The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-06 00:00:00

THE ITIESTMIN6TER MURDER.

Yesterday a very long inquiry was gone into
before Mr. Langham, deputy coroner for West-
minster, at the Star and Garter, Great Peter-street,
Westminster, to inquire into the circumstances
attending the death of Mary Maloney.
Mr. Bury Hutchinson, solicitor, attended for the
prisoner ; and Inspector Humphreys, of the B divi-
sion, appeared to watch the case on behalf of the
police.
The inquiry appeared to cause great excitement
in the neighbourhood, and a very large crowd as-
sembled round the house.
Michael Wallis, a labourer, said—l live at 4,
St. John's buildings, Lambeth. Deceased was my
daughter. She was married to William Maloney.
They lived at 2, Leg-court, Peter-street. Her age
was twenty-nine last birthday. Been married nine
years last May. Saw her last alive about a month
ago. The last four or five years she has complained
to me of her husband's ill usage. This she has done
frequently. I have seen her with black eyes four
or five times. Have also seen marks about her face.

By the Jury—They understood one another very
well.

By the Coroner—She used to take a drop occa
sionally.
By the Jury—He would be card playing every
Saturday night and Sunday all day long. I never
played with him.
By the Coroner—l have heard the husband com-
plain of her drunken habits, which she has contra-
dicted.
Eliza Duckwell said—l live with my father, in
Leg-court. Known deceased about ten months.
Last saw her alive about ten minutes after twelve
on Monday. I met her in Peter-street. Catherine
Welsh was with me. Deceased was going towards
home. We made some fun of a young man, and
she went away laughing. She was quite sober.
She had a pot of beer in a can. After this I went
into my own house, No. 4 in the court, four doors
from the deceased. I had some milk, which I was
in the act of putting on the table, when my brother
ran in, and said, " Mr. Maloney is fighting, and his
smock is all over blood." With this I ran out into
the court and saw Maloney standing between the
window and street door. He was looking at the
sleeve of his smock on which was blood. It
was his right sleeve. I saw blood in the pas-
sage, and his little girl, about seven years old,
crying. She was in the court. I looked through
the window and saw deceased lying on the
floor, resting on her elbow, and she gradually sunk
down. She rose up again a very little way from the
ground to put her hand to her forehead. I saw blood
coming from her shoulder. I said, " Oh, Mr.
Maloney, your wife is dead ; how was it done P"
He said she did it herself. He repeated this three
times. I ran down the court, and met my father
half way. I did not hear Maloney call for assistance.
I told my father that Mrs. Maloney was dead. I ran
back again and saw two or three young men in the
passage. Two boys on the outside lifted up the
window. I went into the room, and saw no one
there but the deceased. Her hand was still to her
forehead. She was lying in the middle of the room
on her side. I put something to the window, and
two other females came in. Catherine Casey
took her hand frcm her forehead and placed it by
her side. I stayed there till Dr. Payne ar-
rived. He came in about a quarter of an
hour. After I had been there two or three
minutes Maloney came in, and he again said she
had done it herself. Catherine Casey sent for Dr.
Payne. I heard Maloney tell the policeman that
the knife she had done it with was about the floor,
and that she bad thrown it down. It was searched
for and found by the police, behind a teaboard near
the cupboard. It was a few inches from where she
was lying. It was not more than ten minutes from
the time when I first saw deceased to the time that
I looked in at the window. I saw a man named
O'Connor and Dr. Payne pick her up from the floor.
By the Jury—l did not notice any man coming
in or going out of the court when the alarm was
given. The child did not say anything to me. She
did not speak when she lifted her arm.
By Mr. Hutchinson—There was a table in the
roam, on which was a potato cut in four and some
more cooked, and a plate with some cooked bacon
on it. I did not see the can of beer on the table.
Deceased was about four feet from the table. The
teatray was about six inches from her. Her face
was towards it. The table was between the window
and where she was lying. I saw another knife on
the dresser.
By the Jury—The knife was in a line with her
left shoulder, from which blood was oozing.
Bridget Casey said—l live at No. 7, Leg-court.
My sister and myself were going down the court,
and Mrs. Maloney was standing at the top of the
court. My sister spoke to her, and she said she was
very well. About ten minutes after twelve we were
coming back and met the person who lived upstairs
at Mrs. Maloney's, and she said, " 1 think Mrs.
Maloney is dead." I met this person in Peter street.
My sister and myself ran up the court and saw
Mr. Maloney outside the door. He said nothing
to us. We went in to see her, and she was
quite dead. I saw blood in the passage, also
blood coming from her shoulder. My sister took
deceased's hand from her forehead and called
her by name three times. She made no answer.
We sent for a doctor. I cannot say whether
Maloney sent for one. The knife was found be-
hind the teaboard. The knife was standing upright
with the point sticking in the floor, as if it had
been thrown in. Dr. Payne asked her husband to
lift her on the bed, and he refused. He said he
could not. He appeared excited.
By the Jury—lt was the husband's knife. (A
clasp knife was produced and identified as tee one
found.) It was one that he used at his dinner.
That was the only knife I saw in the room. I did
not see any one coming in or going out of the court.
As near as I can tell it was about ten minutes past
twelve. The knife was behind a square teaboard.
By Mr. Hutchinson—The edge of the teaboard
was round. The potatoes were hot. Deceased was
in the habit of cooking. One of the potatoes was
cut. I saw no other knife but the one produced.
By the Jury—l did notice a can of beer—not
an empty can. The wife had not a certain side to
sit upon.
By the Coroner—They lived, generally, happily
together. They did occasionally quarrel.
13y the Jury—l have seen them fight together
twice. A period of about six months elapsed be-
tween. The last time was about four months. Never
heard what they quarrelled about.
Joseph Saunders, late of 16, Brunswick-street,
Euston-road, said—l am a labourer. I now live in
Castle-lane, Westminster. On Monday last, a little
past 12, I was looking for lodgings, and walked
down Leg-court. As I was going up some party
told me there was a place in Bennet's-yard, March-
mount-street, and I went to the door in Leg court,
on the left hand side, and looked in and saw a man
strike a woman with a knife. I afterwards saw him
in custody of the police. He struck on the left side
of the neck. I have no doubt Wm. Maloney is the
same man. I saw the blood flow on his right hand.
She screamed out a little. He did not say a word.
I came off out, and said to some women, " There's
murder," and went away. I did not point out where.
I said, "There is murder in one of the houses." I
saw three policemen take Maloney out of the court
directly after, and I pointed him out as the same
man at the police court.
By the Jury—The woman was at the table when
she was struck. The man was standing. One was
as near to me as the other. I dont't know the women
to whom I spoke, whether they were young or old,
or how they were dressed. It did not strike me that
I ought to have gone to the station. I spoke to my
wife about it at night, and a friend of mine insisted
on my going to the court.
By Mr. Hutchinson—l can read a little. I left
home on Tuesday about 12. I came as far as
Buckingham Palace, and saw William Calder at
work in the Royal Mews. He is a friend of mine.
I went on Monday, about five o'clock,' to Ben-
nett's-yard. From twelve to five I was walking
about. I did not go into a public-house or coffee-
shop. I was occupied looking for lodgings. I ar-
rived at Leg-court about 12 o'clock. I cannot say how
many lodgings I went into. I went into the house
in Leg-court, where the murder was committed, to
inquire for Bennett's-yard. There was no card in
the window. What I saw so frightened me that I
went to the end of the court, where I stood till the
man was brought out. I get my living by working
for it. I last worked at a cowshed in Drummond-
crescent. It is about a month ago since I worked
there. I was there for three years. I have not been
doing anything since. I was in view of a situation
which made me come to Westminster. I got to
Bennett's-yard a little after five. I saw a woman
there, but did not mention to her what I had seen.
I went into other rooms and had conversation with
several women.
By the Jury—l did not follow the man with the
pol;.ce. I stood still.
By Mr. Hutchinson—l did not dine at all that
day. I have not been down Leg-court since.
By the Jury—l heard no noise between the two.
The door was on the right as you enter.
By .11,1 r Hutchinson—The man was standing with
his back more towards the door than his face. The
woman was facing him. I am telling the truth,
and I do not think it worth your while to try and
shake my evidence.
By the Jury—l saw a little girl brought out

without bonnet, hat, or shoes on; The women made
me no answer when I spoke to them.
Cornelius O'Connor, 2, Artillery-square, Strutton-
ground, labourer, said—l was with Maloney and
his wife on Sunday. She was in and out during
the day. They appeared on good terms. They
had no quarrel. 1 was at work with Maloney on
Monday morning at the Duke of Buccleuch's
house, Whitehall. At 12 o'clock I walked part
of the way home to dinner with Maloney. It was
within a minute or two of the quarter when I left
him. We had been in to have a pot of beer, and as
he left me he said, " Don't leave your house till I
call for you, and then we will have another pot."
He said he had the price of it. Maloney and
myself and another had three halt quarterns of
rum between the three. This was about eight in
the morning. Before we had the rum, we had
two pots of beer between four. Maloney had some
of it. At ten o'clock we had a pint of beer each.
I was having my dinner. My boy came in and said,
"Mrs. Maloney is dead," and that Maloney came to
the door and told him to come and tell me that
" Mary had killed herself." I went and opened the
door, and at the right-hand corner of the table was
a knife and his dinner. I touched the knife, but
cannot say whether it fell on the floor or not. Mrs
Maloney was lying on her left side, with her legs
to the door. Maloney was against the fire-place,
crying. As soon as.he saw me he said, " Mary has
killed herself at last." She appeared quite dead.
I thought Maloney had some blood on his smock.
I did not notice the tea-tray. There was one or two
women in the room.

By the Jury—l have known them nine or ten
years. I have heard him, about three weeks ago,
complain of her spending the money. Never heard
her threaten her life. Neither have I heard him
threaten her. We always spent the Sundays to-
gether. He was not out of temper on the day. He
looked as jolly and well as ever.
By the Coroner—We had a game at cards on
Sunday. The wife made no remark about our
drinking on Sunday. She was not the worse for
drink on Sunday. I left at eight, and there was no
quarrelling. We had five gallons of beer. I can-
not I ty how many drank of it.
By Mr. Hutchinson—She was a little hasty in
temper.
By the jury—l only saw her with a black eye
once. I saw blood on the knife. I have seen the
knife in Maloney's possession.
Samuel Morton, 241 B, said—About 25 minutes
after twelve on Monday, I was in Peter street, and
a man said, " I think there was murder in Leg
court." Ido not know the man. It was net Saun-
ders. I went to the spot, and saw several people.
As I got to the door I met Mr. Payne, and he told
me a woman had been stabbed, and that she was
quite dead. I saw a quantity of blood on the floor,
a woman lying on the bed with blood about her
dress. I saw a wound in her neck on the left side.
I asked the woman how it was done, and a man sit-
ting at the end of the table made answer and said,
" She done it herself. I was sitting down eating
my dinner when she picked up the knife and
stabbed herself, and then threw the knife away."
I cleared the room of the people and searched it,
and told Maloney to get up and move his chair, and
after lifting the tea-tray I found the knife sticking
in the board behind it. The sergeant then came,
and he was taken to the station. He there repeated
his former statement, that she had done it herself.
Margaret Norton, residing at No. 9,.Leg-court,
said—About 20 minutes after 12, on Monday last,
I was coming out of my house when my uncle
(William Maloney) ran out of his house. I asked
him what was the matter, as he spoke very ex
citedly to Elizabeth Goodall. I went into his place,
and saw his wife lying dead on the floor. I was
frightened, and ran out again. I did not see the
knife.
By the Jury—Did not hear whether they had
had any words. She was of an excitable temper.
By Mr. Hutchinson—She had a baby about four
months suckling.
Elizabeth Ann Goodall, of 11, Leg-court, sail:l
I have known the Maloneys about 12 months.
About a quarter past 12 on Monday I heard Ma-
loney come out of his house into the court, and say,
" She is dead," and clapped his hands twice toge-
ther. He was very excited, and the tears rolled
down his cheeks. I did not go into the room as I
I was so frightened. There was a little blood on the
back of his hand. His right hand. I did not see
him strike her with the knife. I did not hear them
quarrelling.
Elizabeth Anne Goodall, daughter of the last
witness, said—l saw Maloney run out of his house,
and strike his hands together, and said," Mary was
dead." He went across to the corner house, and
then came back again with the tears rolling down
his face. He went into his room, and soon after
came out and clapped his hands again and said,
" She had killed herself." He went to his sister,
and she said to him, " Where were you to let her
do it ?" He said, " Mary has done it, Mary has
done it ; she has stabbed herself." In reply to his
sister's question, he said, " I was trying to save
her, but I could not." I heard no quarrelling.
Sergeant Mason, 15 B, said—l went to No. 2,
Leg court. In the middle of the room I saw a pool
of blood, and Maloney sitting with his back to the
wall, and deceased lying on the bed with a wound
on the left side of her neck near the shoulder. Her
clothes and both her hands were covered with
blood. I asked how it was done, and Maloney said
" She done it herself. I know nothing about it."
I then cautioned him in the usual form. He then
said, " I was having a few words with my wife,
End I sent my child out for some oats for the rabbit
I was eating my bread, potatoes, and bacon, and
when I had done I laid my knife on the table. She
took it up and done it herself, and threw the knife
away." I asked him who lifted her on the bed,
and he said, " I don't know." He said he did not
assist. I looked at his lands and clothes. Both
hands had blood on them ; most on the right one,
and blood on the right sleeve of his slop. On the
cuff of the right sleeve of the shirt are spots of blood,
and some on the front of the trousers on the right
leg. [These things were produced and shown to
the jury.] There are also spots of blood on his
shoes. At the station, the sergeant said, "He has
got some blood on the inside of the leg of his
trowsers," to which he replied, " If either of ye had
been there ye would have had the same." He also
stated that his wife had said she would commit
suicide. beenquarrelling
about her having drink on the Sundsj•
The witness was re-called and ideLltified the
clothes produced as those worn by Maloney when
he saw him on Monday.
Sergeant Mason and police-constable Gow sad
they were almost sure they saw the man Saunders
at the end of the court.
Mr. Barton Payne, surgeon, said—l live at 58,
Denbigh-street, Pimlico. About a quarter-past 12
I was called to a woman at No. 2, Leg-court, who
was stated to have stabbed herself. I found the
woman Maloney lying on the floor in a large pool
of blood. I saw a wound on the left side of the
neck, from which blood was still flowing. With
assistance I got her:on to the bed. I asked Maloney
to assist, and he said " No, I can't." I asked him
if he was the husband, and he said he was. I said
" How did this happen, have you been quarrelling ?"
He said " No. I had just come in to my dinner and
had placed my pocket-knife by the side of my plate,
when she suddenly seized it and stabbed herself,
saying " I have done it at last." At this moment
the police constable arrived. I told him the woman
was dead, and requested him to take charge of the
case. The next morning I made a superficial post
mortem examination, and found it was a clean
punctur( d wound, measuring three-quarters of an
inch in breadth and one and a quarter in depth.
I laid open the wound and found it had separated a
large artery which would occasion death in three
or four seconds. Yesterday morning I made a very
careful post mortem examination, and found the
wound had penetrated the cavity of the chest, and
a large quantity of blood had passed into it. Such
a wound could be made by such a knife as that
produced.
By the Jury—lt is such a wound as would re-
quire great impetus. It is possible she might have
inflicted such a wound on herself.
By the Coroner—lt is possible that, after assum-
ing that she inflicted the wound on herself, she
could place the knife on the table as described by
Dr. O'Connor. I asked Maloney what she had
done with the knife, and he said she had thrown it
somewhere. He did not know. The cause of death
was from a puncture of the subterranean artery.
The inquiry was adjourned to a future day.