The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AtTGUST 18, 1862.

anything to say, the son replied—"l am innocent."
The daughter—" And I, too, sir." The mother—
" I am innocent, the girl is the guilty party."
The Judge, in passing sentence, said the priso-
ners had had a patient trial, and the verdict of the
jury was justified by the evidence. It was evident
that all the prisoners were present at the birth. The
jury had acquitted them of the murder, they not
being satisfied that the child had been born fully
alive. Giving the verdict its reasonable meaning he
must think that they never intended the child
should live. If the child was not murdered it was
solely because it was not born alive. There was
evidence to convict them of the offence, and even
evidence to convict them of the capital offence ; as
it was they were convicted of the lesser offence, and
it was as bad an instance of the offence as it possi-
bly could be. If the child was not murdered it was
not owing to them. He could make no distinction
between them, and should pass upon them the
severest sentence the law allowed, two years' im-
prisonment.

_
The prisoners were then removed. They had
shown no emotion during the trial, but on the pass-
ing of the sentence their calmness forsook them-

THE EXT_RAORDINA.RY CHARGE OF

TVIIOLESALE POISONING.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL TESTIMONY•

On Saturday evening last Constance Wilson, alias
Catherine Taylor, was again brought before the
Hon. G. C. Norton, at the Lambeth Police-court,
for further, and, it was supposed, final examination,
on the several charges preferred against her for the
wilful murder, by poison, of the late Mrs. Atkinson,
of Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland, in October,
1860 ; and of Mrs. Soames, of Alfred-place, Bedford-
square, in October, 1856.
Mr. Chipperfield, as before, appeared to conduct
the prosecution in both cases ; and Mr. Neale for the
defence.

on the prisoner being placed at the bar, Mr.
hippfield intimated to the magistrate that not only
were Mr. Renore and Mr. Whid bourn, the medical
gentlemen who attended the deceased ladies, pre-
' sent, bat also Dr. Taylor and Mr. Nunneley, of
Leeds, who had made an analysis of portions of the
remains of the deceased, were now in attendance
prepared to give the result of that analysis. Though
there were several witnesses then in attendance in
the case of Mrs. Soames, he proposed, in order to
relieve the medical gentlemen from having again
to appear, to take their evidence at once, and with
the permission of the Court he wculd proceed with
that which applied to the case of Mrs_ Atkinson.
Mr. Norton acquiesced in this course of proceed-
ing, and
Mr. Thomas Nunneley, of Leeds, and Fellow of
the Royal College of Surgeons, was called and sworn,
and presented his written report of the analysis of
portions of the body of Mrs. Ann Atkinson, and
which he had received on April 23d last from an
officer of police.

The document thus handed in was read by the
Chief Clerk, who transferred it into a formal depo-
sition. It commenced by stating that the parts of
the body submitted to analysis presented a pecu-
liarly offensive odour. They were not however de-
composed. Indeed, the preservation of their tex-
ture was remarkable, considering the long period
which had elapsed since death. All the organs were
atrophied and attenuated, though preserving their
form and general character. Then the liver only
weighed 22 ounces, the average weight in the
healthy living female being over 50 ounces. The
kidney weighed 11 of an ounce instead of 5 or 6
ounces ; and the spleen weighed little more than
one-third of an ounce, instead of 5 or 6 ounces. The
wasting of the coats of the stomach and intestines
was in a corresponding degree. The liver was of
an uniform grey slate colour; its peritoneal coat
was distinct, and neither upon it nor on any part
of the other viscera were there any indications of
their having lymph effused or adhesions formed
during life such as might have been formed by in-
flammation of the parts. Hence the idea of this
having caused death, so far as the evidence is of any
value, is negatived. The coats of the stomach were
extremely thin ; it was completely empty, except
that its whole inner surface was uniformly covered
by a homogeneous pultaceous matter, of a dark cho-
colate colour, without a particle f food or other
solid in it. There was an ounce and a half of this
matter, and on its being carefully removed the
mucous membrane under it was found to be thrown
into folds, as though the stomach had been empty
and strongly contracted before death. It was of a
red colour, with patches of a darker hue. With
the exception of the CCOCUM, the entire length of the
intestinal canal was completely empty, and in this
part of the gut there was a small quantity of mat-
ter precisely similar to that found in the stomach.
The mesentery, the omentum, the large intestine,
and the kidneys, were loaded with fat, showing that
there had not been any emaciation before death.
Under the conditions in which these parts were pre-
sented, if any noxious agent were present it could
only be discovered by the complete destruction of
the tissue in which it might be locked up. This
had been performed with the greater part of the
viscera, with the following results. (The witness
here intimated that all the materials and chemicals
used were tested and found to be pure, and per-
fectly free from arsenic or other substances likely
to interfere with the investigation.) The following
parts were separately analysed, and by the process
known as Reisnch's, all yielded distinct metallic
stains upon the copper foil boiled with the struc-
tures and hydrochloric acid. First the rectum,
when the coating on the copper was decided.
Second, five ounces of the liver yielded dark grey
stains on several pieces of copper. Third, the colon,
or large intestine, gave the same stains. Fourth,
the lower end of the small intestine, with the
"num, gave a similar colour to the copper. Fifth,
the small gut gave similar results. Sixth, one
half of the stomach itself yielded the same metallic
coating ; but the thick matter scraped from its
surface did not give any coating to the copper
boiled with it. Seventh, the kidney gave as
distinct stains as the liver did. Eighth, from
the little spleen the same evidence was obtained.
Ninth, the small quantity of red fluid which had
drained from the viscera also yelded the same grey
dark coating to the copper. Tenth, the omentum
yielded a like but much less distinct stain. Eleventh,
part of the coated copper from the small intestine
was placed in a short sublimating tube, and yielded
on a sup of microscopic glass a few very minute
octohedral crystals. 12th, the copper coated from
the omentum was similarly treated, and also yielde
a few similar crystals. 13th, part of the copper
used in the analysis of the stomach and liver gave
decided crystals of arsenious acid. 14th, from
the copper used in the analysis of the rectum an
equally evident layer of octohedral crystals was ob-
tained. From a minute sublimate obtained from the
copper used in the larger intestines analysis a slight
yellow stain was seen to be formed on the addition
of water and the ammonia-nitrate of silver. A sub-
limate obtained from the copper used with the
spleen was boiled in distilled water, and one portion
of this yielded a green precipitate on the addition
of the ammonio-sulphate of copper. Six ounces of
the liver were treated with sulphuric acid, dried,
and then with nitric acid, for being used in Marshe's
apparatus, and the result was a mere stain, which
yielded so slight a yellow colour with the ammonio-
nitrate of silver that the result must be regarded as
negative. Another portion of the liver was first
dried and tested with sulphuric acid until carbonised
and dry, and subsequently with nitric acid, for use
in Marshe's apparatus, and the result was similar
to that in the last experiment, namely, negative,
except a staid too slight to be relied on. This re-
sult (continued the witness), I am convinced, is only
what might be expected, and will, I believe, be
found to occur in similar circumstances when the
quantity of absorbed arsenic is small, and is com-
bined with the animal tissues, in the condition those
submitted to me were ; for the difficulty of driving
off the water and securing the entire disintegra-
tion, so as to get the ars.'snic free without the loss of
it is so great that I regard this process--though
much used and very satisfactory where arsenic
exists in a, large quantity or in a condition
of ready solubility—as of much less delicacy
than iteinsch's, and consequently of much less value
in a case like the present. Considering that by
Reinsch's process metals of a characteristic iron
grey colour were obtained from so many different
viscera, that from at least four of these distinct
minerals octohedral crystals were sublimated, and
that no other substance than arsenic will yield such
results ; considering that a minute portion of com-
mon white arsenic treated as nearly as possible in a
litre manner yielded corresponding results, I can
verarrive at no other conclusion than that arsenic was
and that most, if not all, of the organs of the body,
of the 'Zit had been introduced during the lifetime
perioaZite!.ed, and that probably at some short
present in t'al_or to death. That the quantity actually
was mane :14 one organ at the time the analysis
stilts of Marsha is proved by the negative re-
liquid tests ; bot ttZts and the slight results of the
brt, evidence obtained
do
ot
not destroy the positive
whole of the viscera harTher processes. As the
sis, it is very probably thrle r'telleen used in the analy-
*a further and more compit,tl:%ienziamogipiaourttioionnso,fwtihthe

coated copper already obtained, may:confirm more
decidedly the opinion I now give.
Mr. Chipperfield asked if the witness wished to
make any addition to his report.
Mr. Nunneley replied that in consequence of a
recommendation to that effect the body of the late
Mrs. Atkinson had been re-exhumed on Monday,
June 22 last. He was present on that occasion at
Kirby Lansdale, and had removed the whole of the
remaining viscera, as well as portions of the mus-
cles from different parts of the body, and also part
of the brain. He was quite sure that those por-
tions had not been before removed or disturbed.
These were placed in jars and sealed by witness,
and forwarded to Professor Taylor, in con-
junction with whom he subsequently made an
examination. From the kidneys which he had
sent up, by the application of tests, minute mi-
croscopic globules were obtained which pos-
sessed more the character of mercury than
arsenic. And on further investigation of the
stain on the copper foil proof of the presence
of arsenic was not obtained, and the conclusion to
which he had now arrived was, that there was no
proof that the death of the deceased was caused by
arsenic, but that it was caused, in all probability,
by some other irritant poison.
Mr. Chipperfield—Are you prepared to say that
arsenic was not used, or simply that you found no
evidence of its presence ?
Witness —I did not find such proof of arsenic that
I could swear to its presence. The presence of octo-
hedral crystals is only one portion of the proof of
presence of arsenic, and it requires to be confirmed
by other tests before it can be sworn to.
Supposing death to have been caused by an irri-
tant poison, might solution of arsenic form one of
the agents used, and leave no trace ?—lt is possible
it might be one of the agents.
Can you say it was not used P—The analysis
affords no proof that it was used.
Mr. Norton—ln consequence of the body remain-
ing so long interred chemical changes must have
taken place. Would not that make it more diffi-
cult, if not impossible, to detect arsenic ?
Witness—Yes, if the quantities administered had
been extremely minute.
In reply to Mr. Chipperfield the witness said it
was quite possible that arsenic might have been the
cause of death, and a great portion or the whole of
it expelled from the body by absorption. Besides,
arsenic might be given and effect great misehiefs,
but be carried off by vomiting and purging, so as to
leave no trace of it, supposing a person lived some
days after it had been taken, His reason for think-
ing that death had been caused by some irritant
poison was partly from the appearance of the body,
which was that of a person who had enjoyed good
health and free from disease. The lungs and viscera
were covered with fat. There was no organic disease
in the chest, head, or abdomen. There was no trace
of inflammation which would account for a person's
death. The stomach and the whole of the intes-
tinal canal were completely empty, showing that
there had been violent vomiting and purging,
which had carried off everything, immediately be-
fore death. The stomach was rather contracted,
and its lining membrane contained patches of a
dark-red colour, such as are seen when some irri-
tant poison had been administered. A vegetable
poison, such as colchicum wine, or in any other form,
would produce the appearance he had discerned
and described, but colchicum would not be dis-
coverable at this distance of time.
In reply to Mr. Neale, the witness said that be-
yond what he had stated he did not find any evi-
dence of any irritant poison.
This having completed the testimony of Mr.
Nunneley, it was signed by that gentleman.
Doctor Alfred Swane Taylor was next called,
and proved that, on the 24th of June last he re-
ceived portions of the remains of the deceased Mrs.
Atkinson, at Guy's Hospital. The viscera were
much decomposed, but the form and structure of
the heart, lungs, and kidneys could be still dis-
tinguished ; the lungs were tough and firm, and of
a dark slate colour. The fat around the kidneys,
as well as on the muscles, was partly changed to
adipocire. There was nothing to indicate the effects
of disease or poison in the parts of the body sent for
examination. Owing to the body having been
buried for the long period of twenty months the
organs had undergone such changes from decompo-
sition as to render it impossible to form an opinion
of the condition in which they were at the time of
death, for those parts of the body which generally
contained poison in the largest quantity, if present
in the body at the time of death, had been removed,
and as I had been informed were entirely employed
in the analysis made by Mr. Nunneley, the last
witness, in April, 1862. The parts to which I refer
are the stomach, the large and small intestines with
their contents, the liver, the spleen, and one of
the kidneys. These I subjected to the following
analyses :—First, two ounces of the red liquid,
which was derived from the jar containing
the whole of the viscera, were examined for arsenic,
antimony, and mercury, but none of those poisons
were present. Secondly, three ounces and a half of
the lungs were tested by a similar proceess, but no
arsenic or other matter was detected. Inconsequence
of these negative results in my preliminary testing
of the remains, I invited Mr. Nunneley to attend at
the laboratory at Guy's Hospital, in order that we
might analyse portions of the body together, and he
was present on Saturday, June 28, when the re-
maining kidney was selected for our conjoint ex-
periment. The materials to be employed having
been tested and their purity determined, the kid-
ney, which weighed lioz., was submitted to
Reinsch's process. A very small portion of pure
copper foil was used, in order that the minutest
trace of arsenic up to the 500th part of a grain
might not escape detection. After boiling the
liquid a sufficient time, the copper was removed
and presented a slight tarnish, but not like that
produced by arsenic. Another piece of copper was
then introduced and this was tarnished in a similar
manner, but in a less degree. The tarnished copper
was then tested, but no crystals of arsenious acid
could be obtained. There were seen under the
microscope some globules of moisture and some
minute globules presenting the character of metallic
mercury. On the same occasion, Mr. Nunneley
produced for examination a number of slips of cop-
per foil, which he had employed in testing by
Reinsch's process in April, 1852. These were cut
into small pieces and tested specially for arsenic,
with the usual precautions, and the result was that
neither Mr. Nunneley nor myself could extract from
these pieces of copper any crystals of arsenious acid.
The stained copper from the liver, rectum, and
kidney was also examined, with negative results.
The portions of copper selected for these experi-
ments were those which presented the dark grey
coating in the strongest degree. Globules alone
were visible under the microscope, with the exception
of the sublimate derived from the stained copper of
the kidney:analysed by Mr. Nunneley in April
last. In this case minute globules resembling
those of metallic mercury were perceptible, and
they had the form and character of the globules
observed in the sublimates derived from the remain-
ing kidney analysed by us on the 28th June. As
some of them were measured by the micrometer and
were found to be not more than the 4,000 th part of
an inch in diameter, it is obvious that any crystals
of arsenic of a similar size would have been visible
under the microscope. I have since submitted to
further examination six ounces of the lungs of the
deceased, with a view to determine whether, by
operating on a large quantity, the results would be
different. There was a slight tarnish on the small
piece of copper used, but this was unlike the effect
produced by arsenic. On applying further tests to
the tarnished copper no arsenic was detected. A
sample of the earth of the grave in which the coffin
had been deposited was analysed, and it was found
to contain a small quantity of arsenic. The conclu-
sions which I drew from this analysis and investi-
gation are, first, that those parts of the deceased's
body which were sent to me for examination, viz.,
the lungs, one kidney, and a portion of the blood,
contained no arsenic. 2d. That the only metallic
substance found by analysis consisted of minute
globules presenting the character of mercury, and
those were separated from the kidney. 3d. That
in reference to the research for arsenic, Mr. Nun-
neley has ex
for examining,
and I have not had an oppor-
tunity for examining, the stomach and intestines
and their contents, as well as the whole of the liver
detected after death—while I have examined, and
Mr.and spleen—parte in which poison is more commonly
Nunneley
has not examined, the lungs, and I
have found no arsenic there. 4th. That the only
parts of the body that have been examined by both
of us are the red, or bloody, liquid drained from
the viscera and next the kidney. In his analysis of
these parts in April, 1862, Mr. Nunneley ob-
tained a dark grey coating on copper, from
which, however, it appears he obtained nothing
to show that in either case the coating was caused
by arsenic. In my
analysis on the 26th of June
the bloody fluid refused to give a coating or
tarnish to the copper, while the kidney analysed by
and
Mr. Nunneley myself on the 28th June caused
a slight tarnish
or deposit on the metal, from which
no arsenic could be procured, but globules resem-
bling those of intrcury were obtained. sth. That
the samples of
stained or coated copper foil pro-
duced by Mr. Nunneley in representing parts of
the zesults obtained by him in his analysis of the
liver, rectum, and kidney of the deceased in April,
1862, when fureEer
tested by both of us on the 28th
of June, yielded no arsenic. 6th, That although a
trace of a substance resembling arsenic was found
in the earth of the grave surrounding the coffin in
which the deceased was buried, this could not ac-
count for the presence of arsenic (if present) in
the
viscera examined by Mr. Nunneley.
In reply to IVII. Chipperfield, Dr. Taylor said that
supposing a vegetable irritant poison to have been

administered to the deceased, he should not expect
to have found a trace of it after the long period of
time which had elapsed since the death ; but sup-
posing arsenic in a fluid form to have been admini-
stered immediately before death he should expect
to have found some traces of it remaining. If col-
chicum had been administered previous to death he
should not expect to have found it at the period of
time which had elapsed in this case. He could form
no opinion from the appearances of the portions of
the body submitted to him of the cause of death.
He had not had the same opportunity of judging
on this point that Mr. Nunneley had, and he could
only say that the heart of the deceased was in a very
healthy state, and that the appearance of the kid-
ney did not indicate anything as to the state of the
body at the time of deaan
In reply to Mr. Norton,
Dr. Taylor said he entertained no idea that the
arsenic detected in the earth taken from the grave
arose from the body of the deceased, because arsenic
was occasionally found in the soils containing oxide
of iron. With regard to the presence of one mini-
ral substance which was found in the body,
namely, a small quantity of mercury, he wished
to add that on its discovery he obtained from Mr.
Nairn, the medical gentleman who attended the de-
ceased, a copy of his prescriptions, and he found
that a dose of calomel had been administered to the
deceased on October 15, two days before her death,
and that would account for the mercury found. He
had no doubt that a person might die from the
effects of arsenic and none be found in the body. It
might pass away by the process of elimination, but
that would require from 10 to 15 days, and it might
be carried off by vomiting or with the urine: The
shortest time he knew of traces of arsenic in the
body was eight days after it had been taken, but in
that case the quantity was very small.
This concluded the evidence of Dr. Taylor as re-
garded the case of Mrs. Atkinson. Dr. Taylor,
however, informed the court that portions of the
blood, lungs, and the entire heart of the deceased
had been reserved for further examination if it
should be considered necessary. The learned doc-
tor here signed his deposition, when Mr. Chipper-
field requested that he might be again sworn to
give evidence in the case of Mrs. Soames.
Dr. Taylor was accordingly sworn, and proved
on oath the following report, read by the chief
clerk :—" On Tuesday, July 20,1862, my assistant,
Mr. Prior, received from Sergeant White, at the
chemical laboratory, Guy's Hospital, certain por-
tions of the remains of the deceased, contained in
six jars, well secured, sealed, and labelled. There
was a seventh jar, containing sawdust from the
coffin, and three paper parcels containing earth,
taken from the surface of the grave in which the
body was buried from immediately above the coffin
as well as from the side of the coffin. Five jars
contained the stomach, intestines, liver, lungs, and
one kidney of deceased, and another jar contained
a quantity of fluid from the cavities of the body.
On Monday, July 30, these jars were opened in the
presence of Dr. Miller, professor of chemistry in
King's College, London, and portions of the
viscera were delivered to him for analysis.
These were parts of the stomach, intes-
tines, and liver, with the whole of the lungs.
The parts which I reserved for analysis were, with
the exception of the liver, scarcely recognis-
able. They. were sodden and white, of a most of-
fensive odour, and had undergone a conversion into
adipocire. All appearances whether of disease or
poison, as they may have existed at the time of
death, had been destroyed by the decomposition
which had taken place. One half of the stomach
and intestines, a large portion of the liver (in two
separate analyses), and the whole kidney, with the
watery liquids removed from the body, were sub-
mitted to the usual chemical processes for the de-
tection of mineral poison, especially of arsenic, an-
timony, mercury, and other compounds. The result
was, that no trace of any of those substances, or of
any mineral or metallic poison could be detected in
the remains. No vegetable poison taken in a fluid
state could be detected in a body which has been
interred for the long period of six years.
"The conclusion from this analysis is, therefore,
that there was no poison which could be detected
by chemical processes present in the remains of the
deceased. This, however, is quite consistent with
the fact, that the death of the deceased may have
been caused by some irritant vegetable poison. The
proof of this must rest upon other branches of evi-
dence."
In answer to interrogatories, Dr. Taylor said
that if any poisonous mixture containing either ar-
senic, antimony, or mercury, had been taken by the
deceased within 52 hours of her death he should
have expected to have found some traces of it in her
remains. If arsenic had been administered in such
a quantity as to cause death it would not be en-
tirely eliminated or passed into the system. No
doubt arsenic might be expelled by vomiting and
purging, but if the person died within 52 hours he
should expect to find traces of the poison. No
doubt arsenic might be expelled by vomiting and
purging, but produce such an inflammation as to
terminate fatally.
Mr. Chipperfield here asked Dr. Taylor what
opinion he formed with respect to these cases upon
the other evidence which had been adduced during
the inquiry, upon which Mr. Norton ob-
served that that was a question which must be
reserved for the trial; and Dr. Taylor remarked
that he could not give any opinion unless he read
the depositions very carefully, or heard the evidence
given in open court before the judges.
Dr. Taylor, Mr. Nunneley, and several other wit-
nesses in the case, were then bound over to appear
and give evidence on the two distinct charges of
wilful murder against the prisoner at the sessions
of the Central Criminal Court, to be holden on Mon-
day, the 22d of September next.
In consequence of the lateness of the hour and the
number of witnesses still to be examined, the pri-
soner was further remanded to a future day.

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN SHAD WELL.

Walter Hill, a man of colour, who has been in
custody three weeks, was brought up on remand,
before Mr. Selfe, at the Thames police-coUrt, on
Saturday, charged with cutting and wounding
Laura Myers, alias Honora Morris, with many
other aliases, with intent to murder her or do her
grievous bodily harm.
The prosecutrix, who is a most incorrigible thief,
and has been in custody 50 times for various
offences, vas brought from the London Hospital to
give evidence. She was in a very weakly condi-
tion, and it was quite wonderful that she had sur-
vived half-a-dozen stabs in different parts of her
body and the great loss of blood she had sustained.
On being sworn, she stated that at the time she was
assaulted by the prisoner she was intoxicated, and
could not recollect what the prisoner did to her.
She was in the London Hospital when she came to
her senses, with a good many wounds on her back,
arm, and shoulder, and belly. She met with the
prisoner on the night of the 26th of July, and he
went home with her. On the following morning
early he charged her with taking his boots and
trousers, and she said she had taken them. She
was then stupid with drink.
James Harwood, a labourer, of 15, Victoria-
street, Bluegate-fields, Shadwell, said that on the
morning of the 27th of July, about seven o'clock,
he saw the prisoner and the woman Myers, whom
he knew as Irish Norah, in Victoria-street. The
woman's face was all over blood and dirt, and she
was crying and screaming. She ran away, and the
prisoner went after her and seized her, and, after
turning her round, stabbed her repeatedly with a
shoemaker's knife, and left her bleeding on the
ground. The prisoner then ran away.
Mr. David Hyman Dyte, house surgeon at the
London Hospital, said that the woman Myers was
admitted there on the morning of Sunday, the 27th
of July, at half-past seven o'clock. She had a
punctured wound on her shoulder, in which a shoe-
maker's knife was firmly embedded, the whole length
of the blade, which was four inches by measure-
ment, being quite buried up to the handle. The
knife penetrated the bone, and required the ap-
plication of very great force before it could be
pulled out or the shoulder. There was an incised
wound of the back 1! inch deep, a smaller
wound of the same kind a little below that, a wound
in the right loin, and two other wounds. The pa-
tient was extremely ill when admitted, and suffer-
ing much from the shock and from exhaustion.
The wounds were calculated to do grievous bodily.
harm. The woman had been under medical treat-
ment ever since, and was not entirely recovered.
Poll se-sergeant Edward Dillon, 19 K, stated that
on the morning of Sunday, the 27th ult., he was
called to Bluegate-fields, and saw the prisoner and
the woman Myers there. Hill had nothing on but
his shirt and stockings, and said he had been robbed
in the house No. 2 Victoria-place, of all his money
and:his clothes, and that Myers was the thief. She
denied having robbed him, spat in his face, and
called him a black-looking nigger. She was pro-
ceeding to more violence when he separated them,
and told the prisoner to go home and obtain some
clothes, and when he had put himself into decent
trim to return to him, and he would look after his
property. The next thing he heard of the parties
was that the prisoner had murdered the woman,
He went after the prisoner, and took him into
custody. The prisoner said, " Whatever has hap-
pened, I did The witness then produced a shoe-
maker's knife, the blade of which was covered with
r
blood. se
Sergeant Dillon also said that the prisoner
walked a quarter of a mile to obtain the knife, and
said he intended to kill the woman.
The prisoner, a West Indian, about 25 years of
age, on being called upon for his delence, said—The
woman robbed me of everything. That is all I have
got to say. , She met me and asked me if I would

go home with her. She took me to a house in Blue-
gate-fields. I had £4 10s. in my pocket in gold,
three half-crowns, and ss. likewise. I had just put
on a new suit of clothes, which cost me £3, and had
a new pair of black trousers in a bundle. I promised
to give her ss. for the night. Next morning, when
I asked for my clothes and my new pair of
trousers, to my surprise they were gone,
and the woman then knocked me about
my face, and said she had pawned everything
and left them in a pawn shop. I began to
make a noise, and five or six other women came
up and ill-used me, and this woman dragged me
by the collar and pushed me about. I then
struggled and tried to get away from them. I went
and searcbed for a police-constable, and found one
who went in search of the things that were lost and
my money, and could not find anything. I met
Police-sergeant Dillon, who told me to go home and
get clothes to put on, and come back and he would
see what he could do for me. I went to the nearest
place and got a shipmate's trousers and put them
on. I found a knife there, that one in the police-
sergeant's hand. I was coming along. I saw no
policeman. The same woman, as I was coming
back, I saw with a mob, who came round me, and
she spat in my face and called me names and began
scratching me, so that, with the vexation of being
robbed of my money and clothes, I struck her with
my knife.
Mr. Selfe recalled the prosecutrix and asked her
how many times she had been in custody for rob-
bing seamen in the vile dens in Bluegate-fields.
Witness—l don't know how many times.
Mr. Selfe— Twenty times to my knowledge.
Will you undertake to say how many times.
Witness—l don't know how many times.
Mr. Selfe—Twenty times before me is a most
moderate allowance. (Laughter.) Really this is
no laughing matter. See what it leads to—murder
and suicide a few weeks ago, and almost to murder
again. Now, I tell you what, yon are one of the
most infamous women in the district. You have
never taken home a seaman without robbing him.
Is not that so, Roche ?
Roche (the gaoler of the court)—Yes, your wor-
ship. She has been here over and over again for
robberies, assaults, and disorderly conduct.
Dillon—She is a most audacious and incorrigible
thief. The woman who keeps the house No. 2, Vic-
toria place, is a thief, and has had four years' penal
servitude. Two women named Annie Hall and
Black Sall, who assisted in robbing the prisoner,
have absconded.j
Mr. Selfe—Bluegate-fields is a most vile place.
Many sailors have been plundered there. The case
against the prisoner is made out, and I must com-
mit him for trial at the Old Bailey Sessions for
cutting and wounding, with intent to murder or do
grievous bodily harm.

ANOTHER DREADFUL MURDER IN 7HE

NORTH.

NEWCASTLE-OE.TYNE, SATURDAY NIGHT.

The greatest consternation has been caused in
Newcastle this evening by a diabolical murder
which has been committed on the Quay side, close
beside Old Tyne Bridge, and in the very busiest
thoroughfare. The victim is a little old man, a kind
of town character, called Patrick Rogers, but better
known as " Needle Jack," and his murderers are
Thomas Miller and John Dixon, two men well-
known to the police. Rogers, who sold needles on
Tyne Bridge on the Saturdays, had been drink-
ing -in a tavern kept by Mr. Temperly, at the
Bridge-end, and had come out of that public-house
about two o'clock in the afternoon. He had pro-
ceeded into a convenience at the High Crane, when
he encountered the two men alluded to and several
other persons. Rogers being a little man, and
somewhat eccentric in his habits, had long been a
butt for the blackguards who frequent that part of
the quay; and having recently come out of gaol,
where he had been confined for drunkenness,
the two men commenced to chaff him. They
afterwards began to knock him about, and one of
them lighted A match and set fire to his hair. The
poor creature ti; en attempted to get away from
them and to escape on to the quay, when one of the
ruffians said to him, "If you stir I'll kill you." The
poor man still continued to struggle with them,
when they deliberately took L'im up and pitched
him head foremost down one of the holes of the
privy into the river. He had evidently been
stunned by his head striking against a
projection ;
for though when he was washed out into the river
and
his hands could be observed above the water,
he shouted for help, he only made a feeble struggi:'•
Two vessels were moored alongside the quay a little
below the place, and he was sucked under the stern
of one of them and drowned. As soon as the villains
threw the old man into the hole they ran off. The
detective force having ascertained who the fellows
were made after them. Miller had taken across
Tyne Bridge into the county of Durham, but was
run down and captured by the Gateahead police
within an hour after the murder had been com-
mitted. Dixon was captured in a house in the
Castlegate. Both prisoners were removed to the
Manors police-station, and were charged with the
crime and locked up. The body of the poor man
has not been ro.vvclvd.

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN KENT.

SITTINGBOURNE, SATURDAY EVENING.
This morning William Johnson and Edward
Johnson, father and ,son, carrying on business as
coal, corn, and potato dealers at Sheerness, were
brought before the sitting magistrates. After some
additional evidence had been taken, the Bench de-
liberated for some time, and Mr. Twopenny, the
chairman, said that though there were some most
suspicious and extraordinary circumstances con-
nected with the case, the evidence was not sufficient
to justify them in keeping the accused any longer
in custody, and they would, therefore, be discharged.
It has been stated that the Government will offer
a reward of £lOO for the discovery of the perpetra-
tors of the fearful crime.