The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-13 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Mary Doyle, a— middle-aged Irishwoman, was
brought before Mr. Cottingham charged on suspicion
with having thrown a child over London-bridge into
the river.

Robert Hicks, a letter-carrier in the General Post-
office, stated that on Saturday night last, about ten
o'clock, as he was returning home, in passing over
London-bridge, his attention was arrested on observ-
ing the prisoner standing up on a seat in one of the
alcoves. She looked anxiously right and left, and
when she thought she was not perceived, he saw her
throw a blindle over the parapet into the river. She
then got off the seat, and, as he apprehended, when
she caught a glimpse of him, she attempted to make
her escape by running away, but he pursued her and
gave her into custody. When a policeman came up
he related what he had seen to him, and a boy coming
up at the time said that it was a child the prisoner
threw over into the river, adding, that he (the boy)
saw the child in her arms previously to her having
flung it over the bridge.
Two other witnesses who happened to be passing
over the bridge at the same time confirmed the letter-
carrier's statement, and added that, on throwing the
bundle or whatever it was over the parapet into the
river, the prisoner was compelled to use both her
hands in the operation.

Police-constable 178 M stated that when the pri-
soner was given into his custody she said that the
partie- were mistaken in supposing it to be a child
that she had made away with, and added that what
they saw her throw over into the river was a bag
containing some dirty old linen and old shoes, which
were valueless, and which she was ashamed for any-
body to see; that she gave her address in White-
chapel, and when he went there to make inquiries he
ascertained that she was a widow, and had three chil-
dren, two of whom only he had seen, and she had ac-
counted for the absence of the third by saying that it
was in the country.
Hicks' the letter carrier, was recalled, and in an-
swer to Mr. COTTINUHAM, he said that it appeared to
be flood-tide at the time; that the moment he saw
the bundle thrown over, he looked, but could not see
anything floating; that whatever it was, it sunk im-
mediately, in his opinion ; and he added that others
looked as well as he did ; and he believed that a
wherry was put off, but that nothing was found.
The prisoner, wbo frequently interrupted the pro-
ceedings, was now called
,upon to give her explana-
tion of so suspicious a transaction, when she said that
she should not disguise the truth ; that she was a
widow, and had a hard struggle to maintain three
children, that she had left out of twelve, and that on
Saturday night she had a small parcel, which con-
tained an old chemise, some old shoes, and other
article, which were of no use to any person, and that
wanting to get rid of them she threw them over into
the •Fhames ; that she was not compelled to use both
hands in throwing it over, and that she had a piece
of linen which she had purchased a short time pre-
viously, in one of her hands. She added, that she
was too fond of her children ever to think of com-
mitting such a crime as that with which she was
charged, and she wished for the sake of her character,
that the strictest inquiries should be instituted to
clear her of it.

Mr. COTTINGHAM said that the evidence of the boy
who told one of the witnesses
the
that it was a child the
wecsee exceedingly suspicious an
affair. That as that boy
river,d. would be most
ipmripsoonrtearohtaidn
dtherrooropning
so
representedexceedingly
he should to have
since left town, it would be necessary that
be forthcoming, and that in order to procure his
attendance the prisoner should be remanded. The
Magistrate then remarked on the suspicious circum-
stances which surrounded the case, the prisoner's
anxiety in throwing the bundle over the parapet, her
declaration that she only used one of her hands for the
purpose when it was sworn that she was seen to have
used both, a circumstance showing that the bundle
was of a much weightier description than she wished
to make it appear. At all events the matter was of
so serious a nature that it must be sifted to the bottom
before she could be discharged.
RICHMOND.
George Garrott was charged with being secreted
in the shrubberies of the " Lodge," Richmond Park,

the residence of Lord John Russell, for an unlawful

purpose.

Police-constable Harris, of the V division, stated
that he was on duty in Richmond Park, on Saturday
afternoon, about three o'clock, when he saw the pri-
soner in Lord John Russell's inclosed grounds. lie
was concealing himself between some laurels, and
when witness spoke to him he endeavoured to secrete
himself still further. Witness asked him what he did
there ? but he made no reply ; and upon his repeating
the question several times, he hesitatingly said he was
looking for birds' nests. Witness told the prisoner
several times to come out, but he would not, and
when he saw witness clambering over the fence he
took to his heels and ran across the lawn towards the
house, but witness succeeded in overtaking him and
took him to the station. The lodge gate was locked,
and the prisoner could have only have obtained access
to where he was found by climbing over the fence.
The prisoner's defence was that he was crossing
the park, when he saw a bird fly into the shrubbery,
and thinking there was a nest there he went to take it.
The BENCH saia they did not believe one word that
the prisoner had stated, and as he was known as
having been previously in custody, he would be com-
mitted as a rogue and vagabond for seven days to
Kingston gaol.

THE MURDER IN THE HOUSE
OF CORRECTION.
Yesterday an inquest on the body of 'William
Henry Woodhouse, a turnkey, was held by Mr.
Wakley, in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields.
Mr. Notch and other magistrates were in attend-
ance at a quarter past ten o'clock in the forenoon.
The jury proceeded to view the body of the de-
ceased, and on their return the prisoner was led into
the room handcuffed. 'He is a man between fifty and
sixty years of age, with hair inclining to gray.
He appeared quite calm and collected, and, on
entering the room, he first looked at the Coroner
intently, and then glanced round at the jury and au-
ditory, with a stoop of his head. His lips were com-
pressed, and he listened to the proceedings with evi-
dent attention.
The following witnesses were then called and ex-
amined : _ _

Mrs. Eliza Maria Ferris, who was deeply affected,
said she was the deceased's sister. She had seen the
remains of the deceased, and identified them. His
name was William Henry Woodhouse. He was born
in the year 1814.
William Allen, a warder in the prison, gave evi-
dence as to the alarm that the deceased had been
stabbed, and finding him in the prisoner's cell dead.
He gave information to Dr. Wakefield.
Dr. Wakefield confirmed this. He examined the
body, and ascertained that some weapon had entered
the heart. It might have been with such an instru-
ment as that now produced (a shoemaker's knife).
The wound was the cause of death.

William Cooper, a warder, deposed that he had
heard the prisoner ask the deceased whether he meant
to report him. Deceased said, " Certainly I do."
He afterwards asked him if he meant to stop his
bread ?

Alfred Waddilove, a prisoner, saw deceased go
into the cell where the prisoner was confined, and
saw him deliberately stela litim with the knife now pro-
duced. Deceased exclaimed, " Oh, my God, I am
stabbed 1" and he fell down.

Henry Young, another prisoner, had heard the
prisoner threaten the deceased if he reported him.
The prisoner here denied this, and said he wished
to report another prisoner, which was riot listened to.
Mr. George Laval Chesterton, the governor of the
prison, deposed that the deceased complained of the
prisoner, and brought him before him on Saturday
morning, at a quarter before eight o'clock. He
(prisoner) made an unfounded complaint against
another prisoner, which, being discredited, was not
attended to. He complained that another prisoner
(No. 14) had asked him if he was the man who had
been sent there for killing his children. The prisoner
was not a fit associate for other people.
The prisoner here complained that he had been
treated in a " rascally" way, and put in irons.
Mr. Chesterton denied this. He had been used
kindly, and all the prisoners could prove it. The
knife was used in shoemaking, and for cutting the
ends of the rope in the oakum-room. They employ
trades' work in the establishment, and were obliged
to have such implements.
Sub-warden Owen produced a written confession
of the prisoner on Sunday, which he made volunta-
rily, that his daughter would be implicated in other
charges ; that he concealed the knife, and that he did
not mean to murder Woodhouse at first, but others,
especially a warder named Latham.

Mr. VVAILLEY summed up, and said the jury could
come to no other conclusion but that of wilful
murder; and

The jury, after a moment's consideration, returned
a verdict of " Wilful Murder against George John
Hew son."

There being a legal question as to the prisoner's
term of imprisonment, pursuant to his sentence, not
having expired, and the authority of the governor to
detain him, the coroner bound over the jury, in the
sum of 201. each, to appear at ten o'clock on Wednes-
day morning, to sign the inquisition ; as it appears his
delivery must proceed from an order from the Secre-
tary of State, or by habeas corpus.