The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PAR-
LIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2.
The following Bills were referred to the Select Committee
on Petitions for Private Bills:

Epsom and Dorking Railway.
Staines and Richmond Railway.
NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.

Erewash Valley Railway,—Second reading, Monday, '
April 7.
Eastern Union and Norwich Railway (No.l ),—Committee
on petition, postponed sine die.
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway,—Corn-
mittee on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Wednes-
day, April 9.
Kingstown and Bray Railway,—Committee on petition,
postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7.
Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Railway,—Committee on
petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7.
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway ( Worcester Devia-
tion ),—Committee on Petition, Monday, April 14.
Runcorn and Preston Brook Railway and Docks,—Com-
mittee on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday,
April 7.
Gravesend and Rochester Railway,—Committee on peti-
tion, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7.
Waterford and Limerick Railway,—Committee on petition,
postponed from Friday 4th till Tuesday, April 8.
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Wolverhampton
Line),—Committee on petition, Monday, April 14.
Birmingham and Gloucester (Gloucester Extension, Stoke
Branch, and Midland Junction) Railway,—Committee on
petition, Monday, April 14.
Birmingham and Gloucester ( Worcester Branch and Chel-
tenham Extensions) Railway,—Committee on petition,
Monday, April 14.
Midland Railways Company (Birmingham and Gloucester
and Bristol and Gloucester RailwaysPurchase),—Committee
on petition, Monday, April 14.

THE MURDER IN ST. GILES'S.
INQUEST ON THE BODY.
Mr. Wakley, the Coroner for Middlesex, having appointed
ten:yesterday morning for the holding of the inquest on the
body of the unfortunate woman, Mary Brothers, who was
so inhumanly murdered in a brothel, in George-street, St.
Giles's, on Monday night last, the jury summoned for the
occasion met at the Angel Inn, High-street, near St. Giles's
Church, and their names having been called over,
Mr. WAKLEY, before administering the oath, inquired if
any one were present who could identify the body ?
The husband of the murdered woman was introduced, and
to questions from the Coroner, said that he had seen the
body, which was that of his wife, Mary Brothers. He had
been married to her 15 years before, but after their separation
she had gone by another name—that of Ann Tape.
The jury (15 in number) were then sworn, and Mr. Rogers,
tobacconist, of High-street, Finsbury, was chosen foreman.
Mr. Misr" the Deputy- Coroner, asked Harvey, the beadle,
if any one were present who had been with the woman at her
death ?—The beadle answered in the affirmative.
The CORONER then said that the jury had better go and see
the body. None but jurymen could then be admitted; but
if the gentlemen from the press desired it, they would be ad-
mitted afterwards.
Haryey—l have not the key of the house. I asked for it,
but it Was refused me.
Inspector Rawley—l have got the key in my possession,
and I am ready to accompany the gentlemen of the jury to
the house in George-street.
The Coroner and jury then left to see the body.
After an absence of half an hour the Coroner and jurymen
re-entered the inquest-room.
Police-constable, William Willis, G 4 E, examined—l am
employed at the George-street station-house, and while on
duty there as gaoler on Monday night, the 31st March,
a woman named Palmer came with police- con-
stable Allen and stated that a man had been
stabbing a woman, at No. 11, George-street. I then
was directed by my inspector to go to the house with them.
I did so, and there procured a candle, and saw three or four
women standing at the door of the room on the left side of
the passage. I went into that room, and saw the deceased
with her back against the tire-place, her head bent down ;
and I heard a gurgling noise in her throat. She was bleed-
ing greatly from the left side of her neck, and there was
much blood at her side. I raised her head, and saw a wound
above her left shoulder, and a knife sticking in it. I
desired constable Allen to pull it out, and he after-
wards went for the surgeon. Mr. Fitzgerald came
in less than ten minutes, but the woman was
quite dead. She did not speak or move from the time I
first saw her, and the gurgling in her throat ceased in about
four minutes. I then locked the door. I did not see any
person in the house charged with having caused the death of
the woman. There was another room adjoining that in
which I saw the woman, and on a bed there I saw marks of
blood. There was a window there with a saw in it. I saw
marks of blood on the wainscoting, as if the blood had spurted
there.
Mr. MILLS--Have you got the knife? Witness—No, Sir;
constable Allen has.
Allen, the constable, produced the knife. It was a common
sized black handled table• knife, sharpened to a point, and
encrusted with blood.
Mr. WAKLEY asked the witness why he had not himself
taken the knife from the wound. It was better, in these
cases, to limit the number of witnesses as much as possible.
The constable said—l was engaged at the time assisting
the woman. I have known the woman by sight, in the
street, for about three years. I believe I saw her about half-
past eight o'clock on the night of the murder. Ido not know
where she lived. There were three other women standing at
the door of the room, one of whom had a candle in her hand.
Mrs. Hall is the landlady of the house. The woman Palmer,
who came to the station-house, is the servant, and, I believe,
lives in the house. (The station-house is within a minute's
walk of the house where the murder was committed.) Palmer
came to the station-house about ten minutes to eleven o'clock.
Mary Palmer, an old woman, was next examined. She
stated that she was a widow, and lived at 13, Church-street,
St. giles's. I used to sell fruit for my living, but latterly I
have been employed to clean, and act in the capacity of a
servant, at Mrs. Hall's, 11, George-street. Mr. Hall is the
landlord ;he pays me my wages. I did not know the mur •
dered woman by the name of Mary Brothers, but by the
name of Mary 'tape. Tape is the name of a shoemaker with
whom she had lived. Ido not know her age. I was never
told it was forty-five. I saw her last alive about a quarter
to eleven o'clock on the night of Monday last. She came
to the parlour-door of the house and asked for a three-
penny room. A man was with her. I had never
seen him before, and I do not know his name.
I think I should know him again. I lit a candle and gave it
to the woman. The man did not speak. He gave me the
threepence. I did not see anything in his hand. I noticed
his dress. He wore a velveteen coat, which came down to
his knees, with pockets at the sides. It was of a very dark
colour by the candlelight. He had a sealskin cap on his
head, and wore light brown trousers. His coat was closely.
buttoned. The woman said nothing more, and they went
into the room together. I should think the man was about
thirty years of age. He was very dark, with black hair, and
small dark whiskers. I did not notice the colour of his eyes.
He had a long pointed nose. Neither of them were drunk. I
sat down on the stairs, and in about five minutes after
heard the woman cry " Murder." I went to the door of
the room, and she repeated the cry three times. I; knocked
at the door, and asked what was the matter? I heard no
scuffling or noise. The man made no answer. The door was
bolted, and I could not get in. The room that they were in
was the middle room, where the bed was.
Mr. MILLS—Did you burst the door open ?—Yes.
Mr. MlLLS—Which door was that?—The one that the
blood was in.
Mr. Musts—When you burst open the door what did you
see ?—When I burst open the door the woman was sitting on
the bed.
Mr. Muss—What was the man doing ?—He was standing
over her in this way—(The witness held up her hand
clenched behind her own neck)—and I thought he was hit-
ting her.
Mr. MlLLs—Was his side or back towards you ?—His side
was towards me, for he was facing the woman.
Mr. MILLS—Did you see him strike her ?—No ;his hand
was lifted up, and I said, "Don't you strike her no more."
With that he turned round.
Mr. MILLS—Did you see anything in his hand at the time ?
—No, Sir, nothing
Mr. MILL Did he let his hand fall ? No, Sir, not then.
Mr. MILLS—What did you say to him ?—I said, "You
have hit the woman enough, de not hit her any more."
Mr. MiLts—What did the man say then ?—He took his
hand away and ran out of the room.
Mr. Mu-Ls—Did he run past you 7—l caught him by the
coat, but he got away, and ran out immediately without say-
ing anything.
Mr. Mims—Did you see that he left anything behind
him ? Nothing but the knife. The woman got out of the
bed herself and came into the next room. She then gave a
bit of a stagger, and down she fell at the fire-place.
Mr. MILLS—Did she say nothing? Not a word, Sir.
Mr. MILLS—Did you see any blood? She was covered
with blood, and a pool of blood was beside her.
Mr. Alits.e—What did you do then ? I ran out to the
front door and said " Mistress, mistress, here awomtahne
murdered." A policeman came into the' is
house and pulled
knife out.
Mr. MILLS—Did you see the knife? Yes, I saw it in the
policeman's hand.
Mr. Mius—Did you see it before ? Yes, in the policeman's
hand in the room. The policeman said it was in five inches.
Mr. MILLS—When did you see the woman before this day
for the first time? I did not see her before she went to the
hospital, about two years ago.
Mr. MlLts—When was she in the house before ? About
three weeks before, but not with the same man. I never
saw the same man before.
Mr. MILLS—What was he like ? He was about the middle
size, dark, and he walked pretty straight.
Mr. MILLS—Do you believe that was the man that stabbed
the woman ? He was the only one that went in with her.
• The Foreman—When they came in and paid you the three-
pence, was there any person in the passage ? No, not one, sir.
Mr. Mit-Ls—Have you heard any one say that they know
the man ? Yes, two women, who said that they knew him.
A Juror—How long were they in the room together.
About Sem minutes altogether.

S

A Juror—Did you see him after yot-gtit,tw,k6ll6lsPi':
him:turning the corner of Broad-stree w)ae,p.rgiof‘toth doet.l
Mary Hall examined—l live at N0...11_ Gemsltrnet, -
husband's name is John. He is a le,attbr-dr&ser, a:4d riots',
the house from Mr. Grout. Ido not kitsint3ehoseMe.- Grout- -
is, or where he lives. He lives somewhere biL ttitlevarpygs,
comes for his rent every week. Ido not know what rent my
husband pays. The furniture belongs to Mr. Grout. I was
in the house when the man and woman came, but I did not
see them there. Palmer gave me the 3d., but she said no-
thing to me. They came in about ten minutes to eleven, and
in about seven minutes I heard Palmer cry that a woman
was murdered, and I ran for assistance. The man ran
past me in passage and pushed me aside. There was no
light there that 1 could see him by, for the light
was in the room. He said nothing when he ran
past me, and I did not know him at all. I knew
the:woman well. She lodged with me about five or silt
months, but I had not seen her since she left me, sometime
ago. Her sister used to come to see her while she was with
me. She did not live with any man while lodging with me,
neither did any man come to see her. She was a quiet,
sober woman. I never saw her intoxicated. She never told
me that any one had threatened her life. I do not know
where she lodged after she left me. I do not suspect any
one, nor From what I have since heard do I suspect any one,
except the person who was with her at my house. Ido not
know the man who is suspected of having murdered her.
I never saw him before the night in question. He rapidly
passed me in the passage, and pushed me aside. I caught
hold of his coat, which from the feel I should think was
velveteen.
Seme of the jury at the bottom of the table here put gene-
ral que.tions to the witness, in a conversational tone.
-Mr. MILLS said, that if they had any question to put to
her, either himself or the Coroner would do so. What she
stated to them was not taken down, and could not be consi-
dered evidence.
Mrs. Hall was recalled, and stated that her husband was
not at home at the time of the murder.
The husband of the deceased was then called. He is a
respectable-looking man, between forty and fifty years of
age, and was much affected. He stated that his name was
James Brothers, and that he was employed by Messrs. Tratt
and Hatfield, upholsterers, 19, Lower Brook-street, in the
capacity of porter, and that he resided with his two daugh-
ters, at 8, George-court, Grosvenor-square. He said the de-
ceased's name was Mary, and her age about forty-six. I have
been separated from her 15 or 16 years. I am not quite certain
as to the time, but I could tell by the Marlborough police-
sheet. _

Mr. MILLS—Do you know where she lived within the last
six months? Witness—l do not know exactly. Somewhere,
I believe, in this neighbourhood.
Mr. MILLS—When did you see her last? Witness—l
have not seen her for the last eighteen months—perhaps two
years. My children have not seen or spoken to her for seven
years.
Mr. Mims—How did you know the deceased was your
wife? Witness—Her sister came and told me that she had
been murdered. She was in the habit of seeing her, and had
been sent for.
Mr. MiLis—Do you know if any one had threatened to do
her any injury? Witness—No, Sir. Ido not.
Mr. MlAs—Have you any suspicion of the person who
murdered her? Witness—No' not in the least. I saw the
body on Tuesday—it is the body of my wife.—(Here the
witness was much affected, and tears rolled down his face.)
He said his daughters, whom he had brought up, were fine
women—that one was 19 years of age and the other 21.
Mr. WAKLEY—We will not ask you anything more ; you
had better retire. The witness then left the room.
Jane Crook, the sister of the deceased, was the next wit-
ness examined.— She said she was a married woman, and re-
sided at .55, Seymour-street, Euston-square. Mary Brothers
was my sister—the only one I had. The last time I saw her
alive was on Saturday, at No. 2, Church-court, between five
and six o'clock, on my return home from market.. That is
not far from the place where her body now lies. A woman
named Ann Scoones was there. No man was there. Ido
not think she was living with any man. I had seen her more
latterly than for some }ears before. I saw her frequently in
the month of October last.
Mr. MlLLs—Did she tell you that any one had threatened
her life ? Witness—She told me that a man whom she had
lived with a short time before, but whom she had left, owing
to some quarrel they had had, had threatened her, and that
she was afraid to go out for him. She said she had been very
uncomfortable with him. I said, "-I wonder,.Mary you can
content yourself to live in the way you do."
Mr. MILLS—Do you know the name of that man. 'Wit-
ness—She said his name was Mellen. I am not certain
of his Christian name, but I think it was William. I
did not know what he then was, but I have since heard
that he was a smith.

Inspector Haynes said that person was taken into custody,
but, on examination, he was found not to be the man sus-
pected of murdering the woman. The witnesses who saw
the man with the woman on the night of the murder had
positively stated that he was not the man.
The witness said she had seen Mellen at Marylebone
Police-office en Tuesday.
Mr. WAKLEY inquired if the whole of the other witnesses
who had seen the man suspected of committing the murder
had seen Mellen ?
Inspector Rawley said Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Old-
ham, the cutler, who sold the knife with which the murder
was committed, and the police-constable, had seen him.
Mr. WAKLEY desired Mrs. Palmer to be recalled.
In answer to questions from the Coroner,, she said that she
went to Marylebone Police- aourt on Tuesday, and a man was
shown to her, but he was not all like the man whom she let
into the house on Monday night.
Mr. Waxixv—That man was Mellen ?
Inspector Haynes said he was.
The examination of the deceased's sister was then resumed.
—When I saw my sister on Saturday, she did not say she was
living with any man, and, as I have said, I do not believe she
was. Mellen was the man whom she was afraid of. I be-
lieve she had done something which she ought not to have
done, and they had quarrelled.
Mr. WAKLEY said (with respect to the descriptions which
had been given of the suspected individual, and of the pub-
licity which would be given to them in the newspapers) the
less said about him the better, as they would be merely an
advertisement to him, advising him how to escape.
Henry Oldham was next examined. lie said he was a
cutler, at No. 10, High-street, directly opposite the houSe in
which the inquest was held. The knife lying on the table
I sold on Monday night, about ten minutes to ten o'clock,-as
near as I can recollect. To a man who came into the shop and
said " What is the cheapest small carving-knife you have Pi
I said, " I will serve you directly." I took out three knives
and he purchased one of them, for which he paid one shilling.
Not another word was uttered by him. Ile did net remain
longer than three minutes. As he passed down the shop he was
proceeding towards the door with the knife in his hand, which I
thought somewhat extraordinary. I have no doubt the knife be-
ing the one I sold. I ground the edgeof thekrife, and wrapped
it in paper, and he left theshop I did not notice him particu-
larly, but he was about 5 feet 4or 5 inches in height. He
had on a dark coat, dirty trousers, and a hat. I think the
coat was cloth, but I am not positive about it. His age I
should think from 19 to 21, and he spoke like a youth.
The CORONER said these different descriptions did the
greatest mischief in the world.
Witness continued—l did not notice whether he had an,
whiskers. He was of a rather sallow complexion, and his
features were large. He had no gloves on. I think I should
know him again. Ile was sober, and did notappear at all excited.
I never saw the man before. He looked a low character, as
if he lived in the low part of St. Giles's. He had a dirty
appearance altogether. It struck me as extraordinary when
he wanted to take the knife out without anything on it. I•
have the corresponding piece of paper that the knife was
wrapped in. It was brown paper, with some writing on it.
The man had on dark trousers. My daughter was standing
beside me at the time, and took particular notice of him also.
She is ten years of age.
Mr. WAELEY—I think it will be better to give this infor-
mation privately to the polies.
Witness continued—l do not know the woman.

The witness who had been examined, and those also who
had been summoned, were ordered to go into the next room.
Witness continued—l saw the man who had been in cus-
toly, but he was not the man who purchased the knife. He
was much stouter.
John James Allen, 159 E, examined—l am a constable at
the George-street station. On Monday night I was in the
gateway in George-street, three doors below the house where
the murder was committed. It was then a quarter to eleven
o'clock, and I heard the door open, and saw a man run
down past me towards Broad-street, but on the opposite
side of the street. There was light enough from the lamp to
see him. He was about 5 feet 6 inches in height. He .
had a cap on with a peak, but I would not say whether it
was a cloth cap or no. He had on lightish coloured trousers.
I should know him again, but would not like to say what his
features were. I think I have seen him before in this neigh-
bourhood. I am positive it was a cap, but will not say
whether it was a seal-skin cap or a cloth one. About five or
six minutes after the woman Palmer came to me, and said—
" Come here, policeman ; here's a woman been struck at Mrs.
Hall's." I heard no alarm, and the woman Palmer came very
quietly indeed. Palmer said the woman was bleeding very
much. I told Mr. Inspector Rawley that there was some-
thing wrong below, and Willis and I went there In the
passage there were three or four women, and on entering
the room we found the woman on the floor with the knife
about five inches. I tried to pull it out lightly, but found
sticking is the wound at the back of the neck. It was in
it sticking fast, and I was obliged to pull it out with a jerk.
She was not dead then, for she gave a sort of smile, and I
ran for the surgeon. Mr. Simpson was not at home, and I
ran for Mr. Fitzgerald.
By a Juror It was five or six minutes after the man had
ran passed before the woman came to me, but no person came
out of the house in the interval.
by
yat observing that
nothing a 1 l
By the CORONER—From the slight glance I got of the
man, I should say he was about thirty.
been
nppeexad the inquiry
and
fur-
ther would be done this day. He should not fix an hour for
resuming the inquest, in order to avoid the difficulties which
The
we CORONER
witnesses hhearde
had arisen in former instances from the interference of the
magistrates' courts. For this reason only it was that he ad-
journed the inquest without naming a time for its future sit-
ting, so that if the prisoner were taken into custody, he would
at once be ordered before that Court. This would do away
with the difficulty, and at the same time give the Commis-
sioners of Police no excuse for interfering with the proceed-
ings of the Coroners' Courts.
The inquest was then formally declared adjourned, and
the room was cleared of t s rangers.
The inquiry did not seem to cause that excitement which
might naturally have been expected, but this might probably
arise from the fact of the hour for holding the inquest being
only fixed on Wednesday. In George-street and its vicinity
the same intense desire to gaze upon the scene of the murder
still prevails, and thousands of persons succeed each other
throughout the day. Many rumours are current as to the
murderer having been seen in various places, but of course
they are not entitled to the slightest credit. The station-
houses are alsO besieged with curious inquirers, but the in-
formation distilled in driblets from the police is of the most
unsatisfactory character.

MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS.
Account of the amount of all sums deposited in the Mi-
litary or Regimental Savings Banks, within the year
ended the 31st March, 1844 ; of all sums withdrawn
during the same period ; and of the interest allowed
upon such deposits ; and also the number of deposi-
tors on the said 31st day of March, 1844.—(Pursuant
to the Act 5 and 6 Victoria, c. 71.)

. ,
Amount of sums deposited
Amount of deposits withdrawn
Amount of interest allowed 96 10 1
Balance due by the public
Number of depositors
The warrant establishing the Regimental Savings
Banks was dated the 11th October, 1843.
SIDNEY HERBERT.
War-office, March 18, 1845.

GAME.—We have much pleasure in stating that
the occupiers of farms under the Duke of Bedford, besides tke
privilege of destroying rabbits,ehave now permission to course
down the hares. We have, further, the best possible grounds
for believing that his Grace has turned his most anxious con-
sideration to the general subject of game preserving.—Osanty
Press.