The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-10 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Durham, March 6.

CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice PArrEsoN.)
CHARGE or MURDER.—Margaret Stoker, a girl 23 years
of age, was indicted for having on the 24th day of Novem-
ber last, at Pattington Hallgarth, wilfully killed and mur-
dered Hannah Stoker, her child, aged 13 months.
Mr. Monteath and Mr. A. D. Johnstone appeared to con-
dact the prosecution; and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins defended
the prisoner.
Isabella Davison—On Sunday, the 23d of November last,
Margaret Stoker came to our house, between six and seven
(o'clock at night. The prisoner had not a child with her
then. I heard one of the people in the house ask hew she
had wet her gown, and she said she had fallen down. Her
face was dirty. I saw her again between eight and nine
next morning. She said a woman had put her child into
the beck. She appeared distressed, and cried much. I went
to the burn side with her, and lifted the child out. It was
quite dead. It appeared to have been so for some time.
When I took the child out of the beck I placed it on the
grass. I then saw that one of the hands was eaten off. I
thought it might have been eaten off by the water-rats. The
flesh was all jagged and torn. Prisoner said she was bet
with the child; it was too much for her. The same after-
noon she told me she had tossed it into the beck herself.
Other witnesses were examined; after which
The jury retired for about ten minutes, and then pro-
nounced the following verdict—Guilt•, but with the
strongest and most earnest recommendation to your Lord-
ship's mercy.
The Learned JUDUF then passed sentence of death upon
the prisoner.
The prisoner was mach affected, and shrieked as she was
removed from the dock.

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT ISLINGTON.—On Satur-
day a most determined case of self-destruction took place at the
house of Mr. James, 20, Alfred-street, River-terrace, Islington. It
appears that Mr. and Mrs. James had, for some time past, lived un-
happily together, in consequence of the intemperate habits of the
latter. Mr.Jamea went into the Prince Albert, in the same street,
and there found a heavy bill due for liquors supplied to his wife ; he
then forbade the supply of any more on credit; and on his return
home a quarrel ensiled, and Mrs. James threatened to leave him On
the morrow. Similar threats having before been held out, no atten-
tion was paid to the present. At two o'clock Mrs. James was seen
by an opposite neighbour engaged in writing, and soon after three
o'clock her servant girl ran into the Prince Albert, exclaiming that
her mistress was destroying herself. Mr. Thorpe, the landlord, im-
mediately went into the house, where he found Mrs. James suspended
to the bed-rail. It appeared that she had
ohadfflrsntdospiemneed.hahvt vein ihtit
thisher
arm, but net hitting on the artery, slip
way effect her purpose. She then attempted to strangle herself with
one of her garters: this also failing, she nest tried a piece of tape;
and at last resorted to a silk handkerchief, with whiclx she accost
pushed tier cifeadinl purpOse.. 'On Mr. Thorpe cutting her down, life
was quite extinct. The note she was seen writing was to her hus-
band, and to the effect that she could bear it no longer, an 4 request-
mg her data haiglit be siren to her Men