The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-19 00:00:00

-<)-4„IE.N T--RAIL --CitIMLNA.L - CO-URT.

OLD COURT.
( Before L:ta Chief Justice TINDAL and Mr. Baroa
PARKE. )
TRIAL OF COL.
i,VOISIER FOR THE MURDER
OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL.
.ur Paper of yesterday.)
(Continued from i. •e past two o'clock, and the ex.
The Court re-assembled at hae s resumed.—The police have
amination of the witness Mansell wae ,
orn that time to the pre-
remained in possession of the house 1.
prisoner on the subject
sent. I have had conversations with the
•tay morning, the sth
of money. The last time was on the Tues..
home, and that he
of May. He said that he had no money at .
the bank. He
never took any out with him, nor had he any at
shillings in
afterwards said he had eight pounds some odd'
'ouversation
the bank. In the course of the same
c
gone he
he said all the money he had was 51., and when that was'
%ut I
must ask his Lordship for more ; he had 81. on his books
his Lordship. Ido not know what began the conversation, ..ainst
asked him if he had got rid of all the money I had seen him take
out. He had taken out some sovereigns with him
he on th e }et
onday
before ;he had put them in his waistcoat pocket; had
the sovereigns out of his bed-room. It was to that she alluded.
He said in answer, he had, for he had paid a itailor's bill.
This conversation was on the Tuesday. It was the day before I
bad seen him take out the money. The having money In the bank
was mentioned before the tailor's bill. 1 asked WI what bank, he
said in St. Martin's lane. I told him that was the best place he
could put It in. He said before that he was not so well off now as
when he first came to England, and he said it again at tea time,
when Carr was there. On the Tuesday morning he said he had only
51 left.
By Mr. Bacon PAII.K2--He did not say where the Si. was.
By Mr. BODKIN—He spoke of the 51. before he said he had
the 81. in the Bank. I never saw him in possession of any money
except the sovereigns I have mentioned. I never saw any bank-
notes in his possession. I have heard him speak of Lord W. Rus.
sell's property on two occasions ; the first was before his Lordship
went to Richmond. He said old Billy was a rum old chap,
and if he had his money he would not remain long in Eng-
land. I said his Lordship was not a very rich man, and
he repeated what he had said. The se,eend time was after
his return from Richmond. We conversed on the same subject,
and he used the same words again. I was alone with the prisoner at
supper on the night of Tuesday, May 5. I took some ale; he offered
me a glass of something else. I tasted it, but did not drink it'. The
prisoner took a part of the same ale I did. In the course of the day,
May 6, I asked prisoner if he heard me knock at his door; he said he
thought he would begin to dress, but did not say whether he heard
me or not. I have frequently seen the prisoner in his Lord-
ship's bed-room, and noticed that he always was looking into
all his Lordship's property. I asked him what he was going to
do, and he always said he was looking after something, but
did not say what. This occurred before he went to Rich-
mond. I cannot say what particular articles he was looking
at in the bed-room. He was, on one occasion, looking at the
dressing-case; he had it down in his pantry. I never knew the
other valet to have it down in the pantry. I cannot say what ar-
ticles he was looking at in the bed-room, because his Lordship
used to lock up every thing except the dressing-case, and
take the keys with hint. He was looking at his Lordship's
property not only in one room, but in every room. When he
went to Richmond, the little box covered with Russia leather,
which his Lordship called his cash.box, was unlocked; he was
looking into that. It was usually kept by the side of his Lord-
ship's bed. The prisoner brom;ht it down, and said it was un-
locked. His Lordship was then out for a walk. The prisoner
brought it down into the dining.rocen. Ills Lordship burnt a
rushlight in his room at night. I set up a whole rushlight on the
night in question. I left it unlit. I have since given one of the
same sort of rushlights to Inspector Beresford : it was out of the
same parcel.
Cross.examined by Mr. C. PIIILLIPs—I have been examined
several times before the Magistrates. I think three times. I was
also examined before the Coroner. I have not been examined by
any body since the committal of the prisoner—not by Mr. Hobler
—that I will swear to. This was not the first day I ever said that
I had seen the prisoner looking at his Lordship's property.
I told it to Mr. Hobler and my fellow-servant before I was ex-
amined at Bow.street. There have been occasions on which 1 have
given this evidence without mentioning it. I gave evidence in the
house of Lord W. Russell on the first or second day ; it was taken
down in writing. Commissioner Maine was there; there was no
magistrate there to my knowledge. Mr. Hobler was there. The
prisoner was not present. Upon the oath I have taken, I never
said I saw my Lord murdered in his bed when I went in with Cour.
voisier at the time he opened the window. I have never said so
to my recollection. I was that frightened I did not know what I
said.
•

Mr. C. PHILLIPS —Did you ever represent that when you went
the first time into the ,nom with Courvoisier, you saw my Lord
murdered in his bed? Witness—l believe not. lam sure I did
not. I was examined before the Coroner.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS—Do you mean to stick by that answer now ? I
put you in mind of the Coroner, and now I ask you if you have
never said so Witness—To the best of ray recollection, never.
?dr. C. PHILLIPS—Who was the policeman you went in with the
second time ? Witness—lnspector Tedman. I went to about the
middle of the bed, and there I saw his Lordship's face. Tedman
was in the room before I was. I did not see Tedman do anything
to his Lordship. On going down into the passage, I saw the
napkin ; I did not look into the folds of it, and I never represented
that I looked into it on my first going down, and saw the pencil case
and other things. I asked the conk if she knew anything had
been the matter last night. I put the same question to Cour-
voisier. I did not think there was much the matter, because I had
before seen his Lordship's papers strewed about. I did not know
what to think when I saw the passage in the state it was. I was
surprised at what I saw. I have sometimes found the street-door
unfastened before. Some time before his Lordship went to Rich-
mond, Courvoisier had forgotten to fasten it. I went into the
front drawing-room to open the shutters. I did not suspect any.
thing wrong when I went into the front drawing-room. Courvoisier
bev.koned to the man within five minutes after I had told him Mr.
Rusell must be sent for, I have been living at Mivart's Hotel.
When i left Mivart's I went into lodgings, where I remained two
months. I".then went into Lord W. Russell's service. I have said
I felt drowsy as.'er taking the ale the prisoner gave me. I was not
asked the question to-day. I generally feel drowsy at night,
but I felt more drLswir that night than usual. It was
not very shortly after taking tie ale I felt so. It might
be half an hour, or three quarters, perhaps. I did not
mean to insinuate that the prisoner had drugged the ale;
I think it was quite right to apprise 1-'2r, W. Russell of what had
occurred. Belgrave-square is no great dii.7ance for a man to ride.
Courvoisier might have gone and fetched the cs,`chTan-
Mr. PHILLIPS—And might he not have taken ti.**t opportunity
to escape if he bad been conscious of guilt ? Witness—"'He might
have done so ; the partition between my bed-room and Cons "isier's
is a th;n one. I had not teen in his Lordship's room when . saki

to Courvoisier " Let us go and see where his Lordship is." lex •
ported to see his Lordship in his room, but I did not know where
his Lordship was. 1 had no doubt he was in his bed-room. I was
anxious to gee where his Lordship was. I have seen a ladder on
the premises; it has been there ever since I have been in the house.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS—Up to the present moment, did any one
hear any person say a word about that ladder being on the pre-
mises up to the present moment ? Witness—lnspector Tedman
inquired about it.
Mr. PHILLIPS—Was it mentioned at any of the exami.
nations ? Witness—Not that I know of. The ladder was
not always kept in the yard. It was sometimes kept in
the bath-room, which is of the yard. I saw the ladder
on Tuesday standing in the passage of the House—it had
been used on the Monday for hanging some pictures for
his Lordship. I asked Courvoisier to take it away; he did so,
and on the morning of the Wednesday it was found by the side
of the wall leading to No. 15. It was quite upright against the
wall ; the top of it was nearly even with the top of the wall, and
any person on the top round could look over the wall. I know
the back glass door. Ido not know of any experiment made upon
it by the police. I had not observed any marks upon it before
the police came. I first mentioned about the prisoner giving
me ale on 'my last examination at Bow-street. I had
never been in the house 14, Norfolk-street, before I went
into his Lordship's service. Mr. Donne, with whom I lived before
I went to his Lordship's, was a tailor. I never saw the Waterloo
medal found but once before, it was then on his Lordship's table
in his bedroom. His Lordship never kept his door locked. I have
heard Courvoisier say that he had 5/. a year less than the last valet.
I never beast him say he was to receive 451. a year, and that it was
double what he had when with Fector. When I said, let us go and
see where his Lordship is, I did not hear Courvoisier say," What
will he say ?"

Vr. PIIILLTPS—I ask you by his desire if he did not say so ?
Witness—l did not hear him. I did not see the area gate after
Courvoisier came in.

Re.examined by Mr. BODKIN—The examinations at the house did
not take place on the day of the murder, but a day or two after. I
was examined in the absence of the prisoner, and the prisoner also
went in to be examined in my absence. The other servants were
examined in the same way. We were all kept separate from each
other. No one was at that time specifically charged with this
offence to my knowledge. I found the door of the bedroom open when

I followed Tedman into the room. I was part of the way down
stairs when Tedman went into the room, and when I arrived
Tedman was standing near his Lordship's head. Young and others
had been in the bed-room previously. It was about three months
before his Lordship's death that I saw the Waterloo medal in his
room. His Lordship was not then present.
Mary Hammen examined by Mr. CIIAMBERS-I was cook in Lord
W. Russell's service, and had lived with him two years and nine

months. On the night of the sth of May I went out a little before
nine, and returned a little before ten alone. Courvoisier let tne
in at the front door. When I came in he fastened the door. He
locked it, bolted it, and chained it. I went down into the kitchen.
I did not go out that night again. Before I went out I went
into the lower yard, to fetch the cold meat for supper,
and on my return bolted the door. There were two bolts to the
door, one at the top, and the other at the bottom. Ido not think
I bolted the bottom bolt, because it was out of repair. I had not
of late been in the habit of bolting it. On my return I had my
supper in the kitehen. The others had already supped. Mansell
went to bed first. Before I went to bed Courvoisier went out of
the area gate to fetch me some beer. I did not notice what lie did
with the key when he returned. Ile took it to let himself out.
I went to bed about half-past ten. The prisoner was then
in the pantry. He had been there a few minutes. He went
up into the drawing-room whilst I was at supper. When
I came up stairs, Mansell was in bed; she did not, to my knowledge,
leave that room during the course of the night. I did not leave it.
I was not disturbed by any noise during the night. Mansell got up
first, about a quarter to seven. I heard her knock at the prisoner's
door; she went down stairs, and came up again in about five minutes.
I immediately got up, and before that I heard her again knock at
Courvoisier's door, and I heard them both go down stairs.
Whilst I was dressing, I heard Mansell scream. 1
finished dressing, and ran down stairs to the lower
part near the dining-room. I saw Mansell there; she said his
Lordship was killed I just went into the dining_room. I saw
the prisoner and the housemaid ; the prisoner was writing some.
thing with a pen. I then went to the front door. In the course
of the morning I saw the prisoner in the back dining-room, he was
sitting in a chair. He said "Oh ! dear, they'll think it's me;
shall never get a place again." I saw things lying about. In the
passage there was his Lordship's cloak, opera-glass, and ticket-box.
I saw a bundle in the passage, and the cloak tied up in a dinner_
napkin. The contents of that bundle were not taken out before
the police came. I had left a thimble in a workbox in the right
hand cupboard in the kitchen the night before. I found the
cupboard and drawers in the kitchen open on that morning ; there
Was nothing that I am aware of taken away except that thimble;
before. In the morning it was open ; the lock
there was nothing of any value in the cupboard; it was locked
nighttthheere
were it
tnowasacupboard that could he opened easily;
marks of an
locked it myself, and taken thekyey
was shot;
ninpstsrtuami
tesnt
Tonne,. it.e
w was
aI
littlehad
I a
bolt on one side.
amrawn,ort certai i whether I put it down that
night. The dresser
they were not locked. 1 lefts ,
in the kitchen when I went to
bed, and coals to keep it up were
re all out of order and rummaged,
asirhiwsLordship always had his bed
warmed. On Tuesday morning, h
,'
when we were at breakfast, pry
oiler said he had only 51., and when that
was gone
l
recollect my.
Lord for more. Ile said something else,
I once heard the prisoner say that old Billy was
inaErnigimianodld chap,
The
an
The prisoner and the other servants lived co
ifhejiadfihniswrnhaotnoecycahseiown'tihlais was—it was about a week tiv
m-
not be long
not recollect
ffoorrcteartobhslyse.etoxelie
mmurdertinerd.
by
Mr.
cLAn w
soN_hen
prison
er
said that
about old Billy, I thought he only said it as a joke. lam not
aware how the prisoner was supplied with money to dig.
charge standing bills of the house; he had no bills to discharge,
lie said something about having money in the bank. I gave not
time.more than
Theres 'l. .
butthe ithad notthimble,
which
beenhich keptlliad had a long
in
the
yard
lately—it had been kept in the dark room until a day or two pm_
;vas6 a or
ladder,' s.for
vious to the murder. It was not a ladder, but steps, which, when
opened with a pring.
will stand by themselves. Those steps were
s
standing, on the morning of the murder, in the tippet lyard, against
the dwarf wall. They were about seven feet high. There would be
of the ladder
no difficulty in a person putting his foot from the top