The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-05 00:00:00

EVENING,

TUESDAY

came and knocked at our door, and said, " My father has
hung my mother." We immediately went into their
room, and found prisoner's wife hanging by a double
rope, which was fastened round her neck, from the
door of a top-cupboard. Her hands were lifted up and
had hold of the rope, as if she was trying to save herself.
My husband immediately held her up in his arms, while
I cut the rope, and we carried her into our room and laid
her on the bed. She was turning black in the face.
My husband said, " What made you hang the poor
woman?" when prisoner threatened to punch his head
for him. We sent for the police, and my husband gave
him in charge.
Mr. Taylor, the chief clerk—What was the prisoner
doing when you and your husband entered the room?
Witness—lie was sitting on the foot of the bed, preten-
ding to pull off his boots.
Mr. Taylor—Was he sober? Witness—l don't think
he was; but he ill-treats her when he is. He knocked
her down in the morning before he went out, like a bul-
lock. Although I have not seen him strike her, I have
repeatedly heard the blows. It is the second time he has
tried to take her life. He endeavoured before to throw
her out of window.
The wife denied this, but the witness declared that
she had tole' her so when complaining of her husband's
brutal treatment.
Ellen Mayhew, another lodger in the same house, con-
firmed the first witness's statement, and saw her cut the
woman down.
William Cousins, 264 13, proved taking the prisoner
who was drunk, into custody. His wife was sitting on
the bed in the next room, and said, " Do'nt take him,
he's a good husband only he's drunk." The witness Rigg
gave him the rope, which he produced, and which is
such as is commonly used for bed-sacking.
After a consultation between the magistrates and chief
clerk, it was determined that the wife's account of the
transaction should be beard.
The wife at first refused to be sworn, but Mr. BCRRELL
having declared that he would commit her prison unless
she gave evidence, she consented, and told the following
extraordinary and incredible story :—Tho prisoner is my
husband. 1 was scohling when he came in. I com-
menced it. He came in late that night. The children's
skipping-rope was on the table, and I put the knots in
it for them to beat a ball about the room, as I did not
like them to go out into the street. It's a worn out
cord. My husband said, " What would you say,
Mary, if I hung you, like the man who hang
himself? Would not that be a serious thing?
He gave way to the devil, and you get abusing me and
driving me to drink many a time when I would not." I
said, " You had better hang me and get rid of me."
" Well," he said, " I think I shall;" and then be laid
down on the bed and got up again, and said, " You won't
keep still;" and I said, "I don't mean it," and I aggra-
vated him to get up again, and he got up again and put
the rope like round my jaw, more to tie up my jaw and
face more than like round my neck, and he twisted it
round the top of the cupboard, saying, " Now we'll have
a swing-swong." I said to my Lizzy, "He means to
hang me," and she was frightened. My feet were on the
ground. It was all his nonsense. It's always his way
agoing on—spreeing, with a parcel of nonsense, like a
young man, whenever he gets a little drink, and I'm bad
tempered. All a joke.
Mr. BURRELL —Do you mean to say he was not hang-
ing you? Wife—Oh dear, no; he's as innocent as the
babe in my arms. Poor fellow, he's very deaf, and is
deprived of many things through it.
The witness Rigg was recalled, and stated, in answer
to questions from Mr. Taylor, that the wife's feet were
not touching the ground, nor within a foot of it; and
the prisoner subsequently said that the next time he did
it he would do it effectually; to which witness replied
she thought he nearly had. Witness added that the
wife was a very quiet woman, but the prisoner was a
great blackguard.
Mrs. Sheran having stated that the witness Rigg could
be confirmed in every particular respecting the transac-
tion by her husband, who could attend on another day,
Mr. BURRELL, addressing the accused, said—lt's my
intention to remand you. Have you anything to say
why you should not be remanded?
Prisoner—l never touched her or put my hand upon
ber. She began abusing rue, and threw a jug of water
at me. I was pulling off my wet things when the child
got up in the bed and said, " Let mother down." I
thought the child was joking. I said, "Let her let her-
self down." She was on her tiptoes, but I did not see
anything the matter. The man came in and let her
down.
Mr. BURRELL—You are remanded till Wednesday
next.—Remanded accordingly.
It is understood that Mr. Burrell will retire from the
commission of the peace in the course of a few days.
His resignation has been formally accepted. He is a
very kind-hearted charitable man, and his loss will be
severely felt by the poor of the district.
WANDS WORTH.

Charles Witcher, aged 40, described as a greengrocer,
of 14, Church-street, Aldgate, was charged with having,
with other persons not iu custody, stolen 4001. worth of
French merinoes, mousselin de laines of different colours,
as also a choice and valuable blank merino made spcially
by Paris manufacturers for Messrs. Candy and Co.,
Watling street. Mr. John Saward, of 8, Hereford-place,
Commercial-road East, linendraper, was also charged
with feloniously receiving the said merinoes and mousse-
lin de laines, the property of the South-Western Rail-
way Company.
Mr. Bottese proved that he was a passing Custom-
house cfficer in the Southampton Docks; on the 21st of
February he received a box marked " C. C. and C 0.,"
and soon after its arrival opened it. It contained thirty-
eight pieces of mousselin de laine. There might have
been some merinoes. He did not examine every piece,
but noticed a black merino. He did not take so much
notice, as they were free of duty.
Mr. John Scott, foreman of the goods warehouses in
the Southampton Docks, said he recollected the case
alluded to being delivered from the goods warehouse to
a railway waggon, and the witness read a list of articles
that were put into this waggon. The waggons are
drawn by horses into the railway premises.
Cross-examined—There was only one box that I
known of belonging to Candy and Co. All the French
boxes are loaded at the warehouse I attend. Other
goods sent from different warehouses would not be
French ones. This is the only depository and place of
departure.
William Chandler, porter in the employ of the South.
Western Railway, and employed at the Nine Elms sta-
tion, remembered, some time in February, his atten-
tion was called to a box that was missing. He was at
work unloading with a fellow porter named Potts, and
a man named Winter was ticking the goods off. The
box that was wanting was marked, " C. C. and C 0.," and
Winter called out that name from his list, but there was
not one in that name. In the waggon was one with
" L. M." on it, and it corresponded in weight, within a
few pounds, of " C. C. and Co's," and he said he thought
that must be the one they had sent up in mistake.
Cross-examined—He did not recollect the exact date
the box was missed. They were afterwards examined
by Mr. Taylor, the superintendent of the traffic.
Mary Pamplin, a woman about 30 years of age, was
next sworn and examined. She said she was the wife
of William Pamplin, and lived at 22, Earl-street, Fins-
bury-square. Her husband was tenant of that house in
the mouth of February last. She had known the prisoner
Witcher for two years and a half; ho was in the habit
of coming to their house frequently. She knew Winter
from his frequently coming with Witcher. They came
on a Saturday. She thought it must have been on the
Ist of February. Her husband was at work at a coat.
They asked him if anything had been sent from Chaplin
and Horn 's, and expressed surprise when told there was
not. They had eggs and bread and butter to eat.
Witcher went out and bought them and afterwards
cooked them, as she was busy. It was about
1 o'clock Witcher and Winter came. They left about
5 o'clock, and her husband or Witcher was to let
Winter know that night whether it had come,
There was to be on the case the name of Noon. A case
came directed in that name. There was no person of
that name living in the house. It was a case covered
with unbleached calico. She saw Witcher on Sunday
mornn,g. The next day ho came to the house and
opened the case. It contained French merinoes. They
were of all colours. Can't distinguish the difference be-
tween merinoes and mousselin de laines. There was
one black merino that was like silk and a yellow, green,
blue, and maroon. She identified the green and some
others, but not some produced. It was not the sort at
all. On Sunday Witcher cut off some patterns and took
them to a Jew—she had forgotten the name. He re-
turned that day and said they could not agree as to price.
Can't recollect whether he left the parts in the house.
He came back again on Monday, and said he would get
"old Skiff," meaning Vincent, to move them away. They
were afterwards removed. Witcher took two pieces of
invisible green and marone, enough to make two dresses.
(Inspector Brannan here produced the two dresses),
which the witness said were of the same ma-
terial. Vincent came on Tuesday with a cart
and horse. Witcher was there when he came ;
and the goods were packed in a box, and there was
a bundle also in unbleached calico. Her husband and
Witcher repacked them. Don't think she could recol-
lect the wooden box. Cannot say whether it was
Witcher or her husbend put them in the cart. Both went
away with the cart. Saw no more of the goods after
that. [The case was produced. It was about five feet
in length and three feet in width. The witness could
not identify it.] Was not present when Witcher, Vin-
cent, and her husband had a settlement.
Mr. Crombie now stated that he should require the
man Pamplin, who, it might be recollected, was sen-
tenced to transportation at the last Winchester assizes,
to be brought up on a habeas corpus. There were se-
veral things to be inquired into, and as they could not go
to the expense of bringing him up many times he thought
it would be necessary to go to Winchester, for, as re-
garded the stealing, they could lay it anywhere through
which the line passed.
Mr. Parry said it would be far more convenient
for his client Mr. Seward to go to the Central Criminal
Court.

After some conversation relative too further remand
it was determined on taking all the evidence to be offered,
and

William Vincent, living at 14, Mark's-row, Stepney-
green was sworn—lie was known as " Old Skipp."
Worked for Mr. Howard, of Mark-lane. Knew Witcher
for several years. Knew William Pamplin. They met
him in Whitechapel, and asked him to bring the hone
and cart to Pamplin's house. He did so. Witcher was
there, and be took a box and a bundle. It was tied
rcuud with cord. I waited in the cart. Can't say which
box and bundle. Pamplin and Witcher got into the
cart. The goods were taken to his house. It was about
the beginning cf the week, and they remained two or
three days. He again removed them at the end of the
week. Can't say who asked him. He drove to the
Commercial-road East. Witcher got out near the New-
road, and he and Pamplin went to Savvard's. It was on
the 28th of February, on Friday night.
By Mr. Parry—Had done my work for my master.
sl4W.Witolaer eiwrwardo, IDA t 9