The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-20 00:00:00

CLERKEAV WELL.

Simon Hill, a middle a 0 man, was put at the bar
before Mr. Tyrwh tt, for final examination, on the
charge of having attempted to murder Mrs. Elizabeth
Lowe, a married woman residing at No 1, Three
Kings'-court, White Cross-street.
The proseeutrix gave her evidence with extreme
difficulty, and was evidently suffering much pain.
She was seated while deposing to the prisoner's bru-
tality. Having been sworn, she stated that on Sa-
turday evening last, about. 6 o'clock, she was in her
apartment on the first floor, when the prisoner
entered abruptly, and, addressing her, said, " So you
are here." She was ironing at the time. She re-
plied, "I am, but my husband is not." He then
struck her a violent blow on the side of the head,
seized her by the hair, and dragged her headforemost
down stairs. She struggled with him, and endeavoured
to escape into the room of a neighbour. He, how-
ever, struck her down, and while prostrate be beat
and kicked her, and finally jumped upon and broke
several of her ribs.

By Mr. TIRWHITT—The prisoner commenced
beating her with a brass candlestick, which was
broken with the violence of the blows. his ill-

treatment continued until she was deprived of reason.
Her cries of " Murder," the believed, brought several
persons to her aid, and through them she considered
her life was saved. On recovering her senses she
found herself under medical treatment in St. Bsrtho-
lotnew's Hospital. The only reason she could give
for the brutal attack was a disputed debt (5s 6d )
between her husband and the accused, and which she
refused to pay when he entered her apartment.
Mrs. Grace Roper, a lodger in the same house, said
she was attracted to the prisoner and prosecutrix by
the cries of the latter, whom he jumped on at least a
doz-n times before she could cause him to he secured.
The complainant was insensible, and bleeding pro-
fusely from several parts of her body.
Several witnesses having given corroborating
evidence,

Mr. ./YRWHITT aslti,(l the prisons if he wished to
say anyihiog, telling him that it was his duty to
commit him for trial on the serious charge ? He
s.id that as that was the case he should reserve his
defence.

He was then sent for trial. He is a most deter-
mined-looking ruffian, and made a terrible resist-
ance, striking with a poker at the officers who took
him, vowing he would not be taken alive. A blow
on the head with a truncheon at length prevented him
doing more injury.

her. During the night she slept for five hours.
She appeared be possessed of great physic el strength,
and strong nervy, and on more thau one occasion said
she did not fear death. She admitted that she was a
"most grievous sinner," and frequently sat up in her bed
praying th tit God would forgive her. The anticipated
nature of her death appeared to prey much upon her
mind, but she said, " I believe that hereafter I shall
be happy." Ou speaking of those whom she would
leave behind, she said she entertained no ill feeling
against any person, and that she should die in peace
with all. She would make no confession of her guilt,
although implored to do so by the chaplain. She said,
when exhorted to do so, " I admit I am a guilty
sinner, but I am not guilty of the murder of my hus-
band." On Thursday last she took a final farewell
of her family—two sons and two daughters.
The chaplain had most kindly provided Bibles and
Testaments, in which he had wrieten, at the re-
quest of the culprit, " The dying gift of my
dear mother." To each of her children she
presented a volume on their leaving her. In
speaking of the former portion of her life, she said she
had once made up her mind to drown herself, and was
seared by the aide of a pcaid %Oil) a determination to
throw herself in; she said she rose for that purpose,
but as she was just in the yet of jumping in some
thing. apparently pulled her back, and she was thus
prevented destroying herself. On Saturday last, the
day first intended for her execution, the chaplain en-
deavoured to impress upon her the necessity of her
making an avowal of her guilt, pointing out to her
that had it not been for some difficulty which had
prevented itself in making the arreegements for her
execution, she would have then passed into eternity ;
she replied, " I feel much comfort in your adnanis-
tration, Sir ; lam not afraid to die. I truly repent
of all my ,ins which I Can brieg to toy mind, as well
as those I do not recollect. I am innocent of the mur-
der of my husband."
After the body had been hanging the usual time, it
was cut down and placed in a ceffin. The vast crowd
of pc, sons who had aesembied to witness the execu-
tien conducted themselves in a becoming manner. It
is six years since the last execution took place here.