The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 16, 1863,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Two MURDERS AND A SUICIDE PREVENTED.—MELAN-
CHOLY CASE.—Ann Hutchinson, a married woman, 36
years of age, residing at 70, Warren•.street, Fitzroy-square,
and who appeared to be in a state of great distress, was
charged as follows :
Mr. Garforth, inspector of the E division, appeared to
watch the case.

Alice Atchison, a young female, servant to a person in
the house, said—l sleep in the house. About a quarter to
12 o'clock last night I was in my own room when the
prisoner's little girl came down to me crying, and said her
mother was going to destroy her and her little brother. I
went upstairs immediately and did my best to reconcile the
prisoner. On the table there were two knives. The
prisoner said she would destroy the children
as she was tired of her life, and that then she'
would cut her own throat. I then left the room and went
down stairs, telling the little girl that if her mother at-
tempted anything of the sort again to come down and tell
mo. I heard a noise, and the little girl came down and
said her mother was going to destroy her, that she had
caught hold of her, and was just going to cut her throat,
but she managed to escape. She also said that her mother
was about to cut her little brother's throat on the bed.
I then went upstairs and told the prisoner that if she was
going to do it she had better have some one to stay with
her. The prisoner said she wouli not have any one with
her. The prisoner then sent the little girl for a quartern
of gin and drank it, and after she had done so she seemed to
be out of her mind. The prisoner then took up the two
knives from the table and sharpened one of them on the
poker. I then sent the little girl for a constable, and went
down stairs. On my return to the room with the con-
stable I found the prisoner had cut her throat slightly with
one of the knives, there being a mark on her throat and
blood on the small knife.

Mr. Knox—Small knife I why, it is a table knife. •
Witness—The prisoner then, in the presence of the con-
stable, jumped out of bed and attempted to cut the little
girl's throat. She caught hold of the child and said she
would cut her throat, having a knife in her hand, but the
child wrested herself from her grasp, and got away. The
constable then left the room that the prisoner might put on
her clothes, and prisoner said that if the policeman did not
take her away that night, but let her stay till the next day,
she would send the little girl for some laudanum, give
it to the children, that they would then go to sleep and
never wake again. She then dressed herself, and was taken
away by the constable.
Mr. Knox—How long has she lived in the house ?
Witness—Three months, sir.
Mr. Knox—Do you know how she gets her living ?
Witness—l believe by walking the streets.
Mr. Knox—Have you ever seen her drunk ?
Witness—Only once or twice.

Police-constable House, 46 E, produced a table-knife with
blood on it, and said—l was called to the house, 70, War_
ren-street by a little girl there. I saw the prisoner there.
She said that she was in great distress, and that she had
attempted to cut her throat with one of the knives on the
table. She said, "If you leave me here to-night I shall
cut my dear children's throats." I told her that I should
take her to the station-house. I then left the room while
she dressed herself. I afterwards went in and found her
dressed and took her into custody. On the way to the
station she said that the landlady had called upon her that
day, and told her that she would turn her out of the house
the following morning. I received the following certificate
from the surgeon :
" I certify that I attended Ann Hutchinson, who has a
slight incision only skin deep, and about one inch in length,
across her throat, caused by a sharp instrument.
",G. JENKINS (tor J. Weekes), Surgeon,
4, High-street, Bloomsbury."
Mr. Knox—Prisoner, do you wish to ask any questions ?
Prisoner—No, sir.
Mr. Knox then remanded the prisoner for a week, and
ordered the children to be given up to a person in the house
who has promised to take care of them.
One of the children, a girl, is eight years of age, and the
other, a boy, six years of age.