The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-14 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER.

A Coroner's Jury was impanelled last evening, at seven o'clock,
before Thomas Shelton, Esq. Coroner; in the Board-room, St. Bar-
tholonew's Hospital, to inquire how, and by what means, Sarah
Lawrence, aged A, can.e to her death.
Edward Ryan, sworn —I live at No. 1, Saffron-hill, and am a
pensioner. I was sitting in my room, about eleven o'clock, on Sa-
turday week last, and I heard a great noise in the deceased's apart.
ment, which was opposite to mine, on the third floor. It appeared
that there was a quarrel between the deceased and her paramour
(George Gouldsbury); they lived together. Many words
between them ; and I then heard a great noise, as if a tabir had
been thrown over ; and, next, a report of a great quantity of earth-
enware breaking : immediately after this, Gouldsbury ran into
my room, almost in a state of nudity ;he exclaimed, Lawrence
has thrown a pot of water over nit in bed," and he came in foe
protection : soon after Lawrence followed him, bleeding, and,
with dreadful imprecations, bade him come out of my room. John
Riley, who was sleeping in my room at the time, told them both
to go out, and not disturb his wife, who had long been ill, and
was then in a thing state. Lawrence exclaimed. " D—n you and
your wife," and immediately took a plate, and threw it with great
violence at Riley. Riley then got out of bed, and put her out of
the room, in doing which she tore his shirt to pieces, and likewise
his night-cap. I saw no more, till she brought two watchmen up
stairs, about ten minutes after, and gave Gouldsbury and Riley into
custody. The watchmen would not take the charge, but fetched
two night constables, who took both into custody, and conveyed
them to the watch-house, where the constable of the night refused
to detain them, and they were, in consequence, sent back. Law-
rence had much blood on her face and arms when she first emend
the room.
ColioNE a—When did you see the blood on her face ?
Witness.—l think I first saw the blood on her face when she
brotisht the watchmen.
mums continued.—Go..
back for the night.
Juror.—What was the charge to the watchmen against the men ?
Witness.—She charged than with beating her, and throwing a
pint of beer over her.
By the Conowza.—Riley did not strike her, in putting her out
of the room.
Mary Ryan sworn-1 am wife of E. Ryan, the last witness. On
Saturday week, I was in my apartment, cooking some meat for
supper; I heard a table fall in Gotiklsbury's room, and directly
after, I heard some earthenware break, which I have ascertained to
be the chamber utensil; alter this, Gouldsbury rushed into my
room, and kept the door, endeavouring to keep Lawrence out, but
she thrust herself in, and John Riley desired them to go out ; she
would not, and went up by the aide of Gouldsbury, and said,
" Out of this place you coma, or I'll die by yon." Riley then said,
if she did not go out, ha would kick her out, on which she taught 1 .-
up a plate and threw it at him. Riley then got up, and by main
force put her out, in which he got his shirt torn; his wife at this
time was lying almost expiring in bed ; Lawrence's face bled profindy
when she first entered the room ; she then went out, and brought
two watchmen, and charged George Gouldsbury with breaking the
chamber utensil on her head, and John Riley with pulling leer
heir. Two night constables came, and Gouldsbury and Ran
wen taken to the watchhouse.
By the Cononza—When Lavrrenee fint entered, after Goulds-
bury, she said, "Oh Ryan ! I have received my death-blow from
I the chamber utensil :" this was in Gouldsbury's presence ; he said,
" you should not get tipsy, by drinking so much gin ; for you have
now fallen over the earthenware and cut your head."
William Watson sworn—l live a: No. 8, Bowling-green-hem,
Clerkenwell. I sin the watchman on the spot (Saffron-hill). On
Saturday week, between 11 and 12 o'clock in the night, Sarah
Lawrence came dowff to me, and said she wanted my assistance;
Isbe was deluged in blood, and had a cut on her forehead, near an
inch long. I went up stairs with her to the third floor, accom-
panied by my brother watchman ; Riley and Ryan lived in one
TOM, Gouldsbury and Lawrence in the dther ; Gouldsbury une
thee ; Lawrence pointed to him, and said, " that is the min sob
inflicted the wound on my head, and Riley is as much in fault;
give you charge of both.' Gouldsbury was lame, and said be could
not go ; I then went for the officer of the night, who came deem,
and they were both taken to the watchhouse, but were shonewirde
discharged by the officer of the night.
Coroner—Why did he discharge them ?
Witness--Lawrence taultered in the detail of her story.
Juror—Was the wound evident, and did she there say Goulds-
bury had inflicted it?
Witness—She did ; she was the worse for liquor, but sensible;
she hung about till near three o'clock in the morning, and all this
time the wound in the head kept bleeding. Gouldsbury said at the
watchhouse, she fell over the utensil; but she denied it, and said he
flung it at her.
John Howes sworn—l am a fellow-watchman to the last witness,
and went to the room with him ; Lawrence took me to liouldsbury„
land said, " that is the man who cut me on the bead with the
utensil;' he denied it; the wound was then bleeding profusely ;
she attempted to strike (louldsbury, but I took hold of her, and
would not let her; she also said Riley had struck her, and gave
charge of both ; Lawrence was in liquor, but quite sensible of what
she said.
Mr. John Allport, house-surgeon of St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
sworn.—The deceased was brought to the Hospital last Sunday
week, in the morning. I examined her. She had a severe cut on
the temple, extending to the bone, about an inch lung, in which
was a small piece of-earthenware. I dressed the wound, and sent
her home with the directions I thought proper. She came in again
on the Thursday morning following, with the lips. of the wound
inflamed, and the eye-lids both swollen, with an ensyrelas spread
over the face. She became delirious, and, in spite of every effort
that medical skill could devise, she died on Tuesday morning last,
at six o'clock. The erisypelas was the consequence of the wound
of which she died.
COILONZI—A person drinking much, receiving a wound in the
head, would be more likely to suffer?
Witness—Certainly, a persou of free habits, particularly in spirit
drinking.
By the Jurors—She said her husband gave the wound-
Coetowz a—Did you conceive she was dying at the th e,she
made that assertion
Witness—Oh, no! certainly not.
The Coaowza, in his address to the Jury, said that Riley was
present; but as he might, in sonic degree, become implicated, it
would be improper to examine him, moreover as he was likely to
say everything to exculpate himself. The assertions were to be
taken, with the replies to them. If the Jury thought her assertion
in pointing out the man as the perpetrator of the act credible, it
amounted to the crime of manslaughter, as there had been a pre-
vious scuffle; but if the Jury believed she fell over the utensil,
then it was accidental death. If a man went, coolly and delibe-
rately, and murdered another, he would then have to answer for the
crime. It was. however, for the Jury to say whether they would
find a verdict of murder, manslaughter, or accidental death.
The Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of "Man-
slaughter against George Gouldsbury."
At the return of the verdict, the accused begged the Coroner and
Jury to hear him for a few minutes. before they affixed their signa-
tures to the deposition. He was an Englishman, he said, labour-
ing under great reverse of fortune, although he might have been
supposed to come from the sister kingdom, by his place of residence.
Adversity had driven hint to 'seek shelter in so humble an abode;
and although he had degenerated in forming a connexion with the
deceased, it was the least of his thoughts to have committed any
personal violence to destroy her life. The fact was, that she threw
the water over hint when in bed, on which lie certainly got out and
pushed her, when she fell over the utensil in question that had
proved so fatal to her. The origin of the affray was that which was
to many others, as it had been to him, a bane of lasting discord:
Lawrence was unfortunately extremely jealous, and this, he had no
Now that the Lottery system is drawing to a conclusion, doubt, had prompted her, though without cause, to the commission
it must be a subject of proud exultation for Mr. SIVEWKIGHT of that violence which bad been the cause of their quarrel. H.
that he took the hat Contract, and by garnishing his Scheme with trusted the Jury would view his situation as a haul one, •
Seven 211,0001. Prizes, has succeeded m rivetting the attention of under the rheumatic gout as he did, and let their feelings sway wi
the Public, in a most unusual degree. Next Thursday, Fe- the urgency of the case.
bruary 19, will be the First Day of Drawing, and a memorable The CORONER said he had violated the law even in pushing
day it will probably prove to many, for the Two First Prizes are her, as that led to deprive her of life. The verdict, therefore, could
each to have 20,0001. c.rtra ; and all that are drawn Blanks will be not be disturbed.
pm In the Wheel and drawn again, so that if they miss the Two! The Coroner's warrant was then issued ; whereupon the diefin. Printed at THE BRITISH PRESS Office, by J. W.
First, they will still have a chance for Five other Prizes of 20,0001. quent was taken hito custody, and fully committed to Newgate. 181, Strand; and Published by R. CANNON, OW

After a few—words of conversation, between the bench and the
ba.•
Scant.tr T proceeded to state his third and fourth propo-
sitions.

" 3. That an order not to rublish a trial while it was pending
was art order on all the King s subjects, amounting to a law, which
the Court had no jurisdiction to make.
" 4. That if the order could be considered as made for that
particular nisi, and obedience to it exacted as to an order in the
cause, it should have been made in writing, and ought to have been
served on the party before he could be punished for a contempt in
disobeying it.
The Learned Gentleman said he had reduced these propositions
to writing, because it would be found more convenient in the pro-
gress of the discussion.
Mr. Justice BAY LE Y—Vour last proposition seems rather a sin-
gular one. You appear to agree that it is an order on all the King's
subjects, but you say unless it is personally served on them all it is
of no validity.
Mr. SCAR LETT—M7 propositions, my Lord, are to this effect :
—I say the orders are either general rules, which nobody is liable
to a contempt for disobeying, or particular regulations, which can
' only become valid on personal service.
The COMMON SERGEANT—It may be, my Lord, that some
others of us may have sonic other propositions to urge. (A laugh.)
Mr. SCARLETT—I know that, as to subjects which are not of a
technical nature, Judges of course will feel and judge like other
men. I shall, therefore, not argue the policy or impropriety of the
orders which Mr. Clement infringed. I may assume that the Court
eo.is:ders them impolitic and improper, but I will not express my
owi, sentiments on the subject.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—As you are so far agreed, had you not
better prepare a plea, and submit it to the Attorney. General ?
Mr. SCAR LETT Said he would take advantage of an early day
for thatpurrose.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—NO doubt, if you hand it over to him,
he will communicate to you any difficulty he may feel, and by con-
ference and mutual agreement you will succeed in bringing the
question fairly before the Court. As your object is to raise the ge-
neral question, you will not plead any disputable
_ fact.
Mr. SCARLETT--I know of but one fact likely to be disputed ;
whether the order made by the Lord Chief Justice was reduced to
writing till after the gaol delivery ?
The ATTORNEYAILWERAL—PIeh7F that fact may be 10
stretched as to accommodate us. (A lau .)
Mr. JusticelLiri.uw—Your object, Ir. Saudett, Is to raise the
gell7question ?
18CARLET will Tale any question that may be fbr the
benefit of my client ; but the general question is by far the most
important we consider.
Mr. Justice Baxter—Yon ought to be confined to that, be-
esuse the Atlneney.General has estsceded a great deal to enable you
to argue it.
Mr. Justice Hor.aom—There will be no difficulty in framing
the record so as to meet the general question without touching any
fact that may be traversed.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY remarked, that in the Court of King's
Bench the affidavits had stated a great many immaterial facts. A
question was raised, whether Mr. Clement was out of town bona
ilde, or to avoid the service of the rule.
Mr. Bnoucurix—His being out of town was not denied.
Mr. SCAOLETT-1 believe it appears by the publication itself
that the Lord Chief Justice did make such an order. We cannot
deny that we were aware of the prohibition.
Souse conversation then took place as to some immaterial points
that were argued in the King's Bench.
Mr. SCARLET T said his argument would be that the Court had
no right of jurisdiction over the petitioner. He would rather that the
great questkn should be raised than that the cap should go off on
any_point.
Mr. BROUGHAM remarked, that the affidavit stated that the
order was not in writing.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—That is really a bye point. If it was de-
livered orally it would be taken down in writing immediately.
Mr. Justice HOLROYD—A Judge's orders are frequently parole.
Mr. SCARLETT—And I will not deny that a person may be law.
fully committed for disobeying them.
The Court and Counsel, then consulted as to a convenient day to
which to adjourn the proceedings in this appeal. It was busily
agreed to adjourn the Court conditionally to two days before the
neat term (Monday, May S.)
The Court then proceeded with some business of no public im.
penance, after which it adjourned.

went away, and did not come

PALACE COURT, FRIDAY, FEL 13.