The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-18 00:00:00

The Murder near Portsmouth.

At an adjourned inquest held at Portsmouth on Monday
before the deputy-eoroner, Mr. W. Swainson, James Piper
Piper was found guilty of the wilful murder of his wife,
Emma Sophia Piper, at Fratton, on the 9th inst., and was
committed on the coroner's warrant to Winchester Gaol for
trial at the ensuing assizes for the county of Hants.
Yesterday the prisoner was brought up before the Ports-
mouth bench of magistrates for examination.

The prosecution was conducted by Mr. T. Cousins, and
the prisoner was defended by Mr. T. H. Field.
Mr. Cousins, in opening the case, said the prisoner was
34 years of age, had been apprenticed as a locomotive en-
gine-driver on the South Western Railway, had been sub-
sequently employed on the Stokes Bay Railway, but lat-
terly had been out of employ. He had married the de-
ceased about 12 months since, and had since then resided
at Gosport. Mr. Cousins then recapitulated at considerable
length the evidence intended to be adduced in support of
the prosecution, and called the following witnesses :
John George Hayward, ropemaker in her Majesty's dock-
yard—On the 9th inst., at 5 p.m., in going through Coburg-
street, Fratton, heard the shriek of a woman, and in the
adjoining street saw three women and one man, the man
striking at one of the women with his fists. Deceased was
the woman being struck at. Could not recognise the man
who was striking the deceased.
Mary Ann Oakley, wife of Charles Oakley, a retailer of
beer, residing in Fratton-road—Knew the deceased woman
and the prisoner at the bar, the husband of the deceased,
for some years. On the 9th instant the deceased and her
mother, Mrs. Lillywhite, came to witness's house at about
4in the afternoon. They remained until about 25 minutes
to 5. They had a small glass of beer between them, and a
wineglass of elder wine each. Went with deceased and her
mother to the Red House, where a quartern of gin was had
between the three. Left the Red House after a stay of
about five minutes, and witness went towards her own resi-
dence. Deceased and her mother went in an opposite direc-
tion. Witness immediately afterwards met the prisoner,
and said to him "Jem, my dear, your brother and Emma
have gone down the path." Witness ran back after the de-
ceased and her mother, and overtook them, the prisoner fol-
lowing close behind. The prisoner, on coming up to his
wife and her mother, said to the deceased, " Where have
you been ?" She replied "At Mrs. Oakley's." Prisoner
then said, " Where else have you been ?" to which deceased
replied, "Nowhere." The prisoner exclaimed, "It's a
_ _

lie," and struck her a violent blow on the face. Witness
said to the prisoner, "Stop a minute, Jem, and I'll tell you
the truth," to which he replied, "I look to her for the truth,
and not to you, Mrs. Oakley," and struck the deceased a
second violent blow in the face and made her nose bleed.
Deceased struck at the prisoner, when the latter knocked
her down by a blow on the upper part of her person, and
then lifted herhead by the hair and struck it on the curb-
stone more than once. Deceased called out " Police !" Mr.
Milligan then came up and pulled the prisoner away from
the deceased, and another witness, a Mr. Parmiter, came up
and knocked the prisoner down, telling him he ought to be
ashamed of himself for so. ill-using a woman. Deceased's
face at that time was covered with dirt and blood, and her
hair dishevelled. Witness told the deceased to go to her