The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-01 00:00:00

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IHE SUN, -LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 1, 1862,

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THE LUDGATE-HILL MURDER.

GUILDHALL—(THIS DAY).
RE-EXAMINATION OF MRS. VYSE.
Mrs. Ann Cornish Vyse, who stands charged with the
wilful murder of her two children, Annie Howard Vyso,
and seven, and Alice Kate Vyse, aged five, by administer-
ing to them a quantity of powder called " Battle's vermin
killer," proved to contain strychnine, was this morning
brought from Newgate under the care of Superintendent
Howare, and placed before Alderman Wilson.
The inquiry took place in the New Court of Queen's
Bench.
At twenty minutes to 11 the prisoner entered the court,
assisted by two of the female warders of Newgate, when
the depositions of the witnesses were read. When the evi-
dence of M'Sweeny, the housemaid, was read, Mrs, Vyse
became visibly affected.
Mr. Vining attended for Mrs. Vyse.
The following additional evidence was given by
Sarah Johnson, who:said—l am cook to Mr. Vyse, and
have been in his service 18 months. On the 22d of May
last 1 saw the two children alive; they appeared to be in
their usual state of health. They were in the second floor
front room. I prepared the dinner for them, and sent it by
the housemaid to Mrs. Vyse. It consisted of cold roast beef
and rice pudding. I do not know that Battle's Vermin-
killer, or any other poisonous powder, was about in the
kitchen. lam certain there was none of Battle's Powder
in the rice pudding when I gave it to the housemaid. I did
not see the children again that day, until I saw them in the
bedroom.
Magistrate—Were they in bed and covered over?
Witness—Yes; they had their clothes on. I cannot say
whether they were alive or dead, as I did not go near them.
There was another child of Mrs. Vyse's at home at the

time. He dined with the other children and then went out.
He is ten years of age. Mrs. Vyse came into the kitchen
before the children had their dinner. They were in the
kitchen. The youngest child asked Mrs. Vyse where she
had been, and she said " I have been into the churchyard.*
She then kissed one of the children, and told them to go
up stairs, as the fire would make them ill. The eldest boy
was rot then present. Mrs. Vyse told me to send them
upstairs and I did so. The remainder of the familypartook
of the dinner I had prepared.
Alderman Wilson—What do you call the remainder of
the family ?
Witness—The young ladies of the establishment.
Examination continued—l saw Mrs. Vyse after she re-
turned home in the morning. She went to her own bed-
room. I went up to my bed-room, and I heard nothing
till I heard Miss Saunders call for assistance. It came
from Mrs. Vyse's bed-room, to which I immediately went.
On entering the room I saw Mrs. Vyse standing over the
washing-stand bleeding from the neck. I then ran down
stairs. I have seen Mrs. -Vyse since then, but the only
conversation I have had with her has been to ask her about
her health.

Alderman Wilson—ls the house infested with rats and
mice P

Witness—lt is.
Alderman Wilson—And had they damaged the ceiling
so as to require repair?
Witness—They had.
Alderman Wilson—Do do you know whether the rats
went into the bed-room ?
Witness—Yes, I have heard Mr. Vyse say so.
Alderman Wilson—Are there any other children beside
the three you have mentioned ?
Witness—Yes, two others.
Alderman Wilson—Where were they?
Witness—One at the country house, the other at school.
Alderman Wilson—What ate the ages of those two ?
itness—The youngest is about a year and eight months,
and the one at school is about eight or nine years old,

Dr. Edwin Payne said—On the 22d of May last I was
called in to attend Mrs. Vyse. I found her standing at the
washstand, supported by two persons. I ascertained that
her throat had been cut. I and Mr. Savory dressed the
wound. It was on the left side of the neck. A razor was
produced, which might have made the wound. There was
blood upon the instrument. There was nothing very posi-
tive to show whether the wound was inflicted by her own
hand. Some one standing near me while I was dressing
the wound stated that the children were dead. I then,

supposing that they might have been poisoned, asked what
the children had had. Mrs. Vyse, with some difficulty,
named " Battle's Vermin liner." I afterwards saw the
bodies of the children in the adjoining room. I then took
medical charge of the case. On visiting Mrs. Vyse the
following day she was mere quiet, less excited, but suffer-
ing from the condition she had been in previously. She was
a great deal excited on Thursday, so much so as to lead me
to desire assistance in dressing the wound. Her state was
such that I deemed it necessary she should remain on the
premises. Arrangements were made for policemen to be in
the house afterwards. A female connected with the police
remained in the room. I thought it my duty on Friday,
after the occurrence, to say it was necessary she should be
removed. She was removed after arrangements had been
made for the attendance of two nurses from the hospital.
Alderman Wilson—Up to the Friday did she give any
reason for what she bad done?
Witness—No.
Alderman Wilson—Did there appear to be more than
one cut in the neck?
Witness—Only one, and no great vessel had been injured.
Mr. "Vining—Did Mrs. Vyse make any other observation
on Thursday ?
Witness—After we had finished dressing the wound on
Thursday, Mrs. Vyse said, "Why are you all looking so
sober and sedate ? You look as if you were all at a funeral
or laying out."
Elizabeth Harrison—l am housekeeper and female
searcher at the Fleet-street police-station, and was directed
by the inspector to attend on Mrs. Vyse on the 22d of May.
I was directed to remain in the room with her. Constables
were in the adjoining room. I did not leave the room
the whole of the night. At half-past ten on the
following morning I was relieved by another per-
son. I asked no questions of Mrs. Vyse. I made
no statement to Mrs. Vyse. A person named Smith came
into the room at eight o'clock on Friday morning. He
had been sent for by Mrs. Vyse. She (Mrs. Vyse) asked
the housemaid to " tell Smith I want to speak to him."
Miss Saunders came into the room before Smith arrived,
and asked Mrs. Vyse whether she could not deliver the
message to Smith. She made no reply, and at that moment
Smith came in, and Miss Saunders left the side of the bed,
Mrs. Vyse put her hand out of bed to shake hands with
Smith, and both seemed very much grieved. She said,
" Ah, Smith, Mary has been the whole cause of this."
Smith said "Keep yourself quiet, maam ; if I could lay my
life down, or 5,000 lives to recall what you done yes-
terday 1 would do it." She replied, " It's done,
and it can't be undone." Smith is employed
in Mr. Vyse's shop. About half-past four on Friday
morning Mrs. Vyse asked if "her dear children had been
attended to." Neither myself or the nurse made any re-
ply the first time she asked. She asked again, and I said
" No." Mrs. Vyse asked " Why," and I told her it was
not usual until the coroner's inquest had been held.
Alderman Wilson--Did Mrs. Vyse, during the Thurs-
day, appear restless?
Witness—She was restless, made sudden starts and s
moaning noise, but nothing that could be understood.
William Smith—l am porter and general messenger in
the employ of Mr. Vyse. I have been in his and bis father's
employ for nearly 28 years. I was living with Mr. Vyse's
father when Mr. Valentine Vyse was married in 1851. I
saw Mrs. Vyse go out on the 22d of May about two o'clock
in the afternoon, I went away about three, but
when I returned, and found what had occurred, I went to
the front room on the third floor and saw the two children
dead. I did not go into Mrs. Vyse's room. I was sent for
on the following Friday morning. I was in an excited
state, having been up all the previous night, and drinking
1 a great deal more than lam accustomed to take. I don't
know who brought the message. I don't recollect speaking
to Miss Saunders. Mrs. Vyse put her hand out of bed to
take mine, but in the state that she was in whatever remark
she made I cannot now recollect,
Alderman Wilson—You don't give the court any infor-
mation.

--_____
Witness—l cannot. I could hear nothing but a guttural
sound come from her throat. It sounded like, " What will
he do with me," or " What will they do with me."
Alderman Wilson—What did she mean by " What will
she do with roc, ?"
Witness—l don't know. -
Alderman Wilson—What did you say p
Witness— I was so excited and distressed that I could not
be answerable for what I said to her.
Alderman Wilson—Did this excitement arise entirely
from drink ?
Witness—Only partially.
Alderman Wilson—Then you don't recollect anything
of what has been said about dying for her ?
Witness—l do not.
Alderman Wilson—Then you don't know the person
Mary she refers to ?
Witness—No, I do not.
Alderman Wilson—That you swear ?
Witness—Yes. There is a servant maid Mary.
Alderman Wilson—N o one else ?
Witness—l solemnly swear I don't know whom the Mary
is Mrs. Vyse mentioned when she said "Mary has done
this."
Alderman Wilson—Do you know any of the workpeople
named Mary ? 3.
Witness—l do not. ..
i
Alderman Wilson—You don't wish to tell the truth, that
I see plainly. Do you mean to say you do not know'the
Christian names of the people who serve in the shop ?
Witness—No; they are all addressed as " Miss."
Caroline Bogie—l am a nurse in St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital. I went to Mrs. Vyse on the 22d of May. I was
present all night with the witness Harrison. I was not in
the room when Smith was sent for. lam still in attend-
ance on Mrs. Vyse•
I did not hear her make any observa-
tions on this unfortunate matter. She spoke several times
during the first night I was with her, but not in a way that
I could understand.
The witness Smith was here recalled.
Alderman Wilson—When did you first receive your sum-
mons to attend ?
Smith—l WAS pot summoned at 0.11. Mr. Stuchhury told

me last night I should be wanted, and I attended accord-
ingly.

Alderman Wilson—After you were told to attend hero
last night did you tell anybody that yin were coming here
this morning ?

Witness-4 might have done so—l don't recollect.
Alderman Wilson—You don't choose to recollect any-
thing, that I can see very clearly. I have no other ques-
tions to put to you.

M'Sweeny, the housemaid, recalled—Mrs. Vyse gave me
the dinner to take to the children. Other persons were
dining at the table when the children's dinner was sent to
them. By that I mean the female assistants. I don't
know how many dined at the table that day. I gave the
dinner to the children as I received it from Mrs. Vyse.
Mrs. Vyse dines at Ludgate-hill during the business sea-
son, and so does Mr. Vyse, but not always at the same time.
He dines with the young ladies and helps to carve for them.
I know the names of some of the young ladies, but I don't
know whether that of any of them is "Mary."
By Mr. Vining—l can't say how many young ladies
dine there during the day. Mrs. Vyse dines with the young
ladies when Mrs. Vyse is otherwise engaged. Some of the
people board themselves out of doors, When Mrs. Vyse
is not there Miss Saunders presides at the dining table.
This has been the practice during the whole of the time I
have been in the service.

Mr. Pearson said that was the whole of the evidence,
upon which he asked for the committal of the prisoner to
Newgate on the charge of wilful murder.
The depositions were then signed, and the prisoner was
fully committed to Newgate for trial for wilful murder.