The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-10 00:00:00

SUSPECTED MURDER.

On Friday, two men, each of whom appeared t• be about 34
years of age, named William Spencer and Samuel JohnsonLwore
brought before JAMES SCRIVEN and JAME. WOOLLEY, UV%
Surrey Magistrates, charged upon suspicion with having murdered
Mary Wilkins, the wife of Henry AVilkins, of 15,
street, Bermondsey, a carman in the employment of Melt syirrs,
fellmunger, of Bermondsey. The deceased had been found in the
Surrey Canal on Saturday last, with marks of violence upon her
person. It was at first supposed that she had fallen accidentally
into the Canal, but the rumours about the neighbourhood, which is
now in a state of great agitation, having reached the above-men-
tioned Magistrates, an investigation was commenced at the Camber-
well workhouse.

Henry Wilkins said—The last time I saw my wife was on
last Friday evening, at her mother's (Mrs. Horsley), Orange-road;
I left her there, and never saw her alive after. fliy landlady and
me stopped up till nearly twelve o'clock ; I then retired to bed. I
made inquiry at her mother's and different places, and could get nu
information about her.

Elizabeth Donley said—My daughter, the deceased, came to
my house on Friday, as I have been informed, about nine in the
morning, and staid all day; the lodgers told me that she left
about twenty minutes after seven o'clock. On Saturday morning
her husband called at my house, a littlet five o'clock, to in.
pas quire whether Mary had been there. I said she,had not been home
all night. Tuesday morning early I went out to inquire about m
daughter. In the Rent-road I met a woman, who asked me if I
had heard of a young woman being found in the Canal. I then went
to the Lord Nelson, and found a body, which I discovered to be
my daughter. I never heard of my daughter's husband striking or
ill-using her, but they sometimes quarrelled.
Olive Westward deposed, that Johnson and Spencer came seve-
ral times after the deceased at het lodgings. She told witness drat
Spencer had been to sea for two years, was just returned, and was
a single man. She had known him since she was twelve years old,
and that he would have had her; he did not mind dying for her
now, for that he would shoot Wilkins. That he had brought her
home silk shawls, and many fine things. She first said his vessel
lay at Gravesend, then that he lodged in Blukfriars.road; that she
had left him at her father's, to sleep there that night : he was come
to take her to France with him ; witness reminded her that site was
married now : she said, where lam he will be. Witness added,
that on examining the corpse she should not think, from the ap-
4rance, that she had destroyed herself; there were marks en
both arms, particularly the left, as if she had been squeezed by
sonic one ; there was also a mark under one of her ears.
Stephen Somers sworn— I live at the Wheatsheaf, Lombard-,
street, in the Mint. I have seen the deceased repeatedly at my'
house about three months since; she had not been there
since till last Friday night; she came about half.past eight or
nine o'clock, in company with the two prisoners; they all left my
house about half-past eleven o'clock. The woman seemed to be a
little intoxicated; l noticed it to my wife. Spencer seemed quite
sober; Johnson appeared to be a little in liquor; I think the de-
ceased was not so far gone as not to be able to find her way home;
I did not sec which way the deceased or the prisoners went on law.
in my house; I don't know whether they separated or not; and
did not hear anything more of the deceased till Monday or Tues-
day, when it was mentioned at my house that she was found
drowned. Oo Saturday morning theprisoners came to my house
together, and stopped about an hour. - lubeerred no change in ha
dress; I did not hear them say one W4lO about the deceased.
Ann Spencer, the wife of Spencer-1-All I know is, that my hus-
band was out last Friday night; we have been married nine years,
and I never knew him to he out a night before, all night ; some-
, times he would get in liquor, with his companion, Johnson, but he
was always a good, kind husband, and regular in coming home to
his incubi and his bed. On the Friday, at half-past two o'clock in
the afternoon, he came home, washed himself, and put on a waist-
coat and another hat ; he then said that he was going out but would
shortly return ; I next saw him on Saturday morning, about ten
o'clock ; he appeared a little in liquor, and said that he had bean
at Johnson's, and that be had got there a little after two o'clock
that morning ; at the Pitt's Head, a woman told me my husband
had been &raking with the deceased on the Friday night, at that
house.

Eliz. Johnson, the wife of the other prisoner, said, my husband
and Spencer came to our house about two o'clock an Saturday
morning, and remaided there till half-past five; they then went
out and -returned at seven o'clock; my husband was in liquor;
Spencer was more collected.
The Magistrates asked them, whether they wished to state any
thing, but told them that they were not bound to do so unless
they thought proper.
Spencer said, on 'Thursday afternoon, I and my shipmate, John-
son, were out, and an coming down Tooley-street, in the Borough,
I said we may as well go and see if Susan is at home ; ami he watt
and came back, saying, that she was not.
Here the prisoner said, that he did not wish to state anything
more at present.
Neither of the prisoners attempted to give any account of himself
from the time they left the Wheatsheaf until they reached John-
son's house—an interval of two hours and a half.

The ilagistrates postponed the further investigation till the next
day.
SATURDAY, DIRT 8.
This morning, at eight o'clock, the inveitigation of this mute.
riots circumstance was resumed in the Conunittec.room of Camber-

well Workhouse. before James Scriven, Esq., James Woolley,
I Esq., Charles Gordon, Esq., George Allen, Esq., and other
Magistrates of the county.—The prisoners, Spencer and Johnson,
were brought from Camberwell mgt. hi whir..hey had been con.
fined during the night, attended by a considerable number .f tits
inhabitants. The only additional evidence of importance was dr*
folios tisg:--Oideon Lewis, constable of Camberwell, aware t
never desired any man, en Saturday last, to go and search for
things supposed to have been stolen. I hoard on Friday night that
a gentleman's carriage had been robbed of an imperial, and that two
men had been seen with it in Peckham-fields, by the Canal
Bridge. On Saturday morning, about a quarter before six, a mac
came to my wife, and said he thought there had been a robbery
committed on the bank of the Canal, for he had found some linen.
The person was a man of about forty-five or fifty years of age;
he had an olive-coloured smock frock on, and I think he had
gaiters on, but lam not certain. Underneath the frock he had a,
sort of corduroy coat on, like • gamekeeper's jacket; he said his
name was Johnson, and that he came to London to see the Stewart
of Sir harks Carew, M. P. He said that he had been down in
Cornwall some length of time, looking after a salmon fishery be-
longing to Sir Charles, a short distance front Hodmin. He de-
scribed the mode of catching salmon. I accompanied the man to-
ward, the canal.. On arriving within twenty yards of the half.
penny-hatch, he said, " this to the place where I found the bas-
ket.' The basket had a large pillow-case in it, without a mark.
We went to the spot where he found the basket, and he wished
me to get a rake, saying he was confident there was someproperty
there. I told him that I doubted it. He said he had seen no per.
sons about, except two men, then at a distance, whom !knew to be
employed there. I thought the man might be a little disordered in
his mind. I watched hint; he went to a house near, and brought
out a rate, like a hay-rake, and worked it backwards and forwards
in the canal, just in the spot where the basket was found, which
was about 20 yards from Back's house, on the same side. About
thirty yards front that spot the body was found, the same side of
the water, but on the other side of the gate. I left the man on
the bank of the canal. Back came to me between twelve and one
o'clock on Saturday, and informed me they had found the body of
a young woman In the water. I went to the Lord Nelson, and saw
the corpse, and noticed marks on the left arm ; the marks were
much alike, and appeared to have been caused by the pressure of
fingers. I heard that the landlord had searched the body, and there-
fore did not do so. An inquest afterwards sat on the deceased.
On Wednesday, between twelve and one o'clock, I and Sedgley
apprehended Johnson, at • public-house on Safiiron-hill. %Fe
asked him a few questions, desired him to speak guardedly, and
held out no promise of favour. He said that be was out on the Fri-
day night till two o'clock in the morning, and he was in the com-
pany of Spencer. lie did not say that a woman was in their corn.
piny, but he said, "he did not know where the woman went to ;"
and he said, "that Spencer knew more about it than he did."
Sedgley took Johnson to l'amberwell. I went to Hackney, and
found that Spencer had left his employ to go to the Pitt's Head,
Gunge-road, Bermondsey. On my return from Hackney, at half.
past six o'clock, Spencer was at the Pitt's Head. I took him into
custody. I cautioned hint against saying any thi to his own pre-
judice. I told hint for what he was apprehended, and he denied
knowing anything about it. He said afterwards, "that be bad
been with the young woman, and had had a bit of fun or a fud.
die;" he also said that they went to a public-house in the Mint,
where they drank together, and that he parted with her at the top,
of the Dover-road. He afterwards said that it was very late, and
they went to Johnson's house, and sat up. I think his words were,
" Ire left her at the top of the Dover-road." I have made inquiry
for the man that was raking the canal, but have not been able to
learn anything of him. He was a straniuerto me, bat was as fasni-1
liar as if he had known me for years. The marks on the awns of
the deceased, when I saw them, were of a blue cast ; she had then
been taken out of the canal about an hour and • half.

' The CHAIRMAN (Mr. naives), having consulted for some time
with his brother Magistrates, asked the prisonen if they had any
witnesses who couldyrove in what manner they employd their time
after they left the It heat Sheaf public-house, till two o'clock on the
Saturday morning.
The prisoner Spencer said, they had gentlemen in attendance is
speak to their character.
The Magistrate said, that the cue was involved in much nip.-
ten, and strons suspicion of foul play attached to the prisoners in
consequence of themarks of violence upon the body of the deceased,
they being the last persons seen in her company previous to ha
death.

The prisoner said they were innocent of the murder.
The Magistrate said, that he hoped they would be able to sub.
stantiate their innocence; but he and his colleagues were of opinion,
that justice demanded a more solemn investigation of the cause ell
the young woman's death. They therefore committed the pri.
Boners to Ilorstmonger-lane gaol, on suspicion of the murder of
Mary Wilkins, and directed them to be brought to L'nion.hall on
Wednesday next, for final examination before the police Magi-
straws of that office.

The mother of the deceased said the body was not interred, sod
that the marks Pit the arms and side of the neck had become more
titsr..olourctl.

The Magistrates ordered a surgeon to examine the body, prior to
its interment, and directed that he and Mr. Pritchard, a 'argon in
the lieut-road, who saw the body before the Jury sat upon it, to at.
tend at Union-ball, when the examination takes place. Sum-
monses were Jammed to compel the attendance of other witnesses,
whose evidence is expected to be important. Phe officers were
ordered to use all diligence in their rower to apprehend the man
,seen raking the canal; and the Magistrates were of opinion, that
' publicity of this cas: In the newspapers was important, and likely
to aid in its titittlopement, as it was pregnant with suspicion.

MARKETS.
UXBRIDGE.
Corn Inspector's Return, May C.
Wheel, per load - - 131 Os to 191
Barley, per quarter - . . - 11 151 to 2/ 0,
Oats - - 11 t% to 11 lat
Beans - . 11 los to ti 4,
Peas - - -1/ Its to 21 2,
Rye - Os to 01 0,

NEWBURY. BERES, Itlar C.---------
Wheat - - 181 to 71s I Oats . - -23 s to 214
Rye . .—Sto —s I Beans • - 375 to 4
Bulgy . -25 s to 33411P0:1u - .4tto -4
Bread, per gallon, Is 3d to Is 7d

DEVIZES, MAY 6. ---
Wheat and Beans at per sack ; Barley and Oats per quarter.
Wheat -20 s Od to N. Od I Oats . 26s Od to 2/k Od
Barley -28 s Od to 30s *Wilms -20 s Od to 2.1 s Od

BUNOERFORD, MAY 5.
Wheat - 464 Od to 68s Od I aus . 16s Od to Ws OS
Barley - 21111 Od to 34. Od Beans . 364 Od to 44. Ird

Wheat -
Barley

SALISBURY, Mar 4.
Ms ed to AS. Id Oats
. 111 14 to no ed I Bens

Wheat .
Barley .

WARMINSTER,MAty I.
. 44s to 74s !Oats ' -
- 24. to lasi Beans -

PRICE OF BREAD.

The highest Prima' Bread inillelll;trOpolis Is I Id. for the t.
pound Loaf. There ate others who sell from a halfpenny to those
halfpence below that rata.

SMITHFIELD, FRIDAY, MAY 7.
Beef - 3. Od to 4s OdiVeal . 3s 4d to is Id
Mutton - 3. 4d to 4s Id Pork - 3s 4d to Ss Id
Lamb Is to Gs 3d