The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-27 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(THIS DAY.)

(Before Mr. Justice Montague Smith.)
THE MURDER 1N THE OLD KFNTROAD,
Louis Bordier, 32, a tall, good-looking Frenchmen, de•
scribed as a corner, was charged with the wilful murder of
Mary Anne Snow.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and elected to be tried
by a jury composed entirely of Englishmen. He exhibited
• moat careworn and dejected appearance.
Mr. Poland and Mr. Collins conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner was defended byMr. Streight and Mr. Knight
The facts of this case will be fresh in the recollect ios of
our readers, and the evidence, it will be remembered, was
of the most conclusive character. The prisoner was by
trade • currier, and bad lived with the deoessed women
about thirteen years. They had three children, the eldest
of whom was 12 years of age, and occupied epartments in
the house No. 3, MilLtead-terrace, Church-street,
Old Kent-road, which was rented by Caroline Snow the murdered woman's aunt. For some time
appearedit they had been leading an unhappy life,
and m consequence of this the woman had deter-
mined to separate herself from the prisoner. TN,
murder took place on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 10. enj
the previous evening they went out together, and nothing
particular was observed in their conduct. Next morning,
however, at about five o'clock the deceased was awakened
by some one cutting at her throat with • knife. She got lip
and managed to stagger upstairs to the room where her
aunt and cousin, Emma Snow, were sleeping. She en.
claimed," Look what Bordier has done." Mrs. Snow there
upon got up, and put the deceased into her bed, and ea,
her daughter for • doctor. The prisoner seems then hi
have gone to the back parlour, where his children were in
bed. He bald back the head of the eldest, Celestine, for%
few moments, telling her to keep quiet. The kirl observed
him holding a knife partly behind his back, but be sent
away without doing anything. He then went upetairi
the room of Mn. Snow, who asked him what he had
done. He said " I could not help it, I could not btu hi
part with her." The deceased had given notice to gait
and was to have left that morning, Mr. George Simpson,
• surgeon arrived shortly afterwards but life W 3/
extinct in two minutes, and, on examination, showed
that there was • fearful gash in her thrum, 5
inches in length, extending from the middle of the
throat to the left oar and 2 inches in dept.
In reply to Dr. Simpson, the prisoner, who was nom
cited, and took out his tobacco and filled his pipe, stated
that he had looked upon what he had done in the light 01
I • duty. He said he meant to do it • fortnight sgo, and to
kill himself and his children, but added that the blood
from the wounds he had inflicted on his wife prevented
his getting to his own throat. Sergeant Turner and
Police-constable Barrett arrived and took the prisoner lam
custody. He admitted to them that be had committed
the deed, and gave up two letters written in French and ad.
dressed to his brother, in which he stated what be intended
to do, and requested him, if he (the prisoner)was unable teas.
oompliah the whole of the work, to take care of his chi!.
dren. The two letters were in one envelops, which cm
unsealed, and the prisoner requested them to be paced.
He admitted in them that he had nothing to reproach the
deceased with in the care of her children during the time
she had lived with him ; but that he could not bear the
thought of separation.
Several witnesses were called, whossevidence established
the above facts.

Kr. Simpson, the medloal gentleman, stated, in answer
to a question put by Mr. Sleigh, that he was of opinion that
at the time the prisoner committed the act he was inAaa
and under a delusion, and that he was also insane when
witness saw him immediately after the act was done. He
said that the delusion of the prisoner was, that it was
n he should die, and that he should kill his wife
and chil n.
In answer to questions put by the counsel for the prose.
elution, this witness said that the letters written by abs
prisoner did not in any way affect the opinion he hid
formed as to the condition of the mind of the:prisoner, sad
this opinion was that he was insane at the time the
offence was committed. _

[The irta-1---v7s-e-Pro;oeeding when our report left.]