The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-26 00:00:00

MR. IVINDHAM AND HIS WIFE.

Mr. W. F. Windham, aged 22, was placed in the
dock at the Hammersmith Police-court, yesterday,
before Mr. Da,yman, charged on a warrant granted
by Mr. Ingham on Wednesday with threatening to
cut his wife's throat, whereby she went in bodily
fear.

Mr. Lewis, of Great Marlboroul-, h -street, appeared
on behalf of the complainant; Mr. Windham, who
had been brought from Windsor by Acres, one of
the warrant officers of the Court, was undefended.
Mrs. Ann Agnes Windham was sworn, and said
she resided at No. 3A, Westbourne•terrace, Pad-
dington, with her husband. Two gentlemen, whom
her husband had invited at Boulogne, had been
staying with them. She never had the pleasure of
seeing the gentlemen before. On Tuesday night
she went out with the two gentlemen with the con-
sent of her husband, who was aware of her going
out with them. They returned home at a quarter-
past 12 o'clock. Shortly afterwards she retired to
her room, her husband having previously wished
her good night. About a quarter of an hour after-
wards she heard her husband outside her room
door. The two gentlemen were in their bedrooms.
She heard her husband using violent threats. He
said that he was determined to shed the blood of
all three, and that he would take one of their (the
gentlemen's) lives. She called out to the gentlemen.
She had no friends, and it was a dreadful position
for her to be placed in. She considered both
gentlemen were in danger of their lives. He said
he would put a knife over Mr. St. Alban's throat.
He had a large sailor's clasp-knife, and he swore
that he would cut her throat. She went in fear of
him. It was not the first occasion he had sworn
to take her life. On two occasions he threw knives
over the table at her.

Mr. Dayman—Have you any question to put to
your wife ?
The Defendant—No; she aggravated me. lam
certainly very sorry for what has occurred. Water
was poured down my ears while I was asleep on
the sofa, either by you (the complainant) or some
one else. You know I was drunk.

Mr. Dayman—Was he under the influence o
drink ?

Complainant—Not at all. He used the threats
when sober. He had said it was his intention that
no person should marry her after his death. She
did not wish to hurt her husband. She simply
wanted protection from his threats.
Mr. William St. Alban said he resided in Ken-
nington and was studying for the bar. He was on
a visit to Mr. Windham's house. He had been
there a fortnight by invitation from Mr. Windham
while at Boulogne. He remembered returning home
on Tuesday night. Mr. Windham was asleep on the
sofa, and they had some difficulty in waking him up.
They all parted good friends before going to their
rooms. His attention was afterwards, drawn to Mrs.
Windham, who opened her door and called out
" Gentlemen." We came out, and saw the defend-
ant half-way down the stairs. Mrs. Windham said
she had heard the defendant muttering outside his
,(witness's) bedroom that he would cut their throats
or have their blood. Upon that some angry words
ensued. He thought the defendant was excited, but
he was not drunk. Two or three drops of water
were thrown on his head to wake him. It did
not appear to annoy him, for he afterwards
parted with Mrs. Windham in the most affectionate
manner. He did not complain of the water being
thrown over him. They were all in conversation
for some time afterwards. He heard the defendant
use a most violent threat to Mrs. Windham. He
said he would cut her throat from ear to ear that
night, and he made a movement towards Mrs.
Windham. After that they thought it was their
duty to stay with Mrs. Windham. They went
down to the dining-room, and the same coarse lan-
guage went on. Witness did not see any weapon,
but the defendant had his hand behind him. He
did not know how the quarrel began. He thought
Mr. Windham had been drinking. The next morn-
ing Mr. Windham wrote him a humble apology.
He had certainly seen Mr. Windham throw a knife
at Mrs. Windham on two occasions; the witness
added that he thought Mr, Windham did not like
anything to be said to him, for he soon lost his
temper.
_ _ _ _ _

Mr, Robert Burdett, of Boulogne, said he was on
a visit to Mr. Windham. He then corroborated the
statement of Mr. St. Alban. The witness also said
Mr. Windham had apologised to him.
The defendant on being called upon for his answer
to the charge said he had nothing to say. He went
out with two or three persons, and went to a music-
hall, and other places. In the afternoon his wife
accused him with taking money out of ber purse,
and it annoyed him. He was vexed with what
he had done, and was ashamed of himself. He
went away on Wednesday with the intention of
going away altogether, He had written apologies
to the gentlemen.
Mr. Dayman told him that if he had carried
out his threats it would have been then too late
to apologise.
The defendant said he walked upstairs grumbling,
but he did not know what he did eay.

Mr. Dayman said he thought Mrs. Windham's
fear was very reasonable lifter what had occurred,
and she was entitled to every protection. He ordered
him to enter into his own recognisances in the sum
of ,£5OO, and to find two sureties in the sum of X 250
each, to keep the peace for six months.
The defendant was not provided with bail, and
he was removed by the gaoler.

. _
before ten o'clock in the evening, when death put
an end to his agony.
The case is an extremely melancholy one,
whether viewed in relation to the wealth and pug-
tion of the deceased or his tragic end. The ease
against him was necessarily much weakened by
the great lapse of time, but against this was the
large extent and value of the property, and the
consequent necessity of giving a very clear expla-
nation of the manner of becoming possessed of it.
Mr. Cohen's explanation was that he bought the
watches from a man
who represented himself as
Mr. Raynor, of Swansea, stating that he had come
purposely to Sheffield to dispose of his jewellery for
Sheffield goods preparatory to going to Australia.
This story received some confirmation from the fact
that the watches still bear the name of Mr. Ray'
nor and other evidences of his ownership, which
one would have thought Mr. Cohen would have re-
moved had he suspected the honesty of the person
from whom he purchased. Be that as it may be 'e
shrank from the ordeal of a prosecution as to take
his own life.

REMARKABLE CASE OF ALLEGED

CHILD MURDER.

Last evening Dr. Lankester, the Central middle-
sex coroner, resumed an inquest at the Elephant
and Castle, King's-road, Camden-town, opened 011
the 12th inst, touching the death of a newly-born
male child, supposed to have been occasioned by
violence. Rosa Clifford, an under housemaid, in
the service of Mr. Scadding, 2, Gordon-street, Gor-
don-square, was alleged to be the mother of the
child, and being too ill to attend, the adjournment
took place in consequence, to enable her to be pre'
sent on this occasion.

The Coroner opened the proceedings by stating
that the inquest was adjourned in order to have the
alleged mother of the deceased child before them,
but she was not there, although it appeared she
was in a condition to come.

Inspector Reynard, of the C division of police,
said he was authorised by his superintendent to
say that Rosa Clifford was in the custody of the
police, and it was his duty to charge her before a
magistrate. He could not allow her to attend the
inquest without an order from the Secretary of State.
The Coroner said this was the old story of a con-
flict between the Coroners' and the Police Courts.
A Juror remarked that if that was the case, be
could see no good in Coroners' Courts at all.
Mr. Walter Scadding, of 2, Gordon-street, then
gave evidence to the effect that Rosa Clifford was the
under-housemaid to his family, She was waiting at
their dinner-table at 7 p.m. on the Bth inst. As the
first course was being changed she left the dining'
room suddenly. The bell was rung for her return.
She almost directly returned, but very suddenly
left again.

The Coroner—l suppose she wore plenty of cri-
noline?

Witness admitted that she seemed to be wearing
more crinoline than usual.

Other witnesses examined proved beyond doubt,
that Rosa Clifford must immediately after her last
sudden disappearance from the dining-room have
given birth in her bedroom to the deceased.
Mr. J. H. Brown, 55, Gordon-square, was called
to attend Clifford that evening, and in answer to
his questions she resolutely denied having been con-
fined. On the following morning he again attended
her, when his attention was directed to a box in her
room, and in that he found the deceased. He per'
formed a post-mortem examination of the body
Externally there was a bruise on the nose, and the
head was crushed. The two hones of the skull
were extensively fractured from the top of the head
downwards on each side. The lungs were only
partially inflated. The crushed condition of the
brain seem to have arisen from compression. The
extensive fracture could not have been produced by
the mere fall of the child from the mother on to the
floor, but it might have been caused by the child
falling on the floor and the mother falling upon it.
The Coroner said it was now for the jury to say
whether they should adjourn for the purpose of
applying to the Home Secretary to allow this
woman to be brought before them, or to come to
a verdict at once. His present experience war-
ranted him in saying that the Home Secretary
might feel it necessary to refuse the application,
and it was for the jury to say whether another op-
portunity should be given for refusal.
A jaror thought that, as the girl had not been
taken before any tribunal as yet, there could be no
sufficient reason for the police to refuse her being
brought before them.

The Coroner said he had issued his order for the
girl to be produced, and the police had refused to
permit it. He could issue another order, but 120
doubt the police could and would prevent its exe.-
cution under the existing law. He considered her
presence was not necessary for them to find the
cause of death, but he thought it only proper that
persons implicated at a Coroner's Court should be
present to hear what they were to be tried for.
The court-room was cleared of strangers. The
jury then deliberated, and finally determined to
adjourn, for an application to be made to the Home
Secretary for the production of Rosa Clifford.

COUN2.RI MARIiLLS.

.4,

MANCHESTER—SEPT. 25.
This morning the English wheat offering was most!l
in poor condition, and experienced a slow sale, declining '2ll
per qr. American was in moderate demand, at late rates.
Flour, except the best sorts, receded 6d to is per sack and
barrel. Oats and oatmeal favoured buyers. Egyptian
beans 6d per quarter dearer. Indian corn a slow sale, but
held for quite as much money.

BIRMINGHAM—SEPT.:2S.
At this day's market there was a fair supply of English
wheat, mostly inferior, at a decline of is per qr on the cur'
rencies of this day week. Foreign also is lower in price.
Barley and peas brought fully former rates. Weather
fine.

PLYMOUTH—SEPT. 23.
White, 56s to 60s • red, 54s to 66s per qr; Dantzic,
to 58s ; American, dls to 558 ; Spanish, —s to —a ; Rus-
sian, —s to —s. Barley at previous rates-34s to 38s PI
qr for malting ; grinding, 27s to 28s ; oats, 23s to27s;
beans, —s to —a ; flour,, 40s to 43s Od.