The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-02 00:00:00

THE MURDER ON BATTERSEA

BRIDGE.
Yesterday Mr. Carter held an inquest at the Swan and
Magpie, Battersea-bridge-road, on the body of Sarah
Eleanor M'Farlane, aged forty-five years, the unfortu-
nate female who was murdered on Monday night, some
particulars of which appeared in The Sun yesterday.
The jury having viewed the body, which lay at the
late residence of the deceased, No. 13, Bridge-road, Bat-
tersea, the following evidence was laid before them.
Helen Gibson stated that she resided at No. 1, CuTni-
stock-terrace, Battersea, and that the deceased was her
sister. She was a widow, and the last time witness saw
her alive was on Monday afternoon. On that night,
from incorcnation she received, she went to the Swan,
and saw the deceased lying in the passage covered with
blood. She was subsequently removed to her own home,
and witness then saw that she had a wound in her
throat. A male person was in the habit of coming to
her sister's house to visit his family, who lodged with
the deceased. The person she alluded to wished to pay
his addresses to her, and had offered her marriage. The
lain:lacy was occasioned by her taking charge
of his family, when he ran away in June
last year. She was aware that he had published the
banns of marriage, but she did not think her sister con-
templated marrying him, as her friends were opposed to
the connexion. She was confirmed in this belief by a
letter which she found in a box belonging to her sister
that morning addressed to her by this person. He for-
merly lived next door to the deceased. Latterly he had
been in the habit of visiting his children at her sister's.
He was named Augustus Dalmas. Dalmas was a manu-
facturing chemist, and was in the employ of Mr. Groves,
at Battersea. The last time she saw him was on Mon-
day fortnight.
James Andrews, a labourer, said that on Monday
night he was passing over Battersea-bridge in a cart, a
few minutes after eleven o'clock, from Chelsea, when he
noticed a man and woman behind him. The man was
dressed in a black frock-coat and white trousers, and the
female had hold of his arm. On getting near the centre
of the bridge he saw a man looking over the parapet, and
he hallooed out to him, " Don't jump over the bridge."
On the cart stopping to pay toll, the gatekeeper said to
the other man in the cart," Jump down, here is a woman in
a fit." Witness looked and saw the woman bleeding from
a wound in the neck, and told his companion to untie
her bonnet ; but before he did so, witness jumped out of
the cart and did it himself. The only words he heard
the deceased utter were, " Oh, dear! oh, dear!" Two
policemen came up, and he assisted the policemen in
carrying her into the Swan. •
In answer to questions from the CORONER, the witness
said be saw nothing in the conduct of the man and wo-
man to attract any particular attention, or to excite his
suspicion.
Richard Messenger said, he was passing over the
bridge on Monday;night, in company with his wife, when
he saw a man looking over the bridge. On passing he
looked earnestly at them, but witness did not take par-
ticular notice of him. hen they arrived near the toll-
house, his wife called out, " There is a woman falling to
the ground." He hurried forward, and saw a woman
lying on the ground, bleeding from a wound in her
neck. He saw no other person on the bridge, with the
exception of the man he before alluded to, and two
men in a knacker's cart, which passed a few yards in ad-
vance of himself.
By the CORONER—Did not see any man dressed in a
surtout coat and white trousers. He was dressed in that
way himself. He had not seen the man he alluded to
since, nor did he think he could swear to him if he were -
to see him again.
Mr. Wm. Parkins said, on Monday night, about
twenty minutes to eleven o'clock, he was crossing Bat-
tersea bridge on his way home from Stockwell, vhen,
on getting about twenty-five paces on the bridge he
stopped and looked into the water to see the state of the
tide. Whilst So doing he heard an exclamation of "Oh
dear I oh dear I" and on looking saw a female coming
from the crown of the bridge on the right-hand side.
On seeing him she came across, and said, " Will you be
good enough to take me to the toll-house ?" She took
hold of him by the hand, and feeling her weak, or reeling,
as he supposed a tipsy woman might be, he asked why
she wanted him to see her to the toll-house ? She re-
plied, " Some one has cut me." He then held her firmly
to prevent her from falling, but she slipped from him on
seeing the toll-keeper run towards him. On looking at
his hands he found they were covered with blood, and
then followed the woman to the toll-house. He asked
the toll-keeper what was the matter ? and he replied
that she said some one had cut her. She was then being
supported by two females, and he saw that she was
bleeding from a wound in the neck. She appeared sen-
sible, but he did not hear her speak. Whilst she was
lying upon the ground he heard a person say that her
tame was M`Farlane, and that Dalmas had done it. He
did not hear the deceased say so. He afterwards went
to wash his hands, and on his return he found she had
expired.
Thomas Hall, the toll-keeper's evidence, was merely
a repetition of the statement of the foregoing witnesses.
In answer to questions from the CORONER, he stated
that he was acquainted with Dalmas, but had not seen
him for some time previous to Monday, and that on that
day he did not notice him pass over the bridge.
Mr. William Gosling, landlord of the Swan, having
deposed
t aod a
ad,e c
teha
as
te,d beingon
a policemanbroug ht ienet h
coming
inigs
in,
house,thh
e
officer asked the deceased who had done it, whe.n s e
replied, very faintly, "Dalmas." At the suggestion
witness, the policeman asked again,
" Was it Palmas?"
vwhence,ai sheyreesp, i eyesd s t ilnac tal
bout,y but
a xi null
avue
treys weakr
ttho ne e
dheoe_f
ceased mentioned his name she ceased to exist, and
believed that to be her dying expression.
•
Mr. William Connor M.D., of Battersea, said he saw
the deceased on Monday night, and found her lying in
the passage of the Swan. She was then quite dead.On
examining her person, he found In incised wound on the
right side of the neck of about three inches in length,
and at the upper extremities of the wound an irch in
depth. The wound appeared to have been made by one
cut with some exceedingly sharp instrument. The edges
were not at all lacerated. The large muscles of the
neck were cut through, as was also the right lobe of the
theroid gland and both the internal jugular veins on
the right side. There was no other injury on any other
part of he: person. It was impossible for her to have
done it herself, as the person who did it must have been
behind her, and on the right side.
Police-constable 36 V, corroborated the fa7ct that the
deceased had stated that Dalmas was the person who
had inflicted the injuries upon her. She was fully aware
of her dying state when she said this. She died in about
five minutes after. Dalmas had not yet been taken into
custody although every inquiry had been made after him.
Mr. Miles, of Chapel-place, Brompton, where Dalmas
resided, said he went up with the policeman to Ma-
mas' room, and found several letters, which were now in
the custody of the police.
Augusta Dalmas, daughter of the accused party, said
that she saw her father on Monday last at half-past
eight. He brought her box, as she was going to her situa-
tian. Mra. Macfarlane went with her. Witness's
father expressed how much he was indebted to Mrs.
Macfarlane for her kindness to his daughter ; and Mrs.
Macfarlane and witness then entered the house, and
after waiting there ten minutes Mrs. Macfarlane bade
her good night, and witness did not see her again. Her
father and the deceased were on very intimate terms.
She had not seen her father since.
Elizabeth Mungham knew deceased, but had not
seen her for seven years till Monday evening, when she
was standing outside of the White Hart public-house
door, in Duke-street, Chelsea, near the bridge.
Saw a man and deceased walking in the direction of the
bridge. He said something that she did not hear, but
the deceased replied, "I cannot think of stopping out to-
night." He had on a frock coat and broad-brimmed
hat. She had on a light dress, black shawl, trimmed
white bonnet, and boa. Saw her again about two o'clock
last Tuesday morning lying dead. Was sure it was the
same female who passed to the bridge.
Augusta Dalmas was re-called, and stated that Mrs.
Macfarlane was dressed as described by the last witness,
and that her father was in a suit of black, with dress,
not frock coat on.
Charlotte Georgians Dahlias, the eldest daughter,
said that she was in service at 18, Montpelier square.
Last saw her father on Monday night, at about 11
o'clock. She was sitting down stairs; and heard a
cough. Knew it was her father, and went up. She saw
him on the steps of the door, and said "Father, how are
you this evening ?" He did not reply, but took his
pocket-book out of bis pocket and put it in her hand.
She thought his manner very extraordinary, and he ap-
peared very pale and haggard. She said "Father, what
is the matter." He took her by the hand and said,
"You must take it, (the pocket-book), I have poisoned
Mrs. Macfarlane." She fell on her knees, and said "0,
father, what have yon been doing?" He then stated
that he had attempted to do so, but had not done it, and
soon after went away. On the same day, about one
o'clock, she saw him at the corner of Montpelier-square,
and he then pulled her shawl on one side and felt dier
neck. She said "Father, what are you about ;" and he