The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-27 00:00:00

THE MURDER OP TWO CHILDREN ON

LUDOATE•HILL.

At the inquest yesterday,
Mr. B. Savory, assistant-so:pm of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, deposed that the first time he saw the deceased
was on Thursday evening, about five o'clock, in a top room
of the bons*. They were dead ; both bodies were much dis-
coloured ; and although they were warm, having almost
the living temperature, they were quite rigid. The
youngest was the most rigid of the two, particularly about
the jaws. Saw them once or twice in passing in the room,
and noticed that the rigidity was fast subsiding. Saw them
again on Friday about four o'clock, and modes peat mortem
examination. With regard to the eldest, the rigidity
bad almost disappeared ; decomposition had commenced.
There was a greenish appearance on the lower part of the
abdomen. The same degree of rigidity existed in the ex-
tremities. On the removal of the skull cap, found the vein
on the surface of the brain very much distended with blood,
and the same congestion was found on the whole surface
of the brain. The stomach and intestines were pale, and
much distended by wind ; theintestines were, for the most
part, empty. The heart wee somewhat contracted and
almost empty of blood. He might say that the organs
he had mentioned were healthy. The lungs showed that
the child bad suffered from old pleurisy. The lungs were
dilated by air and partly congested by blood, but not other-
wise unhealthy, and all the other organs were healthy.
No marks of violence, except some small mote or hinnies
on the arm, as if caused by pinching or pressure, were ob-
servable. He had made some experiments, and was of
opinion that the stomach contained strychnine, but be
was not competent to give a positive opinion. With regard
to the younger child, the appearance of the rigidity was fast
disappearing. There were the same appearances of decom.
position and greenish marks on the belly sod great stiff nese
of the joints. On removing the skull cap the surface of the
brain seemed much gorged with blood, and the same degree
of coup:sties wee found. The stomach and intestines were
pale and much distended with wind ; the intestines were
empty. The stomach was removed, and obviously contained
a quantity of food. The heart was contracted and con-
tained scarcely any blood. All the other organs were healthy.
There were no marks of violecce perceptible. I opened the
stomachs, which have remained in my pmeession in jars, on
Saturday. The stomach of the eldest child contained rather
more than • quarter of a pint of food digested. The inner
surface of the stomach, the mucous membrane, presented •
dull pinkish odour. The stomach of the youngest contained
more food, nearly half a pint, in greater part digested.
The surface of the stomach presented the same appearance,
• pale pinkish colour in spots. The stomachs are now under
lock and key in my possession.
The Coroner said it was most important that they should
not be tampered with.
The whams said he would take care they were not touched
lentil be received the odoner's orders respecting them.
The Canner said he could order him to make en analysis ;
he wee bound by the act of parliament.
Tbewitases mid he did not think it was the duty of •
sweserm to make the analysis ; it ought to be does by • pro-
fessed thessist. He had made an experiment upon • os4
1= about 14th of the stomach of the eldest child, mixed
auntie acid and another solution, then evaporated it
la Idth in bulk, and then gave it to the cat ; it went into
ellavulsions, but did not die.
John Unwick Taylor, assistant to Mr. Keating, of St.
Paul's-churchyard, deposed he sold some poison to Mra.Vyse
on Thursday, about 12 o'clock. He knew her before. She
asked to look at some perfumery ; he showed her some
golden bouquet. Sbe said she did not like that. He then
showed her some extract of spring flowers She put some
on her handkerchief, and said It was very nice, and she
would have a bottle. She then said they were very much
troubled with mice, and that they had made a hole and
done much damage, which cost them 5/. to repair. She also
said they were troubled so much with them in the bedroom
that they could not deep, and that one ran up the window-
=leis, and she had to brush it off and knock it on the
floor ; and she was afraid they would get at her
baby.liSlie then asked for some poison, and inquired
of witness if he could not give tier some prussic
acid. He said he could not serve her with that. She
then asked if he had stay other poison. Wittier told her
that they had Butler's and Battle's vermin killer ; and
eventually she took two sixpenny stud two threepenny
packet. away with her. Witness particularly cautioned her
that she must be very careful what she did with them, as
they contained poison, sad to keep them out of the way of
the children.
The witness produced one of the packets of Battle's ver-
min killer. The coroner read the directions for its use, one
of which is to put it on bread and butter.
Examination continued—He recollected Mrs. Vyse's ser-
vant coming about 4 o'clock. He did not serve her ; another
assistant named Marshall served her.
By a Juror—He did not know himself whether the
powders contained strychnine, but he bad been told they
did. Mrs. Vise did not pay for them, as she kept • yearly
account.
Frederick Marshall, assistant to Mr. Keating, confirmed
the last evidence.
Mary Ann M'Sweeuey deposed that she was house-
maid to Mr. Vyae. She bad lived there nearly six
months. She recollected Mrs. Vyse going out in the
morning, but did not know the exact time. Did not see
anything she brought in with her. She went out again,
and was out a short time. but could not say how long. The
children were upstairs about four o'clock, in the front bed.
mom on the top floor. They said they were going to lie
down. She saw them lying on the bed with their shoes off.
His. Vyse called vitae.' down. She then went up to her
bedroom and took off her bonnet and shawl. Mrs. Vyae
told her to go to Mr. Keating's, and ask for • packet the
same as she bed in the morning, and to look sharp. She got
the packet and hastened back, and took it to her mistress's
bedroom. She found the door shut, and knocked, and got
ao answer. She knocked a second time and heard • noise,
as if her mistress was sick. She went down stairs and told
the cook there, was something the matter. She went up
stairs spin and knocked. Mrs. Vysel said " Who is there!"
Witness answered, "Eliza." She replied, "You can't
come in." She ran down stairs and called out and told Miss
Saunders, Mrs. Yu'', sister, to some up. They went up
together sad forced the door open, and they thee saw Mrs.
Vyse neer the marble washstand bleeding, with a razor in
her band. Miss Saunders said, " Good God ! what are you
doing?" Mrs. Vyse replied, "Annie dear, let me die.
I wish to hang myself. My two little children
are in heaven, and I wish to go to them. Go
into the next room." Witness said she would ran
for a doctor, and if there was anything the
matter with them he could curs them. Mrs. Vyse re-
plied, "No, it's too late." Wittier went into the front
room and saw the children lying on the bed, as if they
were asleep. She then ran for the doctor. She had seen
Mrs. Vyse since, but bad not said anything about it to
her. When she came back Mrs. Vyse asked her for the
packet, but seeing what she was doing she would not give
it to her. Miss Saunders was in the room. She afterwards
gave the packet to the doctor.
In reply to several questions put by the coroner and jury,
the witness said the children were quite well, and had their
dinner about two o'clock.
Mims Sarah Saunders examined—l live at Mr. Vyse's.
Mrs. Vyse is my sister; she was married. The witness
having confirmed the evidence of the last witness, said the
children were always very healthy. They dined alone.
They did not live with their mother, but in the country.
When they were with their mother, she always wished
them to lie down in the afternoon. They came up from
the country on Wednesday last. Her sister, Mrs. Vyse,
was to take them to the Exhibition.
Mary Ann liPSweeney, recalled, stated that she attended on
the children at their dinner ; they hail cold roast beef, and
the eldest girl had some black currant pudding • she was
quite certain they hail nothing with their dinner that would
disagree with them. They dined alone with their elder
brother.
Mr. Savory, recalled, said he bad made up some of the
powder given him in flour and water. He made it up into a
odes, and put it down the throat of a rat ; the rat was seized
with convulsions and died. His belief from the appearances
was that the powder contained strychnine in some form, but
he would not swear it ; he believed the powder contained
about a drachm ; he believed half a grain of strychnine
would be sufficient to kill a child.
Miss Saunders, recalled, produced a roll of crumpled
papers she had taken from her sister's dress after the occur-
rence. They contained wrappers of the poison. They were
all quite empty.
The Coroner said the cue was not complete without the
analysis. As to the state of mind of Mrs. Vyse, be
thought it would be better not to go into that; that was •
question for another place.
The inquiry was eventually adjourned to Friday, the 6th
of June, at two o'clock.

THE LIMERICK MURDER.—The coroner's inquest I
on the body of Mr. Fitzgerald was resumed on Saturday,
and resulted in the following verdict :—" We, the coroner's
jury, find that the late Francis Fitzgerald came by his
death from the effects of two gun-shot wounds inflicted on I
him, the said Francis Fitzgerald, on Friday the 15th inst., ,
in the townland of Gerrynoe, and liberties of Kilmallock,
and county of Limerick, 11011 the first shot was fired by
Thomas Beckham, aided and asisted by another person, not
vet in custody ; and we find wilful murder against Thomas 1
Beckham." The Cork Examiner nays :—" Two parties named
Dillane, brothers, have been arrested on the charge of con-
*piracy to murder Mr. Fitzgerald. One of those men held
about four acres of land under Mr. Fitzgerald, which it is
said, was to have been taken away from him in the process
of squaring farms ; the other is • publican, and lives in
the town of Kilmallock. Of both these men the police ,
entertained suspicions. Friday. the clerk of Mr. Whituiler,
the Limerick gunsmith, wen brought into Kilmallock, and
fully identified Dillane, the publican, as the party who
accompanied Beckham, the man now in custody, on the
tmeasion of the purchase of the pistol. Be states it was
Dillane paid for the pistol. While they were in the shop
Beckham seems to have indulged his thievish propensities,
for on seembinghis trunk a curious antique pistol was found,
which had been mimed on that occasion from Mr. Whit-
taker's shop, and which was identified by the clerk. It is
said that Beckham and Walsh were seen at the house of
Dillane, the publizan, about a fortnight before the murder
of Mr. Fitagioald, and that they also visited it the day pre-
vious to the murder. Another rumour, for the accuracy of
which we cannot vouch, is, that the public-house occupied
by Dillane was held free of rent under the predecessor of
Mr. Fitzgerald, but that since the proprietorship of the
deceased gentleman use occupier bad bun obliged to pay
rent."

THE MURDERS AT MANCHESTER.
Taylor and his wife, who are charged with the
murder of the late Mr. Evan Metier and of the three

children of th• mieptisoele at Manchester, were brought
before the magistrates spin, ea remand, yesterday. An
immense crowd of people clamoured about the doom of the
courthouse for admission long after it had been filled, and
the excitement arising out of the desire to get a sight of the
murderers was intense. Mr. Ellison presided, as chairman
of the bench of magistrates, of whom a considerable number
were present. Mr. Austin, assistant town clerk, who was
present by request of Captain Palin, suggested that the
evidence of Mr. Hudson, analytical chemist, and of the

surgeons, should be resery ed till Professor Taylor could be

present.
Mr. Pope was present as counsel for the prisoners.
[One of the most singular features about the proceedings,
so far as the public were concerned, was to see many hun-
dreds of people enduring all the heat and crash of the court
for home in places where there was not the slightest chance
of seeing the prisoners or of hearing the procoodlngil
Sergeant Bateman having been sworn, produced a quan-
tity of children's clothing which bad been found in pawn
belonging to the prisoners.
John Maclean, sheriffs officer, who made the last dis-
traint on the prisoners, proved that considerable damage
had sines been done to the fittings of the house.
In cross-examination he said, when he went with the axe.
cation it was on the 30th April, and Taylor ejected him.
He then broke open au outside and an inside door. Taylor
opposed the executioo on the ground that he had a claim
for compensation arising out of the boiler explosion in his
house. Witness and his eadstanta stripped the home of
everything except a chair and some food.
John Galloway Mellor was the next witness. He sp.
peered to be rather faint, and was accommodated with •
chair. He kept his face averted from the prisoners. He
said—l am the son of Mr. Mellor, and was his partner. I
am not aware of any difference between my father and
the prisoners, except as to laminas. We never got any
rent from the prisoners. The prisoner had always com-
plained that no compensation had been allowed him after
the boiler explosion. In leaving the office, he always used
to mutter something which we could never catch. I never
heard any distinct threats.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pope—The priaoners agreed upon
terms with us on the let October, 1861, as to temacy of the
house in Britannia-buildings. Hs then paid us ten guineas
for the fixtures, after a peat deal of bargaining. e paid
it on the 2nd of October. The rent was quarterly,
not in dens. ShoiLlter he had been • tenant of the
house be called to com of the river having flooded the
cellars during overflow up the sewers. (Mr. Pope—Did
he call many times ) He called once about that. I remem-
ber the explosion of the kitchen boiler. On the 20th Decem-
ber be called to complain that the water pipes in the kitchen
leaked. I have looked at the eallhook, but I remember
the date distinctly, as I have looked at it so rainy times.
I did not know et the time it was in connexion with the
boiler. I sent • clerk at coos to get a plumber to go down
the same afternoon. It was a new clerk' and I waited him
to become acquainted with all our property. They went
down, and the pipe was repaired. The plumber will state—
(Kr. Pope objected to the statement being given by the wit.
Dees.) The prisoner did not call • few days afterwards
to say that the pipe was still leak*. He milled • few days
after to introduce a new tenant, and, in going out of the
office on that occasion, he turned round casually, and re-
marked that the ceiling was still • little damp, and he
thought the boiler was not fairly repaired. That was the
only complaint he ever made Wore the explosion. I never
instructed him how to prevent the water running into the
kitchen by turning the water tap No such conversation
ever took place between us. I *did not understand the
arrangement of the pipes in the house. After the second
complaint I believe our clerk saw there was no necessity for
further repairs, but that the ceiling was not fairly dried
out. The clerk's name is Francis Edger. He saw the place ;
I never did. I swear distinctly that up to the time of the ex-
plosion I never heard any oomphists from anybody res.M-•
inc the pipes to the boiler except the two complaint* I have
mentions& Shortly before the first rent became due the
prisoner came to say he was sorry he must leave the
because his health was giving way, and that we
trouble ourselves, as he wmidflod a respectable
first arrange with him as to his fixtures, ho., and then
him down to us. We consented to accept any
taunt. It was sometime about Chratmas. The rent wee
to be payable on quarter day. The rent due in December
was not a full quarter. He came, I think, with a new
tenant before the new year ; but we did not actept him as
a tenant, because he could not settle with Mr. Taylor about
the fixtures. I will swear that was the reason. I be-
lieve an agreement had been made about the fixtures
with Taylor, and • deposit paid. Taylor bad sated 351. fur
the fixtures from Godden, the proposed new tenant, but
when Godden found what Taylor had peed ns, he would not
have them. My father wanted • list of the txtures in order
to be sure that the primmer, however unintentionally, did
not dispose of anything that would have to be claimed as
landlord's fixtures ; and he told Godden that Taylor might
be including some of the landlord's fixtures. We laid out
101. in beautifying the house when Taylor went in. I don't
know whether Taylor himself laid out anything. It was
upon hearing from my father that the bargain went off. On
the 3rd of I ebruary, 1862, we detrained for the rent due on
the previous 25th of December. That was the first dis-
traint. We had sent down twice for the rent. The ex-
plosion was on the 19th of January, between the time el
producing the tenant and the time of the distraint It was
previous to the explosion that we sent down twice for the
root.. After the explosion we could get no attention at the
door ; the place was kept closed. Robert and Charles
Garnett were the owners of the . We communi-
cated with Mr. Robert Garnett, on the Tlsureday after the
inquest, as to the explosion at Taylor's house : and be was
made acquainted with the circumstances ; and we gave him
two newspaper reports which had been previously ad-
dressed to him. It was not by his instructions that me
distrsined after the accident ; he allowed my father tes axe
his own discretion. My father and the clerk attended the
inquest. I was not there. I was in Cheshire on Mishima.
I went as my father's substitute, and he went to the in-
quest. When I went, however, I did not know the child
had died. We knew of the accident. I had inquired of
Taylor in Strangeways on the Monday how the child was.
Atter the inquest the prisoner frequently complained that
nothing was done in the way of compensation. He sent
in a claim at our request, sad we mid we would sneerer it.
We did answer it, acd denied all liability ; it was his own
fault that the accident occurred.
Mr. Pope—The jury did not think so.
Mr. Meller—l was not at the inquest to contradict their
opinion. We did not tell him it was has own fault.
When I went down to see the place be told me my
father had told him to turn off the tap. I could not
contradict it, then. He told me how the accident had
occurred, and I made some inquiries, and, not fully
satisfied, I returned again to Taylor and questioned him
as to where the children were during the explosion. Then
he told me that the three children were in the kitchen,
and the elder one hod gone into the scullery. Previously
he had said the eldest child had gone upstairs. I was not
surprised at the statement varying, as the man was under
great excitement. I said it was very strange. He said he
turned the water off upstairs about three o'clock, according
to Mr. Meller's instructions. I could not contradict it,
and made no reply to him. During the time he was claim-
ing compensation he made no offer to pay the rent. I
never heard from my father that he had made any offer.
In each case the instructions to the bailiff were, " We
want possession ; and if Taylor will go with his furniture,
pay your costa, and leave the fixtures, let him." Before
the second distraint Taylor had removed the fix-
tures. I cannot say whether my brother is correct
or not in saying the offer was made before the first
distress that we would forego the rent if Taylor would give
up possession. The first distraint was for 101. 6d.,
• quarter • rent, lms two weeks allowed. The result of the
first distress was, that the bailiff handed to us 101. Be. Bd.,
leaving a balance of 2s MA against Taylor. Is the second
distrait, on the 30th ult., we included the 2s. 10d. The
goods were sold on the 7th of May. The bailiff paid over,
I think, 71.6 e. 6d., List week or the week before, to my
clerk. Taylor called first on the day of the sale for en
account of the last sale, and I referred him to the sheriff's
officer. He said them bad been some pilfering. He called
several times up to the 16th, and on those ocessioos we
heard his mutterings outside. We had asked the sheriff's
officer frequently for an account of the sale.
John Webster, pork butcher, 165? Strangeways, said—l
recollect going to Mr. Neill's shop in Strangeways, on the
15th of this month, between two and three o'clock in the
afternoon, to grind this knife, which 1 produce. 1 had
asked the permuelion of Mr. John Neill. I saw Charles
Paddon there at the time, but I did not speak to him.
(This wither did not at all resemble the priaoser in appear-
ance.)
Mr. Pope (to witness)—You don't seem to me to be much
like the prisoner. I don't think I should mistake you.
Charles Paddon, recalled, said—Having heard the evidence
of the last witness, I don't believe that the prisoner Taylor
was the man who ground hie knife at our shop on the after-
noon of the 15th instant. lam convinced, gentlemen, I was
mistaken in the man.
Cross-examined—l can't my how I was mistaken.
Mr. Pope—And you mistook • man with grey hair and
whiskers for the prisoner'
Witness—Yes.
Mr. Pope—l hope, at all events, you will be snore careful
in future of swearing to the identity of • man in • case of
murder.
Mr. Ellison (to the witness)—l should recommend you to
be very careful as to any assertion you make for the future.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself for swearing so rashly
and so lightly to • statement that might have imperilled
the life of • fellow-creature. I recommend you to remem-
ber the exposure you have this day sustained in consequence
of your own folly. Stand down.
Some other witnesses were called to prove that the pri-
soners bed sold the children's clothing and some of their
own a few days previous to the murders, also with • mew
of showing when the children ware but seen alive, bat
nothing of interest was elicited.
The prisoners were thee farther remanded till Friday,
when it is understood that Professor Taylor. of London, will
be present to show the result of his analysis of the contests
of the children's stomachs.

ROYAL Fin HOSPITAL, -
The somber of paiisats relieved at QM hospital &slag As
week sad* ]ley 24, wee 2,891, GI whisk 844 were new
alma

THE POLICE COURT&

Soho,/ airt, iirofeasoi of music. 13, Shaftesbury-place,
Atidengate-street, and who is well kaowa as the Hyde-park
Orator, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with begging in
Hyde.park on Sunday, and William Wilkinson, of 7, col.
vine-place, Fitzroy-square, gloss decorator, wici al,O
charged with sttemptine to rescue Owen from custody.
Tyrwhitt questioned whether Wilkinson had done
what he said with the intention of creating a disturbance,
and he should dismiss him the part he took being only
slight. He should take his own bail. With regard to
Owen it was different. It was the duty of a magistrate to
see the pence kept, and it should be. There was one thing
that could not be overlooked—his appointing persons as Lit
vigilance committee spinet the police to act so he did on
the previous Sunday. It meant to protect him against being
arrested. Suppose there had been a disturbance, sod tLe
vigilance committee had acted against the police. With
regard to the question of begging, he would not then decide.
He should require two bail in each, for six mouths,
The question of begging should be left open.