The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-20 00:00:00

Cross-ex :mined—Her brother was now recovered.

Mary Richardson said she had known the prisoner for
17 or 18 years. She always considered her a very good,
hard-working girl. The prisoner stayed at her h Juse
for two mantas, and during that period she had a very
bad fit, and when she came to a little she looked very
wild, and witness kept away from her.
Cross-examined—lt was eight years ago it happened.
Miss Richardson, daughter of the last witness, also
spoke to seeing the prisoner in a fit while she was stay-
ing at her mother's house.

Charlotte Jennings, another fellow•servant of the pri-
soner's 13 years ago, said that while in the service she
was subject to fainting fits, and she frequently observed
her to be very low-spirited. The prisoner had since
lodged with her on two or three occasions when she was
out of place, and her spirits always appeared to be very
much d:•pressed, and she frequently found her crying.
The prisoner was one of the most humane, kind crea-
tures she ever know.

Sarah Robinson said the prisoner lived in her house
from July to December, 1846. She had very bad health,
and always appeared in low spirits, and she frequently
saw her crying without any apparent cause. She once
saw her in an hysteric fit, and she struggled and was
very violent, and required three men to hold her. She
appeared to be of a particularly kind and humane dis-
position.
Emma Bayley said she remembered the prisoner
coming into the service of Mrs. Smythe Wyndham, in
which she was engaged in March last, and very soon
after that period she had a violent fit, and witness found
her on the floor quite insensible, and after a time she
became so violent, it required two men to hold her. She
continued in this state for a considerable time, and two
or three days after she recovered there was a peculiarly
wild expression in her eyes. The prisoner only re-
remained in the service for eight and twenty days. and
after she had left the service she came back for her
clothes, and while she was standing in the servants'
room the prisoner had another fit. She saw the pri-
soner again about three weeks afterwards, and she then
had the same wild appearance that she presented after
the preceding fits.
Cross-examined—The deceased used to come to the
house, and was an object of charity. After the prisoner
left the service she understood that she was going to stay
with the old woman for a night or two.
Some other servants in the establishment of Mrs.
Wyndham gave similar testimony, and they all deposed
to the violence of the prisoner while suffering under the
fit. All these witnesses were sent to give their testi•
mony as to what occurred by order of their master and
mistress.

Mr. W. Verrall, surgeon to the Brighton Lying-in
Institution, proved that he attended the brother of the
prisoner upon two occasions for delirium. The witness
then said that his experience in the diseases of women
induced him to believe that under peculiar diseases, to
which they were subject, the effect would ultimately be
to injure the brain. _ _

M. Richard Rugg, surgeon to the Brighton Infirmary,
gave similar testimony. He expressed an opinion that
during a paroxysm occasioned in a female from the cir-
cumstance referred to, she would be in such a state of
mind as not to be aware what she was doing ; and, from
his own knowledge, he wai aware that when in such a
state a woman would feel the greatest hatred towards
those with whom she had before been the most friendly,
Mr. BALLANTINE said this was the case for the pri •
soner.

Dr. Sutherland was then called by Mr. BODKIN.—IIe
said, I am a pysieian, and have had considerable prac-
tice in disorders of the mind. I was directed to be pre-
sent to-day by the solicitor to the Treasury, and I have
attended to the whole of the evidence, particularly that
of the witnesses for the prisoner, and assuming; all the
facts that have been stated to be literally true, they do
not in my opinion indicate any unsoundness of mind in
the prisoner, in any degree whatever.
Cross-examined—My opinion would be more satis-
factory, of course, if I had had an opportunity of per-
sonally examining the prisoner. I have known cases of
women becoming quite insane from the cause suggested,
and where a woman, naturally of a humane and peace-
able diuposition, has suddenly become quite ferocious.
By Mr. BODKIN—I cannot see any circumstance in
this case to induce me to believe that the brain of the
prisoner is in any way injured.
Mr. Bopais—Did you ever hear of a case where a
woman had a violent attack of this description at nine
o'clock at night, for her to be perfectly cool and col-
lected, and nut show any traa, of that attack, in the
following morning at four o'clock ? Dr. Sutherland—l
never did hear of such a case.

Mr. BODKIN then replied, in a most calm and tem-
perate address, upon the whole case.
The Learned JUDGE commenced summing up the
case at ten o'clock at night. He went carefully through
the whole of the evidence, and said that the questions
the jury had to decide were—first, whether the prisoner
was the person who caused the death of the deceased,
and if so, whether at the time the act was committed
she was iu such a state of mind as to render her account-
able for her act. ,
The jury retired tft twenty minutes to twelve o'clock.
At five mint tea past they returned into court and de-
livered their verdict, finding the prisoner Guilty, but
strongly recommending her to mercy on account of her
previous good character.

The pri ;otter was then asked, in the usual form,
whether she had anything to urge why sentence of death
should not be passed ? and Mr. Harker, the chief usher,
made the titan al proclamation.
Mr. Jus,ice ERLE put on the black cap, and after
stating that the crime of the prisoner was so dreadful
that he cou!*l not hold out the slightest hope of a com-
mutation of Ithe sentence, passed the sentence of death in
the usual form.
The prist.ner was then asked whether she had any-
thing to say in arrest of judgment ? She replied,
" Nothing.'"
Mr. BALL, NTINE said the proceeding was a novel one,
and he hard ty knew the proper course to be adopted
with regard; to the circumstance of the prisoner being
pregnant.

Mr. Jwitke ERLE said that circumstance would be
,aken into et .nsideration by the proper authorities.
The pri io ner was then removed from the bar.
The trial, lasted more than fourteen hours.

THE Gn .AT FIRE AT MAIDENREAD.—On Tues-
day evening, at eight ticlock, a considerable body of fire
remained am; dst the immense heap of ruins. The whole
of the mills and private residences, together with the
brewery, are now levelled with the ground. The mill
was well stet •ed with corn, and the brewery adjoining
was filled wif j malt, hops, &c. The property destroyed
was of great value, but we regret to state that the whole
of the instim .races on the 'same will not exceed 8,000/. It
is needless ..to state that that sum will fall short of the loss
sustained. The stock, which was most extensive, was
insured fc rcn ly 1,970/. Unfortunately several persons
who had grain at the mill waiting to be ground will be
serious lo iers by the calamity. An investigation was
instituted on. Tuesday, to learn, if possible, how the
disaster 1 ,appe% led, but without success.