The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-07 00:00:00

TILE

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I loaded it with powder and ball. I bolted the ham-
mer, and said, " now it is safe." I put it in brown
paper after I had placed it in a large bag. I told her
to be careful of it, and she paid me 10s. and left my
shop. A person might walk through the street with
safety with the pistol as I placed it. I showed her
how to undo the bolt before she used it, in order that
she might instruct her brother. I pushed the bolt
backwards and forwards in order to show her how it
was done. She did not say she understood me, but
she appeared to do so. I saw the same female at
Bow-street on Saturday.
By the Jury—The woman could not have been
more composed. Ladies often come in their carriages
and purchase pistols from me.
The Foreman—Do they have them loaded ? The
witness—No, they do not.
Inspector Bickerson, of the A division, stated that
the woman charged with the murder of the deceased
was brought to the Gardiner's-lane station, where he
was on duty, at five o'clock in the afternoon of Friday
last. Her name, she said, was Annette Mayers, and
her address 40, Albion-street, Hyde-park-gardens,
where she said she was a servant. I read the charge
over to her, and she replied, " I did it," at the same
time giving nie three letters (the witness produced
the letters in question), and requesting that I would
read the largest of the three, which I She did
not say whether she was single or married, neither
did she say anything about the pistol.
By the Foreman The letters had been in
envelopes, which had been destroyed. The large
letter it appeared had been returned to the woman,
and bore the post mark, " Broadway, Westminster."
The postage had not been paid. The original envelope
had been destroyed.
The CORONER inquired if there was any soldier
present who could prove that the deceased and Myers
were acquainted.
John Garwood, a private in the 6th company, same
battalion, deposed that he knew the deceased well. He
had seen the accused female in the company of the
deceased once. He was aware that they were ac-
quainted. The deceased never spoke to him about the
female. He last saw her in the barracks with Ducker,
who was on picquet, on Thursday, between six and
seven. They appeared to be friendly. Had not seen
her since until Saturday, at Bow-street.
By the Foreman (to the Coroner)—lt appears the
pistol was bought between seven and eight the same
night. Women are allowed to remain in the barracks
until nine o'clock at night. I cannot zap whether
Myers went away before that time or not.
Mrs. Sexton was again recalled, and identified the
pistol as the one used by the woman. She was posi-
tive it was the same.
Mr. Skelton, assistant-surgeon to the regiment,
who attended the deceased immediately after the shot
was fired, repeated the testimony given by him at
Bow-street on Saturday. He said he met some
parties bringing the body to the barracks ; but finding
that he was dead, he had the body removed to the
hospital. The ball passed into the head behind the
left ear, and made its exit immediately under the pupil
of the left eye. The wound, of course, caused the
deceased's death. He did not think a person could
himself easily make a ball take the same direction
which it took in its passage through the deceased's
head.

The CORONER suggested that the witness should
make a post marten: examination of the head of the
deceased, in order to ascertain the exact direction of
the ball. _

The witness replied that he intended to do so in tee
course of the day.
This being the whole of the evidence,
The CORONER said it would be wholly unnecessary
for him to recapitulate entire of the evidence, or
to detain them at any length by a disquisition on
the motives which had ;led to the perpetration of the
act, and had caused the death of the unfortunate
man. The question which they had to decide was
simply this—whether the poor man came by his death
from the wound which had been described to them,
and what were the means by which it
was inflicted. They had had direct evidence
adduced as to the cause of death by Mrs.
Sexton, who stated that she saw a female, whom she
identified as Annette Myers, take a pistol from be-
neath her cloak, and immediately discharge it at a
soldier, the deceased, who instantly fell. They also
had the testimony of the person who sold the pistol,
that the same female was its purchaeer.3 There
could, therefore, be no difficulty about the identifi-
cation of the female, who had already been com-
mitted for trial, as several witnesses had clearly placed
the matter beyond doubt. They must decide fur-
ther, if they were of opinion that she discharged the
pistol, whether she did so with the intention of kill-
ing the deceased. They would bear in mind that
the female herself had admitted that she committed
the act. If they were of opinion that she in.
tended to kill the deceased, it would be neces-
sary for him to draw their attention to the
fact whether malice did, or did not, exist in
her mind at the time. There seemed no link
wanting in the chain of evidence upon the whole
matter, and whether there was malice or not was a
question which it was the province of another and
higher tribunal to decide and to deal with accordingly.
1 they were satisfied that the woman discharged the
pistol with the intention of killing the deeeased, they
must -return a verdict of Murder.

The jury, after consulting for little more than a
minute, returned a verdict of " Wilful murder".against
Annette Myers.
But few spectators were present in the room,
and the affair altogether seemed to excite but little
interest in the neighbourhood.

The following is a copy of the letter which was
read at the examination of the prisoner at Bow-street
on Saturday. It was addressed to the murdered
man : _ _ _

" Monday Evening.
My dear Henry,—l take my pen to write these
few lines to tell you my mind. I must say there is
sanasthing the matter with you, as Sunday afternoon
3,-.) did, not as much as offer me your arm, but
walked as if we did not know much of one another.
People must have thought so to see us. It was an
unkind thing for you to tell me you would go and
see that young woman, and you would get some
money from her, as I would not give you some. But
I do not like such ways ; and you say if she had not
got any money she would lend her things—more fool
sh,g)„...No
,young
,_man would wish me to do such
thifigsreiapti'it was fdt—iiiihie good matter; but I
think if any man wishes a young woman well, and
his meaning is good to her, he will not wish any-
thing of that kind of her. Henry, for you or any
other young man, I would do no such thing. Look
back since Christmas how much you had from me ;
so if that is all the love you have for me, I do not
care for such love. I know you do care more for
that young woman than you do for me, because she
can give you more money than I can. She gets it
easier than I can, and she does not get it in service.
Yuu know very well that no other man but you had
my company ; but you please yourself. Go and see
her or any other young woman that can give you
more than I can. But please to give what you
have of mine—two books and the pencil you
have; but I think to see you once more to part
friendly. You had the face to tell me one day that I
could not do without you or other men. I have done
before, and I know I can do now; but I am sure
you cannot do without a woman. Henry, do not be
afraid to face me once more for the last time, and
write here. I hope she will be more kind to you
than what I have been. One day you had the face
to tell me I had done nothing to what some had. I
done all that lay in my power, and I am not going
to do what they do to get you some money. I did not
like to let you do what you like with me, because I
thought of getting some money, but it was because I
kindly loved you; and what did you say to me in the
park the last evening ? Henry, I little thought then
I should have to write such a letter to you as this.
Henry, our case will be a warning for others. You
will see what kind love means soon, Henry; but do
not be afraid. lam not going to do anything to you.
All I wish from you is to see you once more. When
I asked you on Sunday if I should see you next
Sunday, you said, It all depends,' but you did not
say what; but I can think what. If you like to
come next Sunday at half-past six o'clock, I should
be able to go out. We can make it the last time to
see one another; but please to let me know, as I may
tell mistress in time that I want to go out then, and
if you have not got a penny, as yuu say, you can
send without paying for it. I hope I have said
enough for you to think what your meaning is to
me. No more. God bless you. T)onot forget what
I told you. I will still remain yours till we part
next Sunday, or before, if you wish to come down.
" I am, yours affectionately,
" ANNETTA MYERS."

TIIE SURVEYORSIIIP OF THE NAVY.— .We stated
last week that Captain Sir Baldwin W. Walker, K.C.8.,
war expected in England by the next West India Mail
Packet, which brought the mails and passengers via
Panama. The gallant officer has arrived, and we un-
derstand has entered upon his duties, as successor to Sir
William Symonds, thic; day. We believe the entire staff
of the Naval Architectural Department of the Admiralty
is to be thoroughly reconstructed. Many rumours are
in circulation as to the nature of the alterations and
changes, but in the absence of any official declaration,
we decline to give publication to them. It is a singular
coincidence, that Mr. Chatfield, one of the most distin-
guished members of the late School of Naval Architec-
ture, was confirmed in his promotion on the day of,
Sir
Baldwin Walker's arrival in England.—Untied Service
Gazotte.
CABINET COUNClL.—Summonses were issued on
Saturday last to the Members of the Cabinet for a
Council on Wednesday next.
A servant girl, at Birmingham, was suffocated a
few days since by a piece of tripe, an inch and three-
quarters square, which she endeavoured to swallow
while carrying down stairs the remains of a lodger's
supper.