The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-06 00:00:00

12bittton

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

• THE LATE MURDER AT
BATTERSEA.
ADJOURNED INQUEST.
This being the day appointed by Mr. Carter, the Conner
for Surrey, for Ole further examination of evidence touching
the death of Sarah Eleanor M'Farlane, who met her death by
the hand of violence on Monday the 29th ult., the Swan
Hotel where the inquest was appointed was thronged long
before the hour of meeting, in consequence of a report having
gone abroad, that the supposed murderer Dalmas, would be
brought before the Coroner ; and that he would attempt to
establish an alibi. In this expectation, the wonder seekers
were disappointed, for no arrangement had been entered into
with the magistrate at Wandsworth (Mr. Clive) by Mr.
Carter to ensure his attendance.
After the jurors' names had been read over, the Coroner
proceeded to read the evidence already adduced.
Frances Scott was examined—l am a single woman, re-
siding at 9, Bolton-place, Upper Church-lane, Chelsea. I
am in the service of Mrs. D'Oyley, and on the night of
Monday week a girl came into the house as servant. The
girl pow present (pointing to Augusta Dalmas) is the person.
Superintendent Bicknell—l must really have some clear-
ance in Court for the admission of witnesses.
Mr. CARTER—My Court is an open one ; but I am sure
that the gentlemen, present will give every accommodation
to witnesses.
Examination, of witness continued—The girl arrived at
Mrs: D'Oyley's at half-past eight at night in company with a
female. They proceeded down stairs to the kitchen, re-
mained there about ten minutes, and then bade each other
good bye. I let the female whe accompanied her out of the
front door, and also out of the gate of the small garden.
I did not observe her join any one, but I saw a man walking
on the opposite side of the road, as if he were waiting for
somebody. The person seemed coming to the gate, but
when it was opened by me he went away again. I could
not perceive whether his coat was black or blue, as it was
rather dark, and I did not see his face sufficiently well to
identify him.
By a juror—l did not see who brought the girl's boxes.
The first time I saw the boxes was when the females came
to the door. • TlieS, had the boxes then in their hands.
By the CORONER—I did make a remark to the
female that her husband was waiting outside, but the girl
said, "No, he is my. father."
Sergeant Lynes, 5 V—About twenty minutes to nine
o'clock on last Monday evening.
The last witness *as recalled, and in answer to the Coroner,
thought that the time when she let the female out was about
a quarter to nine.
Sergeant Lytres—l saw a man at that time walking up
and down in Bolton-place, and he was looking very anxiously
towards No. 9in that row of houses. I looked very hard at
him in passing, and went round the corner of Black-place,
and stood there to watch him. At the time when the three-
quarters past eight was striking I saw a woman leaving
No. 9, and this man then went over the road and met her.
They took arms, and went towards the Queen's Elms, Ful-
ham-road. When I found what he was waiting for I didn't
watch him any longer. I noticed that he was dressed in black.
Mr. CARTER—Do you see the man here? Witness (look-
ing round him)--.I don't see him, Sir; but I should know
him out of fifty.
Mr. Caarrita (to the jurymen)—You see the position I am
placed in. Here is a witness who can speak to the identity
of the prisoner, and yet the accused person is not here. (To
Mr. Superintendent Bicknell)—The man Dalmas is in cus-
tody, is he not ? Superintendent Bicknell—He is, Sir.
Mr. CARTER—I have no wish to parade any man, but I
think it is highly necessary that the prisoner should have
been brought here. It would then have appeared on my
notes that the man Dalmas had been identified by this -wit-
' ness•as the person waiting in Bolton place. • .
" • Elizabeth Shepley, widow, and barmaid with 'Mr. Theo-
...dore, of !the Stag, Fulham-road.—On Monday night, April
29, I was attending behind the bar, about half-past nine,
when two persons came in, a male and female The female
_had on a light gown and straw bonnet. The man— - •
• Mr. CARTER, to the Superintendent—lt is absolutely ne-
eessaiy, for the guidance of the jury, that the prisoner should
be brought here to be identified. We have a public duty to
perform, and it is necessary that it should be done pro-
perly. I thirik I shall be under the necessity of adjourning
the Court until the man supposed to be guilty is brought
before us. I. do not suppose that the Magistrate would go
into an cx parte statement, and I cannot see that this Court
should do so,
Mr. Superintendent Bicknell could say nothing on the
subject.
The conversation was then allowed to drop.
Mr. Parkins, whose evidence has been already given in
The Sua,was then called.—He added to his former statement
that in his exclaiming " Good God, the woman will bleed to
death," the deceased seemed to reply, "Oh dear I" He did
not at any time hear her say who had inflicted the injury.
By a juror.--He was standing up at the time Mr. Gosling
and the policeman asked who had committed the injury.
They were stooping and could hear her reply, but he did not.
• Langton, 36 V, was next examined, and his evidence read
over.—He was positive the weman knew she was in a dying
state when she mentioned that " Dalmas had done it."
Mr. Messenger Was called.—He had seen the prisoner at
Wandsworth, but could not swear that he had seen him on
'ffie brfilitek
Sergeant Cummings, 3 D, said a person gave himself into
his custody on the morning of Saturday: He lad never
seen him betbre to his knowledge. He is not here. Exa-
mined him in the. station- house, and found no instrument
upon him. -
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and, on our ad-
mission, we found Mr. Carter addressing the jurymen. He
recapitulated the chief features of the case, and dwelt con-
siderably upon those portions of the evidence which seemed
to point to the man in custody as the person who had com-
mitted the murder.
—Aft6r an address of considerable length, strangers were
ordered to withdraw, and, on their admission, it was an-
nounced that the jury had found a verdict of " Wilful Murder
against Augustus !Mmes."
Mr. CARTER said that the jury had, upon full deliberation,
returned the above verdict; but it would have been much
more satisfactory to have had the prisoner before them:

A Court of Directors was held at tho East India
House this day, when Lieut.-General the Right Hon.
-Sir Henry Hardinge, K.C.8., was appointed unani-
mously Governor-General of India.