The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-29 00:00:00

CHARGE OF MURDER.

Joleis Rankin was indicted for the wilful murder of Mary Ann
Hunt, on the 21st of September last, in the parish of White-
chapel. The priwner was also charged on the Coronet's .Inquisi.
Lion of manslaughter.

Mr. A NMI Ewa narrated the facts to the Jury, and called
Eleanor Hoot, who said. Mary Ann Hunt, the deceased person,
wait my mother. On the night that she met with her death we
were lodging in 'George-yard, Whitechapel. There were thrre.
beds in the room where we slept. One was occupied by the pri-
soner. another by me and my mother, and the third by Mary
111'Slollin. I ✓rent to bed on the night of' the 2lst of 'September at
ten o'clbck. My mother came with me into the room : she was not
quite sober. I left her up sitting by the fire. The prisoner was
then in the room, and so was 111`Mulfin. My mother went out
while I was awake, and came back when I was asleep. She awaked
me between two and time ; there Was no light In the room.
She desired me to get up and get a light; she said she had
been to the young man's bed in the dark seeking for herown
lied, and bad laid her baud upon his face. the was ADM
with me for not hating had a light. I got up and struck alight,
and my mother was then standing up he the side of het own bed.
and the trout sitting up in his be". She appeared to me 'as if she
hid slept herself sober, and I asked the prisoner if he would be so
kind as td hand me a piece of Candle off the table. He made no an.
sift, anti my mother then told me to get up and get it myself. My
mother hit me anti pet the match out Which I had Just lighted ; she
struck mt intentionally. I got into bed again, thinkingshere was
no light wanting, as my mother was in such a passim with me.
My mother sat down by the side of her own bed. Some words oc-
curred between her and the prisoner. He called her a d--d dirty
old b---h, because she was mating a noise. She called him a
d--d ditty thief. The prisoner said, if she repeated those words
again, he would make her a d—d dirty merle. She did repeat
the words, and he got out, rind I heard him hit my mother a very
violent blow. I got between them and told him not to hit my too.
Cher again. I held his hand and found he had • board in it ; it
was the head-board of the bed. I went to the window to call the
watch. lie had only struck me mother once. I otth.,l out for the
watch, and heard the prisoner hit me mother again several times ;
my mother never spoke after the drat blow. I told him he had
murdered my mother, and he said the few blows he had given her
cot:ld not have killed her. I then struck a light, and I found him
near the bed where my mother was lying upon her back. I per-
ceived a large cut upon the side of the right eye, and another large
bruise or lump upon the forehead, and another large one upon the
back of the reek ; and a piece was struck out of the bridge of her
nose. There was very little blood, but what them was came trout
the eye. My mother appeared to be dead. She did no; speak.
The prisoner was standing by the bed side, and I told him be had
killed my ntather, and he said he had, and he begat, to dress him.
self. There were two pieces of board lying on my mother's bed ;
they appeared to be recently broken. I knew it to be the head
board of his bed. I then tun down stairs and fetched Brown, the
watchman, and left tile prisoner in the room. We met the pri.
goner corning down. I told the watchmen that that was the
man who bud murdered my mother, and Brow,. then told
hint to go back : he accordingly went back, brit said nothing.
The watchman followed him up in the room. When we came up
my mother was there, lying in a straight position. I went to the
watchhouse with the prisoner, who told me to go hack; I refused ;
the wideltman then told me to go back; I heard the prisoner say
that he had murdered my mother, and I must have justice done;
I went to the watchhouse, and he was there locked op; that is all I
know. 1 had not struck my mother that night; there had been no
previout quarrel between my mother aril the prisoner. When my
mother came in I hal such a view of her face that I was able to see
that she had no' injure on her.
By the prisoner—Hid you before the Magistrate say that your.
self, your mother and ;mother woman, hail hail three pints of gin ?
I said that there were three or four half pints of gin among
lour of us thorn stairs, when my mother went to pay her rent.
I said I had drank some of it.

Did yon go to bed sober?-1 had part of the figure. !cannot
say I was quite sober. The 31sestrate refused to take any eri.
derwe the lain time I went. Mr. Il'iatt was the 31agistrnte. It
was at the Lambeth Police office. He said I had not told the same
tinry I had done before, and that he would not hear are again.
The prisoner—She pre,urieatiod. my Lord.
Witness—The Magistrate raid that 1f he had it in his power be
would dismi.oi the prisoner.
• Hy the l'otm`r-31a 'earlier was not it woman of the town; she
gco her livelihood bs 'thing tl•ings in ;he street, and I got mine
the same tray. The landlady to whom my mother went to pay her
rent lived down stain. I don't know how 31rs. 111`31ullin gets her •
Mary 3f•3fullin earnireil—The name of the bintillde is. I be.
fieve..Scote. 1 slept In a tied in the same mom with the deceased
and the prisoner. 'the last witness went to bed between tirelve and
etc.• I came to the reom at tct o'c:ock, and the prisoner was then