The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-03 00:00:00

CHARGE OF MURDER.

Yesterday, at the Westminster police-court, Wm.
Maloney, a bricklayer's labourer, was charged
before Mr. Arnold with the wilful murder of his
wife.
The age of the accused is 40, and that of the
deceased 28 or 30. The court was densely
crowded.
Arthur Mason, 15 B, being sworn, said—At about
a quarter to 1 to-day I received information that a
woman had been murdered in Leg-court, Peter-
street, Westminster. I proceeded thither, and in
the front room on the ground floor I found the pri-
soner sitting on a chair, and the body of a woman
lying on the bed quite dead. I spoke to the pri-
soner; but before I did so I gave him the usual
caution that he was not obliged to say anything.
He said, "1 know nothing about it; she did it her-
self. I had a few words with her because she was
upon the drink yesterday ; I sent my little girl out
for some oats for the rabbit, and I was sitting eat-
ing bacon and potatoes with my knife, and when I
was done I laid it down on the table, and my wife
took it up and stabbed herself and then threw the
knife away." After this I asked him who lifted
her on the bed, when he replied " I don't know."
I asked whether he assisted, when he replied he
did not.

Mr. Arnold—Did you examine his hands and
clothing?
Witness—l did, and both hands were covered
with blood, more particularly the right one. There
was blood on his sleeve and on his trousers, and
also some on his shirt. I took him to the station,
when the sergeant asked him how it was.
Mr. Arnold—What did you say to him when you
took him into custody?
Witness—l told him I should take him for the
murder of his wife.
Mr. Arnold—When did you tell him that ?
Witness—Before I took him out of his house.
Mr. Arnold—l want to know exactly when you
told him. Was it before or after you had put the
questions to him you have mentioned ?
Witness—lt was after that that I took him into
custody, and told him what for. When we arrived at
the station the sergeant said. "He has got blood
upon his trousers ; ' to which the prisoner replied,
If ye had been there ye would have had the same."
Mr. Arnold—Was there any blood about the room ?
Witness—a great deal in the middle, and some
all about the floor.
Mr. Arnold—Was there any blood about the body
of the woman ?
Witness—Yes, all down her dress.
Mr. Arnold—Did you observe any wound ?
Witness—l did; it was on the left side of the
neck or shoulder, near the collarbone.
Mr. Arnold (to prisoner)—Do you wish to ask
this witness any questions ?
Prisoner—l have got no question to ask him.
Samuel Gordon, 241 B, said—l was called at 20
minutes past 12 to Leg-court, Peter-street. I went
to No. 2 there, and in the front room on the ground
floor found a large pool of blood. It is a two-roomed
cottage. Prisoner was sitting in a chair, the woman
was lying on the bed, dead. I examined her, and
found a wound in her neck, just above the collar-
bone. I cleared the room of persons that were in
it, and having searched found this knife behind a
teaboard with blood upon it.
A sharp-pointed long clasp knife was here pro-
duced, such as is ordinarily carried by working men
to cut their food,
Witness—l did not ask him how the woman be-
came wounded; he told me she did it herself. I found
the knife behind a teaboard sticking up in the boards
of the room. The teaboard stood up on its side. The
knife was close to the edge of the teaboard, and was
wet with blood when I first found it.
Eliza Ducklow, aged 17—I live at 2, Leg-court,
but not in the same house as the prisoner. I live
with my father, who works at the gas works. At
10 minutes or a quarter to 12 this morning I was
coming up the court, when I saw Mrs. Maloney
(the deceased) with a quart of beer in a can. We
went up the court after she had spoken to me. She
went into her house. I went into mine. I had been
out for some milk, and was putting it down when
my little brother said to me, " Mr. Maloney's smock
is all over blood; he has been fighting." I ran out
and I saw him standing between the window and
door, looking at the blood upon his smock. He was
outside the house in the nourt. I looked in his pas-
sage and saw a lot of blood, and a little girl crying.
Mrs. Maloney was half sitting upon the ground,
halt lying, resting on her elbow. Prisoner was then
outside at that time. He never attempted to move.
Mr, Arnold—After you saw her resting upon her
elbow, did she fall ?
Witness—No; sh e san k down gradually, and while
on the ground she lifted up her head once again.
Mr. Arnold—And the prisoner remained outside?
Witness—Yes, all the time, and did not attempt
to go away. I said to him, " Air. Maloney, your
wife is dead. How was it done ?" lie said, " I put
the knife down by the side of me, and she took it up
and stabbed herself." I saw Mr. Payne, the surgeon;
afterwards pick her up and put her on the bed.
Mr. Arnold—Could you tell whether she had been
drinking ?
Witness—She was quite sober.
Mr. Arnold—How near is your house to the
prisoner's ?
Witness—lt is the fourth door from us.
Mr. Arnold—And you say it was directly you
got into your house, after parting with Mrs. Ma-