noise.

Wm. Smith said—l am a porter to Mr. Vyse. and have
been about 28 years in his employ and his father's. Mr.
Vile was ant living with his father at the time of his
marriage, which took place in January, 1851 I saw lira
V22ed of May, about a quarter to 2 o'clock in
moon.
(l'he examination was proceeding when oar report left.]