The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-14 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAI'

OLD COURT
THE MURDER IN BETHNAL-GREEN.
Samuel Dexter (aged 11) was indicted for the wilful
murder of his mother, Jane Markham, on the 9th of
March last. The prisoner is a very respectable looking
man, and was dressed in a suit of deep mourning.
Mr. ADOLPHUS (with wham was Mr. 13onizsi) stated
the case at considerable length for the prosecution, and
afterwards called the following witnesses:—
Mr. CLARKSON and Mr. LEE were the prisoner's
Counsel.
John Markham examined—l live at Stepney-green, the
deceased was my mother, and the prisoner is a son of her's
by a former husband ; her age was 67 at the time of her
death, she resided at No. 1. Foster-street, 'Bethnal green ;
she dealt in articles of household furniture, and lived
alone. The house she lived in was her own, and she
had forty pounds in the savings' b ink, and some
other little property, in debts, and stock. and trade,
I saw my mother alive for the last time on the M.,nday be-
fore her murder; the was then in a good state of health.
After her death the house was examined, and it was found
the rooms had all been ransacked. There were two fea-
ther beds taken away with other articles.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSoN—The prisoner is a
very kind humane man. He was very attentive and ins
dulcent to his mother. I never heard him /peak an un-
kind word to her in my life. I have received the money
that was in the savings' hank since the deceased's death.
William Cunningham exanninNl—l am the prisoner's
apprentice. I remember on Wednesday the 9th of March,
about twelve o'clock, going with him to his mother's house.
When we got there he knocked twice, and the second time
the door seemed to open. The prisoner entered, and called
" mother, mother." I was outside at this time, but I
could see in the room, and saw blood. The prisoner tokl
me it was blood, and called out, " my mother's murdered,
my mother's murdered." The prisoner was not out of
my sight the whole time he was in the house. We then
spread an alarm in the neighbourhood, and called in me-
dical assistance. The prisoner was in the room about
three minutes. He afterwards went to the hospital, and
brought a doctor.
Thomas Drew examined-_I am an inspector of police,
and was on duty on the Mile-End-road, on the 9th of
March. About twelve o'clock I was sent for to the house
of the deceased, in Foster-street, Dog-lane. There were a
number of persons assembled, and the windows of the
house were closed. The prisoner was in the par-
lour. There was blood on the ground near where
the prisoner was standing. I heard him say twice
my mother is murdered. The body of the deceased was
lying in the kitchen ; it was then in a reclining state,
being partly supported by the copper. I saw that a very
severe blow had been inflicted on the deceased's forehead.
There was a rol er lying by her side covered with blood.
I requested the body should lie in the state it was until
after the coroner's inquest. I then went up stairs—the
whole place had the appearance of haying b-en ransacked.
After I came down. I asked the prisoner how Ling it had
been since he seen his mother before that morning ; he
said it was a fortnight since lie had last seen her. In con-
sequence of what I afterwards heard I took the prisoner
into custody, and examined his person. On his neck-
handkerchief were two or three small spots of blood, and
some spots of blond on the lining of his hat ; there were
no markibon any other parts of his clothes or person. I
pointed out the spots of blood to the prisoner, and said,
" Dexter, what do you call this ?" He made no answer.
Cross-examined.—The spots of blood on the neckerchief
might have been produced by shaving, or the prick of a pin.
Charles Cross examined—l live near the house of the
deceased I remember the day on which the murder was
discovered. On the evening previous the prisoner called
on me, and made some inquiry about the deceased. He
asked "If I had seen the old lady at the broker's
shop that day ?" I told him that I had not. He said
it was strange to see the house shut up, as be was
in the habit of calling every slay. Nothing further
passed, and he went away. I saw the prisoner again
the next day, about eleven o'clock, he came and asked me
if I would go with him and see his mother, as she was
in a fit, or otherwise dead ; I went with him, and on
entering the first room, he said she is in the next ; this
was about a quarter of an hour before the police fame. I
s 'id to the prisoner, " Yes, you are right, she is dead, and
has been for some time ; she has been murdered." I added,
" I think she must have been murdered in one room and
dragged no the other." The prisoner clasped his hands,
and exclaimed, " For God's sake you don't say so." I
then said that I must go to my business, I could not stay
any longer. He said, " For God's sake don't leave vie."
Crass-examined—I slid not give the same account before
the coroner and at the police office as I have done to day.
The witness underwent a long cross-examination is to the
difference in his evidence today, and what he gave before
the coroner.

John Moody examined—l knew the deceased, I saw her
alive on the Sunday before the murder was discovered. On
t►:e day it was discovered I went to the house and found
the prisoner there; he asked me to go for a doctor, and
added, " for God's sake go, for some body has been murder-
ing my mother ;" be then went into the kitchen where the
body was lying, and exclaimed " here she is, here she is,
she has either been murdered or hung herself." I said,
" Good God, the woman has been murdered, look how she
has been beat about the head ;" he said " Oh ! the wretches
I will cut her down ;" I desired him to do no such thing,
hut to a nd for a doctor, and let her remain. until some one
saw her; I then made an ob.ervation about the blood, to
which he did not give an answer, but again said I will cut
her down.

Robert Maxey examined—l was at the deceased's house
between eleven and twelve, on the 9th of 3ldrch. I saw
the prisoner there ; after some conversation with him, I
went to where the deceased was, and cut her down. One
end of the mini was round the neck of the deceased, the
other round the latch of the door. The body was not
suspended by the cord, it was in a sitting posture on the
ground. The prisoner at first said, Ido not believe it is
sty mother; he at length, however, said it was.
Robert Jenkins (a policeman) examined—I asked the
prisoner on the 9th of March when he saw his mother
last. He said not for a fortnight. - _
Thomas Gunter examined—l was acquainted with the
deceased and the prisoner. I saw him on Monday the 7th
of March at his mother's door. He was standing with a
in his hand. It was then about six o'olock in the
evening. •
mary Potter examined—l knew the deceas, d. i saw
her last, after nine o'clock on Monday the 7th of March.
She was then at my shop Winslow.

Robert Sheffield examined—l have known the deceased
and the prisoner twenty years. I saw the prisoner on the
Thursday before the murder. My nephew asked him to
stand neat, when be replied, " I cannot, I have been to
toy mother's, and she will not let me have a bob.'"
Elizabeth Felton examined—l went to the deceased's a
few days before her death to buy a bedstead ; the prisoner
was there, I agreed to give six shillings for one, but the
Prisoner with an oath said, no ; you shall not have it for

less than seven shillings, as I grant one to spend ; I saw
him again shortly afterwards drinking, and heard him say
he had got some money of her (his mother) and would

have some more at night.
Hannah Carr examined—l lived next door to the de-
ceased ; I have on several occasions heard very angry
words and great noises , I thought it was the prisoner's
voice. In Christmas week there wail a great noise, when
I heard a female voice call out Leave go of my
hair—don't kick me down stairs, don't murder me—
you have threa.ened to do• it." Another voice exclaim-
ed, I will either have money or the papers,: