The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-10 00:00:00

stances, where I knew there was a hereditary taint,
I should suspect that insanity would develop itself.
Cross-examined—lt is difficult in ordinary cases
to distinguish between a paroxysm of insanity and
of ordinary passion.
Re-examined—l should take into consideration
the other features of the case in forming an opinion.
Dr Copland, the author of " Copland's Medical
Dictionary," expressed his concurrence with the last
witness.

This was the case for the prisoner.
Mr. Chambers having replied,
The learned judge summed up, and the jury
found a verdict of "Not guilty, on the ,ground of
insanity."

The learned judge, therefore, ordered the prisoner
to be confined during her Majesty's pleasure.

NEW COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Crompton.)
TILE HENDON MURDER.
Yesterday, upon his lordship taking his seat in
this court, James Lawrence, 29, labourer, was in-
dicted for the wilful murder of Anne Sarah Cox, at
Hendon, on the 29th March. He was likewise
cbarged upon the coroner's inquisition.
Mr. Giffard prosecuted, and Mr. Sleigh and Mr.
Williams defended.

The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, remained
seated during the whole of the trial, and seemed in
great pain, his face presenting a most fearfully dis-
figured appearance.
The case, as stated by the learned counsel, and
corroborated by the witnesses, was that the prisoner,
who is a labouring man, lived at Mill-hill, Hendon,
and the deceased also lived there with her mother.
The prisoner was paying his addresses to her, and
had done so for some time ; and about the period
of this occurrence he entertained some feelings of
jealousy towards the deceased. For about a week
preceding the 29th, the prisoner had lodged in the
house with deceased and her mother. Upon the
morning of the 29th, about six o'clock, the pri-
soner, as usual, called the deceased as he went to
his work, and also said to Mrs. Bethel, the
deceased's mother, "good morning." Shortly after
this Mrs. Bethel heard a loud noise, and she got
up, but was unable to get out of the room. She
then raised an alarm from the window, and a
labouring man, named Shayler, who was passing,
entered the kitchen of Mrs. Bethel's house, and
there saw the deceased girl lying upon her back
with a wound in her throat. Some of the
neighbours came in and raised her upon the sofa,
shortly after which she died. A:double barrelled gun,
freshly discharged, was found standing against the
copper. The prisoner was then found to have shot
himself in the head, causing a fearful lacerated
wound, from the effects of which he was for some
time in a dangerous state in the hospital.
The case for the prosecution having closed, Mr.
Sleigh addressed the jury on the part of the
prisoner.

The learned judge having summed up, the jury
retired to consider their verdict, and, after an
absence of an hour and a quarter, returned into
court and delivered a verdict finding the prisoner
guilty of murder, with a strong desire to recom-
mend him to mercy, in the behalf that although at
the time he was responsible for his actions, he was
labouring under great excitement, and that he had
a belief that there was something wrong about the
young woman.

Proclamation having been made,
The learned Judge put on the black cap, and
passed sentence of death in the usual form, holding
out no hope of mercy, but promising to forward the
recommendation of the jury to the proper quarter.
The prisoner was then removed in a sinking state.
The jury before leaving signed a petition to Sir G.
Grey in favour of a commutation of the sentence.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF
ALLEGED JVIIOLESALE POISONING.

Yesterday Constance Wilson, alias Catherine
Taylor, who stands charged with causing the death
of Mrs. Ann Atkinson, a respectable married wo-
man, by the administration of poison, was again
placed at the bar of the Lambeth police-court be-
fore the Hon. Mr. Norton for further examination.
Mr. Chipperfield again appeared for the prosecu-
tion, and Mr, Neale for the prisoner. The court
was again much crowded.
Mr. Chipperfield, addressing the magistrate, said
that he had been in communication with the Home-
office, and had ascertained that Dr. Taylor desired
further time for the purpose of making the analysis
of the viscera of the deceased, and it was also
thought some further delay was necessary for the
ends of justice. In the case at present before the
court he would only proceed to call one witness to-
day, and then apply for a further remand.
Mr. Leonard Dixon Lund was then called into
the witness-box, and sworn. He deposed that he
resided at 7, Stanhope-street, Edgware-road, and
that he was the salesman of a wholesale furniture
warehouse. The deceased Mrs. Atkinson was his
aunt, and he first heard of her being ill on the
Thursday following, after her arrival in London.
Mr Chipperfield—How did you first hear of
your aunt's illness ?
Witness—The prisoner called at the place of busi-
ness at which I am engaged on the day before my
aunt died, and told me that my aunt, Mrs. Atkinson,
was in town, staying at her house, and that she
was very unwell, and had been so ever since her
arrival. I asked the prisoner if she had written to
Mr. Atkinson about it, and she replied " Yes, she
had telegraphed for him, and he was in town."
Mr. Norton—Did the prisoner say what the
nature of your aunt's illness was ?
Witness—She did not She merely said that she
was very ill, and had been so ever since she had
been in town ; but did not say what was the matter
with her.
Mr. Chipperfield—State to the magistrate what
else passed betweeu the prisoner and yourself on
that occasion.
Witness—She asked me to return with her to her
house in Loughborough-street in a cab; but being
rather busy at the time I could not do so.
Mr. Chipperfield—Did you afterwards go to the
prisoner's house ?
Witness—Yes, I went there on that same evening,
and there saw my aunt, who was very ill indeed.
Mr. Norton—Do you recollect the prisoner say-
ing anything to you when you got to her house,
and before you saw your aunt?
Witness—l have no doubt she spoke to me; but
I do not now recollect what she said.

Mr. Chipperfield—Go on, and state what next
occurred ?

Witness—Shortly after I got there I went up
stairs and saw my aunt, who appeared to me to be in
a very low state. She was breathing slowly, and
appeared to take very little notice of anything.
Mr. Chipperfield—Did she recognise you ?
Witness—Yes, she knew me, and called me by
my name. Looking at me she said, "Poor Dick,"
alluding to an observation of my second name of
Dixon, by which I was familiarly known by the
family.
Mr. Norton—Did she at that time say anything
to you about her being in danger?
Witness—No, sir.
Mr. Norton—Did she say anything to you about
her having been robbed at Rugby ?
Witness—Not a word.
Mr. Norton—Did she speak to you about money
matters ?

Witness—No, sir.
Mr. Chipperfield—When you first saw your aunt
was she lying quiet ?
Witness—No, sir; she appeared to be rather rest-
less, and was not quiet the whole of the time I
remained at the prisoner's house, about three hours
or three hours and a half, and was in and out of
my aunt's room three or four times.

Chipperfield—Did you observe 2 any particu-
lar symptoms while you were there .
Witness—Yes ; she retched a great deal, and
seemed to be suffering considerably.
Mr. Chipperfield—During your stay on this
occasion had you any conversation with the pri-
soner, and if Sc, what was it about ?
Witness—l had some talk with the prisoner,
but I cannot state that she said anything particular
about Mrs. Atkinson.
Mr. Chipperfield—Or about the alleged robbery
at Rugby ?
Witness—No ; I did not hear anything of that
until after my aunt's death.
Mr. Norton—Did you see your aunt take any-
thing during the time you were in the room ?
Witness—No, I do not recollect, but on the fol-
lowing day I do recollect her taking something.
Mr. Chipper field—While you were there on the
first evening did you leave the room in consequence
of anything the prisoner did or said ?
Witness—Yes, the prisoner beckoned to me to
leave the room twice or three times. I thought
she wanted to attend to my aunt, and I left the
room accordingly.
Mr. Chipperficld—Was the retching going on
then ?

Witness—Yes ;it would be about the time the
retching would be going on.
Mr. ChiPPerfielo—llid you go to the prisoner's
I house the next day P
Witness—yes ; I went there about five o'clock in
the evening, and again saw my aunt, who appeared
to be very weak, and as I thought dying. She said
it was a hard struggle, and would see her to her far
end. She complained of thirst and beekoned for water.
The prisoner was in the room and assisted in getting
water or drink when my aunt beckoned for it, and
I remember the prisoner taking Mrs. Atkinson's
feet off the bed and placing them on the floor. This
was because my aunt was very restless, and wished
her feet to be moved. I supported my aunt in my
arms, but previous to doing so I noticed that the