The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-25 00:00:00

CRIMINAL

OLL COURT.
(Before the lord Chief Baron.)
THE STEMEY MURDER.

The trial of James Mullins, the man charged with the
wilful murder of Mrs. Mary Emsley, having been fixed for
this morning, the attendance in court was very great.
Although some additional seats had been provided in the
court for visitors, yet the accommodation was inadequate.
Immediately after the Lord ,Chief Baron had taken his
seat on the bench,
• The prisoner, James Mullins, was placed in the dock, and
charged with having wilfully murdered a female named
Mary Emsley, residing at No. 9, Grove-road, Mile-end.
He pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. Sergeant Parry, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Orridge, ap-
peared for the prosecution, and Mr. Best, of the Oxford
Circuit, defended the prisoner.
From the copious reports that have already appeared in
The Sun of the examination of the prisoner at the coroner's
inquest, and before the magistrate at the Thames Police
Court, it will be unnecessary, on the present occasion, to
republish the whole of the evidence.
It will be recollected that the barbarous murder of Mrs.
Emsley was committed on or about Monday, the 13th day
of August last. She was last seen alive on that day, col-
lecting rents of the tenants of sundry small houses, and she
is supposed to have received about £4O on that day, and it
is believed that this money was the object of the murderer's
cupidity. The prisoner was formerly attached to the Irish
constabulary, and acted on many occasions as a spy and in-
former in the prosecution of Ribbonmen and others in Ire-
land. He was afterwards a sergeant in the K
of Metropolitan police, and was superannuated os4 a pen-
sion of £35 per annum. He subsequently 0/..)tained em-
ployment on the South-Eastern Railway, and committed
a serious robbery, for which: he was trie,d, convicted, and
sentenced to six years' penal servitade. After the ex-
piration of his sentence he soueas employment of Mrs.
Emsley, to whose late husbanO, he was known, and she not
knowing his antecedents erAployed him occasionally in the
repairs of the numerous tenements belonging to her. He
became well acquefinted with her habits, and although she
was very cautious with strangers, and would not admit any
one without first looking through the window, or going into
the area and inquiring their business, Mullins would have
no difficulty in procuring admittance, as he was well known
to her, and in the practice of calling at her dwelling on busi-
ness and to receive payment for his services. As a great deal
of mystery surrounded the horrible deed, a large reward was
offered by the authorities for the discovery of the murderer.
Mullins waited on the efficers, Tanner and Thornton,
engaged in the case, and gave information which induced
them to go to a sired adjoining the dwelling occupied by a
man named Emma, and pointed out a place where he said
Emma had deposited a parcel containing property belonging
to the deceased ; and Mullins on arriving at the shed with
the detectives, after some parleying, said to Sergeant
Thomas, " Pull down that - slab, and turn up those
bricks." Thomas did pull down the stone, and behind it
found a parcel containing a cheque for £lO, paid to Mrs.
Emsley on the 13th, a plated spoon, and other articles be-
longing to the deceased. Emma was also in the employ of
the deceased, and was well known to the prisoner as a person
likely to be admitted into her house, as it was looked upon
by the police that some one well acquainted with the habits
of the unfortunate woman must have inflicted the wounds
which caused her death. On the discovery of the parcel
Emma was taken into custody, but very shortly after
liberated, and the suspicion which kad from the first at-
tached to Mullins as the murderer became much stronger.
The police having once got a clue to the discovery of the
murderer, set to work most vigorously and succeeded in
obtaining a strong chain of circumstantial evidence against
Mullins. The theory of the prosecution is that Mullins is
the murderer, and deposited the parcel in the spot wbnre it
was found for the purpose of committing Emma and ob-
taing the reward of £3OO. The examination of witnesses,
of which there are about 50, was proceeding Mien we went
to press.

Mr. Best has intimated that he does no'. intend to address
the jury to-day; consequently, the 'trial cannot conclude
before to-morrow.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)
THE BRACELET ROBBERY.
Johnstone was acquitted of the charge of stealing a
diamond bracelet from Mr. Hancock, the jeweller, of Bond.
street.

POLICE INT.SLLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

CURIOUS CHARGE OF THREATENING A FEMALE....
John Gardner, an envelope maker, was charged beforo Mr.
Tyrwhitt with annoying a female named Jane Bishop,
under the following circumstances :

From the eN;dence of the complainant, residing at 2,
Upper James-street, it appeared that she had cohabited
with the defendant, but had ceased to do so, owing to his
ill-treating her and considering her life in danger. He had
annoyed her all the previous day.
The defendant said that on the previous evening they
were at Dr. Parkes's having wine together, when her
brother came and took her away.
An elderly female said a xnessago-waa brought to the com-
ras;-...t Qtafins Cllat If 8110 AM Tint cen hailk
to live with him (defendant) ho would murder her.
Another female said she saw the defendant try to thrust the
complainant into a cab, at the same time saying, " Come,
Jenny, dear, won't you kiss me," and ho often threatened
to run her through.

Mr. Tyrwhitt—Did he threaten to run her through when
he asked her to kiss him ? (Laughter.)
The witness—Oh, no ; it was a long while ago.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—ls there any reasonable person who
knows anything of the case ? (To the defendant)—Why
do you go after the complainant ?
_ _

Defendant (with a smile)—Why, to tell the truth, be-
cause I like her—(laughter)—and the child.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he should bind him over to keep the
peace, and if he continued to annoy the complainant, he
should order him to fad heavy bail.