The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-23 00:00:00

HORRID MURDER IN HURST-STREET,
BIR.MINGHAM.-(THIS MORNING.)

A shocking murder was perpetrated in Hurst-
street shortly after 12 o'clock this morning, by William
Smith, aged 34, one of the scene shifters at Day's Concert
Hall, which for atrocity has rarely been equalled.
The deceased, Elizabeth Smith resided with her husband,
William Smith, at 2 Court, 17 House, Hurst-street, and
they kad for • ledger a young woman named Catherine
Bradworth, 19 years of age? fog signal maker. There
appears to have been some mirunderstanding between the
deceased and her husband for some time past, and on the
latter returning home last evening about 12 o'clock some
words ensued, which resulted in • quarrel, whet the
husband took out a knife, and attacking his wife
furiously, attempted to strike her. She escaped from him
out of the house, but he overtook her in the yard, and
cut her throat in • frightful manna.. The girl Catherine
Bradworth, who witnessed the commencement of the
quarrel, followed them out to interpose between the wife
and husband, and in the encounter received • severe gash
across the left eye. An alarm was raised, and Inspector
Naar, with one or two officers, were promptly on the mot.
The girl Bradworth was taken to the Queen's Hospital by
a man who was paring at the time, of the name of John
Insley, residing at the back of 65 Angelina-street, and
her wounds were promptly attended to by the house
surgeons. While the medical officers were attending to
Bradworth, the body of the murdered woman was taken
to the Queen's Hospital by Police-constable Thomas
Hardy (62). The murderer,. William Smith, was taken
into custody by Inspector Spear and Police-constable
M'Crohen. At the station be said he had no knowledge
of the transaction. A purse containing le. Ted., a number
of pledge tickets, sad a key, were found on the body
of the deceased, but the parse was so filled with blood
that it was seemly possible to decipher the tickets. On
the person of the young woman Bradworth • purse con-
taining 7id., completely saturated with blood was found.
The woman Bradworth lies at the hospital in a very
dangerous state. The accused assigned as the cause of the
event a quarrel arising out of his wife's unfaithfulnese.
Bina/whams Gazette.

Tits LEGAL Dnitiltrriow or " Wawa MAN."—
The Supreme Court of Michigan lately had a case before
it, where a man was indicted for illegal voting, on
the ground that he had some taint of black blood
in his veins. At the trial the prosecution had in-
troduced, among other witnesses, a medical expert :
" Zina Pitcher testified that he was • physician and
surgeon, and had practiced as such for the last 43
pray; that he was acquainted with the races, Indian,
Negro, Mulatto, /co. ; that he had examined the
poisoner on trial, and from such examination is was
recerr9feestirale derndlennt, that
theret.t sonlerrAfekkumtt h
diluted, not not exceeding 1-16th part ; that he shoulds ve
thinke
the prisoner had 1-16th African blood in his veins ; that
the only clew indication of African blood is a peculiarity
in the cartilages of the noes, and this was an infallible
indication ; that there was nothing about his appearance
in other respects, except colour, which indicated t e African
blood." The judge charged the jury, that if they believed
the defendant had 1-16th of negro blood, he was not
a white man and not entitled to vote under the con-
stitution of Michigan, and if he did vote, should be
convicted. The defendant excepted to this ruling
and the case went before the Supreme Court, where
the majority of the judges appear to have sustained
the circuit judge. Chief Justice Martin, however, dis-
sented, and took the ground that the preponderance of
blood, and not any arbitrary proportion, determined the
pant whether the man was white or black. The Chief
Judier said—l need hardly refer to the facts of the case at
bar to show the absurdity of any other rule, or of the
attempt by judicial action to fix an artificial line of
demarcation between white and black. The very
imeeseity of calling in Dr. Pitcher, and having an
examination of Deane nose to ascertain whether he
had black blood In his veins, sad thereby determine
his right to vote, affords a mdficient commentary upon the
rule my brethren have established. If this be the correct
rubs, we had better have the eonstitation amended with
all speed, so as to authorise the election or appointment
of ser pullers or noes irorgetors to attend the election
polls in every township and ward of the State to prevent
illegal voting. " I bold that a preponderance of blood
decades the quietism of the right to vote under the consti-
tution, and that within the letter and meaning of that in-
strument, Dean wee white, mid westld have been, bad he
=1:'1 much more Afncan blood than he is shown to
hdd "—Bodes Advertiser.