The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-26 00:00:00

MURDER ARD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT

BRIGHTON.

An inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon, be-
fore D. Black, Esiq , the borough coroner, at the Swan Inn,
High-street, Brighton, on the body of Emma Elise Jane
Jutton, • child six months of age, who was strangled by her
mother on the morning of the previous day.
The jury having been sworn,
James Jutton deposed—l live at 8, High-duet, and am a
carpenter. The deceased was my child ; she was about six
months old. The last time I saw the child alive was at
about 11 o'clock yesterday morning. It was then in bed
with its mother, who was ill, her mind being affected. This
has been the case for some months put. She had a miscar-
riage last Saturday morning. When I left home last
Saturday morning I left a person at home—a Mrs.
Godley. She was not actually is the room then. but
she had been going to and fro. When I left the house
I told Mrs. Godley I was going out. Just be-
fore I west out I carried • glass of wine up to
my wife. She asked me if I thought it would hurt her wines
and
I said no—it would do her good. I was always accustomed
to leave some one with her when I went out. When I
went out yesterday morning I went ea far as Waterloo-
street., but I felt uneasy in my mind, and came back home
again. I readied home at about ball-put twelve, and west
up to my wife's bedroom, but found that the door was locked
on the inside. I ran down the first flight of stairs, and
said, " Mrs. Godley, do you know that the door is locked?'
She said "No." I aid, • follow me up stairs directly,
then." I then went up stairs, and called out my wife's
name twice, but I received no answer. I then put my
shoulder to the door and burst it open. My wife was then
standing in the middle of the room, in the act of strangling
herself with a black handkerchief of mine. She had it
twice round her neck, and was pulling at both ends. I
caught her by the arms, and pulled the handkerchief
from her neck. I then forced her back on the Led
and held her down. I then said to Mrs. Godley, " Look
to that child, and tell me how it la." She went up
to where the child was lying, moved the bed clothes • little,
and said, "I really don't know; I can't tell you ; I can't
look at it." I stretched one arm to reach the child, while
I held my wife with the other, and I immediately saw that
there was something round its neck. I said, "My God, It's
done r I thee took bold of the child, and tried to ent the
string from its Desk with my pocket knife. I waa some
little time, however, before I could cut it, beamed was
amid of cutting the child's akin. The string was only ones
round the neck, and I did not notice how it was tied. My
imprusion is that I did not cut it, for it suddenly gave way
directly I put my knife to it The child's body was quite
warm, and its face was very pale. I dare say I was a minute
and a half before I could manage to pt the string off
the child's neck, owing to my wife's struggling. At
length I was obliged to throw a flannel petticoat
over her head, and kneel on her shoulder to
keep her down. As son es I got the string off I turned
the child over in my arms and beat its back, but I believe
it was then quite dead. While that was going on I called
out for some else below stain to go for • doctor, and in
aboutitwenty mientes, not boding any one con" I left two
women with my wife while I ran for Dr. Dung. On my
way to his home I met • poliorcoastable, and I told him
he had better go to my house, 8, High-greet, directly, for
my wife had destroyed he: chili I west to Dr. Barnett's,
and he was at my house as soon as I was myself. Dr.
Barna has attended my wife for some three months.

By a Juror—l am sure that the child was alive whoa I
left home at half -past eleven. Whoa I said, "Xy Ood, it's
done !" my wife was raving and reties her head spirt
the bed-post, hat she did not say anything. It wag oily •
few days ago that she buried her head in the clothes, end
said bar time nor colas. I questioned her, sad she mid I
did net know what dreams she had—something drove her
to do something to the children. About four years
ago she was in Waodsworth Asylum for six months.
1 don't know that that was in oonnatiou with
a confinement, but the kit time I ever acired
ee woes in her mind was at her first ausine-
mist. are she was placed in the asylum she oft.a at,-
torpid her life, sad I saved her as I did yesterday. I
believe this madame to have been in the family ; her mother
was raided with it. j should like to menthe that on the
=adz after I took my wife out of the asylum I found her
sheet the roam in a very agitated way, and mi
=and was then lying on the sofa, with a string
meek just as this was. I was Jur in time to cut
the din fres the ail& nal, and it is now living. I
ben !Ger oldies living now. Several times lately my
wife has wandered away from home, and has been brought
back by various persona. I always found that she west ap
to the eastward. about the cliffs sad groynes, for she said
she must get into the water. This baby has been
out to nurse for nearly three months, and I have
only had it home a week today. Ily wife was
very food of the baby, and wished to have it
house. Only • few days ago re said, "To think that I
should dream of such wickeder@ to the very child that I
ler so." For the last few days I have been in the habitof
locking my bed-roam door at night and. putting the key
under the pillow, to prevent my wife gigging out and doing
as harm. I also hailed up my maws and boas bonnet.
Emma Godley, wife of Richard Godley, • labourer, was
also called. She was the woman alluded to by the last
witness as having been employed to take care of his wife,
sad she gave corroborative evidence.
Seperinteadent Braden worn—At a little after or
o'clock yesterday police-constable Naming; came to me end
told me that a woman had made away with her child. I
monitored from him that he had not seen the woman, and
thee I went immediately to the house. I found Mrs.
Juts= in bed, and from a oonversation I had with the
husband I west up sad spoke to her, but she
rade no answer. We lifted her up, and I
found the black ilk besdkerchiet now permed
in bur bed. She appeared quite unateriess of
Myth ee that was mid to her, io we lsid her down emir,
and Ile ft her in charge of • policeman. I saw the
and it had the mark round its neck as the jury have era.
I returned to the house about 3 o'clock, and the constable
told me she had not moved or spoken since I had been gra
I felt round her neck to see that there was nothing there.
sad that seemed to rouse her, for abe sat up in bed and said
in a very wild way, " Oh, what • dreadful dream ; whet a
horrid dream I have had I" and then she laid her head down
on the pillow and said " Oh. my poor bead." She then
called out for James, her eldest son and I seat for him.
Oa this she said, " What do all these doctors do hers ? I
know that gentleman," pointing to me, "that's Mr. Val-
ero ; I used to know him when 1 went to the hospital."
She then wrung her hands and cried. We managed to get
her a little composed, however, and then I came away and
left her.

Thomas Fergus sworn—l am in the Coast-guard service.
About 5 o'clock 3ne evening, about three weeks ago, I was
stationed on the parade in front of Kempf town, and Mr.
Jutton came to me, described his wits, and told me that if
Ire her he Mould be obliged if I would give her up to the
He told me that she had strayed from home.
polka,
6 and 7 o'clock I did see his wife on the parade.
I took bold of her, and she began to cry. I told her I
would not hurt her, but that her husband had told me to
look out for her. I said I should give her up to the police,
and she said she didn't rare when she went. She men-
planed very much about her bead. I did give her in
charge of a constable.
Dr. Barran sworn—l was called to this case at about •
quarter to one yesterday by Mr. Junta, who told me what
bad taken place. I found the infant lying on its left side,
dead, with a mark entirely round its neck. It had beau
dead three-quarters of an hour, and was genie; cold.
()snidely, I tried to restore animation, but all efforts were
useless. I found Mrs. Jutton lying on the bed with
her bead wrapped op in flannel, sad thoroughly gamiest&
She could not speak, and appeared so ill that I immediately
pi ascribed for her. I gave directioos foe the child to be
taken out of the room, and the woman placed in bed and
constantly watched. I have known leer about four months,
and after being under my treatment about • fortnight I con-
sidered that she was 101.1136, and advised her immediate re-
moval to a Insane asylum. This mark round the child's
neck was so deep that it would require considerable force
to produce it, and I am of opinion that death must have
been instantaneous. I could not discover that the string
bad been tied, and I believe the strangulation was effected
by means of its being pulled at each end.
This being the whole of the evidence, and
The Coroner having summed op,
The jury. Etter • brief consultation. returned • verdict of
" W ul murder" against Emma Juttoo, the mother of the
deceased child, who was consequently committed to take
bar trial at the maims.

ABDUCTION OF Two CHILDRIDI //f DUN-
DALIC.—A oorreepondent of Sanaders's News writing from
Duo&lk says:—•' The good people of this town were
thrown into a state of unwonted excitement last Satur•
day morning, from the following singular occurrence :
Between the boars of eight and nine o'clock John Murphy,
Esq., J.P., accompanied by two Scripture•reeiders, went
to the house of a labouring man, named Michael Carroll,
and took away two female children, of the respective ages
of 11 and 12 years, from his custody. Carroll was absent
at the time, but his wife and daughter made all the re-
sistance in their power, until the police, under the com-
mand of sub-Inspector Supple, interfered, and held the
women whilst the children were being removed to a co-
vered car which was in waiting. One of the children
was in bed, and the other sitting by the fire partly no.
dressed, when the party entered ; and so great was the
haste to get them away that they were taken, undressed as
they were, and put into the car, which was rapidly driven
out of town. The children are mid to be the illegitimate
daughters of a gentleman at one :ime living in Newry,
bat now dead. Their mother went off some time sinee,
under auspicious circumstances, to Australia, and it is sup-
weed that the parents were both protestants. The children
are being reared Roman catholic', and supported from some
tear funds, and Carroll has already been prosecuted and
over to stand his trial at the nest ueiaa in Dundalk,
for running off with one of them about three months *WM.
It is, in fact, a struggle between two parties as to whether
the children shall be reared protestant' or Roman catholic.
On the death of their father, about twelve months ago, he
bequeathed them a sem of 2501., the possession of which
is aso a subject of some consideration. One of the children
in particular is aid to have gives all the resistance in bat
power to her forcible removaL It has not transpired Mama
the children hay* been taken, but there is no 41•814 the
police were acting under the directions of Mr. dfurphy, and
that a warrant for the removal of the children from the
custody of Carroll has been obtained, pteedbi tbe legal pro-
*Wisp above relined to."