The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-07 00:00:00

the marks in his own pantry, and it had every appear-
ance of fitting exactly. The chisel goes into the marks
exactly.
By a Juror--Were not those drawers under his care?
—They were.

Then what necessity was there for using a chisel to
force them open ?—There might be various reasons
why they should not be opened with the key in the or-
dinary way. Although the drawers were opened, the
locks were still shot. I have examined the back door
where the marks of violence appeared, and I am quite
certain that these marks of violence were not the means
by which the door had been opened. There were marks
of a blunt instrument, but some of these were in the in-
side, evidently after the door had been opened. The
marks have been recently made. I infer that the marks
were made after the door was opened, because some of
the marks were pushed out from the inside : and where
the marks are on the door-post, there are no corres-
ponding marks on the door where it touches the post.
I cannot come to any other conclusion than that the
marks were made when the door was open. The socket
of the top bolt was forced off. The bottom bolt is so much
decayed and rusted that I do not think it was fastened
at all. The socket of the top bolt was lying on the
floor with two nails. I examined the bolt, and some
instrument appears to have been put in to force if off.
The instrument was black, for it left a mark on the
door. In my opinion the socket of the bolt was forced
off when the door was open. Mr. Pearce and myself
searched for any instrument which might have made
these marks, and we found the pantry poker actually
bent and recently broken. The marks where the socket
of the bolt was broken off were marked with black. In
fitting the marks, where the point of the poker was
offered it certainly fitted the marks on the door and the
post. I believe Mr. Pearce, the Inspector, has got
charge of the chisel. There are other scratches on the
poker, as if it had been used in some violent way.
Mr. Pearce, the Inspector of the A. division, corro-
borated the evidence of the last witness in every parti-
cular as to the state of the doors, the chisel marks
upon them, and the state of the poker.
Mary Hannell was next called. She said—l was
cook to the deceased. The first thing I heard of what
had taken place was this morning, from the housemaid,
who, after going down stairs, came up again to me, and
asked if I knew that all was in confusion down stairs.
stairs ? Upon my saying that I did not, she went and
called the valet—they both went down stairs together,
and shortly afterwards the housemaid screamed out for
her to come down. I went down as soon as I was
dressed, and on the stairs I met them both coming up.
They told me that his Lordship was killed. I then
went into the dining-room and found it in confusion, and
afterwards went to the front door to see the state it was
in. We did nothing further until after the police came.
'lle police went up stairs. The other servant went
first, and the housemaid and I went to the foot of the
bed after the police came and saw him lying. I did
not go close to him. I then came down stairs with the
police. There was a silver thimble of mine taken out
of the workbox in the kitchen. I left it in the workbox
last ❑ight in the kitchen. It was found this morning
tied up in a dinner napkin, at the front door, with
other things. I slept all night without waking.
There was nothing of value in my box. I
went to bed from ten to half-past, a little after the
other maid, leaving up the valet and his Lordship. I
did not hear either of them go to bed. I heard nothing
in the night. I went out a little before nine last even-
ing, and returned a little before ten. A young man, a
friend of the valet's, was at tea in the house last even-
ing. The valet let me in. Ido not know the young
man. The valet has lived with his Lordship five weeks.
He fastened 'the front door. I have been in his Lord-
ship's service two years and eight months. lam not
aware that the valet ever drinks. His Lordship was
a very kind master. His Lordship's late valet
has been in town to-day. I saw no one last
night, from the time I went out to the time
I returned. I called on a friend named Austin in
Chapel-place, but no one was at ome. The valet
went to fetch a pint of porter or me after supper
last night. The valet fastened the street-door after

I came in. I believe he went up tbearCa steps
when he fetched the porter. He fastened the front
door with bolts and chains in the usual way. The
valet was always the last in bed. His Lordship burnt
a rushlight. A common iron candlestick was found
in his Lordship's room. I do not know how it came
there ; his Lordship was not in the habit of taking
such a candlestick there.

A person in the room said that he had taken it up
there in the morning.

Francois Benjamin Courvoisier, his Lordship's valet,
was then introduced into the inquest-room. He is a
young man, apparently of between 25 and 26 years of
age ; his figure is rather slight, and the expression of
his countenance rather downcast, but 11:s appearance
by no means betokens anything like ferocity, his com-
plexion is dark, and the expression of his features on the
whole rather pleasing than otherwise. He seemed labour-
ing under intense anxiety, and gave his evidence in Eng-
lish, which la❑guage he speaks with a slight foreign ac-
cent, and by no means fluently.
The CORONER having asked him if he had any
statement to make, he replied—" No, I have not. I
know nothing but what w© learned this morning."
Then, in answer to the Coroner, witness said—" Last
night his Lordship came home from his club,
gave me a letter to take to the post-office ;
that was about 20 minutes to six, and before
dinner. His Lordship went out for a little while
after that, and returned about half-past six
to dress for dinner. He sent me to the stable with a
letter to the groom, far him to take to the post-office.
His Lordship dined at home, and staid at home all the
evening. The servants went to bed between ten and
eleven. I fastened the door after the cook came in,
I did not unfasten the door afterwards, or go out. The
housemaid went to bed first, and the cook afterwards.
About ten minutes before twelve Lord William rung
his bell to undress. I went up to his bedroom and
helped to undress him as usual. I saw nothing unusual
in his manner—he was the same as usual. I came down
stairs again, waiting:to hear him ring his bell to have his
bed warmed. He generally washed after he undressed,
and then he had his bed warmed. When Lord William
rung his bell again it was about a quarter past twelve.
Lord William generally used to leave a rushlight
to burn all night in his room, and I got it ready. He
asked for his candlestick and a book, and I left him a
.ighted candle. Shortly afterwards I went to bed, and
heard nothing during the night, until the housemaid
came in the morning, and knocked at the door. I
began to dress then, and about five minutes afterwards,
when I was putting on my waistcoat, the housemaid
knocked ut the door again, and asked what was the mat-
ter with Lord William last night. I said, nothing more
than usual. She said everything was upset in the
dining-room, and the plate was all about the room.
When I came down and saw the drawing-room in that
state, I went into the pantry and found the plate gone
rem there. I had a friend visited me at 3 o'clock. I
cannot say exactly where he lives, but I believe it is
somewhere in South-street. His name is Henry Carr,
and when I lived with Mr. Fector, he was coachman
there. We lived together at Mr. Fector's about two years.
He came to see me between 3 and 5 o'clock. He took
tea, and went away shortly after 6 o'clock. I went with
him as far as the stables. I do not know exactly
where he lives, but it is somewhere, I believe, in South-
street. I think he is to be found at. the Royal Ex-
change, Adam's Mews. I went into the room this
morning, and saw the body of Lord William. It had
a cloth over the head, and there was a cut from the
throat to the shoulders. lam sure I did not go out
last night, and the doors were bolted when I went to bed.
I believe the police officers searched my box. I was
present during the search. They found a chisel in one
box, and some money in the other. I have had the
chisel about four years. I use it in cutting wood, as
I am fond of making things."
CORONER—It is my duty to caution you as to what
you say.

. Witoess—l always had charge of the plate.
Juryman—Did you go last night to fetch the cook
some beer ?

Witness—l did not. I forget ; I did go and fetch
her some beer. I locked the front door after she

came

Juryman—Did you go out of the front door to fetch
he beer ?

Witness—Yes. Oh, no ; I did not. I went out of
the area-door, I recollect now. I bolted and locked
the area-door after I came in, and put the
key in the kitchen. I recollect nothing more.
His Lordship did not keep much money in the
house. He had a 10/. and a 5/. note a few days ago.
I have not seen them these three days. Ido not think
he kept much money in the house. I have lived with
him about five weeks. The 51. note found in my box I
received mere than a week since from his Lordship. I
gave him change for it—four sovereigns, and the rest
shillings. I did not write on the back of it. I can
write. The property missing consists of three or four
gold pins, a gold watch, five table-spoons, three des-
sert spoons, four large forks, two small tea spoons, and
salt spoon.

Henry Carr has been about three mcnths out of a
situation. Ile was not in reduced circumstances: Be-
fore that he had a place at Mrs. Green's for four months.
I left my last place the day before I came to Lord
Wm. Russell's. The witness was then asked to sign
his name to the depositions, and if he had any objection to
write that of Lord Canterbury, when he immediately
wrote it, having inquired how it was spelled. We under-
stand the note found in the valet's purse had his
Lordship's name indorsed.
The CORONER said, he thought it fair to state to the
Jury, that he had that day seen Mr. Fector, the
witness's last master, with whom he had lived three
years, and who gave him an excellent character.
The ConoNER then inquired whether it was the wish
of the Jury that the proceedings should be adjourned,
or whether they had made up their minds to return a
verdict then ?
Mr. Dawson, the Foreman, said he did not see the
least occasion for adjournment. Ile for one was prepared
to say that the deceased had been murdered, but as
there was no evidence as to who the person or persons