The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-13 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF MURDER.

George lukpen, a young man twenty years of
age. described ss • hammerman. of 37. amelia-terrace,
Deptford, was charged yesterday at the Greenwich police-
court with attempting to commit suicide by throwing
himself into the Surrey Canal, in company with Margaret
Edwards, who was drowned.

Inspector Ellis, R division, said from information received
he went, at half-past ten on Monday night, to a house in
A inelia.terrace, Deptford, where he saw the prisoner.
Witness took him out, and on proceeding up the street
questioned him concerning the deceased being in the
canal, and asked if he could point out the spot, when
he said he would tell him all about it. The
prisoner then said he had been to a race or
running match in London that day, and bad got out
at the railway station, High-street, Deptford, that evening,
and that after going to the house of Bennett, a barber, he
proceeded to the Lord Douala public-house, New Cross-
' road, and had something to drink. While there the de-
lceased, who lived in the neighbourhood as domestic ser-
vant, entered for the family's supper beer, when he spoke
to her, and they went out together. She theni wished him
to drink some of the beer, which he did, and she drank some
also, and then they finished the whole of it Having done
this the prisoner remarked that the deceased said, " It is
no use living, my friends are always nagging, me ;" adding,
" Will you follow me r He replied, ' Yes, wherever
you go I will go ;" and that they then turned down
the Mornington-road, and went together to the
'Surrey canal, where the decemed asked him if he had
got a handkerchief. He replied he had; but she said it
would not be long enough to go round them both. Re then
said he had got some boot laces, which he bad bought in
London, and that on her saying they would do, they tied
themselves together. Previous to euterio,, the water the
deceased said, Ido not think I shall sink, when he asked
her why she said so, and she replied, "because of my cri•
nubile." The prisoner then said they both got into the
canal and rolled over and over • she soon turned, but did
not for some time sink. The bootlaces breaking, he got out
on the opposite side, and tried to save her, but not being
able to do so, he got into the canal again, swam acrom, and
returned home. Witness and the prisoner then proceeded
towards the canal hank, and oo asking the prisoner if he felt
himself better, he replied,." I was very bed, and she had to
hold me up, but lain all right now, and if I had been as
well a while ago I should not have done this." Witness
asked him if he had been drinking, and he said he bad been
drinking freely. The prisoner then pointed out the spot
where they entered the water, and the drags having
been procured, the body of deceased was found and brought
ashore. The prisoner said her name was Margaret Edwards,
and that he had been keeping company with her three years.
Prisoner appeared anxious to see the body of deceased, and,
oo allowing him to do ao, he said it had made a great altera-
tion in her features. Witness then took the prisoner to the
polioe.ntstion, and the charge having been taken he said he
would give him his word that what he had told
him was the truth. Witness assisted in taking the body of
deceased to the dead-house, examining it to see if them
were any bootlaces or handkerchief tied about it, but
could End neither. There was a bruise on the left temple.
Os going to the prisoner's house, witness saw some wet
clothes in the room.
This being the whole of the evidence,
A friend of the prisoner inquired the nature of the charge
against him.
Mr. Trail said it would resolve itself into a charge of
murder against the prisoner, who was then remanded until
Wednesday neat.

THE SUSPECTED MURDER IN STAFFORDSHIRE.
On Monday the adjourned inquest was held at
the Railway Fountain Ins, Daisy Bank, Ralston. Stafford-
shire, on the body of William Lewin, relative to whom
death in the road near his lodgings, at Hall•fields, so much
interest has been excited.

The jury returned • verdict of "Died from exotetivo
drinking and edpostue to mold."

THE GAOL DELIVERY UNDER TEE NEW
BANKRUPTCY ACT.

In accordance with the regulations made by:
Mr. Commissioner Ho'reed, the gaol delivery of pour
debtors from every prison throughout the United Kingdom
commenced yesterday. The following are the results as
far as at present ascertained. The return math by Mr.
Keene, the governor of Horsemonger-lane :Throl, showed
that on the let of November there were 42 male
and 5 feniale prisoners in custody. for debt, and
on Monday and yesterday Mr. Registrar Hazlitt dis-
charged 18, amongst whom were the Eve females. We
may, however, mention, that since the Ist instant
13 have left the gaol, and of those who still remain several
have themselves petitioned the Insolvent Debtors Court.
In one case the debtor has been imprisoned since the 27th
of July, 1858, and on being brought before the registrar
refused to answer any of the questions put to him. He told
the registrar that he had no jurisdiction in his case, se
he did not owe any one any thing, and therefore be could not
be made a bankrupt. When asked why he remained in the
prison he replied that for reasons of his own he would not
soout, but that he had had his discharge
his pocket since the 23rd March last, and that
he should go out when he liked. As he refused to answer
the questions put to him, the registrar threatened to report
him to the court. The prisoner replied, " That the commis.
sinner could not commit him until he was made a bankrupt."
" Then," said the registrar, " why do you not ask foryour
dim-barte? The prisoner—" That is my business. In
the case of a woman who had been in custody since June,
1858. and had petitioned the Insolvent Court almost im-
mediately after, it appeared that she had been or-
dered to do soniethiug in connexion with the
proceedings, but having failed to comply with
the order remained in prison. The registry or-
dered her discharge, upon the ground that her detention
was upon a matter in abeyance, and no longer pending
within the meaning of the act as it occurred so many years
ego. At the Queen's Prison Mr. Registrar Higgins heard
seven cases, and discharged one, the others being adjourned
for consideration. At WhitoCross-street Prison Mr. Re-
rsttarar Abraball and Mr. Registrar Miller presided. The gaol
ed
presented by Mr. Constable, the deputy-governor. show
that the total number of debtors in custody on the let inst.
was 186.
Mr. Alderman Challis, as chairman of the Gaol Cons.
mittee, waited on the registrars, and informed them that
the committee were desirous of giving every facility for the
attainment of the object of the proceedings, and with that
view they had resolved to defray any expenses for fees or
otherwise where the prisoners themselves were too poor
to meet them. They had also a fund at their disposal out
of which they would assist any one who might be in danger
of being cast destitute on the world upon receiving his dis-
charge. They would, likewise, be happy to render every
assistance to the registrars in dealing with those cases in
which debtors bail obstinately remained in prison for years,
and might still wish to continue in duress, notwithstanding
the new enactment. . .

The retrars
peertheir throb to
Alderman
Challis, who then witbdnw