The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-29 00:00:00

MARCH 29,

THE MURDER dr Krzfaerwr.

Mr. W. Carter, the coroner for this division of
tLe county of Surrey, bekl an inquest yesterday
at the Compasses Inn, Kingston, upon the body of
Diana Wickens, the unhappy young woman whose
life was destroyed on Tuesday morning last by her
stepsister, a married woman, named Martha Bredish. the
wife of a sergeant-major in the 3rd Regiment of Royal
Surrey Militia, by nearly severing her bead from her body
with a razor.

The melancholy occurrence still continues to create the
most intense anxiety in the town, and the proceedings
before the coroner were looked forward to with great
interest, as it was anticipated that they would afford
some clue to a motive for the commission of the dreadful
act, which has hitherto been entirely wanting.
Mr. Wilkinson, of the firm of Gay and Wilkinson, solici-
tete, of Kingston, attended to watch the CM on behalf of
prisoner.
The Coroner, after the jury had been sworn, said they
were all probably aware of the nature of the sad occurrence
that had called them together. He begged to remind
them that although a person already stood committed for
trial upon the charge of having destroyed the life of the de-
ceased, they had nothing to do with that matter, but it
would be their duty to hear the evidence that would be laid
before them showing how the death of the deceased wee
occasioned. He at the same time requested that they would
dismiss from their minds all they had heard or read upon
the subject, and return their verdict solely upon the sworn
testimony of the witnesses who would be brought before
them. _

Alexander Oates, the staff-sergeant beloogiog to the 3rd
Moral Surrey Militia, who first NM the unfortunate woman
Mirtha Bratlish after the deed bad been committed, was
then examined, and he repeated the evidence he gave be-
fore the magistrates on Tuesday last, and which went to
show that lie saw her come out of her husband's quarters,
and that she went up to him and told him that ahe had
murdered her sister. At the same moment he said that be
heard a noise as though some one had fallen in the pn.
soner's room, and upon going in he saw the deceased lying
on the Boor, with her throat cut in a fearful manner, and in
the agonies of death. She had nothing on but a chemise,
and the upper part of it was completely saturated with
blood. This wittiest aleo stated that Mn. Bradish had one
child, a girl, six years old, but she, it appeared, was not at
borne at the time the affair happened.
In answer to a question put by the coroner, the witness
said that he had no doubt whatever that the injury he ob-
served upon the throat of the deceased had been occasioned
by her sister, Bre. Brattish, and before she was taken away
should, " Oh, it must be a dream, it cannot be true."
James Davidson, another staff-sergeant in the regiment,
who was the next winces, repeated the evidence he gave on
Tuesday before the trews. He saw Mn. Bradish in
the set of washing her and arms at the pump, but is
consequence of the distance be was from her be could not
tell whether she had any blood upon her person or not. He
then stated that he had known the deceased to be residing
with the sergeant-major and his wife for about • fortnight,
but he did Dot know her name.
The Coroner inquired whether any one was present who
could prove the name of the deceased
The witness said that Sergeant-major Bradish was in at-
tendance, and be could speak to that fact.
The Coroner said that he could not take the evidence of
the husband of a person who was committed for trial upon
the charge of having occasioned the death of the deceased,
and it would be highly improper, in his opinion, to do so,
for other reasons.

Thomas Lyon was then called to prove the name of the
deceased, and be stated that he had known the ciateand for
twelve month., and be had always heard her called Diana
Wickens. He also said that she had been away for eighteen
months in service, but at the time this happened she was
out of place.
John Gunner, the police-constable, then proved that he
took Mts. Bradish into custody upon the charge of murder-
ing her stepsister. He also mid that he saw the deceased
lying on the ground eked, with her threat cut, end Mrs.
prudish, who was in the same room, said, " I cut that
young woman's throat—you must take me to the station."
When the prisoner said this, .fr. Cory, the sur-
geon, asked her what it was done with, end
Mrs. Baldish, who was leaning span her hus-
band's arm, left him end went to a cupboard
and took a razor from the top of it, sad handed it
to Dr. Cory, and it to the witness. The raw ap-
peared to have been washed, but there were still some spots
of blood on it. After this he mid that be took Mrs. Brad eh
to the policestatics and made a charge el wilful murder
against her. The charge was entered in the sheet and read
over to the prisoner by Sergeant Parsonage, who was the
officer on duty, and she replied that it wasquite comet
This witness also produced a cotton dress, one sleeve and
other portions of which were very bloody, and this garment
was identified as belonging to Mrs. Brutish.
The witness Davidson was re-celled, and be stated that
Mrs. Bredish had on the dress that had been produced
when he saw her washing her hands and arms at the pump.
Mr. Armstrong, the inspector, proved that he saw Mrs.
Bradish at the polioestation about nine o'clockon the mess-
ing of the dreadful occurrence, and that the moment he
went in she said it was • shocking thing that she had done.
Ilaencgrayed her not to speak, but to leave her ease in the
of her legal adviser ; but, notwithstanding this cau-
tion, she said that she must have been insane, or she never
could have destroyed a sister whom she loved so well.
se=eat Parsonage sidd—l received charge of a female
nMaffitha Br on Tuesda_y Manna( last She wee
brought to the station by the officer Gunner, who charged
her with the wilful murder of Diana Wickens. The=
who was so charged, said that her own name was
Beulah, and that the name of the person whose death she
wee alleged to have canoed was Diana Wickens. I cautioned
her before she said this, and when I read the Aerie over to
her she said it was quite correct. She was much
excited ; and seeing a newspaper upon the table, very
she said,
" Ab, a newspaper ; I was read* a newspaper last week,
and there were ace:ante of some meet thee murders in
is, and to think that I should be the canes of another."
After this she said, " I know where I am; lam in the
station•house."

Mrs: the wife of a police sergeant, proved that she
searched Mrs. Bradisk at the station, and she noticed marks
of blood upon the foetid her stocking It • to be
quite fresh and to have been caused by through
blood without any shoes on.
Mr. Cory, the surgeon, was then examined, and he spoke
to the frightful character of the injuries received by the de-
ceased, and also ermined his opinion that she wee 'deep
at the time the Week wee drat made epos her, and that
two violent cuts with • very sharp instrument were indicted.
He said that, from the appearances presented, be thought it
extremely probable that the deceased awoke with the lint
cut, and that the woad was then Indicted, and as the
windpipe was completely divided the deemed amid Dot
have cried out. The injuries that he observed were such as
would have been indicted by an instrument like the razor
that was produced.
The Coroner asked the mitoses if wilting else took

Mr. Cory said that when he saw the yaw wow mos
dead he turned round to Mrs. Bradish, and raid to her,
doctor, thia would not have ha if hod had year
" How came this accident" apdeciagazdieal "Good God!
ar
advice before." He had attend her posheidonelly abr f
months previously.
The Coroner said they could not enter inteenyinmeHeatiou
relative to the state of health or mind of Mes person re-
ferred to, which could only properly be made the subject of
inquiry before another tribunal.
In answer to further questions put by the coroner,
Mr. Cory said that he felt the sofa upon which the de-
ceased had apparently been lying, and the pillow, the
laths, and the bed clothes were warm. Healer, stated that
two of the fingers of the deemed were cut in such a manner
mto mime the inference that she bad grasped the instru-
ment with which the injury was inflicted, and that in the
akof death she had sprung from the sofa to the plasm
whir, was found.

The Coroner theTiiequireil whether there was any addi-
tional evidence to be brought forward.
Inspector Armstrong mad there was not.
The Coroner then addressed a few observations to the
jury, and said that the evidence appeared to him to be, un-
ppny, So cooclturive that there could be so doubt that
the deceased lost her life through the act of her unfortu-
nate sister. If they were satiated of this foot, they were
bound to return a verdict to that effect.
The j after a very brief deliberation, returned a ver-
dict of ''Wilful Murder" against Martha Bradiah.

THE STRIKE IN THE BUILDING MUDD. —Yeater-
day morning meetings of delegates and others were held at
the head-quarters in Rochester-oboe', and of the beam of
the masons. Mason-street, Lambeth, for the purpose of con-
sidering their present position. Nothing definite has tran-
spired to lead to the hope that there may be a speedy ter
mination of the strike ; on the contrary, there is every
reason to fear that it will be prolonged_ It la rumoured
that ou Monday next the men at Messrs. Trollops's, and
one or two other large firms, will turn oat, thus throwing
some hundreds more men on the fund' of their
trades union, and to casual contributions which may be
received from the country. A threat is held out by the
masters that a large body of foreign artisans have expresaad
their willingness to some over to proceed with the works
which are now in a state of temporary suspension, and
that their parries, will be accepted unless the men forth-
with accept this mast ass' terms. At Messrs. Kelka' in Pim-
lico, and at Masan. Lome in Lambeth, some few plasterers
and masons are at work, but these do not belong to the
union, and are consequently regarded by the unionists as
black sheep. Many other men were yesterday morning
loitering about the yards, with minty pietored in their
faces, anxious to seek for work, but deterred in consequence
of the external prawn) which is put upon them. It the
men persist In holding out, it is to be feared that during the
course of next week them will be a large importation of
foreign labourers, • circumstance which must neesesarily
have die effect of reducing the rate of wages in this coun-
try. The Norm Loos who have the contract for the
building for the Great Intonational Exhibition in 1862,
declare that the strike shall not in any serious way inter-
fere with the progress of the works, and that by one clam
el lab/oaten or another they shall be resumed in the warm
al Dui week.

A Glasgow paper states that, at a revival meetrill
1* that eity oo Nay, the officiating minister had hie
watch stolen by "as soxious inquirer," who was rpm hog
to him " on the state of Ins soul, pretending great anxiety."
—Umiak

1861.

AN EGYPTIAN FRIGATE LV THE .VERSET.-
MORTALITY AVONGaT THE CREW.

For some time past considerable consternation
has prevailed in Liverpool, owing to rumours that a fever
of the most dangerous and fatal description had been intro- '
duced into the town by the crew of an Egyptian frigate
which lately arrived there from Alexandria. As some of
the officials of the Liverpool Southern Hospital and Paul-
street baths had died from malignant fever, the health com-
mittee ordered their officer to make a report to them on the
subject and at their meeting yesterday ('Thursday), Dr.
Duncan presented the following re : 'ln compliance
with a suggestion of hie worship the mayor, the medical
officer of health begs to report as follows with respect to
the cases of fever which have lately occurred among the
staff of the Southern Hospital and the Paid-street laths.
The Egyptian steam-frigate Sebaab Gebeld arrived in the
Mersey on the 22nd February, after a lengthened voyage
from Alexandria, during which the crew—numbering over
900, crowded together and in a meet filthy state—suffered
severely from the cold of a northern winter, being unpro-
tected by European clothing. On their arrival bout 60 were on
the sick list, suffering chiefly from dysentery, diarrhea, frost-
bite, and other consequences of exposure to cold. The
native doctor on board was himself incapacitated by illness
from giving proper attention to the sick, but no symptom
of fever was discovered by the medical practitioner, Mr.
Irvine, who was called in by the agents of the Egyptiau
government. Six deaths—all from dysentery—occurred
on board the ship in the Seethe Dock within a week after
her arrival, and on the 20th and 27th February of the
crew were sent to the Southern Hospital. With regard to
these, Dr. Cameron, physician to the Southern Hospital,
states that ' most of those who were seriously ill were
suffering from dysentery or diarrheas ; a few from inflam-
matory affections of the lungs ; the others were suffering
from the effects of exposure to cold, which In thin in-
, stances bad occasioned gangrene of some portion of the
foot or leg. Of the 32 admitted 3 died (from dysentery), 1
a few hours after admission ; 24 were discharged between
the Bth and 23rd March ; and 5 are still under treatment, 1
recovering from pneumonia and 4 suffering from surgical dis-
ease.' Dr. Cameron further states that 'the number of
attendants who have taken fever is six—viz., two house sur-
geons, one acting house surgeon, two nurses, and one porter.'
The acting house surgeon and one of the tsetse. are dead.
' Of the house surgeons one was residing in the house at the
time of the outbreak, the other was staying in the neigh-
bourhood on leave of absence. but visited his colleague re-
peatedly. The first is convalescent, the second doing well,
though not out of danger. Several patients took ill with
fever. Those who, being unfit to be removed, were re-
tained in the hospital are all doing well. I have not heard
of any instance in which the disease has been propagatel
by those infected in the hospitaL All the Egyptian
sailors were, when admitted into hospital, swarming with
vermin, anu in an indescribable state of filth. I may add
that as soon as the outbreak of fever occurred every
deavour was made to arrest the contagion. Patients v. ho
were in a fit state to be removed were sent out of the
hospital, and those in whom the disease had manifested
knit were sent to the fever hospital. Instructions were at
the same time given to the house surgeons to admit no case
except where life was in immediate manger ; and to-day the
board of economy have determined to close the hospital for
a month, for the purpose of enabling the building to be
thoroughly whitewashed, cleaned, and painted.' To the
cases mentioned in Dr. C•meron's statement must be added
that of the Rev. Mr. Balls, who after twelve days' illness
died from fever caught while visiting patientain the hospital.
During the four days km 20th February to let March in-
clusive, upwards of 591) o: the sailors bathed at the Paul-
street baths. Although extremely filthy, all appeared to
be in good health, with the exception of one or two who
were not so seriously ill as to be unable to walk with the
others to Paul-street from the Sondem dock. On the god
of March one of the male attendants at the baths was at-
tacked with fever, and died after 13 days illness ; and in
the following week one of the female attendants and the
keeper of the baths were also taken ill of fever, but loth
of these are now recovering from the attack. The baths
are now clamed for the usual annual cleansing. It remains
to Desisted that the pilot who brought the ship into port
died of ' bronchitis and fever' on the 14th March. The
frigate went over to the Birkenhead docks about three
weeks ago, and the whole of the crew, with the exception of 12
who remained in the hospital (seven of whom have since
been discharged), took their departure for Alexandria in
another Egyptian war steamer on the 15th of March. The
fade, thee, appear to be, that of the entire crew of 300
seamen nine died of dysentery, and that although no fatal
case of fever occurred among them, they communicated the
dinette to eleven individual. who were brought into imme-
diateoootact with them, of whom five died. So far as is
known, none of these eleven individuals have communi-
cated the disease to others. It has been thought right to
give this somewhat detailed statement of feces with the
view of allaying the groundless alarm to which an imper-
fect knowledge of the circumstances has given rise. The
disease which has been communicated by these sailors is
not, as has been supposed, a species of plague, but typhus
fever—a disease which is never absent from large towns,
bat the modality of which in Liverpool is at present below
the average. The deaths in the borough last week were 12,
the average of the same week of former years being 13 ;
and in the last three weeks the deaths—inclusive of those
which may be traced to the Egyptian sailors—were 29, while
In the same period of the preceding three years the average
was 32.

" The medical officer of health is of opinion that there
in no ground whateier for the apprehension that the
disease is likely to spread through the town in consequence
of what has occurred. But it is a matter worthy of cos-
eiderstion whether some arrangement ought not to be
adopted for giving immediate notice to the proper autho-
rities of the existence of disease among the crews of ships
arriving in the port, in order that steps may be taken to pre-
vent its further extension.—W. H. DUNCAN, mediml otßcer
of health."

Yr. /IDow.ts, the legal adviser of the committee. said
that by act of parliament every pilot was bound, under a pe-
nalty of 3001., to inform the port authorities of any sus-
picious disease which he might observe upon shipboard.
The collector of customs bad stated that the masters of
vessels entering the port with disease on board their
ships were boned to notify the same by hoisting a sick
Bag. It was found, however, that when the frigate entered
the port there was no suspicion of fever on board of her.
The Mayor stated that he bad communicated with the
Dock Board ea the subject, calling their attention to the
necessity of pilots immediately informing the local medi-
cal authorities of any ships voteriag the port with disease
on board.