The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-28 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

Jame Polethorpe, a dece7tl7:akkired female, between 35
sad 40 years of age, described as the eliargrabeet an •
asedlewomaa, residing at 15, Herebsamtoo•trest,
mom, was brought up in the custody el Impactor Stakes, of
the S division oi police, charged with the wilts imager of
Thomas Poiethorpe, aged four years, by administering to
him a antity of lsuclauum. The primes, was aim
further charged with &drain ng • eertaia poisoa—to
wit, laadiumm—to Jobs Richard Pla , aged 8 pan,
and Harriet Poletborpe, aged 2 years, with intent to kill ;
and. further, with attempting to commit suicide by taking
=oil the 25th instant, at 15, Northampton•street, St.

_
Mr. Fryer, solicitor, of Orses-inn-equare, attended to
watch the cam on behalf of the prieorar.
Mee. Elisabeth Falknor, l3,Northamptonstreet, the wife
of Henry Valium, said—The prisoner lodged in the NUM
house as I do—she lodging in the back room of the first
floor. The prisoner hied there with three children. On
Wednesday, about a quarter after four, everything being
quiet, she felt alarmed, and knocked at the door for the
purpose of paying the prisoner a penny she owed her. She
knocked three times and dud not hear any answer. She
then told her landlady, and knocked again and did
not then receive any answer. When her husband
came home she bold him the facts, but he said there
was no occasion for any alarm. While her husband was at
' tes she again knocked, and the eldest boy said, " Mother,
hare is Mrs Falkner." She then asked if anything was
the matter, and the boy, in a faint voice, said Lis mother
was ill, and so was his brother. She asked him to open
the door, and he did so. When she went in, she found
them all lookiog very iIL She spoke to the mother, who
was in bed, twice, but did not receive any answer. She
saw the boy who M dead, very pole and gasping for breath
She was then aware that something was wrong. On the
Monday night the prisoner spoke to her, nod seeing that
her eyes looked very indifferent, she asked her what was
the matter. She said she had been crying, and that she
was in great trouble, and that she would take the life of
herself and her children some time or other, for her troubles
were more than she could bear. She told the prisoner that
we all had troubles, and that she must bear up against
them ; it was no use her giving way.
Mr. D'Hyncourt—ls that the first time you have heard
her say that she was tired of her life?
Witness—l Lad heard her say ou more than one °anodise
that abe was tired of her life, and would destroy her children
and herself.

erees-examineil—l Lave lived in the house IR months,
but I have not seen the prisoner■ husband. When the
prisoner said that she would take the lifo of her children she
was quite sober, and did not appear to be suffering from any
narcotic.

Mr. D'Eyocourt—Did she appear to be suffering from any
stimulant

Nir;tneds No. She eppeared to be much the ante as
usual. I have not seen her the worse for drink.

• ,
Imo, Ynwu the prisoner get her I; ring.
Witness—By slop-work. She appeared to be very poor.
Cress-examination continued—She had seen a letter from
lie prisoner's husband, who is abroad. The prisoner had
been trying, her eyes being very red and swollen. She had
frequently seen her weeping, and bad beard her say her life
was a burden to her. _

Yr. Hoary Sutberin, surgeon, of the St. Pancrss-road,
deposed—l was called by the landlord of 115, Northampton.
street, about half-past six in the evening, to go to the
house, be saying that one of bis lodgers bad poisoned her.
self. I found the prisoner lying in the bed insensible.
A child, which is now dead, was almost lifeless. Two
other children were sitting up, one being able to talk,
and the other in a very drowsy state. There was a bottle
on the mantelpiece labelled " poison," and in another part
of the room *as found another bottle frith the label
scratched off, which contained lauciaatun, but only a few