The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-05 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday a miscreant, who gave his name George
Brown, was fully committed for trial ry R. Ciiiim-
Baas, Esq., and Sir W. Du CamPit:NY, Bert., the
sitting magistrates, before whom he was charged
under the following atrocious circumstances.
Mrs. Martha Bi-owni an elderly and infirm Woman,
seventy-two years of age, residing at No.l, Carlisle-
street, Upper Marsh, Lambeth, stated, that she has'
an only son, who belongs to a-
.large West -India
trader, now lying at Gravesend; on the eve of its de-
parture on a voyage outwards.' Oa Monday last she
received a farewell ,letter' from this -4.ioting- man,
which was brought her by some acquaintances of
her son's, who reside at Gravesend, and came to
town that day on business.. Anximis to do them a
kindness for the trouble they , had in coming to her
lodgings, she kept theni to dinner and tea. Imme-
diately after tea they' set- out for home; iind the
evening being fine, she accompanied them as, far as
the Elephant and Castle, where they were about
to part, when one of her friends advised her to
get the assistance of some person to see her
home, us it was then dark, and accordingly he
went in search of a person, to. whose care he
thought he might commit her. The prisoner
happened to be in his way ; and the complainant's
friend having a slight knowledge of him, the pro.-
posal of seeing her safe Jim-lee
.was made. and ac-
cepted, he being to receive is. for his trouble. The
prisoner was very attentive to,her until they reached
• her residence, where she offered him the shilling,
and was about to leave him, but having mentioned
that her room was in the upper part of the house,
he urged her to let him assist her up stairs, to
which she assented, and when they came to her
room she stuck a light, and offered to give Lim
some supper for his attention. :The- prisoner sat
down, and Mrs. BroWn going over to a dresser,
took up a silver watch, saying "It is safe." This
watch belonged to a favourite son who-died a short
time ago, and left his mother this sole relic of- him,
dear on that account to her far beyond its-intrinsic
value. When she was going out with her friends,
she left this watch as a.measure of greater precau-
tion, behind her, though generally in the- habit of
carrying it about her person. Her expression," it is
safe" attracted the prisoner's attention to it ; and
while she was busily preparing supper, he pre-
tended to snuff the candle, and in doing so extin-
guished it. She took it to light it again, and the
prisoner left his chair. When . the candle was
lighted, she immediately missed the watch.: and re-
-1
collecting the prisoner got up while the light was
out, accused him of having taken . it. He affected
the greatest indignation at the charge, said his cha-
racter was above suspicion, and declining to avail
himself of the hospitality of a person, who could sus-
pect him of such an act, was..leaving -the room.
Mrs. Brown got before him to call the assistance of
the landlord ; and when at the.top of the stairs on
the landing place, the prisoner seized her by the
throat, and driving his nails through the skin into
the flesh, compressed it so as effectually to ex-
clude the possibility of the poor woman making the
slightest noise. He then twisted the strings of
her cap as tightly as
.possible .around her neck
for the purpose of strangling her ; 410 while in the
act of doing so, the convulsive struggles of the un-
rortunate woman in a state of suffocation,. caused
ler to" fall out of the radian's hands, and she rolled

down to the bottom of the stairs. , The noise made
by the full brought out Mr. Mann, the landlord, by
whom she was found in a state of total
weltering in her blood. The prisoner..attempted to,
rush by Mr. Mann, and bad got to the hull door;
but not being able to undo the bolt before the land-
lord' overtook him, was stopped, and an officer
sent for. James and Bell, two of the Bow-street
patrol, who were in the neighbourhood at the time,
were called in, and received the prisoner into cus-
tody. They proceeded to search him, but after a
careful examination of his person were unable to find
the watch, until James bethought himself trying the
the fellow's boots. The ruffian resisted the search-
ing of this part of his dress, and a desperate scuffle
ensued. At length James was proceeding to cut the
boots off, when the prisoner, putting his fingers into
one of them, drew up the watch out of it.
Mrs. Brown, whose heed and body. suffered
dreadfully :against tine stairs, exhibited her neck to
the view of the Magistrates, when it presented a

frightful spectacle, being lacerated in -a most ap-
palling manner. Her cap and some other parts of
her dress were produced, and displayed unequivocal
evidence of the miscreant's diabolical intention; be-
ing literally soaked is blood.
To several questions put to him by the Magis-
trates, he returned so answer, feigning himself
quite deaf.