The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-23 00:00:00

THZ LATE TRAGEDY AT WA.RLEIGS.

Since the inquiry before the coroner relative to
the murder of Andrew Border and his wife, the
prisoner, Thomas Miller, has been gradually
recovering from the wounds he inflicted upon him-
self, and it was expected that in the course of a few
days he would be able to be removed and undergo
an examination before the magistrates. In order,
however, to avoid the excitement of a police court
it was determined to conduct the investigation at
the residence of the prisoner, and accordingly, on
Tuesday last Mr. P. C. Sheppard, a county magas
trate, proceeded to Warleigh and took the deposi-
tions; in the prisoner's bed-room, in which he was
lying. Mr. Skrine, of Warleigh-house, accompanied
by Mr. Phelps, his solicitor, was. present but took
no part in the proceedings. Mr. Slack, solicitor,
of Beth, was present on behalf of the prisoner.
All the witnesses, who gave evidence at the
inquset were again examined, in addition to the
prisoner's mother, who until to-day was too un-
elt to undergo an examination. She gave her
e vicleuce in a collected manner and without the least
indecision. Her name is Elizabeth Miller, and,
being sworn, she deposed,—I am the wife of Thos.
Meter. The prisoner is my son. He is 27 years
of lig He has never been addicted to drinking,
nor have I noticed anything wrong about his state
of mind further than that after he has been reading
I have heard him remark that he felt his head
rather light on the top. On the night of Friday
preceding the murder I had no rest in consequence
of the state he was in. Ho appeared to think there
was seine one fighting with him all the night. 1
thought he was going to have a fever. He said the
Philietines were coming to him. I sat by his side
all the night, and whenever I went away for a mo-
ment he called me back. He got up between 6
and 7 o'clock, and I gave him some tea. He seemed
much better afterwards. I then went to the
Shepherd's-farm, having business there during the
day ; before I went I toll Mrs. Hancock to send
for me if she observed my son to be worse. Daniel
11, neock cameto me in the afternoon and said Thomas
was very bad. I came home at 5 o'clock and gave
him some tea. I then made preparations for him
to put his feet in hot weather, and when I was up-
stairs getting the wat,T ready this circumstance
happened. As I was upstairs I heard the door open
and ties a scream. I ran downstairs as fast as pos-
sible ; but when I got down I found no one in the
kit hen. The scream I heard appeared to be that
of a inan. I rushed out of doors, and as I got to
the door I fancy I touched some one's coat. It was
quite dark, and I could not tell who it was. I
think it was Tom. The door was wide open. When
I got out of the door I saw that some one had fallen
down on the pathway, and I called to Daniel Han-
cock to come out t 3 see who it was. It was the
body of Mts. Border. She was lying alacut 3 yards
from the door. Mrs. Hancock brought a light, and
sai t, " Why, here is Mrs. Border lying on the
ground !" Mrs. Border neither spoke nor moved.
I went into Bradfield's house, and remained there
until my son was found. After my son was got
into bed I reeurned home. My husband remained
in bed all night, and asked me on the following
morning what the noise was about. I said that
Tom had been ill. The knife produced
belongs to my son, and was usually kept in the
kitAien window. I did not see the knife that even-
ing. I never knew my son speak in any angry way
in. eeard to the Borders. I had not heard him men-
tion their names for some time. My son was a very
saving young man, and had some money in the
save igs-bank. The moneyfound in the box belongs
to me. I think there was 921. in the box. He was
always a good and dutiful son to me. By Mr.
Slack.—lle was as harmless as a child ; he acted.
remtimes more like a child than a man. My hus-
band was not capable of taking care of the money,
as ho has not been right in his mind during the last
9 yeer4. He is now in the lunatic ward of the work-
use, ho was removed there a few days since. By
Mr. Williams, magistrates' clerk.—l don't know
whee caused my husband to become insane ; he lost
sour; money about 24 years ago. He has told me
three or four times that he had attempted to com-
mit suicide; on one occasionhe tried to drown him-
self at Dundee,. The depositions having been read
over to the prisoner, who was cautioned in the usual
ay, he made no reply, Mr. Slack advising him to
say nothing. The prisoner was then fullycommitted
for trial. The magistrate (Mr. Sheppard) declined
to wake any order at present respecting the money
standing to the prisoner's credit in the Bath
Savings-bank (471. 3s. Bd.) or the 921. found in the
hones. Mr. Edwards, surgeon, stated that he
could not give a certificate for the removal of the
prisoner until the following day.