The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-27 00:00:00

MURDER NEAR MAIDSTONE•

Last week the village of Tavil, about half a mile
from Maidstone, was placed in a state of considerable ex-
citement, in consequence of a report being circulated tba
t
a woman of the name of Ann Covies had been murdered
by her husband. Cries of " Murder" had been heard to
proceed from the house, which was occupied by William
Covies and his wife, and which is situated in Tavil, when,
as some words which had previously passed between them
had been heard, the door was forced open, and the deceased
was found at the foot of the stairs stretched a lifeless
corpse. A very great crowd of the inhabitants collected.
who immediately charged the husband with the death of
his wife. Information of the circumstance was forthwith
conveyed to F. F. Daily, Esq., Coroner for the borough in,
the jurisdiction of which Tavil is included, when he issued
his prescript for an inquest to be held on the body. In t,
course of the week the Jury, consisting of thirteen bighY
respectable burgesses, were impannelled before Mr. Dally,l
the Coroner, at the Royal Paper Mills, Tavil. The inquiry_
lasted two days, and during the time a large concourse of
persons was assembled before the door, while the inquest
room was also crowded.
The husband was examined. He stated that on the
night of the alleged murder he and his wife had words
about her being out late. Both prepared to go to bed
when, as he happened to open the door, the first thing he
heard was a shuffling, which appeared like a fall and a
cry. He heard no words distinctly, He went down stair`'
when he found his wife lying at the bottom of the steps,
with her head upwards. There was just room for him toe
pass without interfering with her. Several persons WI
in, and he did not interfere. The neighbours said he had
pushed her down stairs, which be denied. Some men and
his
wife then took her up stairs. Witness believes that
wife was not sober. She was subject to fits, and fell down
in one on Friday. After having recovered from the fit, sir,
remarked that if she had another such an one that it would
be her last. She has been six months confined in a lunatic
e
asylum. Two years ago was the last time she was in Oa'
Esther Quinnell and Jane Baker both spoke to circuity"
stances of strong suspicion against the prisoner.
William Susans, son of the deceased, after he broke tbef
door open, challenged Wm. Covies with being the cause
at
his mother's death. Covies made no answer, but struck 1.1
witness, and, on a female observing to witness's wife' 1/1
Covies' presence, that her mother was dead, Covies oh;
served, " Let the die, and her son along with
He never knew his mother in liquor, and never saw hhere r
ill
a fit.
Sophy Tugwell, a married woman, was close to Covidl
back premiies on Saturday night, when he and the deceltsau
were quarrelling. Heard him say, ,‘ that if she came up
stairs he would break her neck down again." Saw her gfi
across the kitchen when she went up stairs, and he followed
her in a violent passion. Heard her exclaim, " Oh, nth'
Covies, do not." She kept failing in her breath, then she
screamed out " Murder," and fell with great noise and
force. Covies came down stairs. Witness said, " °Pell
the door," when Covies said, " bring me a light, let Ine,,,sfe
where she is—she is dead-,4 shall die to-morrow." .."e
door was then forced open by W. Susans.
Several other witnesses were examined, when the Core-
ner, having summed up the evidence, the jury returned ,
verdict of " Wilful murder against William Covies," an
the witnesses were bound over to prosecute. The Coroner
issued his warrant for the committal of Covies to 'ibid.
stone gaol, who was apprehended the next day, after a stout
resistance, and lodged in the gaol. The deceased, wit°
was 53 years of age, was a widow when she married Covies'
to whom she has been joined seven years.

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