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

THE

then, was it not natural to suppose that O'Connor
himself had told hear. lie ir.sisted that the evidence
was conclusive against both prisoners, and he shou!d
sit down in full confidence that the jury would think
so to.

The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE then summed up, re-
marking that the Attorney-General, in his opening
address, had properly and rightly explained the law.
That definition of the law was also acquiesced in by
both the Learned Counsel who appeared for the de-
fence, and he therefbre need not trouble the jury upon
that point. The questions they had to decide was,
first, whether the deceased came by his death from
violence, and secondly, whether either or both priso-
ners inflicted it. Whether both committed the
act, or only one of them, did not much
matter, if the jury thought there had been any
previous connivance between them. If they did,
then the two prisoners were both equally guilty
although only one of them inflicted the violence on the
deceased ; but if they thought the act was committed
by one, without the knowledge or concurrence of the
other, then their verdict must only be against that
one. There could hardly be a doubt that the
death of the deceased resulted from violence ;
but if the jury thought that neither of the
prisoners hail any thing to do with it,
he need hardly say that they must acquit them both.
In deciding who it was that inflicted the violence,
the jury must not be guided by minute circumstances,
they must look rather at the direct evidence which
bore upon the case; they must, therefore, not place
too much stress on the evidence of the medical student,
as there were some circumstances of a more im-
portant character, and it would better become them
to consider. lie would not-go through the evidence
in detail, as that had been done by the Learned
Counsel who had defended the prisoners; but he
should content himself by directing their attention to
some of the chief circumstances which it disclosed.
The male prisoner had admitted that he was present
when the woman fired a pistol against the deceased,
and as against him that was conclusive. There
could be no doubt, after that, he was present
The next point then for them to consider was, whether
or not he was aware beforehand that the woman in-
tended to commit the act, and to enable them to arrive
at a correct conclusion, they must look at the evidence
of Massey and Bainbridge relative to the intention of
the prisoner to leave his house and sell his furniture.
If they thought those circumstances indicated that the
murder was contemplated, then it would be their
duty to convict him. With regard to the act
itself there was only direct evidence that the
deceased was found dead in the prisoner's house; the
other evidence was purely of a circumstantial char •
acter. The deceased was last seen alive on Thursday
afternoon, the of August, and the evidence
which they had to consider related chiefly to pro-
ceedings occurring subsequently to that event, such as
the female prisoner's entering the deceased's lodgings,
' and his box, though locked, being afterwards found
empty of anything valuable, the sale of shares which
were known belonged to the deceased, and the flight
and confessions of the prisoners. It would be their
duty to well weigh all the evidence as men of the
world, and if, after looking at it in a common-sense
point cf view, it established the conclusion that the
prisoners concocted and carried out, either singly
with the connivance of the other, or together, a scheme
to commit this murder, then they must find them
guilty accordingly. It was their province, as men of
sense and solid justice, to consider all the cir-
cumstance which the evidence disclosed, and to de-
cide whether it was within the scope of human
events that this murder could have been committed
by one prisoner without the knowledge of the other.
Should they think that were possible, then they must
acquit the one and convict the other; butif, on the other
hand they did not believe it was, then they must
find them both guilty. With these observat:ons he
dismissed them to consider verdict, with the hope,
and in the full conviction, whatever it might be, it
would be founded in justice and truth.
The jury then retired.
Upon their return, the prisoners, who in the mean
time had been removed, were again placed in the
dock, when the rear and buzz of conversation which
had previously prevailed at once ceased, and the court
became hushed and still.

The Jury having answered to their names,
The Clerk of the Arraigns said, Gentlemen of the
Jury, how say you, is the prisoner at the bar, Fre.
derick George Manning, guilty or not guilty ?
The Foreman—GUlLTY.
The Clerk—How say you ; is the prisoner at the
bar,.Maria Manning, guilty or not guilty ?
The Foreman—GUlLTY.
7 The prisoners were then called upon in the usual
form to state if they had anything to urge why
judgment should not be passed against them.
The male prisoner said nothing.
The female prisoner, who spoke in quite a foreign
accent, said, " I have had a most unjust trial, and if
I had been tried by a fair jury, composed of some
of my countrymen, I could have proved that the
money which was found upon me was sent to me
from abroad; and I could prove not only that, but
that I have still enough of money in the
Bank of England to purchase shares (as we
understood her). The shares that were found upon
me I could prove were bought for me by my friends
abroad. It is a very shameful thing I have not been al-
lowed to have any witnesses called. I have known Mr.
O'Connor for nine yoars, and be has been the only
and the best friend I had in the world. I loved

him dearly, and he would have married

me to-morrow

next

week if I had

been willing. hly husband, who always ill-
treated me, knew this; and if, in his jealousy he
murdered him, why am I punished ? I have been
many years in the highest family in the
land, but still I have been treated in a manner that

would have been disgraceful if applied to brutes and
mild beasts in the woods, far less to a Christian. (She
uttered this with great emphasis, striking
her hand upon the edge of the dock.) I have
had the judge against me, counsellors against me, and
the jury against me, and instead of being treated like
a Christian, I have been treated like a wild beast.
Is it likely I would murder the friend I loved so well ?
I have letters that would have proved, if they had
been produced, what I state—that I was not the
murdere;.

The prisoner delivered the above fragmental sen-
tences with great passion and indignation.
Mr. Justice CRESSWELL then proceeded to pass the
sentence, the female prisoner frequently interrupting
him with the exclamation that she had nut had a fair
trial.

They were then sentenced to be hung at Horse-
monger-lane gaol.
The female prisoner again attempted to address the
Court in a violent strain, but the Learned Judge
ordered the prisoners to be removed.
On leaving the dock she threw a twig of rue into
the court, exclaiming, with great indignation and
temper, " A shame for England."
Manning bowed,"to the Judges on leaving the dock.

[The following evidence was accidentally omitted
in our Fourth Edition last night] :
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant WILKiNs—
O'Connor always kept his keys on his own person.
When Mrs. Manning visited him she took tea. Could
not say who made tea, but believed Mr. O'Connor did.

His tea-caddy was usually locked, and the key was on
the same bunch of keys. Could not say in which pocket
he carried his keys,. Had seen Mrs. Manning frequently
there. All the parties seemed on very good terms. The
shop was underneath the first-floor room of Mr. O'Con-
nor. The back room was her parlour. A person might
go up or down, but witness or her sister must have heard
them. Saw that the right hand of Mrs. Manning was
occupied, as if containing a parcel or bundle. On the
preceding day did not receive the money for the article
purchased. When she went into the room on the Friday
before Mr. O'Connor was missing, the cash. box was on
the table with papers. It was a tin box. When Mr.
O'Connor was out his bed-room was always open.
Had not seen Mrs. Manning in his bed-room when she
was alone,

William Massey, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENE-
RAL—Was a medical student., Had lived in the house
of the Mannings about ten weeks. There was a
servant occasionally kept there. Left on or about
the 28th July, because the Mannings were anxious
he:should do so. They told him they were going out of
town on the Monday as he left on the Saturday. Was
told so by one or bo.h. Knew Mr. O'Connor. Had
seen him at Minver•place. Had seen him there three
or four times. The male prisoner had spoken to him in
the presenca of Mrs. Manning, who said that she had
seen O'Connor take large quantities of brandy to prevent
cholera. That O'Connor had shown her his will, by
which he left all his property to her. Ile spoke of
O'Connor as a man worth 10,000/. or 20,0001. He asked
what drug would produce stupefaction or intoxication, so
as to induce a man to put his hand to paper. He asked
whether chloroform or laudanum would be best. He said
he bad heard of drugs being used for purposes of that
kind. Manning said ho should like to get O'Connor to
sign promiFsory notes to a large amount. He said to
him that O'Connor was very apprehensive of the cho-
lera. He asked witness to frigtiten him about cholera,
and to persuade him to take brandy as a specific for it.
He bad spoken of the head; asked what part of the
head was most vital. Witness said he believed under
the ears, because slight icjurits there were attended
with fatal results. He once asked where the brain was
placed, and witness pointed to the part. He asked
whether witness had ever fired off an air-gun. Mr.
Manning once talked about wax figures of Rush and
others at Tussaud's, and Ishether he thought murderers
went to heaven. Witness :told him, no. Witness had
written a letter or two, at the request of the Mannings,
to O'Connor.

Crocs
ined by Mr. Sergeant Mums—Those
were topics of conversation. Witruss was a medical
student ; the profession was the tajcct of conver-
SiVion.

Mary Fells, examined by Mr. CLARKSON.—Resided
at No. 4, RuFs.clp sir( ct, 13(rm(nthdy Was unmarried.
Res!cled with her father, who was a uilder. Knew the
l‘lannings• Recollected the mile prisoner coming to
her father's house for lime, of which he purchased six-
pennyworth at the end of July. He said he wanted it

SUN, LONDON

to kill slugs in the garden. Witness asked whether he
would have white or grey. lie said he would have that
which would hula the quickett. They Lad no white at
the time, and he said he would tako the grey, aid he
wrote the direction where he wished it to be sen 4 De-
livered that direction to Richard Welch, who was sent
with the lime.

Cross examined by Mr. Sergeant Warams—The
house was about five minutes' walk from Manning's.
The servant was in the house. The lime was sent home
two days after. No inquiries were made at the time.
Richard Welch, examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Was a
boy in the service of last witness's father. Knew Min-
ver place. Carried lime there in July. It was the 25th
when he took it home. Saw the prisoner Manning order
it. When he took it to Minver place saw Mrs. Manning.
Took it in a load. It was at Light. Mrs. Manning told
him to take it down into the kitchen below. Manning
went will him, and showed him a basket, into which he
told him to empty it. Mr. Manning, the prisoner, told
him to call next day, and he would see whether he could
get a couple of halfpence for him. Called next day and
got three halfpence from Mrs. Manning. -
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant WILKINS—Was
present when the order was given. Could not read the
written direction, but knew IN/Driver-place. Knew Mr.
Manning lived there; heard him then give the name of
the place.
William Danby, examined :by Mr. BODKIN—Was a
porter in the employ of Mr. Evans, in King William•
street. Remembered un 25th Jay Mr. Manning order-
ing a crowbar. (A crowbar was here produced.) It
was longer than that produced. It was one made for
him; it was fire inches longer. It was sect hcme on the
28th by the witness, who took it. The price was to be
half-a-crown, when it was ordered in witness's presence.
Witness carried it in his hand, and was met by the pri-
soner Manning on the bridge about half-past four. He
asked whether be was going to his house with the crow-
bar. He complained of a want of paper, which he said
must be very scarce with Messrs Evans, as he did not
wish everybody to see what he was purchasing. He
turned back with witness •till they came to a stationer's
shop, when Manning bought a sheet of blown paper, and
the bar was laid in it. He then went to the earner of
the Mazy, and directed witness to his house, where he
said somebody would be to pay for it. A stout female
opened the door. He bad the crowbar so covered es not
to be seen. Mrs. Manning asked him if he had brought
that from King William-street. He said " Yes." He
gave her the crowbar and the bill. It was charged
rather more than was agreed for at the shop. The
charge was 3s. 6d. Mrs. Manning complained of the
charge.
Cross-examined by Sergeant WILKINS—Two or three
persons were in the shop; Mr. George Evans was in.
Had not known Mr. Manning before. Would not have
known his address if be bad not written it. He paid
for the paper; and said that paper must be scarce at Mr.
Evans's,

By Mr. BALLANTINE—Did not know whether it was
calls d a crowbar or a ripping chisel. Could not way what
it was called in the bill of parcels. Manning 's was about
five minutes' walk from his house.

Re-examined by Mr. BODKIN—NO communication was
made about the crowbar after it was sold.

PARLIAMEN TA R-17 and FINANCIAL

REFORM MOVEMENT.

GREAT MEETING AT MANCHESTER.
(mom OUR OWN REPORTER.)

Last tight a crowded meeting of the Manchester Par-
amentary and Financial Reform Association was held

in the Free-trade Hall; Mr. George Wilson in the
chair. On the platform were the Right Hon. T. M.
Gibson; John Bright, Esq., M.P.; A. Henry, Esq., M.P.;
Jos, ph Brotherton, Esq., M.P. ; J. Taylor, Esq., Secre-
tary of the Birmingham Land Association, and a num-
ber of other leading men of the city of Mancheter.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that
the present meeting was summoned to ask their sanction
to the past proceedings, and their co operation in the
future proceedings of the Parliamentary and Financial
Reform Association. At a former meeting held in this
room, Manchester had heard explained the oLjects and
the use of the Association, and he begged to ask whe-
ther a reduction of ten millions was an object worth
striving fur ? They would hear this night, from Mr.
Gibson and Mr. Bright, an exposition of the views of
the Association with regard to Parliamentary Reform.
There was nothing that more impressed him with the
necessity of Parliamentary reform, than to look at
the inequality of constituencies in England, and at
the injustice of the suffrage—when the constituency of
Harwich, with its 181 voters, negatived the opinion of
Manchester, with its immense population—when such
a number of men, sober, temperate, and honest, were
deprived of all participation is the government of the
country. With respect to the last topic which he should
touch upon—registration—he could only say that it was
one of the utmost importance, from the immense changes
which were taking place continually in the voting hate,
and which, in the constituencies of North Lancashire,
had amounted to 56i per cent. Mr. Taylor would ex-
plain to the meeting a scheme by which every working
man, by saving eighteenpence a week, would in course
of time become possessed cf a vote for his county, and a
very safe investment for his money he thought it would
be. Ho would call on every class of the community to
join them in this movement.

- The report was then read by the secretary.
Mr. HENRY, M.P., moved the adoption of the report.
During two sessions in which he had sat in the house
he had not derived any great respect for the Members
of the House, because it seemed to him that most of
them seemed to be cbiefly interested in a struggle as to
who should be "in" and who "out." Most leading
politicians seemed to him to be deficient in political
honesty, and to bend all their efforts to class purposes;
and if a Minister were honest his objects were frequently
defeated by party selfishness.
Mr. BROTHERTON, M.P., seconded the motion. The
objects of the present association were wore deserving
of the attention of the country, because they were in the
hands of the people themselves. But there MS an allusion
in the report which they had heard,to the aseistance which
had been given to the movement by Temperance
Societies ; and he thought that that would
give them a hint by which they themselves could
reduce taxation to the amount of twenty millions; which
sum was the amount of revenue derived from tobacco,
malt, &c., and by abstaining from which the people would
reduce taxation to that amount.

Tlee Right Hon. T. M. GIBSON, M.P., then came for-
ward, and nas received on his appearance by loud and
repeated cheering. He said that it gave him great plea.
sure to meet his constituency at all times, to give an
account of his Parliamentary conduct. It was pleasant
to him to observe how quickly this movement for reform
was spreading over the country, and how men were gird-
irg up their loins in all parts, after the temporary lull
which followed the repeal of the corn-laws. It seemed
to him that the Protectionist party were somewhat
beginning to change their note—that they were fast merg-
ing into Tories. They had begun to see how preposterous
it was to think that this great country would retrace its
steps in a matter of such grave import, and which had
received such serious cc•nsideration as the repeal of the
corn laws. Some of the papers he perceived, the
Standard in particular, had begun to exult in the scarcity
of the supplies of cotton, and this only confirmed him in
his opinion that to widen the field of supply was the best
method to remedy this deficiency. He had alluded to
this point because there was a gentleman present who
had sat during the whole of the last session upon a
Committee to inquire into the best means to encourage
the growth of cotton in India; and it seemed to him that
while they had Indian wars on the frontier, while the
system of prize-money prevailed, he thought it was the
ne rest trash for any one to go about the country preach-
ing that land was worth nothing, and never would be
worth anything, and that every thing connected with the
agricultural interests was ruined. For his part, looking
in an agricultural district he had not found anything
beyond the reports in newspapers to justify such conduct.
The Protectiocists had said that if more corn came in
gold would go out; that had been a favourite cry of
theirs, but look at the facts. In the current years, 18.16.-
49, this country had imported 4,332,646 quarters of
wheat, and more than 6,000,000 quarters of other grain,
amounting to 11,177,572 altogether, and yet during the
whole time a steady increase of bullion had flowed into
the Bank; as corn came in gold came in too. Then
they had been told that as corn came in gold would
stop, and in 1839, under a Protectionist system, the Bank
of England bad gone to the Bank of France for a loan of
2,000,0001.; and be believed that the returns for the year
1849 would present a] more favourable appearance
than had been seen for many years. With respect now
to financial reform, the greatest opponents to it were
the county Members ; as to them often fell a
large share of the loaves and fishes of the system ; but
it was requisite to strike at the root of the system.
He would say, that in the face of this assembly, no reduc-
tion could take place in the expenditure of the country,
except they reduced the armaments of the country, and
there was plenty of room for this. Sir John Stirling had
told a Committee of the House that they had 8,000
officers, when 4,000 would have been more than suffi-
cient for a more numerous force than we at present
maintained. The excess of officers maintained by this
country cost as much as would be sufficient to keep up
a force of 20,000 seamen. The finance reform in these
branches would be the enly mode in which to forward
the peace movement. Government would not
be able to pay for such amusement. People
would not pay taxes for war, and would Government
get loans easily? What had become of the Austrian
loan, by the way? He saw by the Times of to-day that
it had fallen 1 per cent., and ho did not think that one
shilling had been got out of this country. Now, with
regent to this system of buying freeholds, which was to
be introduced to them to night, he very much approved
of them. He believed that the conviction was abroad
that the landed interest would much prefer universal
suffrage
_than to have established in every county a
number of small independent 40s. freeholders. By this
scheme much more could be effected than financial
reform—a full and entire purification of Parlia-
ment would take place, an extension of the
suffrage must follow, vote by ballot, and
shorter duration of Parliaments.—(Hear, hear.) These
changes must come speedily, and with them would come
a firmer basis to the liberty and happiness of the country;
teed he trusted that he should always be found cordially
cc-operating in this course.
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., then came forward amid much
cheering, and said that he regal ded the present meeting
as an evidence of sound political feeling in this town;
for it was met together to promote a movement which
was calculated to advance the happiness and prosperity
of the country. Looking over Europe it did not seem
that liberty was in " very high feather," and journals
of high standing and repute had been found to sympa-
thise -with acts of t}ranr y and wrong. and there did Lot
seem tny reason w by they would not do the swine if it were
sa'e to practise them in this country. lie should to-night
confine himself entirely to the cenoition of Ireland,which
it did not need much ingenuity to show had much to do
with the present movement. He would suppose for a
moment that the audience had never heard of Ireland