The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-21 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

CHARGE OF MURDEII.--Alfred Edwards, a pickle
manufacturer in Haberdasher's-place, Hoxton, was
placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged with
having administered a quantity of poison to Jane
Gregory, and thereby caused her death.
Mary Green, the wife of a weaver living at No. 4,
New-court, New Nicholl-street, Bethnal-green,
stated that the deceased, who was " an unfortunate
girl," resided next door to her, and had been for the
last twelve months on the most intimate terms with
the prisoner. At eight o'clock on the preceding even-
ing the deceased called her up into her room, and
asked her to take some beer ; the prisoner was at that
time seated on one side of the fire, and the deceased,
who was in perfect health and excellent spirits, was
sitting opposite to him. There was a black quart
bottle and a teacup on the table, but what the bottle
contained she was unable to ascertain. A quarter of
an hour afterwards witness again went up with a light,
and the deceased told her that as soon as the prisoner
had left she should go out, and requested witness to
accompany her. The prisoner was still in the room,
and observing that the bottle remained on the table,
witness asked the deceased what it contained, and
she replied, " Ketchup," which Alfred, the pri-
soner, had brought to her. Witness then went
out in company with the deceased and the pri-
soner, and after proceeding a short distance
the prisoner shook hands with the deceased,
kissed her, and wished her " Good night." The de-
ceased stopped him, and asked at what hour to•mor-
row she should see him ; to which he replied, " Stop
till to-morrow comes," and then ran away. Witness
then proceeded with the deceased as far as the Bri-
tannia Tavern, in Hoxton, on reaching which the
deceased suddenly stopped and complained of feeling
dreadfully ill, and on being asked what was the mat-
ter, she replied, " I told you that what was in the
bottle was ketchup, but it was brandy-bitters, and I
have not felt well since I drank it." She left the de-
ceased soon after, and saw nothing more of her until
half-past ten o'clock on that morning, when she went
into her room and found her in bed. She was then
veryill, and had scarcely power to utter a word ; her
face was black, and her hands were as cold and as
black as her face. Witness asked her what was the
matter with her, and the deceased replied, " Oh !
Mary, I am very ill indeed ; I think I am dying."
Witness asked her if she had been eating or drinking
anything; and the deceased answered, " No ; only
that brandy-bitters that Alfred gave me, and I have felt
dreadfully ill ever since I took it." Witness asked the
deceased if the
KrNisoon;erthhaatd,llpearptuaktetnheofbtohtetlleiquuport,oahnisd
mshoeuathn
,"%b-eurted;nat was all. She repeated that she
knew she was dying, and asked witness to go and
fetch her brother. Witness did not go herself, but
sent another young woman, who accid'ntally met
the prisoner passing the end of the street, and told

him to hasten and see the deceased, as she was dying
The prisoner in a few minutes afterwards entered
riPeea3A's room, at wh:c'l time she was
rapidly, and asked her what was the matter with
her. The deceased told him that her illness was
caused by the brandy-bitters he had given to her.
The prisoner coloured very much, and said, " Never."
As she was evidently sinking very fast, witness ran off
for Mr. Wildbore, surgeon ; but although she was
only about five minutes absent, she found on her re-
turn that the prisoner had left, and the deceased soon
afterwards expired in her arms.
Charlotte Scott, living at No. 2, New-court,
deposed that when the last witness left to go for the
surgeon, she called upon her, and requested her to go
immediately up to the deceased. Upon entering the
room she found the prisoner there. The deceased
repeated to witness what she had told the preceding
one, with regard to the brandy and bitters causing
her illness ; but the prisoner said it was nonsense, it
could not be that, as he had taken part of it.
Witness then asked him to drink some in her presence,
and the prisoner took the bottle and a teacup from
the cupboard, and pouring out half a cupful of the
liquid, drank it off; but, before he did so, took some-
thing out of the cup, and flung it on the ground, and,
after drinking, spat a quantity of the liquid into the
fender. He then said that he must go, as he had
business of importance to attend to, but should be
back by the time the deceased's brother arrived ; and,
although witness entreated him to stay, he refused to
do so, and left the place, but did not again return.
The prisoner here said that he wished to explain
that what he took out of the teacup, before drinking
its contents, was a small piece of cork, which he did
not observe till he put the cup to his lips.
Another witness, named Sarah Russell, was then
called, and deposed to similar facts, tending to incul-
pate the prisoner.
Mr. George Hill Smith, assistant to Mr. Wildbore,
stated that he was called to attend the deceased at
half-past eleven o'clock, and found her in bed, per-
fectly sensible, and capable of speaking in monosyl-
lables. She laboured under great prostration of
strength, and complained of intense pain in the region
of the stomach, which could not sustain the slightest
pressure. There was a bottle, about half filled with a
dark liquid, on the table, part of which witness poured
out and tasted. Brandy and bitters were the pre-
dominant ingredients, but the liquid had a very
astringent and nauseous taste, which remained on his
palate for more than an hour afterwards. The de-
ceased had been repeatedly sick all the night and
morning, and the stomach was so manifestly empty
that he did not think it necessary to use the stomach
pump. Witness desired the brother of deceased to
place the bottle in his pocket, and accompany him to
his residence, where witness prepared a remedial anti-
dote, and hastened back to the deceased, but on
reaching her apartment he found she had expired.
The proximate cause of death was inflammation of
the stomach, produced by some acrid poison. He
had not yet had time to analyse the contents of the
bottle, and the body had not undergone a post mortem
examination.

Mr. BROUGHTON—DO I understand you distinctly
to give it as your opinion that the deceased's death
has been produced by poison, or some other violent
irritant of the stomach ? Witness—Most decidedly
—no doubt of it.

Sergeant Sheelig, 45 N, stated that he accom-
panied her brother to a public-house close to the de-
ceased's residence, where he found the prisoner, and
took him into custody.

The brother of the deceased corroborated the evi-
dence of the sergeant, and said, in favour of the pri-
soner, that when he had seen him in company with
his sister, they always appeared to be kind to each
other.

On being called upon for his defence, the prisoner
said that the reason he did not go back to the house
was, that he did not think the deceased was in the
slightest danger; and with regard to the bottle, that
it had been left in a hamper, containing several other
bottles, at his father's house, and had belonged to an
old lady, who died there three years ago. He sup-
posed there must have been something deleterious in
its contents, as several of the porters employed in re-
moving the old lady's goods, and who had drank out
of some of the bottles, became seriously ill afterwards.
The prisoner's father, a retired linendraper, corro-
borated his son's statement with regard to the delete-
rious effects produced upon the porters employed
upon the occasion referred to.
Mr. BROUGHTON said that the whole case was re-
plete with the darkest suspicion. He should remand
the prisoner on the charge, and the police must exert
themselves to the utmost to throw further light upon
the case.

The prisoner was remanded until Tuesday next.
UNION-HALL.

Two fashionably-dressed men, named John Trail
and James Johnson, members of the swell mob, were
brought before Mr. Traill, charged with attempting
to pick pockets.
Goff, a shrewd and active officer of the L
stated that about eight o'clock last evening he was in
company with Brooks, 118 L, in the Westminster-
road, when he perceived the prisoners attempt several
females' pockets. They followed them into Oakley-
street, where the prisoners followed a lady with a
child by her side. The prisoner Trail went behind
the lady and lifted up her dress on two occasions ;
the other prisoner was covering his actions. Finding
what their intention was, they secured them, and
took them to the station house.

Mr. TRAILL inquired whether the prisoners were
known ?

Goff replied that Johnson had been convicted at
Maidstone, and had been several times in custody for
felony.
Brooks stated that he had the other in custody
about twelve months ago, for stealing a coat. He
was tried and convicted at the Surrey Sessions.
Johnson denied the officer's assertions. He had
never been convicted.

Mr. TnAILL said that he intended to remand them
for proper evidence as to their former convictions.
It was quite clear, from the testimony of the officers,
what their intentions were.

Goff informed the magistrate that on the next exa-
mination he believed he should be able to bring a
charge of burglary against the prisoners.
They were remanded until Monday.
Edward White, an able-bodied young pauper, be-
longing to Christchurch workhouse, Southwark, was
next charged with crushing the fingers of an aged
pauper in a dreadful manner.
Richard Williams, about 60 years of age, stated
that he was placed in the men's ward to keep the lads
in order. This morning, about eight o'clock, he was
standing by the door leading to the yard, when the
prisoner knocked at the door. lie put his hand he..
tween the door and the door-post, when the prisoner
immediately seized hold of his fingers and closed the
door, crushing his fingers in a dreadful manner. He
remarked, that had not a stone been in the way, the
prisoner would have crushed his fingers off.
Several of the old men corroborated the complain-
ant's testimony.
The prisoner denied the charge.
M‘li ay, the porter, said the prisoner was a most
desperate character, and almost always in prison for his
misconduct. lie, had been confined six months for
attempting to stab. one of the inmates.
Mr. TnaiLL committed him for two months. .
John Yine was charged with stealing a time-piece from
the house of a Mrs. Martin.

The prisoner was observed the preceding afternoon
walking from the direction of the complainant's house
with something bulky under his coat. When he was
stopped, a valuable time-piece was found concealed
underneath his great coat, which he attempted to throw
on the pavement, but was prevented. On subsequent
inquiry it Was ascertained that during the momentary
absence of the complainant's servant from the street-
door, which she was cleaning at the time, the parlour
was entered, and the time-piece stolen. The article
being subsequently found in the prisoner's possession, he
said that he found it in the street ; and as it is suspected
he has been engaged in several robberies of a similar
description, he was remanded.
MARYLEBONE.

Thursday, Richard Pates, servant to Mr. Phillips,
surgeon, in Wimpole-street, Cavendish-square, was
charged before Mr. Rawlinson, on a warrant, with
having committed an assault of a most atrocious na-
ture upon William Donaldson.
Complainant, who is a tailor, living at No. 9,
Northumberland-street, New-road, deposed that on
Tuesday last he went toßutler's beer shop, in Notting-
ham-street, taking with him a waistcoat which he had
made for defendant, who tried it on. As one of the
buttons required to be moved, complainant took it
home and made the necessary alterations ; he returned
with the waistcoat to the beer shop, and waited there
some hours in the expectation of being paid for the ar-
ticle which defendant had, upon its being brought back,
put into his pocket. Complainant at length asked for
a settlement, when defendant, who was helping him-
self to oysters outside of the door, called him a
" wretch,' and threw a shell in his face. Ile held up
his arm, and in doing so, accidentally knocked off
the hat of defendant, who thrust the oyster knife
against his side with such force as to cause him to
fall to the ground; he jumped up, exclaiming that he
was stabbed, but fortunately the instrument had not
injured him. It had, however, from the force with
which the lunge at him was made, perforated his
clothing, and passed nearly through a leather case,
containing various papers, &c., which he had in the
left side pocket of his coat. He took possession of
the knife, and the landlord, in order to prevent any-
thing further of an unpleasant nature occurring, ad-
vised him to go up stairs, which he did. The land-
lord also took home the defendant, who soon after-
wards came back and offered a sovereign to any one
who would produce complainant, at the same time
stating that if he could get at him he would tear him
limb from limb. He subsequently went to corn.
plainant's house, and after using much abusive lan-
guage to Mrs. Donaldson, expressed a wish that the
knife had been two inches longer. He was much the !
worse far drink.

Other witnesses having spoken to the same facts,
Mr. RXITLINSOX said. it was a most atrocious case.
and that he Fhoraci Doke strofi ex,nroplP of de,
fendant that he could. He was fined 51., and, in
default of payment, two months' imprisonment.
The penalty was paid.
THAMES POLICE.

On Thu* ?ay John Bolton, a baker, was brought
before Mr. Ballantine, charged under the Excise Act,
the 7th and Bth George IV., cap. 53, with being in
an unentered place where a private still was in ope-
ration.

On Sunday morning last the prisoner complained
to a police-constable, named Beale, No. 25 K, that
he had been robbed by his nephew, a boy aged ten
years, of a half-sovereign, and the policeman accom-
panied the prisoner to his house, No. 45, Wells-
street, Poplar, where he carried on the business of a
baker, and took the boy into custody. The lad con-
fessed that he had stolen the gold coin, and concealed
it in a tan pit, where it was discovered by the police-
man. Soon afterwards Bolton's wife came to the
station-house, and stated that her sister, Elizabeth
Bayntun, the mother of the boy, who lodged in the
house, had stolen a pewter pot, which she delivered
to the police, and said there were several other pots
and a great quantity of stolen property in the posses-
sion of her sister. In consequence of these repre-
sentations Beale returned to the house, in company
with another policeman named Woodrow, No. 377
K, and found in Mrs. Bayntun's room at the top of
the house in which were two young children, five
pewter pots, which have not been owned, and some
bladders which had been used in the conveyance of
" jig stuff," the produce of private stills, and several
stone bottles which had contained spirits, and
another partially filled with liquor. This induced the
officers to examine the house very carefully, and
while coming down stairs they found a tub of wash
in a state of fermentation ; it was covered over with
sacks and a blanket, and contained thirty-six gallons.
Beale remarked to Mrs. Bolton that she must have a
still at work in the house, which she at first denied,
but the officers being determined on making strict
search, she said it was -no use denying it any longer,
and opened a room on the first floor, where a still and
every necessary apparatus for carrying on illicit dis-
tillation on a large scale was discovered. The officers
procured further assistance, and sent for Richard
White, an inspector of Thames police and revenue
officer, who seized the whole of the spirits, a hundred
and fifty gallons of the wash, a copper still and worm,
nineteen tubs of treacle, molasses, and other articles.
'the liquid in the still was warm at the time when
White seized it. The illicit distillation, and the pre-
paration of the wash appeared to be principally car-
ried on in the apartments occupied by Boiton and his
wife, but there was sufficient evidence to prove that
Bayntun, the sister of Mrs. Bolton, hal a share in
the business, and she was convicted on Tuesday, and
in default of paying a fine of 301., was sentenced to
three months' imprisonment and hard labour. Ifer
sister, Mrs. Bolton, pleaded her coverture, and that
she was only acting under the control of her hus-
band, and she was acquitted. It turned out in the
course of the investigation that the present defendant,
who escaped while the police were making search,
had cohabited with both sisters for some time past,
that Bayntun's husband had been separated from her
many years, and that Bolton stood in the double re-
lationship of father and uncle to the boy he had ac-
cused of robbing him, and his wife was very anxious
to get rid of her rival by accusing her of the theft.
The prisoner Bolton kept out of the way until yester-
day morning, when he returned to his home, and a
policeman named Wykes, who saw him talking to
his wife in the shop, entered and took him into custody.
The Magistrate: sentenced him to a pay a fine of
301., and in default of payment to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for three calendar months.
The prisoner was then removed from the dock and
put into the witness-box to give evidence against
William Bayntun, his nephew and reputed son, for
stealing a half-sovereign.
Mr. BALLANTINE committed the prisoner for trial.