The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-03 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
THE MURDER OF THE SOLDIER IN ST.
JAMES'S-PARK. . .

The Court was opened this morning at ten o'clock
before Mr. Commissioner Bullock and Alderman Gibbs.
The Learned Judges, the Lord Chief Baron, and Mr.
Justice Coltman shortly afterwards took their seats on
the bench.
Annette Meyers was then placed at the bar on an in-
dictment charging her with the wilful murder of Henry
Ducker, a private soldier in the 2d battalion of the Cold-
stream Guards, by discharging a loaded pistol at him.

The prisoner, an interesting young womsn, when first
placed at the bar, betrayed but small symptoms of emo-
tions, but in the course of the proceedings appeared to
be very much affected.
Mr. BODKIN conducted the case on behalf of the pro-
,:ecution, and went through the statement of facts, which
have already nppeared from time to time in The Sun,
as given in evidence before the inquest and at the police
office.

The first witness called was Samuel Belcher (exa-
mined by Mr. CLARKE), a private in the 2d battalion of
the Coldstream Guards. He stated that he knew the
deceased. He saw him at the barrack gate at about half-
past four. He observed the prisoner about three or four
yards from the deceased, following slowly after him.
He did net hear anything pass between them. He heard
the report of fire-arms, but did not turn back himself.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON, counsel for the
prisoner—He did not belong to the same company as
the deceased. Did not know that he promised to marry
the prisoner. He recollected the deceased being in
prison several times for drunkenness, and upon one oc-
casion for desertion.

John Garwood (examined by Mr. BODKIN), said that
on the 4th of February he came out of the barracks with
the deceased. He had seen the prisoner in company
with the deceased upon the 3d of February, between the
hours of five and seven in the evening. He did not hear
the prisoner speak to the deceased. lie heard the report
of a pistol about a quarter of an hour after leaving the
barracks; he turned round and saw the deceased fall
upon his face.
Sarah Sexton, residing at 29, `Vest Pimlico, stated,
on the 4th of February she was walking along the Bird-
cage-walk, about five o clock in the afternon, when she
saw the prisoner fire a pistol at a soldier. The prisoner
was about ten yards from the soldier when she dis-
charged the pistol. The soldier fell, and the prisoner
threw down the pistol and walked away.
Henry Green was in the enclosure of the Park when
he heard the report of a pistol, and saw the deceased
fall. The prisoner was holding the pistol in her hand.
She threw it down, and walked away towards the Palace.
He saw the prisoner apprehended by a policeman, to
whom she said that she had done it, and intended to have
done it, or words to that effect.

William Low, a polieeTan, proved apprehending the
prisoner, and her stating to him " that she lead done it,
and had intended to hare done it for some time," and
asked him whether " he was (lead."

IL Thompson, a sergeant in the second battalion of
Coldstream Guards, proved the finding of several letters
in the knapsack of the deceased. He knew the deceased's
handwriting. He could not say positively whether the
letters produced were in the handwriting of the deceased.
The LORD CIIIEF BARON said that in such an im-
portant case as the present it would not be sufficient to
have a mere opinion on the subject of the handwriting.
That point ought to be confirmed by the most satisfac-
tory evidence.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—The deceased
had been confined for being absent without leave from his
regiment, and had been several times confined for mis.
conduct.
Bickersteth, police-inspector, proved taking down the
charge at the station-house. The prisoner gave him several
letters and a pistol bag. Those produced were the same.
Mrs. Curtis proved that the prisoner had been in her
service about fourteen days when this occurrence took
place.
Joseph Claxton, assistant surgeon to he Coldstream
Guards, stated that he examined the deceased, and
I.!lnd a wound on the back of the head, and a cor-