The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-30 00:00:00

THE BIRMINGHAM MURDERS.
INQUEST UPON ANN 'WILKES.
BIRMITMIIA-M, FRIDAY Nithfr:—This evening an
inquest was held at the Calthorpe Arms, Holloway-
road,,before Dr. Birt Davies, Borough Coroner, upon
the body of Ann Wilkes, the woman committed for
the murder of her four children, and who died in the
Queen's Hospital on Thursday morning.
The evidence relating to the murder of the four
children was the satne as that given at the former in-
quest. That produced to-night referred entirely to
the self-murder of the woman, and the state of mind
she was supposed to be in when she committed the act.
I Mr. Edwards proved, as on the former occasion, the
position of the children and the woman when he en-
tered the attic, and that two razors were close by her
side. The woman's throat was cut, but she was living
at the time. When bandages were applied, she at-
tempted to tear them off, and she was removed to
the hospital. It struck him that by the motion of
her hands she felt sensible of and was sorry for
what she had done. She never spoke at all. De-
ceased used to come into his shop almost every day
for potatoes and the like. He never saw anything
odd or strange in her manner. Never saw anything
uncommon in the state of her mind, except that on
the Thursday previous td the murder she came into
the shop to get change for a sovereign. She appeared
to be in trouble, and his wife asked her what was the
cause ? Deceased said she was very badly off, and
had been unlucky ever since her husband had died.
She added that she had been to the relieving officer,
and that he had shut the door upon her, and sneered
at her. She appeared to be in a sound state of mind,
at least to him, in the same state he had always seen
her before.
Elizabeth Hemming, who lived nearly opposite the
house of the deceased, deposed that she saw her about
ten o'clock on the night before the murder, and
nothing particular struck her as to her manner. She
appeared to he in her usual spirits.
Mr 44. F. Whittell, resident medical officer at the
Queen's Hospital, deposed that deceased was admitted
into the hospital at five minutes to one on Saturday
last. She had three incised wounds on the neck, and
coagulated blood in and around the edges.
;The evidence of the witness, with regard to the
.nattilfe ail d extent of the wounds, was the same as that
given by Mr. Cox at the former inquest. The de-
ceased was the patient of Mr. Langston Parker, who
was immediately sent for. her extremities were cold,
and she was in a state of much collapse. Warmth
was applied, and the wounds being dressed, she im-
proved for a little time ; bad symptoms afterwards
set in, and she died about a quarter to one on Thurs-
day morning. Had had conversation with her most
days, although he avoided speaking to her, unless she
spoke to him. On the first day she spoke to him, and
she appeared to answer questions in the same way as
all other patients. She was conscious and rational.
She requested to see a clergyman. On the Sunday
she requested to have her hands loosened. Some per-
sons, she said, had represented that she wanted to tear
the bandages off, but it was not true that she had
attempted to do so at her own house. He (witness)
released her on Sunday afternoon, and she never
attempted to injure herself. At her request the
assistance of the rector of St. Martin's was ob-
tained. In the course of Monday afternoon she told
him she hoped it would please God that she should
not get well, as she should have a great deal to
go through, and if she did get well, she hoped the
getlemen of the hospital would do all they could for
her, as she had been in great trouble since the death
of her husband. She at another time said she had
been to the board of guardians, and had been pushed
abruptly from the door. She did not say who by,
but was told to wait her turn in the yard. In the
course of Sunday, after dozing a little, she wandered,
and asked where she was, and she appeared satisfied.
Never noticed any distinct delusion. Only heard
deceased allude to her children once. Upon her
mother coming to see her, she said, " Have you seen
my children ?" Could not understand with what in-
tent the inquiry was made.
Mr. Langston Parker, professor of anatomy, and
surgeon to the Queen's Hospital, corroborated the
statement of the last witness. He saw the deceased
from day to day. She died unquestionably from the
wounds in the neck. She answered all questions
rationally up to the time he last saw her. Did not
witness any kind of mental disorder.
The Rev. J. C. Miller was then sworn, and deposed
as follows :—I had conversation with the deceased
(as a clergyman) more than once. In these conver-
sations she said nothing as to the cause of her own
death. On Monday morning, between three and four
o'clock, I saw her. She did not tell me what she had
done to herself, nor did she complain of any one else
having inflicted the wounds upon her throat. She
expressed a hope that time would be allowed her for
repentance, or words to that effect. She clearly con-
fessed to witness the murder of the four children, but
the means were not alluded to. She stated that it was
in consequence of her straitened circumstances. He
asked her if they were in want of bread ? She said
No; they were not so bad off as that?' She did
an
po i
pt
irrd
tuot blameeha
eh to any e
r children p n. er person.
taken Si hn
te pos
thoek
we
oorfkhhaoving
u se,
and that the relieving officer had replied that they
would only take a portion of the children. In all the
conversations I had with her nothing whatever oc-
curred which would indicate the slightest unsound-
ness of mind.
This was the last witness called.
The Coroner summed up, but the verdict was not
returned when the parcel was made up.
A slanderous statement has appeared in some of the
London papers, to the effect that the wretched woman
was not married to her deceased husband Wilkes, and,
worse than all, that she was instrumental in the death
by poison of her husband. Whatever truth there
may be in the first allegation, there is not the slightest
foundation for the latter. At the time of his death a
post mortem examination of the body took place at her
own request, and death was ascertained to have been
caused by purely natural causes.

John Stockham, marble. mason, Bristol, Nov. 16 and
Dec. 14, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acra-
man, official assignee, Bristol ; Jay, Sergeant's Inn ;
Crosby, Bristol.
Prince William Smith, currier, Bristol, Nov. 16 and
Dec. 10, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acra-
man, official assignee, Bristol; Dix, Bristol.
Charles Wright, hatter, Durham, Nov. 5, and Dec.
17, at twelve, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District
Court. Wakley, official assignee, Nevrcastte- upon -Tyne;
Myles, Pearse, and Co., Old Jewry ; Wright, Sunder..
land.

George Prockter, Joseph Prockter, and Thomas
Prockter, cotton spinners, Rochdale, Nov. 16 and Dec.
7, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser,
official assignee, Manchester ; Atkinson, Saunders, and
tkinxnn. Mancirter : Abbott. ChnAntt...tepet, Bod-
torth:quare, Lon on.
John Jones, coal dealer, Manchester, Nov. 11 and
Dec. 3, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court.
Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ; Johnson, Son,
and Weatherall, Temple, London; Pollard, Manchester.
James Spence, merchant, Liverpool, Nov. 11 and 30,
at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner,
official assignee, Liverpool ; Cotterill, Throgmorton-
street, London; Fletcher and Hull, Liverpool.
Richard Baynes, flour dealer, Liverpool, Nov. 11 and
30, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court ; Bird,
official assignee, Liverpool ; Cornthwaite and Co., Old
Jewry Chambers ; Pemberton, Liverpool.
DIVIDENDS.
At the Court, Basinghall street.
W. Bennett and H. S. Reeve, London-road, licensed
victuallers, Nov. 22, at half-past twelve—l. Aldebert, C.
C. Becher, and J. Hargreaves, Copthall-buildings, City,
merchants, Nov. 23, at eleven—J. Stevens, Abchurch-
lane, City, merchant, Nov. 23, at half-past one.
In the country.
J. Stout, Liverpool, boot and shoe maker, Nov. 26, at
eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—A. Dawn, Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire, draper, Nov. 19, at ten, at the Court,
Sheffield.

TT T T TNT, TXT

CATHEDRAL.

Last evening, at seven o'clock, Mr. William Payne,
the City Coroner, held an inquest, in St. Bartholo-
mew's Hospital, on the body of Mr. William Davison,
aged 60, who committed suicide by throwing himself
out of the whispering gallery of St. Paul's Cathedral,
some particulars of which appeared in our paper of
yesterday.
James Richardson, one of the guides of the Cathe-
dral, was the first witness examined, who merely
proved to having conducted the deceased to the western
gallery, the model and trophy room, and one or two
other parts of the edifice. He left him on the stairs
leading to the whispering gallery, and shortly after-
wards witness saw him lying on the pavement quite
dead. When in the western gallery he placed his
head in his hand, and, leaning on the rail, asked if he
knew the depth to the bottom.
William Thompson said that he was the keeper of
the whispering gallery. On Thursday afternoon,
about one hour after he had entered the gallery, his
attention was directed by hearing a hat fall. On
looking round he saw deceased hanging from the out-
side of- the railings. He immediately called out, but
he fell almost instantaneously.
Mr. William Lawrence, son-in-law of the de-
ceased, said that the deceased left home yesterday.
(Thursday) to keep an appointment, which he, how-
ever, did not do. He had seen the deceased twice a
week for some time past. Of late he had been very
low and desponding. The indefinite delay
.of a
Chancery suit, in which he had several thousand
pounds at stake, completely prostrated his mind.
Mr. Brodribb, surgeon, said that he had known the
deceased about twelve months. He saw him on "Wed-
nesday evening sitting at the fireside with his family.
He then complained of his spirits being low, and that
he could not sleep of a night. He also spoke about
losing his appetite.
The house-surgeon described the nature of the in-
juries deceased had received, which were the cause of
death.

PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
W. H. Cox, Belvidere-road, Lambeth, barge and boat
builder, 3s. 3id., on account of the first dividend of 45.,
on any Wednesday, between eleven and three, at the
office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street.
J. Partridge, Cheltenham, coal merchant, 4d., on
Wednesday, ov. 3, or any subsequent Wednesday, be-
tween twelve and two, at the office of Mr. Acraman,
Bristol.

W. Grieves, South Shields, grocer and baker, Is. 5c1.,
on Saturday, Oct. 30, or any following Saturday, be-
tween eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Wakley,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
J. Parsons, Medway-street, Horseferry-road, baker
and corn dealer, 9c1., on any Wednesday, between
eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basing-
hall-street.

T. Bowles, Horsemonden, Kent, victualler, d., on any
Wednesday, between eleven and three, at the office of
Mr. Whitmore, Basingball-street.
IL &lies, Grosvenor-row, Pimlico, and Smith-street,
King's-road, Chelsea, oil, colour, and Italian warehouse
rutin, 4z. any Wedee:iday, bi.tviri.n ul?‘,--n
three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghulf-strcet.
N. Temperley, King William-street, City, and New.
Ca4lo-.11p:41-Tyne, 21d., on tiny Wednesday, between

Other evidence, proving that the mind of the un-
fortunate deceased had become impaired, the jury,
without hesitation, returned a verdict of" Temporary
iumnity."

that some person had got rid of some stolen Bank of FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF
England notes by making a purchase of American FRIDAY:
notes of the description offered by the prisoner. Upon DOWNING-STREET, OCT. 29, 1847.
this he deemed it his duty to give the prisoner into The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders
custody, and Isaacs, the officer, found an American for the appointment of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas John
note in the prisoner's possession. Cochrane, Knt., Companion of the Most Honourable
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY invited the prisoner to ex- Order of the Bath, to be an Ordinary Member of the
plain how he came by these American notes. Military Division of the Second Class of Knights Com-
The prisoner said he had been out of business for a menders of the said Order.
fortnight, and on Wednesday a stranger accosted him WAR-OFFICE, OCT. 29.
in Lord-street, Liverpool, and asked him where he 9th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant William Drysdale
to be Captain, by purchase, vice Deacon, who retires ;
of a money-changer, named Andrew, in the Water-
could sell some American notes. Prisoner told him Cornet Chandos Frederick Clifton to be Lieutenant, by
purchase, vice Drysdale ; Edmond Hunt, Gent., to be
100-road. He said Mr. Andrew would not take Cornet, by purchase, vice Clifton. Oct. 29.
them, but he knew a Captain Broadwater in London, 13th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant Felton Frederick
who could get them changed there, and if prisoner William Hervey to be Captain, by purchase, vice Ma-
liked to take a trip with him, he would pay all the docks, who retires ; Cornet Arthur Tremayne to be
expenses. Having nothing to do, he accepted the Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Harvey ; Percy Shawe
offer, and came up with the person, whose name was Smith, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Tremayne,
George Watson. They found the captain, who got Oct. 29.
the first lot of notes changed, and prisoner went with 14th Light Dragoons—Captain William Augustus
the second lot. Gaussen, from the 89th Foot, to be Captain, vice Griffis,
who exchanges, Oct. 29.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY said, it was the prisoner's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards—Brevet Major,
misfortune to be in possession of notes which had Lieutenant, and Captain Henry Daniell to be Captain
been obtained from a money changer with stolen and Lieut.-Colonel, by purchase, vice Knox, who
notes. Some other parties were in some degree con- retires ; Ensign and Lieutenant Charles Sedley Burdett
netted with the changing of the notes, and it was to be Lieutenant and Captain, vice Daniells; Charles
desirable that they should be found, to see if they Rodney Morgan, Bart. to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by
could clear up the matter, or whether it would be purchase, vice Burdett, Oct. 29.
necessary to investigate the whole affair at Liverpool. Ist Foot—Lieut. James Pollock Gore to be Captain,
by purchase, vice Green, whose promotion has been can-
The prisoner said he was quite willing to go at
once with the officers to Liverpool. celled, Oct. 29.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY said, it would be more con. 9th Foot—Lieut. Edwin Morton, from half-pay of the
venient first to hear whether the captain or Mr. regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Bennett, appointed
Paymaster of 18th Foot, Oct. 20.
Watson could satisfactorily clear the matter up. The 18th Foot—Lieut. Francis Lovett Bennett, from 9th
prisoner was remanded till Tuesday. Foot, to be Paymaster, vice George Isaac Call, who re-
tires upon half.-pay, Oct. 29.
21st Foot—Second Lieut. Henry Sollars Gunning S.
Knight to be First Lieutenant, without purchase, vice
, Deere, deceased, June 3.
, 39th Foot—Lieutenant Henry Elmhirst Reader, from
half-pay of the regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Patrick
Flynn, who exchanges, Oct. 29.
44th Foot—Captain William Spring, from the 82d
Foot, to be Captain, vice Philipps, who exchanges,
Oct. 29.
•
56th Foot—Ensign Francis William Fellows to be
Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Ramsay, appointed
Adjutant; William Cairncross, Gent., to be Ensige, vico
Fellows, Oct 29.
57th Foot—Lieutenant Charles Edmund Law, from
the 69th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Brown, who ex-
changes, Oct MI.
, 59th Foot—Ensign Eclwyn Francis Brydges Scuda-
, more Stanhope to bo Lieutenant, without purchase, vice
Richard Jesse Lloyd, deceased, Oct. 15 ; Henry Kean,
Gent., to be Ensign, vice Stanhope, Oct. 29.
, 69,h Foot—Lieut. Edward John Balcomb Brown,
from the 57th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Law, who
exchanges, Oct. 29.
80th Foot—James Loftus Winniett Nunn, Gent., to
be Ensign, without purchase, vice Hart, promoted in the
29th Foot, Oct. 29.
82d Foot—Captain John Allen Lloyd Philipps, from
the 44th Foot, to be Captain, vice Spring, who ex-
changes; Lieut. Samuel Peters Jarvis, from the Royal
Canadian Rifle Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice White,
who exchanges, Oct. 29.
89th Foot—Captain Charles Tindal Griffis, from the
14th Light Dragoons, to be Captain, vice Gaussen, who
exchanges, Oct. 29.
Ist West India Regiment—Ensign Henry Jones to be
Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Johnstone, deceased,
June 28; Ensign Stanley Douglas Stubbs to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Bridgeman, who retires;
Richard Philip Fletcher, Gent., to be ensign, by
purchase, vice Stubbs, Oct. 29; Courtenay Thomas
Hammil, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Jones, Oct. 30.
Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant Matthew
White, from the 82d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Jar-
vis, who exchanges, Oct. 29.
Ceylon Rifle Regiment—Second Lieutenant Windsor
Henry Humphreys to be First Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Miller, who retires ; Charles Clitfe, Gent., to be
Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Humphreys,
Oct. 29.
HOSPITAL STAFF.—Assistant-Surgeon John Thomas
Watson 13acot, from the 39th Foot, to be Assistant-
Surgeon to the Forces, Oct. 29.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.
Lytnington Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry—Rowland
Edward Cooper, Gent., to be Cornet, vice the Earl of
Cavan, resigned; Oct. 20.
BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
Thomas Prosser, timber merchant, Worcester.
BANKRUPTS.
Joseph Mabbott, printer, Milton, Kent, to sun ader
Nov. 12, at eleven, and Dec. 9, at one, at the Covet of
Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-
buildings ; Wilkinson, Nicholas-lane, Lombard-street.
Joseph Hill, jun., builder, Southampton, Nov. 10, at
eleven, and Dec. 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bank
ruptcy. Bell, official assignee, oleman-street-buildings;
Braikenridge, Bsrtlett's buildings, Holborn.
Gabriel Gusterson, builder, Paradise-walk, Queen's-
road West, Chelsea, Nov. 4, at half-past two, and Dec.
9, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. , Johnson,
official assignee, Basinghall-street; Lawrence and Plows,
Old Jewry-chambers.
llenry Pannell Flashman, soda water manufacturer,
Bute-street, Brompton, Nov. 12, at palf-past twelve, and
at Dec. 9, at half past two, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall•street ; Lewis,
New Inn.
Richard Burgess Scale, lodging-housekeeper, Leyton-
stone, Essex; Nov. 12, at twelve, and Dec. 9, at two, at
the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Cole-
man-street buildings. Shaw, Fish-street-bill.
John Tupling, shoemaker, Cambridge, Nov. 11, and
Dec. 8, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Bell, official. assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Ravens-
croft, Guildford-street, Russell-square; Cooper, Cam-
bridge.
. Jonas M'George, ironmonger, Wardour-street, Soho,
Nov. 5, at eleven, and Dec. 17, at twelve, at the Court
of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-
court, Basitighall-street; Goren, South Moton-street.
Francois Dupouy, wine merchant, Crossiane, St.
Dunstan's-hill, City, Nov. 5, at eleven, and Dec. 17,
at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green,
official assignee, Aldermanbury; Sangster, St. Swithin's-
lane.
William Dowsing, oilman, Ipswich, Suffolk, Nov. 8,
at half-past one, and Dec. 10, at half-past eleven, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Cole-
man-street; Kirk, Symond's Inn; Galsworthy, Ipswich.
Edward Symeon Meyer and Thomas George Brown•
smith, fringe manufacturers, Bedford-street, Covent-
garden, Nov. 9, at half-past eleven, and Dec.lo, at half-
past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand,
official assignee, Old Jewry Chambers; Tippetts,
Pancras-lane, London.
John Wainwright, draper, Digbeth, Birmingham,
Nov. 13, and Dec. 4, at twelve, at the Birmigham Dis-
trict Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ;
Sale, Worthington, and Shipman, Manchester; Suckling,
Birmingham.
Berilsmin Walton, jspanner, Wolverhampton, N0v.13,
and Dec. 14, at twelve, at the Birmingham District
Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Clark
and Sparrow, Wolverhampton; Motteram and Knowles,
Birmingham.
Thomas Smith, cattle and sheep salesman, Seines-
head, Lincolnshire, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3, at eleven, at the
Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official as.
signee, Nottingham; Brown, Nottingham.
William Willis, wool broker, Trowbridge, Nov. 12,
and Dec. 10, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court
Hutton official assignee, Bristol ; Moule and Co., Milk
sham.