The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-03 00:00:00

SUPPOSED MURDER OF TWO

CHIL.DR EN.

In the village of Preston, situate about half a
mile to the south of Faversham, a woman named
Harriet Wright is suspected of having murdered her
two illegitimate children by administering poison
to them. It is also suspected that the death of
another of her children some time previously was
not the result of natural causes. The woman is
cohabiting with a man named George Smith, the
reputed father of the two children, twins (a boy and
a girl). On Friday afternoon the county coroner,
Mr. T. T. Delasaux, held an inquest on the bodies,
when

Mr. W. N. Spond, surgeon, of Faversham,
said—
Abouteight months since I attended the mother of
the deceased children and delivered her of twins, a
boy and girl. They were both healthy full-grown
children. I was sent for yesterday morning, about
eight o'clock, and on going to the house I found the
children lying on a bed quite dead but warm. I
examined them both externally, but could not dis-
cover any marks or bruises on their bodies. There
was great pallor and lividity of the skin, which
attracted my attention, but from what cause it was
produced lam unable to say. I have since made a
post-mortem examination of the bodies of the de-
ceased. I opened the abdomen of the boy, and
found the contents perfectly healthy, without any
inflammation, I then examined the lungs, and
found them healthy. The heart was gorged with
fluid flood, but from what cause I am unable to say.
I next examined the head, and found the brain full
of fluid blood. The windpipe and gullet were free.
The child did not die from natural causes. I be-
lieve, from my examination of the body, that death
was produced from the effects of some sleeping or
composing medicine ; but I was unable to dis-
cover that any medicine of that kind had been given
to the children. The female child presented the
same appearance as the boy in every particular.
The mother said she had only given the children a
little magnesia.
George Smith was then sent for, and the nature
of the inquiry explained to him. The coroner cau-
tioned him that he was not obliged to say anything
without he liked, but that if he did it might be
used against him. He was not sworn, but he stated
that he was the father of the deceased children.
They were quite well, with the exception of cold,
when they went to bed. They were awake when
he went to bed, about two o'clock in the morning.
One child slept on one side of the mother and the
other on the other side. Did not hear anything of
them again till between seven and eight o'clock,
when they were both dead but warm. Nothing but
magnesia had been given to them as he knew of.
The Coroner then pointed out to the jury the re-
sponsible duty they had to perform, and suggested
that the stomachs of the children should be sent to
Dr. Taylor for the purpose of being analysed. This
was ordered to be done, and the inquiry was ad-
journed for a week.

IVILFUL NUI?DER IN RATCLIFF-
IIIGHTVAY. -

Yesterday (Sunday) evening James Gardner, a
seamen's boarding-house keeper, of No. 1, Denmark-
street, Ratcliff-highway, died from the effects of a
wound inflicted upon him by an Irish sailor, named
Patrick Devereux, on Thursday night last.
On Saturday morning soon after Mr. Selfe had
taken his seat on the bench at the Thames Police
Court, Dr. Ross, a physician and surgeon, of High-
street, Shadwell, stated that Gardner was in immi-
nent danger, and he believed that he believed that
he could not survive many hours. Mr. Selfe directed
that Patrick Devereux, who was under remand,
should be sent for and taken to the dwelling of the
unfortunate man. At one o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. Selfe, who was accompanied by Mr. Bowdler,
the second clerk, proceeded to Gardner's bedside.
The wounded man appeared to be sinking
rapidly; stimulants were applied by Dr. Ross, and
Gardner rallied in a wonderful manner, and gave
his evidence with remarkable clearness and preci•
sion. The prisoner Devereux, who was in custody
of Inspector Allison and Sergeant Tighe of the K
division, was introduced into the room. He is 19
years of age, very boyish in appearance, with a pe-
culiarly Hibernian countenance. He stood gaging
on his victim quite unmoved while Gardner was
giving the evidence.
The wounded man having been apprised that this
wound might prove fatal, said he was perfectly re.
signed, and knew the danger he was in.
Mr. Selfe then administered the oath, and he
deposed as follows :
"My name is James Gardner, and I keep a
boarding-house for seamen at No. 1, Denmark-
street, St. George's-in-the-East. Patrick Devereux
(pointing to the prisoner) came to lodge with me
on Saturday night, the 25th of January. Ho paid
me £3 on Thursday afternoon last. He owed me
more than that. I did not wish him to stop any
longer. He wiehed me afterwards to return him
the money, that he might pay a tailor and shoe-
maker. I refused to do so. This was about six in
the evening. I saw him three different times in
the course of the evening. He came to me at the
George and Vulture public-house in Ratcliff-high-
way. I was there with Cohen, the bootmaker, set-
tling with him for boots and shoes he had supplied.
The prisoner came to the door of the public-house
three times. He came in once, and said, " Are you
going to pay me that money ?" I said I would not.
He then went outside the door, and said, " By
Jesus, I'll let you see directly." I and Cohen were
in front of the bar four or five minutes, and then
we came out and began talking together. Patrick
Devereux, the young Irishman, here stepped
forward, and said directly, " Are you going to
pay me or not ?" I said, " Now be off with you ;
don't come tormenting me any more." He
had his right arm hanging down by his side.
I scarcely had the words out, when he said,
"Take that," and made a plunge at me, and
struck me in the lower part of my belly. Cohen
called out, "A knife ! a knife !" I had not myself
seen any knife, but I put my hand down at once,
and called out, "I am stabbed." I felt the blood
trickling down my leg. I was anxious to see what
the wound was, and I ran into the taproom, pulled
down my clothes, and found I had a severe stab,
and my bowels were protruding. In a few minutes
a policeman returned with the prisoner.
Mr. Selfe—Did you touch him or strike him, or
give him any provocation before he stabbed you ?
Gardner—l had not touched him or given him
any provocation whatever.
Mr. Selfe—Was he sober?
Gardner—He seemed to me perfectly sober. I
was sober. I never saw him carry any knife while
he was in my house. I went in a cab to the station-
house and dressed my wound.
Mr. Selfe read over the deposition taken by Mr.
Bowdler, and Gardner said it was true.
had any questions to put to the witness. He asked
several,
parnisdoner
Was asked by the magistrate if he
accompanied each with speeches and 1
observations.
Mr. Selfe said he would hear all the priso*er had
The