The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-26 00:00:00

THE S ON. LONDON, FRIDAY. EVENING, OCTOBER 20 1849

BERMONDSEY MURDER.

TRIAL OF THE MANNINGS.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(T Is DAY
OLD COURT.

The trial was resumed this morninr, at ten o'clock.
Long before that hour, however, the passages lead-
ing to the place of trial, were crowded to excess, and
the public thoroughfare in front of the court again
presented a scene of much greater excitement than is
usual at the sittings of the Old Bailey.
By half-past nine the court was completely filled,
and among the auditory there were as many ladies as
yesterday.
The jury were provided with beds and refresh-
ments for the night at the London Coffee-house,
Ludgate-liiil. They were placed in the charge of
three officers, Messrs. Harker, Miller, and Mackay,
and we bLlieve beds were made up fur the whole of
them in one room.
The barristers and solicitors engaged in the trial
made their appearance shortly before ten o'clock.
The jury were brought into court by Mr. Harker
a few minutes before the hour of trial arid placed in
the jury- box.
The Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Justice Cresswell
took their seats on the bench at five minutes after ten,
followed by the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen nignay
and Carden.
We noticed also seated on the bench Lord Lang-
ford, Lord Howden, the Marquis of Hertford, Lord
Adolphus Fitzelarence, and Lord Nugent.
The prisoners were immediately placed in the dock,
and after standing for a few minutes, both sat down.
Manning looked very pale and careworn. Little
change was observed in the appearance of the female
prisoner. She wore a black lace cap to-day instead of
a white one.
Henry °citing, son of the surgeon, said he had
made some chemical experiments upon the dress
which had stains upon it. He had applied the usual
chemical tests, and he found that they were stains of
blood.

Cross-examined by Mr. BALLANTIISE—No one was
present when I made the experiments. I have arrived
at the mature age of 21. I allowed the dress to
stand in cold distilled water. The stains were upon
the left side of the lining of the skirt. I have made
some experiments also upon the stains found on the
collar, but I cannot say that they are produced by
blood.

Re examined—l have been studying chemistry
for five years, both at Guy's Hospital and
the College of Chemistry, and 1 have a certificate
of proficiency. The stains on the collar were not the
cause of iron-mould, or any vegetable matter ; they
are more like blood than anything else.
By the COURT—I cut out the stained piece of the
dress, and steeped it in distilled water, and then boiled
the water, and there was a sediment at the bottom,
composed partly of albumen, which is a constituent
of blood, and partly of colouring matter.
Mr. Francis W. Stevens, stockbroker, 3, Royal
Exchange, said,—l was acquainted with the late
Patrick O'Connor, and I was in the habit of doing busi-
ness for him. I purchased for him on the 3d Aug. last
ten shares in the Sambre and Meuse Railway. They
Were numbered from 6,460 to 6,469 inclusive. They
were ordered on the 3d, or a day before that. I pur-
chased also ten shares in May in the Amiens and
Boulogne Railway, numbered 48,665 to 48,674, and
I delivered them on the 11th of May. I recollect the
female prisoner very well. She came to my office on
the Ist, 2d, or 3d of August. She introduced herself
by saying that she had been recommended to me by
Patrick O'Connor to invest 2001. She said she wanted
some shares that she could sell abroad. I asked her
to be kind enough to say where she was going, so
that I might the better advise her. After some
little hesitation, she said Paris. I told her then
that she had better purchase French rentes. I showed
her a list of foreign stocks, and she asked me what it
Would cost to register shares, as she wished to sell the
property again. She asked me, if she took the
Boulogne and Amiens, or Sambre and Meuse, she
could sell them without her husband's control or not ?
I told her she could do so. She then went away, and
said she would call again.
Cross-examined by Mr. BALLANTINE—On the 3d
of August 1 purchased the Sambre and Meuse, and
they came to 271. 10s. I purchased the Amiens and
Boulogne shares in May, and they were 711. 17s. 6d.
They have since diminished in value, and in May
following they would have only been worth 471.
O'Connor never mentioned Mrs. Manning's name
to me.

Mr. Lamond, stockbroker, said—l was acquainted
with the late Patrick O'Connor, and I purchased
some shares for him in the Eastern Counties 11,4i1-
way in the month of April. I witnessed the transter
of them to O'Connor. They consisted of twenty
shares of Consolidated Stocks.

Mr. Green, transfer clerk at the Eastern Counties
Railway office, produced the transfer, signei by
O'Connor.

Mr. LaMond's examination continued—Mr. O'Con-
nor paid for the shares the same day. I purchased
also for the deceased ten shares in the Sambre
and Meuse Railway. I don't know the num-
bers of them, but I can identify them by
a mark. I bought them from a Mr. Cooper Russell.
the shares in question were produced by the clerk
of Mr. Russell. Those are the shares which passed
through my hands with reference to the transaction
with O'Connor. Mr. Wenham, Mr. Cooper's clerk,
brought them to our office. The Nos. of them I find
are 26,523 to 26,532 inclusive.
Mr. Green, recalled, said there was no subsequent
transfer of the stock produced.
Mr. L a mond cross-examined by Mr. BALLANTINE—
The female prisoner brought a letter of introduction to
me from
O'Connor. She was not introduced to me as a
person with whom O'Connor was very intimate I
had no dealings with her.
Mr. Hayward, from the office of the Treasury
Solicitor, examined by the ATTORNEY • GENERAL—I
Was present at the police. court when a witness named
John Basset, who is now dead, was examint d. I re-
ceived from him that scrip and assignment, which
e produced to the magistrate on the 7th of September
last. They have been in my possession ever since.
Ay. Green recalled, said that one was the original
certificate of the stock, and the other the assignment
°f it.

Mr. Shillibere said, he knew the prisoner Manning,
and he did not believe that the signature " Patrick
~..knonnor," to the transfer was the handwriting of
Manning.
Mr. Richard Hammond, clerk in the office of Messrs.
lifilick and Co., sharebrokers, examined, said—l
know the male prisoner. The signature to the
transfer is not in his handwriting. I saw him at our
once, and he said he had come about some shares. I
Introduced him to Mr. Basset, and afterwards Basset
came to me and said he wanted 1101. I gave him
that sum in a 1001. note, awl one Si. note, and five
Sovereigns. I took the number of the notes. The
100 note was numbered 15,048, sth June,
1849; the 51. note was numbered 20,031,
ands, the
13th of July. Before I parted
With the money I looked over the transfer. 1 went
into an inner office and gave Basset the money, and I
saw him give it to Manning. The signature upon
the transfer was wet at the time. I did not hear the
name of O'Connor mentioned in the presence 01
Manning. On the 20th of August I went to the
Bank of England, at nine in the morning, to stop
the 1001. note. The 1001. note produced is the one I
gave, and I identified it by the name of Charles
James Butler, which was indorsed upon the note when
I paid it away.
Cross-examined by Sergeant WILKINS—I do not
know Charles James Butler. Charles James Butler has
not done any business at our office, and I do not
know who he is. Messrs. Killich are members of
the Stock Exchange. I cannot show throughout
the book I entered the number of the notes any
other instance in which I had taken down the numbers
of the notes paid away. It is not my business to do
an- Mr. Flight, who attends to that department, was
out of town.
Mr. Shillibere re-called—l find on the back of the
100/. note "F. G. Manning," which is the undis-
guised writing of the male prisoner.
Mr. George Linthorna, share-dealer, examined_
I remember being in the office of Killich and Co.
°II Saturday, the 11th of August, about half-past
eleven in the morning. I recollect a person there
Who had come to sell twenty shares in the Eastern
Counties Railway. I did not take any particular
notice of the person. I decidedly remember a trans-
fer being executed by the stranger who was then
present. I cannot say whether I should know ti.e
person again. I saw the money paid over in a 1001.,
a Si note, and five sovereigns.
They were handed,
decidedly, to the same person who signed the
transfer.

come

Cross-examined by Sergeant Wiracirrs—l have no
interest in the firm of Killicla and Co. I am a dealer in
shares, and do not deal hi anything else. I have
never officiated as a lawyer's clerk. Basset wrote
the body of the transfer, and, in fact, all but the.
name. I was in the habit of going to Messrs. Kil-
lieh's office every morning. I have no particular
Place of business. I have had an office at No. 46,
Threadneedle-street, during the railway mania. For
the last 20 years I have been a dealer in shares. I
are not certain whether I had an office for twelve
nenths. I rented it of a hairdresser. I live in lodg-
gs, 47, Dean-street, Soho. They consist of the
second floor and a portion of the third.
t 1 ,11r. Griffin, clerk at the Bank of England, said
1001. note was exchanged by him on the 11th of
sllgust. and he gave the person who presented it 50
t(tll'ereigns and a ticket fur 501. more in notes. It is
use habit of persons changing notes to put their
des, en the back of notes. The indorsement on the
f4B is
ey G. F. Manning, 7, New Weston-street, Ber-
Q 4

Mr. Adams, another clerk in the Beek of England, such a murder, or by jealousy, for he showed
said he gave in exchange of the ticket file 101. notes, I very little sensitiveness about the honour of his wife.
numbered from 700,372 to 700,377. Now, as to description of the body ? Why, he says
John Ashford proved that the signature to the a wound was in the head, produced by a pistol shot
transfer was not in the handwriting of O'Connor. The shot must evidently have been fired upon the
Barnes, police-constable, said it occupied him to man's back ; he would fall upon his face, and then a
go from Minver-place to O'Connor's lodging walking person would have no difficulty in the world in com-
forty-two minutes, in an omnibus thirty- five minutes, , pleting the deed with such an instrument as that
and in a cab twenty-five minutes. mentioned by the witness. He would not stop to
David King, an officer in the London Docks, ex- inquire as to the length of time the body had been
amined by the ATTORNEY- GENERAL, said—l received buried, because it did not seem to him that that
the letter produced by the post on Friday, the 10th would bear upon the case, and he should not be bens-
of August, end I sent it to O'Connor's kdgings. filing his client by urging upon the jury topics which
I. Lacking, messenger in the London Docks, said were not sustainable by sifting the evidence. It had
—By the direction of the last witness he took the been proved beyond all question, that O'Con-
letter to the deceased's lodgings in Greenwood-street. nor was never seen alive after five o'clock
The ATTORNEY- GENERAL—This, my Lords, is the on the Thursday afternoon, and therefore he
case for the prosecution. would trouble the jury with no observations upon
Mr. Sergeant Wisisiiss then rose to address the jury Mr. Lockwood's evidence as to the length of time the
on the part of the male prisoner. He said he was there body had been buried. The next witnesses were How
as the advccate of Manning, and therefore no doubt and Tomlin, but they merely spoke as to the teeth
they would watch with great jealousy any observa- taken from the mouth, and it was not necessary to
tions that he might urge on his behalf. He did not comment upon that. Then they had Pierce Walsh.
complain of that; a man who stood up in any ca,e as He told them that he was intimate with O'Connor,
a mere advocate ought to be watched ; but, at the and he identified the body. He told them further,
same time, he need not remind them that it was their that on the Bth of August he dined with the deceased
duty to weigh well all that he should say, and to give at the house of the Mannings. Now what took place
to it that attention which it deserved. More than when be was there? He granted the jury there was
that he should not ask. When he said he was the a principle of law—perhaps it was a wise rule—
advocate for the male prisoner Manning, they that the wife is always considered to be under
would at once perceive that he stood in subjection of the husband ; but was it not quite clear
a position unequalled in the history of that here, at least, the rule was reversed, and Mrs.
criminal trials. His difficulties were immense. To Manning was the mistress of the house ? Who wrote
argue against foregone conclusions placed difficulties the note to invite O'Connor to come to dinner ? Mrs.
in the way of an advocate which he found it arduous Manning. Then, again, look at the conversation she
to encounter. What was the nature of the case with had with some of the witnesses. Did it not prove,
beyond all doubt, that Mrs. Manning was the master? which he had to dealt In the first place, he had to
answer the first counsel in the land, and in the next She alone it was who used her influence to induce
he had to conduct a defence which, at first sight, ap. O'Connor to come to dine with them. Did she not
sign herself Maria ? Who had access to his secrets ? peared odious. He was to be followed—strange as
it w ould appear—by another defending counsel, Who had taken pains to possess herself of,a knowledge
o whose duty it would be to neutralize, as far as in of the amount of his possessions ? Why, the woman.
him laid, all his (Mr. Wilkins) arguments, and On the Friday before the death, whom
to seek to destroy the man whom he would did they find in close examination of
endeavour to save. Whatever might be the the deceased ? Why, Mrs. Manning, who from
case, however, of the counsel for the female prisoner, beginning to end had a motive for this act. Cupidity
he should not quarrel with them. Though the posi_ showed what her motives were from the beginning to
tion they would take with regard to his client placed the end of this dreadful history. Then, again, the
him in a painful situation, he was ready to award to next witness they came to was William Keating.
every man that meed of approbation which was due He says—and he prayed their attention to this—on
to him for the faithful discharge of his duty. But the Bth of August I saw the deceased upon London-
his difficulty did not end there. How did it happen, bridge, going towards the Surrey side. It was about
in the age in which they lived—when they boasted of a quarter to five o'clock, and he said it would be found
their liberties and of the security of those liberties— that all the persons who spoke of seeing him spoke
how did it happen that in a case of this kind the coun- nearly to the same time. He thought the jury
sel for the Crown, and even the Learned Judge him- would be of opinion that the last witness
self, felt themselves called upon to caution the jury who spoke upon the point was mistaken both in
against any impression which might previously have the time and the direction the deceased was
been made on their minds—against the efforts of going in. According to the statement of Mr.
those who set themselves up before the Keating, he is seen upon London-bridge, going in the
world as defenders of liberty—against the direction of Minver-place. Some of the gentlemen
efforts of those who would prejudice their minds, and of the jury might know the distance between there
darn up the stream of justice by prejudging the case, and the bridge, and could, therefore, estimate the
and urging upon them topics and circumstances length of time it would take O'Connor to walk it.
which ought never to weigh more than a moment, On the 12th of August Mr. Keating said he went to
but which must necessarily have a great effect upon the Mannings' house, and at this time, beyond all
their minds ? The Learned Attorney-General, in a question, the man was dead. Well, whom did he
way which did credit to him, had told them to forget see ? He saw Mrs. Manning, and he begged the
all that they bad heard and read up to that time, and jury to mark this wonderful circumstance in this
to come with minds perfectly unprejudiced and un- part of the evidence. He asks Mrs. Man-
biassed to decide upon a subject affecting the ning if she had seen O'Connor? She said
temporal and eternal interest, he might say, she had not seen him since Wednesday night.
of two fellow-creatures ; but who rendered that She said "it is a very strange thing—very strange
caution necessary ? Who, then, rebelled against jus- indeed, for we invited him to dinner on Thurs-
tice ; who dared to dictate to the court and to the day, and Mr. Manning thought it a most un-
jury, and seek to intimidate them to adopt conclusions gentlemanly thing he did not come to his appointed
with an imperfect and incorrect knowledge of the time." She said further, " I went to his lodging to
whole circumstances of the case ? They had read ascertain the reason why he did not come." At the
with deep interest that frightful event in the history very moment when she made that assertion her lip
of the world, the French revolution, which did more was noticed to quiver and her cheek to grow blanched.
to ennoble and disgrace, to dignify and to degrade At the very time she used that expression even her
the human race, than any event with which they were self-possession was not sufficient for the moment, and
acquainted, and during every stage of cruelty and horror she said, " Poor O'Connor, he was the best friend I
nothing, perhaps, called forth more of their indignation had in the world." Poor ! why poor ? Why should
than the base, cruel, and despotic press, which pre- she say he was poor, when she knew his body
judged cases before they were investigated, and made was mouldering in the earth ? There were moments
a trial a mere formal matter, the verdict having al- when the self-possession of the hardiest beings gave
ready been pronounced by those who dictated to the way, and even the nerve of this woman gave way at
public mind. Great, however, as the influence of the that moment. You (addressing the female prisoner)
press might be, aided by good and terse language, knew where he was at that moment—at that moment
and a wide circulation, he trusted that the jury would Y" were in possession of his property. You knew
come to the present inquiry with calm and entirely his mouth would never speak again; it had been
unprejudiced minds. But he. must not forget that ushed for ever. You knew it, and well might you
he
was asking them almost to unman them- say "poor O'Connor," your lip quiver, and your
selves, to do away vt ith their very na- cheek grow blanched. If it had occurred to you at
ture, for day after day had those bonds that moment that he had gone out of town—that he
of prejudice been cruelly and artfully woven was of a peculiar and uncertain mind, who took a fancy
round the public mind, so as to render it ex- one moment and another the next, which perhaps had
tremely difficult for any one to rise up and break them caused his absence—why did you say, " poor O'Cons
asunder. He would not attempt to dictate to them nor ?" Shy the jury knew, he had no doubt, that
what their verdict should be ; his duty was to watch sometimes it required more skill and forethought,
his adversary, to see that he did not take an unfair and more circumspection than falls to the lot of even
advantage, and make propositions which the law the wicked and callous, to conceal their emotions, and
altogether repudiated. He asked them to look at that very moment, when she exclaimed " poor
at the result of the investigation, because it O'Connor," the cheek of this woman who feigned 'to
reached from the earth to futurity—futurity be astonished that he had not come to dinner, whitened
never ending—and, therefore, he asked, he fin' and her frame quivered, she knew it was true that at
plored, he entreated them not to blink the question, this time she had possessed herself of his pro-
not to call up their passions and prejudices, and thus perty—she bad got his shares and his money in
destroy their understandings, and thus let a verdict be her possession. How then did she get them? You
stolen from their weakness or their cowardice. Let them went (again addressing the prisoner) to see why
O'Connor did not come to dinner. Well, when you
look at the facts of the case. 'What defence did
Manning set up at the moment of his arehension ?
found O'Connor was not at home on the Thursday,
a defence which he persevered in up tppo that moment, why go up stairs into his room ? Why wait for an
and which he should seek to substantiate by reason of
hour without coming down ? Why, when you went
Argument and evidence, and then leave them to form
away, was your cheeks noticed to be more pale than
their conclusions. The first question was, had Patrick usual ? How did you become possessed of the key
O'Connor been murdered at all ? About that he to unlock his box when he always carried the key in
feared there could be little doubt, and he was his pocket ? How else then could you get the
not there to insult their understandings by key but from his pocket? and if from his
arguing upon topics which would not bear investiga- pocket, where did you get the pocket? Why,
tion. There can be no doubt that this wretched man from his clothes? and if from his clothe', how did
—who excited our sympathy only because he was you get access to them ? He did not agree with the
hurried from time into eternity, without leave to re- theory of his Learned Friend the Attorney-General:
pent—was murdered by some one. Well, then, when He thinks that upon the Thursday she did not pose
was he murdered? How was he murdered? Where sess herself of the property; but he (Mr. Wilkins)
was he murdered ? And by whom ? He feared he was of a different opinion. She might have taken as
was compelled to admit the hypothesis made by the much as she could at oue time ; and he contended that
prosecution, that lie was murdered on or after Thurs- she took a portion on Thursday and another portion
day, the 9th of August, for the probability pointed to on Friday; or it might be that she thought it
that fact, although it was by no- means proved. prudent to go on Friday to give a colouring to her
Where was he murdered ? That was not so movements. It was clear she knew where he kept
clear ; but it was said by the prosecutor that he was his property. She knew, also, the nature of that pro
murdered at the house where the two prisoners lived. perty, for she had access not only to his rooms, but
Next again, how was he murdered ? About that even to his very secrets. Now, he must next pray
there could be no doubt, for the medical evidence their attention to what the next witness said. Mr.
which had been given was very explicit. But the all- Graham corroborates, almost to the very letter, what
important question was—by whom was he murdered? Mr. Keating says. He was in company with Keating
Was he murdered by both ? If so, where was the at the time he met O'Connor, and describes how
evidence of concert ? As far as the male prisoner and where they were when they did so.
Then Mr. Coleman says upon the 9th of' August lie
was concerned, what single fact was there in
the case, from beginning to end, which justified his saw the deceased, about one hundred yards from
Learned Friend the Attorney-General in say- Manning's house, at about five o'clock; so that here
ing that he premeditated the destruction of the they had one witness seeing him on London- bridge
murdered man ? It seemed to him, and he had heard
about, a quarter to five going in the direction of Man-
the case with great interest and attention, that the only ning s, and in ten minutes afterwards another
circumstance which argued anything like premedi-
witness sees him within 100 yards of the house
tation on the part of the male prisoner was the itself. He could not help thinking, therefore,
purchasing the lime and the crow bar. Let him that Youngbusband must have been mistaken
w
direct their attention to those two facts. The when he saw him at half past five o'clock going
Learned Sergeant then dwelt upon the probability of towards the City. There could be no doubt that
Mr. Ballantine urging on behalf of his client the he was invited to the house to dinner, that was beyond
comparative differences of the two sexes, and the all question ; and why he should turn away to
diminution of power and strength on the part of the go back again, when it was clear he was al-
female. It would require little difficulty, he said, to ' most within five minutes' walk of Manning's
to the conclusion that that rule door. It was true there was no evidence as
was neither general nor universal. History taught to who let him in, but could the jury have any
them that the female attained to higher eminences in doubt that the person who invited him did so ; who,
virtue than the male, and also that if she once gave according to her own showing, did not leave her
way to vice there was no end to the depth to which she house till six o'clock ? Well, then, it was quite clear
might descend. Women either soared higher or sank that O'Connor could not have turned away from
far deeper than the other sex. Husbands had often the door if she was at home; and he
been the dupes of wives who had employed means asked the jury if they could have any doubt
with which at the time they were utterly that she was at home when she came? Then the
unacquainted, but which afterwards developed them- next witness they had was Sophia Pyne, who said
selves in a frightful character. The Learned Gentle- that on Thursday the 9th of August, at a quarter
man then proceeded to dispose of the two facts before seven o'clock, she saw Manning sitting on
alluded to as bearing upon the assertion that the garden wall. He invited their particular
Manning contemplated the murder. With respect attention to this part of the evidence. He was not
to the lime, he asked if it was not possible that his saying that Manning might not, of ter this transac-
wife had got him to purchase it under the pretence tion, have ordered and assisted in secreting the body,
that she wanted it to kill the slugs which destroyed but mighnt not Manning, after the deed was clone,
the vegetables and flowers id the garden ? for it had out of regard for his wife, have aided and
been proved by two of the witnessess that some assisted her. There was nothing to show that he
scarlet runners, and other plants and vegetables, were knew that the person was about to be murdered;
growing there. Besides, he made no secret of pur- there was nothing to show that be participated in the
chasing it; he went to a place close to his house, act; but there was a witness saw him as early as seven
wrote his address, in his own undisguised hand in o'clock or thereabouts on his own garden-wall. From
order that it might be sent, and instead
of making the put chase at night, when fear, or the cause he had just stated, he might have
, taken steps afterwards to aid and assist in concealing
he might have been unobserved he did so in the
that which might jeopardize his own life ; and he was
morning, and of course in broad daylight. Then, to the crowbar, he observed in the first instance th as seen by that witness on the garden wail. How did
at
he appear? As usual. Had he his usual dress on ?
there could be no doubt in the minds of any that he He had. Had he got his waistcoat and trowsers on ?
asked for a ripping chisel. To show that he had He had. Did he present at all his usual appearance ?
no desire to conceal what he was doing, He did. He had no blood on his clothes, no stains,
he alluded to his going to a respectable ironmonger
in a large public thoroughfare, without obtaining, as nothing to indicate that he had been engaged in
this dreadful deed. Now did the young chemist,
he might have done, the article at some of those
whom his Learned Friend (Mr. Ballantine)
receptacles for stolen goods known as marine store- had thought it convenient to call—a boy
shops, in dark and obscure leeks or alleys. To but whose evidence displayed skill and ability that
show that his wife might have also induced would do no discredit to a grey head—say as much
him to get it under the pretence that she wanted it for the woman ? Ile did not. The spots
on her dress be proved beyond all question
for some ordinary purpose, referred to her
having met the boy at the door and taken it from were produced by blood. He contended,
therefore, that from the beginning to the end of this
him, and on being told that it was made larger than
the one ordered, payed him a shilling above the price terrible transaction the woman had taken as much
agreed upon. This showed that she knew all pains to impose upon her own busband as
about it. The next point touched upon was the fact upon any body else in the world. This offence was
that these were the only two instances in which committed on the Thursday. Upon the Monday
concert was proved before the murder, and afterwards Mr. Bainbridge's servant said he requested
that everything tended to show that there her to go and fetch his wife, and could the jury have
was no concert afterwards, it never having
,any doubt in the world, especially look-
been proved that they had been seen ing at what took place afterwards, that
speaking together or in each other's company. The Manning believed his wife - was not at home ?
Learned Sergeant then went on to show that the
female in all probability committed the murder, The servant came back and said she could not find
the place. What did Manning do then ? Why
for he said, after the pistol was fired and took effect,
he goes himself to the house and knocks
a child almost might have inflicted the injuries at the door, but no one answering, he goes and taps at
found on the body.
not the man to be He also endeavoured to show
was the window. Now, could the jury have any doubt in
that Manning
the world that he did not expect an answer from
led sway by the love of lucre to commit i within" HQ asked a person who was stand-

ing opposite if he had seen his wife, and
the reply he received was that she had
gene away in a cab, and taken a great many things
with her. It was quite clear, therefore, that he ex-
pected to find the woman at home ; and it was equally
clear that there was no concert between them as to
where she should go, since the woman herself
admitted to Moxhay, the police officer, that she
had left London without her husband's knowledge,
and he did not know where she had gone.
Then the jury had the evidence of Mr. Flynn,
to which he begged their particular attention.
On the Monday following the murder he goes to the
house of Manning, and sees Mrs. Manning. He
asked her it she had seen O'Connor. The
Learned Sergeant then proceeded to comment upon
the different portions of the evidence, insisting
that the evidence of Massey, the medical student,
could in no way implicate Manning. The con-
versations he had had with that witness
were both natural, and of an everyday oc-
currence, and if it were not for the serious
nature of the charge, it would be almost laughable to
see how insignificant the details were which had been
given of the presumed murderer. No doubt his
Learned Friend Mr. Ballantine would urge upon
hpprepared
e
the jury that the woman was in friendly intercourse
with the deceased O'Connor. The jury knew, how-
ever,
aof as
thehd
he was e
ever, that a woman might assume open
outward affectionehp e
subsisted
t f o
rrd
e a
deny
connexion
x notn hated i tal h
im in
her
n betweenth mane heart;
tihn e t imw and
wahc 'while
n andy
the the deceased, or to defend the conduct of the husband,
who had connived at such connexion ; he hoped the
jury would allow no seeming love or friendship to
induce them to believe that the woman could not
possibly have committed this dreadful act.
Persons wholly innocent, but timid and nervous, often
showed, in consequence, evidence of guilt. Might
not Manning have been sitting up stairs waiting
dinner; and might not his wife have dined down
stairs with her guest and shot him dead ? What could
he do—he, the master of the house ? He felt that if he
ran into the street he would not be believed. Besides,
it would be presumed that he had some affection for
his wife, and therefore that he feared to do so. He
knew not the facts any more than they did ; he was
left there to presume what the facts were. It
was possible that he might have shared in
the disposal of the body, but they could not
upon this find him guilty of the murder,
for he would in such a case only be chargeable
as an accessory after the fact. His whole conduct
was irresolute, evincing a wavering between reason
and fear, which had led to the destruction of many
men. They must, therefore, be of opinion, that his
exclamation was the the true history of the case—" I
was a great fool to go away. I should have stopped
and told all." Then the woman appeared to possess
more control over her passions than any woman he
had ever seen or heard of. When taken into custody
by Mr. Moxbay—and it did Edinburgh great credit
that it possessed such an officer—she said her name
was Smith, and that she was a widow, and when
accused of murdering O'Connor, exclaimed,
"He was the best friend I had in the world—
he was a father to me. I wrote him to
dine with me on the Bth." If he was a father to
her she was indeed a most unnatural daughter.
Then let them look at the statement made by Man-
ning to Langley when taken into custody—" Oh,
Sergeant, lam glad you have come. I was coming
to London to explain all. Is the wretch taken ?"
And when told she was, he said, "I suppose they
found 1,3001. or 1,4001. upon her." This was an
important fact, since but 150/. or so was found upon
her. The anxiety be expressed to get to London to
explain all before a clergyman and a magistrate, from
which a guilty mind would shrink with dread, was
an additional proof of his innocene. The small
quantity of powder found in his old coat was a very
natural thing to find in the coat of a sportsmen,
as Manning had the credit of being while at
at Taunton. Let them look at his other statement.
" She invited O'Connor to dinner—she asked him to
go down stairs to wash his hands, and whilst on the
way down she put her arm round his neck and shot
hint—she was a very violent woman, and would think
no more of killing a man than a cat." This was
doubtless true, and if true they could not find
Manning guilty of murder.
The Learned Counsel spoke two hours.
An adjournment of the Court took place for about
fifteen minutes.
Mr. BALLANTINE, at a few minutes before two,
rose to address the jury on behalf of Mrs. Manning.
He asked them to dismiss from their minds
the many reports they had heard with
respect to the charge against the female.
In the course of this case, they must have been sur-
prised that many of the statements that had appeared
in the •newspapers were not brought before
them. They must be, therefore, of opinion that
many of those statements ere far from realities
He asked them to dismiss from their minds all the
calumnies they had heard uttered with respect to his
client—calumnies fostered, too, and publ'abed by one
who was bound to protect her. The course pursued
by his Learned Friend was unparalleled in the annals
of proceedings of this kind. He had, in the presence
of his unfortunate client, denounced her, and
accused her of the crime with which she
was charged. The terms he had used were
far too coarse and strong. fie, however,
put this construction upon the course he had pursued
—that the crime, his judgment told him, that it was
necessary, and that that crime was opposed to
his own better feelings. He believed he
had erred in his judgment. He would rather never
appear in that court again, and seek some other but
more honourable and honest toil, than have uttered
such calumnies against a person who stood there
on a trial for her life, and who also
might shortly be led to the scaffold and ushered into
the presence of her Maker. The course of his
Learned Friend contrasted much with the
temperate opening of the Learned Attorney-
General, who had most creditably come for-
ward to prosecute on behalf of the Crown.
And he trusted the Learned Attorney-General, when
he sat down, would not think it necessary to offer, as
was his right, any further observations, and that
he would agree with him that the unfortunate
woman at the bar had had enough of counsel's re-
marks. Ile would not appeal to their passions,
but state such facts as he believed would snatch
the female from the fate which seemed now to
threaten her. It was difficult to determine what were
accessorial acts between a man and his wife, as
their relations differed much from ordinary
cases. Unless they were of opinion that the
woman was present at the murder they could
not find her guilty. The prosecution had led
the jury into a dilemma as to the exact period of the
murder. Her connexion with O'Connor, her fall from
vit tue to vice, should not prejudice her, as that might
have arisen from other motives than that which
would lead to the commission of murder. O'Connor
was a man past the middle age, and likely to
have yielded much to the wishes of the woman,
whatever they were, as it was but natural to
suppose that he was very fond of her. She
was constantly with Mr. O'Connor, and much
away from her husband. A bedroom, some
months ago, was fitted up in the house of the Misses
Armes, showing that the house was not let out for
any improper purpose. This showed that she
was on intimate terms with O'Connor,
and that she had no motive - to the
murder. Indeed, if she required money, she would
have gone into a wealthy keeping, to use a common
and well-understood expression. She must either be
a most abandoned and wicked woman, or else one of
the most kindly feelings.
The Learned Counsel had not concluded when our
report left.

SONTAG.—For the last two months Madame Sontag
and the distinguished artistes who accompany her
have been making an uninterrupted musical progress
through the country. Their success has increased as
they have proceeded. Within the last fortnight they
have experienced an enthusiastic reception from
crowded audiences at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liver-
pool, Plymouth, Exeter, Worcester, Bath, and Bristol.
The great prima donna, if she has astonished her
auditors by her marvellous powers cf florid execution,
has created still more sensation by the classical
purity, simplicity, and pathos with which she delivers
music of sentiment. She has shown herself an ad-
mirable exponent of real feeling in opposition to ex-
aggerated passion, which, from bad taste, or to cover
poverty of natural vocal resources, is now so often
employed ; and in this tournee her singing of " Home,
sweet home" has created as much enthusiasm as her
unparalleled execution of Rode 's variations. The
party is at present at Norwich, where two concerts
are announced.

A RED EMPEROR.—We have had a Sixteen-string
Jack. It is not the fault of the precious young Emperor
Francis Joseph, that the Austrians have not a Sixteen-
string Emperor. He has a great taste for hanging; but
was baulked in his delight by Count Batthyany, whose
self inflicted wounds rendered such mode of death im-
possible. Whereupon, he was shot; and Hayeau licked
his tiger lips. Hungarian women of the highest classes,
we are told, endeavoured—but were not permitted—to
steep their handkerchiefs in the blood.of the murdered
man. But the blood did not sink. It helps to dye the
Emperor. And, as it is with a certain insect, that •e the
finest red" dyes the " deepest bluck,',
is so with the Em-
peror's, the purer the blood that shed, the blacker the
stain that is left.—Punch.

CISTERNS—PURE WATER'---A correspondent of the
Builder says--." Allow me to suggest what I think would
be a remedy for the fault found in your last number with
the conical• shaped cistern, having the tap at the bottom.
Let there be a tap there, but let it be a waste tap, and
have another a little way up the side of the cistern. By
this means the cistern could be kept clean, and no sedi-
ment would find its way into the tap used for supplying
water for household purposes."

CHOLERA AND DIARRHOEA

ENGLAND AND WALES.
The following is the Return of Deaths from Cholera and
repor,ed to the General Board of Health
October 25, 1849 :
SUPERINTENDING REGISTRAR'S DISTRICT.
Deaths.
Cholera. Dlarrh.
1 1
2 0
6 1
1 0

Aln wick ••• ••• ••• -
Berwick ••• ••• •••
Bridgewater ... .. ...
Bridgwater (Huntspill district)
Cliqun Union (St. Philip and
Jacob) • • 0100 ikee --
Dudley (Sedgley and Rowley
Eccleshall (Bierlow) ... ...
Falmouth and Penryn •••
Hardingstone (Paddington) ...
Haslingden (Accrington district)
Hitchin (Ickleford) ... ...
Knaresborough and Bondend
Lancaster (bkerton) ... ...
Leeds
Peterborough ... .. ...
Preston ••• •• •••
St. Neots (Eaton Socon) ...
Sheffield ... ... ...
South Shields (Westoe) ...
Stourbridge(Kingswinford) ...
Swansea (Llangatelach) ...
Tavistock (Milton Abbot) ...
Ten terden (Rolvendon) .
Tynemouth (Walker) —.--
Wakefield ... ...
...
Walsall (Borough) ••• •••
West Derby (Toxteth-park)..
Wigan ... ••• —•—
Wirral (Liscard) ... ...
Wycombe ... "• •••

Total ...

SCOTLAND.

Bones
Panbride
Perin ..

Total ...

---
4

CO URT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, THURSDAY.
The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual
early walk.
`i i.e Royal Family took walking and pony exercise
in the grounds around the Castle.
Lord and Lady John Russell, and the Hon. Ralph
and Lady itiary Abercromby, left the Castle this
morning.
Her Majesty the Queen sat for her bust to Mrs.
I,
Thorneycroft to-day.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Anna Maria Dowser', left Frogmore House
at eleven o'clock yesterday morning, for her residence,
Clarence House, St. James's. In the afternoon her
Royal highness visited her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, and
afterwards returned to Frogmore House.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of
Mecklenburgh Strelitz, visited her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House,
yesterday.
The Earl of Carlisle left town yesterday for his
seat, Castle Howard, Yorkshire.

_HEALTH of the QUEEN _DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
The Queen Dowager pissed a restless night o
Wednesday. Iler Majesty rallied slightly yesterdan
y
afternoon.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO THE CITY.
The committee sat during the day at the Guildhall,
Mr John Wood in the chair. They were occupied
in issuing cards of invitation, and in making arrange-
ments for the supply of refreshments.
WooLwlcu, OCT. 25.—The steam-tug arrived at
Woolwich yesterday afternoon, having brought round
the first and second royal barges and a six oared gig,
belonging to the Royal Victoria and Albert yacht,
with the whole of the crew of the latter vessel, whose
services will be required on the occasion of her Ma-
jesty proceeding to open the Coal Exchange on Tues-
day next.
Commodore Henry Eden attended at the Admi-
ralty at an early hour yesterday, and subsequently
met the Lord Mayor and City authorities to complete
the arrangements necessary to be made afloat for the
royal visit.

TAIr. Lang, master-shipwright at this dockyard, has
received instructions to prepare a platform to be used
on the embarkation of the Queen, Prince Albert, and
the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal. The
platform is now making, and the timbers are to be
joined together in the strongest manner with Jeffery's
marine glue.
Mr. Bellamy, master-attendant at this yard, with
Mr. Pease, assistant to the master-shipwright, met
the City authorities yesterday, to confer as to the
arrangements to be made on the river below bridges.
The Monkey steam-vessel, Master- Commander
Bryant, was consequently ordered to get her steam
up to-day to tow a barge and a brow or bridge from '
Mr. Roff's wharf, who has offered the use of them
for the occasion, and the Monkey towed them to-day
to a station opposite the Custom-house. A quantity
of chains have also been taken up the river to moor
the various craft in their proper places.
Mr. Mare's steam-yacht was brought down to
Woolwich yesterday and turned over to the charge
of Mr. S. B. Cook, Master-Commander of the Black
Eagle; and Master-Commander Petley, of the Light-
ning steam-vessel, is now ordered to attend at Lon-
don-bridge in that vessel.
The Lightning, the Monkey, the Jasper, the Echo,
the Advice, and all the other vessels to be employed
on the occasion, are ordered to proceed to their
respective stations near London-bridge on Monday
afternoon, that no delay or inconvenience in taking
up their positions may occur on Tuesday, the 30th.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUS.
SlR,—llaving in remembrance the fearful accident that
occurred some few years ago at Great Yarmouth from
a similar cause, I beg to suggest that on the occasion of
the Queen's visit to the City by water on Tuesday neat,
some precaution should be taken to prevent any sudden
great rush of people from one side of the Hungertord
Suspension-bridge to the other, either by placing a tem-
porary barrier along the centre of the footway cr
other wi-e.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Oct. 25. M. INST. C.E.

PARISH OF ST. MAR T-LE• STRAND.—Last evening
the parishioners of St. Mary-le-Strand assembled in
public vestry for the purpose of auditing the parish ac-
counts for the last year, and of nominating a gentleman
to the office of ♦estry-clerk in the room of Mr. Drewett,
resigned; Mr. Churchwarden Ralph in the chair. On
the motion for passing the accounts, Mr. Painter, a
guardian, stated he had nut examined them, and could
not therefore consent to sign them. Mr. Hughes sug-
gested that the whole of the items should be read over.
Mr. Lisnbird, an auditor, observed that that proceeding
would cccupy at least an hour and a half. He move:i
therefore that the accounts should be postponed until the
matters connected with the nomination should be con-
cluded. Mr. Dormer seconded this resolution. Mr.
Hughes moved, as an amendment, that upon all future
occasions when the parochial accounts were to come he
fore the vestry they should be open to the ratepayers at
least seven days before their passing. Mr. Limbird
stated V at the books were at all times open to the lowest
assessed ratepayer in the parish. After a lengthened
discussion the accounts, as presented by the auditors,
were agreed to. Mr. Score having withdrawn from the
contest, the other three candidates, Mr. Murrough, Mr.
Isaacsoa, and Mr. Young, were then duly proposed and
seconded, and on a show of hands the election was de-
clared to have fallen on Mr. Murrough. A poll was de
manded on behalf of the other candidates, the election
to commence at ten o'clock to morrow (this day), and to
close at four. Mr. Murrough afterwards addressed the
vestry, and it then broke up. The contest is expected to
be a very severe one.

ASYLIIM Fos ImoTs.—Yesterday afternoon a ge-
neral meeting of the supporters of this institution was
held at the London Tavern, Alderman Sir George Car
roll in the chair. The report of the directors for 1849
gave a very favourable review of the progress of the
institution. Drs. Conelly and Little had given their
gratuitous services as physicians, and the service of Drs.
Forbes and Sutherland and Sir J. Clark were mentioned
in warm terms. The patients in the institution were
divided into two classes—those elected and those who
were paid for. The charges were varied from 25 to 50
and 100 guineas per annum, according to circumstances,
but the paid patients were all upon equal footing—had
first-class lodging, the best diet, and every branch of
educa'ion. however Expensive, was open to them all.
A marked improvement had taken place in the condition
of many of these helpless beings. The present pre.
wises did not afford sufficient accommodation, and it
a as necessary that another house should be provided, ar
there were several paid patients waiting for admission.
in addition to those to be elected that day. Hi•
Royal Highness Prince Albert and his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge had recently honoured the asy-
lum by thEir presence, and expressed great satisfactior,
at the arrar,gEments adopted. Correspondents from trio
most distant countries have beet: invited to witness thi,
operation of the charity. The meeting then proceeded
to the election of 12 candidates from a list of 159. The
names of the successful candidates were declared at the
close of the poll, and the meeting separated, after a you,
of thanks to the chairman.

MANNING'S POETRY.—During the incarceration of
Manning in goal he had written several pieces of poetry.
which he has from time to time handed over to Mr. Binns,
his solicitor. Yesterday an eminent publisher, who is
about to publish Manning's memoirs, offered a sum of
money for them to insert in his publication, and it is
likely that the poetry in question will be disposed o'
to some advantage. One of the pieces is entitled " The
Prison Bell." in which Manning has displayed some
talent. Should the Crown refuse to give up the pro
perty found on Mrs. Manning for their joint defence, th,?
solicitor will dispose of the poetry. While in Horse-
monger-lane gaol Manning made some excellent draw-
ings, and it is understood that Robert Cruikshank is in
treaty for them. In fact the whole of Manning's time
has been occupied in writing and drawing. Ile seemed
so confident of his success when he left llorsemonger-
lane gaol, that he told Mr. Kean, the Governor, that as
soon as he was discharged from custody he should go
to the West Indies, but he should call upon him before
he started to thank him for his kindness.
LANDING PASSENGERS FROM STEAMBOATS.—Yes-
terday Captain Milne, master of the Royal Adelaide,
steamer, was fined 10s. and costs, at the Police-court,
for landing his passengers over the paddlebox, and
without a sufficient gangway.—Liverpool Courier.

DEATH OF ARCHDEACON ONSLOW.—We deeply
regret to state that it is our melancholy duty to anncunce
the decease of the Venerable Archdeacon Onslow, which
occurred yesterday (Tuesday), at his residence, the Court
House, Newent, Gloucestershire, after a painful illness of
many years' duration. The venerable gentleman was in
the 74th year of his age. He was a son of the Very
Rev. Arthur Onslow, D.D., formerly Dean of Worcester,
and brother of the lady of the Rev. Canon Ingram. Ili;
death will be deeply deplored as well by the clergy of
the archdeaconry of Worcester as by a very extensive
circle of friends, to whom his amiable disposition and
uniform courtesy and urbanity bad greatly and de-
servedly endeared him.— Worcester Journal.
ALARMING EXPLOSION.—Between one and two
o'clock this morning. the neighbourhood of Old Barge
House, near Blackfriars'-bridge, was greatly alarmedby a loud explosion on the premises of Messrs. Davey
and Pegg, coal-merchants. The brigade and West of
England engines and firemen were promptly at the spot,
when the cause of alarm was found to have originated in,
the coke stores. The roof of the building was com-
pletely blown off, and further danger was anticipated,
but through the ready aid afforded by the firemen and
police the adjoiuing, property sustained little damage. By
three o'clock further damage had ceased.
THE BEST FIRE-ESCAPE.—The Kent Fire-office
has issued a list of instructions to assist persons to escape
from fire. We will give one, which, if followed cut,
would hereafter render all others unnecessary, and that
is, let buildings be so constructed that they will not take
fire. As we have again and again shown, the majority
of our ordinary dwelling-houses are positively built to
burn. The loss which the community annually sustains
through want of foresight in this respect is enormous,
and the amount of grief, trouble, and privation which
follow can scarcely bo estimated. Prevention is better
than cure.—Vuilder.