The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-14 00:00:00

MURDER AT CHATHAM,

Yesterday James Palmer, a workman employed in
Chatham-dockyard, underwent a lengthened examination
before the Rev. J. Formby and Mr. J. Foord, two of the
county magistrates at Rochester, on a charge of having
wilfully murdered Margaret Jones, a woman with whom
he cohabited, Thos. Sly, residing in Broad-alley, Chatham,
said he saw the prisoner and the deceased together on Sa-
turday in Broad alley, looking for lodgings. He had known
the deceased since March last. The same evening they both
came to the house in which witness lodged, and had tea
together there, They were then on very friendly terms. On
the following day the deceased came to the lodging-house
where the witness lived, and stated that she was going to
a funeral at New Brompton. About half-past 1 she left for
that purpose. She returned to the house about half• past 7
in the evening. The prisoner was in the house, waiting her
return, and had been expecting her for nearly two hours.
He frequently inquired after the deceased, and, in reply to
the prisoner's question, the landlady told him she had seen
her at the Two Sawyers publichouse. The prisoner ap-
peared vexed on hearing this, and stated that when the de-
ceased came home he would " break her nose." The de-
ceased soon after came in, and on hearing her the prisoner
rushed out to meet her, and asked her whore she had been.
The deceased made no answer, and the prisoner imme-
diately commenced striking her with his fists about the face
and head, until she fell on the Hoer. While she was lying
on the floor the prisoner kicked her once. No more words
than those stated passed between the prisoner and the de-
ceased. The landlord and landlady picked up the deceased,
and took her into the kitchen, where they washed the blood
off her face. She cried very much, and while they were
washing her she went off into a fit, in which she remained a
quarter of an hour. When she recovered consciousness the
prisoner asked her where she had been. The deceased
answered "To Mrs. Maddox." He then asked her to go
home, but she said she would not. All the parties, includ-
ing the prisoner and the deceased, then left the house. Be-
tween 9 and 10 the same night the prisoner and the deceased
returned to the house, and the witness observed that the
deceased was still bleeding from the mouth. The prisoner
again asked her to go home with him, but she again declined,
The prisoner then dealt her a violent blow with his left
hand on her face, which knocked her to the ground, and
while she was lying there he said, " There, I have done
with you, and you may go where you like." He then left
the house. Later in the evening deceased was taken from the
house by the landlord, and the witness never saw her alive
afterwards. Mary Ann M'Loughlin confirmed the evidence
of the previous witness. Ellen Totterall, a widower, said the
prisoner and the deceased came to lodge at her house in
Broad •alley, on Saturday evening last. The deceased re
presented the prisoner to be her husband. On the followJng
morning deceased left the house to go to a funeral, and did
not return all day. Between 11 and 12 that night the de-
ceased came home, and was very sick the whole night. On
Monday morning the prisoner went for a surgeon. Mr.
Seabrook, surgeon, attended the deceased. The prisoner re-
mained at home the whole of Monday, and frequently bathed
deceased's head with vinegar and water. The husband of the
deceased, a corporal in the Royal Marines, visited her the day
before her death, when the prisoner was present. In answer
to the husband the prisoner denied having struck the
deceased, and accounted for the injuries she has sus-
tained by saying she had fallen down while intoxicated.
The deceased got much worse, and died the following day.
Thos. E. F. Seabrook, M.D., said he was sent for to attend
the deceased on Monday morning, and fsund her suffering
from ill-treatment and drink. There was a bruise on
the right side of her face and also on her left temple.
The deceased complained very much of the injuries she had
sustained, The prisoner had requested the witness to attend
the deceased, and admitted to him, in answer to his ques-
tions, that he had given her a "slap." The cause of death
was the compression of the brain from the effusion of blood
occasioned by the rupture of a small bloodvessel, the rupture
having been caused by the blow given on the left temple.
The depositions having been read over, the prisoner declined
making any defence, and he was thereupon committed to
take his trial on the charge of wilful murder.