The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-03 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER OP A WIFE AT BRANTFORD.

EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSED.—(THIS DAY.)
BRENTFORD, SATaRDAT, NooN.
This forenoon George Pepper, a bargenlau, 55
years of age, was placed at the bar at the Town-hall,
charged with the wilful murder of Harriet Pepper, agei
57 years.
The deceased, it appeared, had been an invalid for two
or three yaws past, suffering from disease of the heart,
and from a deformity of legs, which prevented her rising
1 from her chair. The vioieneelshich resulted is her death

was indicted on her on the 12th January, sod she died on
the 21st of that month. . . _

The prisoner, who is a grey-haired spare•looking man,
was undefended.
The first witness called w►e
- - - -

Helen Herron, servant to Mrs. Balling, with whom the
deceased and her husband lodged in a hones is High-
street, Old Brentford. She said that oo thel2th January
she was engaged making Yrs. Pepper's bed in the evening
and the prisoner w■e present. He was tipsy end he said
to his wife, " I will pull you off the chair." Witness
then heard a stream and saw the deceased on the door.
She said that the prisoner had kicked her, but 'rituals did
not i.e whether he did or not. There had been some
words about the supper but witness did not notice what
they were.
The witness gave her evidence with obvious reluctance,
and the bench told her that she was clearly suppressing
some of the facts which she knew.
Mrs. Jane Balling said the isziaeuee and his wife lodged in
my house at Old Brantford. On the evening in queston
heard loud screams from the deceased. I went into her room
and saw her on the 130,. She said, " I know ! shall die. That
old brute knocked ma off the chair." The prisoner said nothing.
Prisoner—She will tel that there was nothing unusual
in my wife's screaming out when she could not move from
her chair.

We understand. that Mr. Bass, the hon. member for Derby, el
hes submitted for the consideration of the government a !l
proposition, emanating from a considerable number of 1
farmers in this county, to the effect that government should a
impose a poll tat on the cattle of Great Britain of about ss. lc
a head, undertaking thereon to insure against the plague, ic
or evilest deaths from other dioceses also, es might be 1
deemed advisable, at an average value of 121. per bead for Si
a year. We, however, learn that the governmeut doubt
whether parliament would sanction such a scheme. It is
computed that 51. a head on all the cattle to the country tJI
would produce two millions sterling.—Sleaforilshire Adver-
tier. ll
GENERAL CONFERENCE ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. g
—We understand that a conference, composed pf repre- h
sentatives from all parts of the country, will be held at St. Si
James's-hall, on the Bth of February, "to consider what
steps should he recommended to the government and the I
legislature in reference to the cattle plague, and to prepare
and circulate petitions embodying the views of the mem-
bers of the conference." Several noblemen and gentlemen
of position are expected to take part in the proceedings.
Arrangements will be made for a deputation from the con-
bream to wait upon Sir George Grey, and explain to him
the steps which, in the opinion of the conference, ought to
be immediately taken by the government and the legialae
tura The question will not be allowed to evaporate in the
Home-office; but, in the event of government failing in its
duty, will find immediate expression in the houses of par-
liament—Yorkshire Gazette.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR TUB
ENSUING Wass.—Hoeday, Royal Institution, at 2; Gene-
ral Monthly Meeting • Eatomological, at 7 ; Society of
Arts, at 8, Cantor Leona.. Tuesday, Civil Engineers. at
The Era is enabled to state that it it by the 8; "Craigellachie Viaduct ;" "Grand River Viaduct, Mau-
advise of her medical attendant that her Majesty foregoes Mies Railways ," Royal Institution, at 3, " Heat,"
Anthropological, Wednesday, Lite-
;
Pro-
•
Pro-
on Teasley next the wearing of the heavy state robe-, and rature, at 44 fessor Tyndall iocietyof Arts, at 8 ; "Purchase of Railways
the fatigue of the customary prooession from the Victoria ty Government," Mr. Hawes ; Geological, at 8 ; " Forma.
Tower to the throne. Lion of Lake Basins, New Zealand,' Mr. Travers ; " Dead
A letter from Antwerp says :--" For the last Littoral Shells, German Golan," Mr. Dawson ; " Glacial
Phenomena, Caithness," Mr. Jamieson. Archeological
fortnight the south side of our city has resembled an im- Aanciatioa. at 84. Thursday. Royal Institution, at 3,
mense ant-hill, nearly 3,000 labourers being employed in •' Heat," Professor Tyndall, ; Royal, at 84 ; Antiquaries,
levelling the ramparts, either with the spade or by mining. at 84. Friday, Royal ins'itution, at 8, " Deviation of
The fort of Montebello has already nearly disappeared, as Compass an Iron Ships," Mr. Smith ; Astronomicel,, at 3,
only a few vestige, of it remain. The works are carried on Anniversary. Saturday, Royal Institution, at 3, Art
Education—how works of art should be viewed," Professor
with a rapidity really marvellous ; and the population, Westmacott ; Botanic, at 4—Atheneum.
favoured by the fine weather, mtlieem in ea" numbers to M. Saircrs-Bzurs. —Tile intellectual life of Paris
tritons the 110008." daring the lest forty years has been his life. Nor is it merely
The Federal medical staff of the war (says a New in the brilliant salons of the French capital that he has
gained his knowledge of men sod books. He has
York paper) consisted of a surgeon-primal, a medical been an earnest student, and devoured a mass of reeding
inspector-general, 16 medical impactors, 170 surgeons sad that might appal the most omnivorous of Genesee. Asd
assistant-surgeons of the regular army, 3,000 regiment al now, after all, whet Is the result of these natural gifts, of
enrg ions and asaistent-surgeons of volunteers, 2,500 acting this intercourse with the great and wise, of this life of
assistant-surgeons and physicians under contract, and 6 toilßeananititudyself7swooe mean,wr the
so result
ed! That ft'L em. lyin."-p.
medical storekeepers. There were 202 gene:al hospitals, parent in the career we have sketched—the earlier of one
with 136,894 beds for patients. More than a million of who has kept a large mind open. to every variety of in-
patients were treated in these hospitals, of whom 1 is 12 Huesca ; who ban mend through a most instructive course
died. The most fatal disease was camp fever, the most of experiences, mod sipped honey from system after system;
who has in the general conflict of opinions made it his eon*
common disease diarrhea' or dysentery, and, after these, steed practice to follow the arguments on every side so far
inflammation of the respiratory organs. The numbsr con- as fully to understand them, but no further • who has on
neatly sick was 10 per omit of the strength of the army, all occasions made light of consisteney, and been the most
The mortality from disease was 48 par thousand in the brillieet of literary chameleons ; who hes scarcely one
first year of the war, and 65 per thousand in the wan] single fixed opinion. ion any problem, literary, political.
philosophical, or religious—to short, of one who has spent
year. hie life in fitting his mind to be an elaborate receptacle for
Last Sunday 100 ships were in Portland-roads well-arranged doubts.—Quarterly Review, new number.
wind bound. On Tuesday they all left the reale. TRAFFIC RECEIPTS. The traffic receipts of
railways in the Mated Kingdom amounted for the week
BT. JAMES'S PaLsos, Fla 2.—The Queen has
been graciously pleased to promote Lieutenant•Colouel ending the 27th of Jaenail* on 12.307 mile°, to
627 9601., and for the corresponding week of last year, on
John Heavy Cooke, to be lieutenant of her Majesty's Royal
11,H97 mil to 68,7501, showieg an iterate. al 410 il
Body Guard of Yeomen of the Guard. vice Major-Ganerat •_,, 0. 59,2101
.:,...on the following
John Fitxmaurioe, K.H., deceased. The Queen hag been ""
also graciously pleased to appoint Celosel William Pesten fogeeroil€47l2Y;l26.non
;amounted!!_, aggregate,
._ ,Pn
Purnell, C. 8., to be ensign of her Majesty's Royal Body week of 1865,'"0u 8,489 tc°!.lBo;e7f 7shooriratia
Guard of Yeomen of the Gaon* vice Lieuteaanaoolonel incomes of 319 miles, and au 'acreage of 45.6871. showing an
John Henry Cooke, promoted.—GrueSSe. increase on the Caledonian amounted so 3,0401. ; en
THE 14T' Ma. (31980N.—1t la a fact equanY I the Great Essteru to 659 f. • on the Great Northern to
honourable to the Queen and her distinguished subject (says 5,293/. •on the Great Southern and Western to 935/. ;on
the Roman oorreseosident of a contemporary) that • t'te- i the Orion Western to 3,0771. ; a the Lancashire and
gram despatched by her Majesty!orders arrived in Rome
Yorkshire to 4,655/. ; ea the L:don and North Western
on Friday morning, tequitini after the health of the rime ito 8.9051. • in the London sad Brighten to 3,1511. •
artist. He ma thee still seeeible, sod his Meads thinking on the London and South Western to 2,2251. ; os tbi;
it would give him satisfaction, placed it in his heeds. On I Manchester. Sheffield, and Lieeoloshire. to 2.413%;
attempting to withdraw it he held it se foot that they were on the Midland to 3,1221. ; on she North British to
compelled to leave it, lied with this mark of royal favour • Lsgsj.. ' on the North Emma so 4.0191. • on the South
i and ndsains in his heads, he died. I Eastern to 2 2111.—total, 45,6871. The goods and mineral
ST. klaaux's Woatuougg.—For some time past tragic on tiros. lines amounted to 314,4231., and for
the aaibonatles of St. Martin's have been is negotiation the correepoodleg week of 1885 to 291.14 W., showing
with
ittalrrayversment for the sale of the above workhouse, as lacrosse at 23,8831, The receipts for passengers, parade,
sad y , at the veer? meeting of Si. Mar in's, Mr. he. annealed to 211,603 E, stalest 189,196/.. Mowing an
Boots asked the vestry clerk whether the ale at the pro !lease of 22,404 t. The traffic remit)** on 52 other Bees
party had been formally decided soon. The vestry clerk essoested, ea 3,499 miles, to 101,9371., and for the an-
said the matter had bees flashy settled' lb* government reepoeding week of last year, on 3,408 mites, to 83,4141.„
waste give 82,0001. faiths property, including Archbishop showing an hareem et 89 miles sodof 13,5231. in the re*
Tenisee's School, ho., sad that sum oleo intruded the et- 'apts. The sow receipt. of lbw port week show an
In-
panes. that would be incurred by Um minimalism ri an MEN M 10,111111. as compared with those se the preceding
establishment in tows. yeah, melba Ms 904 of January.

Witness—l never heard her scream out behre this occa-
sion.
W. Pestle said—l beard the deceased scream violently
en the evening in question, and I ran in and melded to
Mrs. Pepper up. She said, "Oh dear, whatever .ball I do
I shell die." The prisoner said, " Die, if you want to die ;
nobody will be sorry foe you." He said he would break
her neck. After a while she asked for a doctor, and the
prisoner went out and fetched one. He was is liquor on
that night. I have often heard him threaten the deceased.
Mr. Joseph Williams, surgeon, said be was celled in to
the deceased on the 13th ult. He found that both her
thighs were broken. They might have been broken by a
severe fall. She died on the 19th January from those
injuries. Witness had attended the deceased previously
for disease of the heart and general disease. She was
deformed, and could not move without the aid of a stick or
crutch. _ _ _

The Chairmen, Mr. F. H. N. Glossop, thee cautioned
the prisoner in the usual manner, and asked him what he
had to say in his defeam
The prisoner—Nothing but what hal been reprvented.
I might by &cadent have put my bands upon the decea.ed
and canoed her to fall. I have no recullectioo of the occur-
rence at all. .

TheeCirman then said that the prisoner was fully corn.
mittad fur trial on the tharge of the wilful murder of his
wife.

The prisoner WAS then removed and the witnesses caste
boned over to attend and give evidence against him at the
Central Criminal Court.