The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-20 00:00:00

lAY 20,

THE LATE HORRID MURDER IN
CADOGAN-PLACE, CHELSEA-CORONER'S
INQLTEST.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning, at 9 o'clock, Thomas Waklev, Esq.,
M. P., and a most respectable Jury assembled at the Bed-
ford Arms Tavern, Pont-street, Cadogan-place, Chelsea,
for the purpose of investigating the death of Elizabeth
Paynton, aged 20, the unfortunate young female who was
discovered brutally murdered on Friday night last, at the
residence of her master, Mr. Edgell, of No. 21, Cadogan
place, Sloanc-street.
The shocking occurrence has created a most painful ex-
citement in Chelsea, and the surrounding districts, and at
a very early hour vast numbers of persons were as-
sembled round the above house. The anxiety was con.
siderably increased, in consequence of Alarchant, the
murderer of the poor girl, being in custody.
On the arrival of the Coroner the Jury. room was
crowded to excess. Captain Bague, Mr. France, and
other Magistrates were present.
After the Jury were impannelled in the ordinary way
they proceeded, accompanied by the Coroner, to view the
remains of the ill-fated girl, which laid on the carpet in
the drawing-room of Mr. Edgell's house. The sight was
both horrid and afflicting ; the head was nearly severed
from the body, and from the general appearance the latter
presented it is evident the deceased made a determined
resistance to the murderer's attack upon her.
On the return of the Jury to the inquest-room the
CORONER briefly addressed them on the subject of the
melancholy duty they were called upon to perform, in the
course of which he observed that the difficulties in the
case were in a great measure done away with by the ac-
cused having surrendered himself into the hands of justice.
By the Coroner's order the prisoner, who was conveyed
from Hounslow (where he surrendered himself) by In-
spector Lawrence of the T division, was brought into the
room, but immediately afterwards he became dreadfully
agitated and fainted. On his neck-kerchief being loosened
he came to, and looking wildly round the room, went into
a paroxysm of tears, in which condition he was removed
from the room. He is a man of youthful appearance, and
of rather a forbidding expression of countenance.
The following evidence was then brought forward touch-
ing this dreadful affair:—
John Middleton, coachman to Harry Edgell, Esq., a
Magistrate of the county of Middlesex, residing at No.
21, Cadogan-place, Sloane-street, was first examined.-1
knew the deceased, who was under housemaid in the same
family. I also know Merchant, the young man in custody
charged with the murder. He is footman to my master. I saw
the deceased last alive about a week since, when I went
with my master to North Cray, in Kent; about eight
I o'clock on Friday evening I returned to town with the
carriage, my master remaining at North Cray; whilst in
the stable the cook and housemaid came to me and said
they had been knocking for admission to the house for the
last hour but could make no one hear. I went round to
the back door, accompanied by a fellow-servant, and clam-
bered up to the back staircase window, but found it fas-
tened ; ultimately he burst the back-door open ; on
going into the kitchen I found neither light or fire. I
then opened the street-door for the housemaid and cook.
By the CORONER—I found the door only fastened by the
spring-lock—a person going out would leave it in that
state. I went to the top of the house, but found no one.
On coming down stairs, I went into the drawing-room, ac-
companied by Elizabeth Gough, the head housemaid ; she
entered first, and exclaimed, " Oh my God, here is Ann,
with her throat cut."
By a Juror—The deceased was called Ann to distinguish
her from another female domestic in the house.
Examination continued—The unfortunate young woman
was lying on the carpet, rather reclining on her left side,
and her feet towards the folding-door of the back drawing-
room. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, and a pool of
blood surrounded her head. She was quite dead, but her
body was warm. An open razor, covered with blood, was
lying about a yard distant from the corpse. Mr. Jay, a
surgeon, was sent for, who on first seeing the position of
the body thought she had committed suicide.
By the CORONER—When I entered the house I found
that William John Merchant was absent. I understood
from the cook that he had been left in the house with the
deceased.

By the Foreman—l know of no attachment that sub-
sisted between the deceased and Marchant. I never heard
the latter threaten to injure the deceased. I cannot ac-
count for the commission of the murder?
By a Juror—The deceased, when found dead, had only
one shoe on, the other was lying near the razor. Her
stockings were down.

William Cox, the head footman, was next examined—.
On Friday evening I returned to town with the last wit-
ness. I was present when the body of the deceased was
discovered. (This witness's deposition was, in the main
points, a corroboration of that given by Middleton.)
By the CORONER— I knew of no quarrel between
Marchant and the deceased. I am utterly at a loss to
account for Marchant committing the murder.—( The
razor with which the sanguinary deed was perpetrated was
here produced; the blade as well as the handle was
covered with blood.)
CORONER (to the witness)—Look at that razor, and say
whether you know to whom it belongs.
, Witness (examining the razor)— Yes, Sir, it is my razor.
Coeoteee—When did you last use it?
Witness—On Friday morning, Sir, after which I put it
in a case, aed placed it in a drawer in the pantry.
By the Foreman—Marchant knew where I kept my
razor. He (Marchant) was not in the habit of shaving.
The deceased and Merchant always seemed to be on the
best terms. lam not aware that any courtship existed
between Marchant and the deceased. The latter had no
male followers to my knowledge. Merchant is between 18
and 19 years of age.
By a Juror— When I left my razor in the drawer it was
quite clean and keen edged; it is now notched at the
edge, and covered with blood.
Inspector Moran of tho 13 division hero produced a
napkin, which was besmeared with blood. The witness
said he had found it in the pantry drawer.
The witness, Cox, identified it as the property of his
master.
Elizabeth Strike, cook in the family, was next brought
into the room for the purpose of being examined, but fall-
ing into violent hysterics, she was carried from the room.
Henry Jay—l am a surgeon, residing at 42, Sloane-
street, Chelsea. I this day examined the body of Anne
Paynton. I found two deep incisions extending across tho
neck; the longer incision appeared to have been inflicted
by two cuts. I judge there were two, from the great
breadth and length. The incision was about eight inches
long, and it was cut down to the bone, at the deepest part,
more than an inch. The wound on the left side was the
immediate cause of death, both the carotid artery and
jugular vein being divided. There was a cut on the inside
of the thumb and index finger of the left hand. I could
not ascertain that any personal violence had been commit-
ted. There was another surgeon, Mr. Goodger, with me.
The wounds in the thumb could not have been inflicted by
the deceased. There was a a small portion of hair in her
left hand, and it corresponded with the hair on her own
head. It appeared as if it had been recently cut by a
sharp instrument. There was no evidence to show that
her person had been violated. There were no bruises or
marks of violence on the legs or thighs.
Wm. Frederick Goodger, 13, I3entinck-street, Man-
chester-square. I am a Member of the London Col-
lege of Surgeons. I assisted at the examination of the
body. I was present with Mr. Jay, and have no doubt
the wounds in the throat were the cause of the death. I
did not examine whether the carotid artery had been di-
vided,
,bu. from the depth of the wound I infer that it must
have been divided. Her person had not been violated—
that I can state positively, from anatomical examination.
The wounds were such as were likely tc have been inflicted
by a sharp instrument, such as a razor. It is quite im-
possible they could have been inflicted by the deceased
herself.
The housemaid, Elizabeth Gough, was.then brought in.
She appeared in a ',fainting state, and was accommodated
with a chair. She stated that she was unmarried. On
Friday last I left my master's house about a quarter past
two in the afternoon. I left the footman (Marchant), the
under housemaid, and a carpenter in the house. They
were in the kitchen. We had just done dinner. Nothing
particular had passed that day at dinner. They
all appeared on the best terms with each other. The clock
was striking eight when I returned; I met the cook be-
fore I got come, and she told me she had been knocking
and could not get in. I rung, but could not get in. I
went round to the stables to try if the servants had re-
turned. They got in at the back-door, and let me in at
the front. We found tho deceased in the drawing-room,
lying: dead (witness here appeared much affected).
There was a partiality towards the deceased on the part of
Marchant, but not on hers. She was a very steady, well-
conducted girl. I thought there was partiality, from his
kindness and attention to her. She used sometimes to
play with him. I never heard him threaten her in any
way. He was always ready to do anything for her that
he would not do for the rest of the servants. I never
heard her say that there was any other person paying her
attentions. She was a very lively girl, and use to receive
his attentions in play.
Elizabeth Strike, Cook to Mr. Edgell.—l left the de-
ceasedi in the house about half-past two in the afternoon.
She was then in her bed-room, where we all three slept
in the top part of the house. I left W. J. Merchant in
the lower part of the house, where the knives and boots arc
cleaned. The upper housemaid had gone, and the car-
penter. There were no other persons in the house but the
footman (Merchant) and the deceased. I returned home
shortly after six, and remained at the door till after seven,
knocking and ringing. We got in about half-past eight,
when the other servants got admittance, and let us in.
I saw the deceased after the carpenter left the house. She
dressed me up stairs. Both prisoner and the deceased told
me not to hurry home. Marchant was gone when we got
into the house. I saw him this morning. He had an at-
tachment for the deceased, such as one servant would
have for another, but nothing more. She always kept
herself very neat. I never knew her to come down stairs
with her stockings hanging down. I have not seen her
garters since. I have not examined the stockings which
she wore. She was dressed as usual for the afternoon
when I left. The bed up stabs was just as I had left it.
Marchand was then brought in. He appeared exceed-
ingly pale and agitated, and was supported to a scat.
The CORONER said he bad been sent for to make any
statement he might think proper to the Jury with reference
to the death of Ann Paynton. He was not bound to
make any statement, nor was he bound to answer any
questions that might be put to him, but if he choose to
make any;voluntary:statement, which might be made use of
in another place and on another occasion, he was at liberty
to do so.
The prisoner, who had never looked up from the time
he entered the room, here said, in a low voice —" I have
nothing to say.
The CORONER then said that Marchant had made a
statement to the inspector of police, and he had thought it
right that Marchant should be present to hear what he had
to say. If he wished it, however, lie might retire.
Marchant said he would remain.
Wee Lawrence, inspector of 3d division of Horse
Patrol, was then examined. Last night, at ten minutes
at Staines, when the prisoner Witness i intr lye s s here
station
past six, I met the prisoner ; I wcaasinneeator tmhee.g_at(e