The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-12 00:00:00

THE WOOLYERTON MURDER.

The trial of George Britten, for the wilful
murder of hia wife, Martha Britten, at Woolverton, on
the 18th day of July hat, took place on Saturday bekre
Jaatiee Wllles, at Wells wises. Owing to the
frightful character of the murder—the victim harm/
been burnt u well as killed—the trial produced luaus]
excitement. _ _ _

The prisoner, when asked to plead, answered, " Guilty
of the act, but not of malice aforethought."
The counsel for the prosecution wire Mr. T. W. Sum.
den and Mr. Edlin • Mr. Prideaux, Q.C., and Me,
Folkard defended the prisoner.
The prisoner formerly occupied • farm, but latterly
lived retired in a cottage at Woolvertom He was mama,
and had one child. No servant was kept, and Mrs. Lritten
did the domestic work, with the moseional assistance of
a charwoman. Close to the eottage was • building used
by a Mr. Hager exclusively as a maltbouae, to which the
prisoner bad no occasion to have access. On Saturday
morning, June 110th, • young man proceeding to his work
at a very early hoar, was attracted by seeing smoke issuing
from this malt-house, and judging that the building was
on fire, he raised an alarm, proceeded to the cottage
of the prisoner to awaken him. He knocked, but received
no answer ; but on throwing some pebbles at the window
the prisoner appeared. He was informed of the fire, and
assistance having been procured the malt-house was ee.
tered. Something attracted the notice of the people who
were endeavouring to extinguish the fire. At first it was
thought to be the body of some farm animal ; but it sal.
sequently proved to be that of a human being ; and dn.
mately it was discovered to he the body of Me,.
Britten. Later in the day further investigation was
made? and the body, although greatly burnt, wag
identified, and the wounds which bad caused death
were probably caused by some heavy blunt instrument. It
was clear that the unfortunate woman had been foully
murdered, and that an effort had been made to destroy all
identity by burning. The question then arose, " Who did
it ? " An of of police interrogated the prisoner, who
stated that his wife had left home. Shortly after this,
Mr. Deggan, the superintendent of police at Frame, CRAM
upon the scene, and having viewed the body, went to the
prisoner and maid, " Where is your wife?' The answer
was, She is not here ; she has goes to Promo, and from
there to West Arnaud to see her friends." Mr. Degree
then asked if she bad taken anything with her, and was
told that she bad taken a bundle of clothes. He then toot
the prisoner to the malt-hoar, and pointing to the body
which had been found, inquired if it was not that of
his wife ; and upon receiving an answer in the affirm-
ative, be considered he was justified in taking him is
custody to Frame. The next day the prisoner's brother.
in-law milled to see him. Mr. Deggan did not interfere
with the conversation ; but noticing a piece of paper pug,
he took possession of it, as in duty bound, and found that
it was a confession. later in the day the prisoner asked
for writing materials, which were supplied, and the
narrative was then continued. 'Ater still be made a
further statement, in consequence of which a search was
made, and a large piece of lead was found. It was a formid-
able weapon, weighing six or seven pounds. Afterwards
the prisoner made another statement, accounting for the
position of the body between the time of the murder and
ate discovery.
Evidence was given in support of the charge, the medi.
cal evidence showing that the poor woman had been
terribly battered about the head by a heavy instrument.
The superintendent of police produced the prisoner's
confessions. In them he stated he murdered his wife "
• fit of passion and jeehmey ;" that he viewed the act with
abhorrence; thathehadthought of committing self-murder,
but was prevented by the thought that the sight would
deprive his son of mama, and that God would not forgave
self-murder even if he did murder • that be had dragged
the body over the pear-tree wall into the malt-home,
and that " false friends " bad been his " bane through
life." Borne difficulty was occasioned by the entire
not having the original notes of a further confession
made by the prisoner to him ; bat he was allowed to
repeat the confession from memory. It was to the
effect that he had struck his wife with the piece of lead;
that he placed the hod on two sacks ; that he put a rope
round her neck, and the body over the wall 6q
the pear-tree into the thous& The latest code/Mae
was read by the clerk of assize. In it the prisoner one.
tradicta some of the witnesses in slight particulars. He
then states that be does not expect or desire human
mercy, begs the young to avoid tobacco, and prays for for.
giveness.
Mr. Prideaux, in an eloquent speech, argued that the
prisoner's plea was the correct one, and called several wit-
nesses who gave the prisoner a good character.
The jury consulted fora few minutes in their box, and
then found a verdict of wilful murder.
. . .

The Clerk of Arraigns eked the prisoner in the usual
manner whether he had any reason to aaaign why sentence
of death should not be passed upon him.
The Prisoner—l have nothing to say.
The Judge, who spoke in a very tremulous voice, passed
sentence of death, after which
The prisoner, who seemed to have fully anticipated his
doom, walked steadily ont of the dock.