Star.
London, England, 1830-08-23 00:00:00

CORONRWS INQUEST.

On Saturday morning, an inquest was held at the Fox public-house,
on the body of Mrs. Whinnett, before Mr. CAZTAIL
Thomas Witham was the first witness—l live in Prince's4treet. I
am a barge-builder. I lodged in the same house with the deceased, and
have done nearly 18 years. Her son-in-law, and daughter, and her
youngest son, lodged in the house. George Norris is the name of her
son-in-law. Samuel Whinnet Is the name of the youngest son. He is
nearly 90 years of age. The deceased was about 58 years of age She
kept a shop • was a dealer in marine-stores. This happened on Thurs-
day. When I came from work at four o'clock I had my tea. At half-
past four I left the deceased washing in the kitchen. I went to my
work, at Mr. Nash's, as usual ; I continued there till seven o'clock.
There was no one in the house but herself at half past four, when I
went out after tea to my work. She was washing in the back room be.
hind the shop, where the body now lies. She told me at tea-time, that
her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and George, had gone to the fair—
that they had gone about ten minutes. " Jane and George" meant Nor-
ris and his wife. I came home direct from the yard in the evening,
about seven o'clock. 1 knocked at the door and received no answer. I
was not much surprised, for it was by no means unusual for her to go out
and fasten the door. The woman melding opposite (Mrs. Poyne) told
me that there was no use in knocking ; that they had all gone out. I
then went to Mr. Higgins's, the Merry Boys, a public-house. I had a
pint of beer 'and a pipe. I stopped there about 20 minutes.
lOn being mare minutely questioned, he stated that he remained in the
Three Merry Boys till about a quarter or half past nine. When I
came back to the house, I found Samuel sitting at the door. I said,
" Sam, is your mother come home ?" He said, "No ' • they are all
gone to the fair—Camberwell fair." I complained that she did not
leave the key. She never left the key. I said, " something must be
the matter with her; it was very strange his mother had not come
home." I observed " There most be something amiss, either abroad
or at home." 1 then knocked at Mr. Hunt's, next door to Mrs. Whin-
nett's house. The little boy came to the door, and I obtained leave to
go through their house, and get over the palings to open the door. Sam
stopped outside while I get over the paling. I entered the house
though the window. The back door was bolted inside, and the front
fastened with a spring lock; it might have been fastened by being
pulled to; I immediately opened the front door and let in Samuel ;
there was a fire in the back rooms; I found the deceased lying in her
blood on the floor in the back room, and then I ran in to Mr. Hunt's :
there was a great quantity of blood • it had run from the back door to
the ; Sam, I think, remained in the passage ; ludo. Hunt and
several others came in ; Mr. Hunt said she was quite cold ; the window
bar was afterwards found standing in the usual place very bloody ; her
head was cut in several places ; I can't say when the bar was found ;
after Mr. Hunt came in, I ran out for the police ; the deceased and I
were married at St. Anne's church, Soho ; no one gave her away that I
know of—the clerk might; we were married by bum; she brought me
up and gave me a trade, and therefore I looked upon her as my mother.
George Norris was called in, and de as follows t—l had, for a
long time, a suspicion that the d was married to Witham ; he has
told me so since her death; I am a hoop-shaper; I am married to a
daughter of the deceased ; I have lodged with my mother-in-law about
six years; my brother-in-law lodged in the house; Thomas Witham
also lodged there ; I have suspected for some time past that my mother.
in-law and Witham were married • I have thought so these two years; we
never put a question to the deceased on the subject; I never head anything
positively on the subject till yesterday ; Witham told me so ; I put the
question to him downright, and he said it was so ; they have lived
upon very friendly terms ; there was no quarrelling between him and his
wife. Thursday morning my wife and I resolved to go to the fair ;
Witham was not with us at the time ; I went to my work as usual;
my wife might have told Witham of our intention, but I don't know ;
I told my wife I should be home about half-past three ; and it was
then agreed that we should go ; when we went to the fair we left mother
alone in the house ; it was then between three and four in the afternoon.
I always wear a leather apron ; I left that and a fustian frock in doors
when I was going to the fair • my wife and I were at the Skinners'
Anne, in Camberwell New-road. About half past ten o'clock, coming
down stairs, Mr. Reeves came to me, and told me my mother was no
more—that she was murdered; my wife and I came home immediately.
I do not recollect that there was any dispute about the money ; my mo-
ther made a will, leaving all she had to Jane and Samuel ; I believe
Witham intends to dispute the will ; my mother-in-law expressed an
earnest wish that we should come and live with her six years ago, for
she was then veryclote • I cannot say whcte the bar was found ; my
mother generally and futened the shutters.
Jane Norris, the wife of the preceding witness, gave similar evidence.
A man named Reeves proved that Norris had gone to Camberwell.
fair; that the witness saw him there; that witness,who lives in Prince's.
street, returned before Norris, and learned the particulars of the death of
Mrs. Whinnett, or rather Witham ; immediately went back towards the
fair to communicate them to Norris, whom he found as already stated
at the Skinner's Arms, where he made the distressing communication.
Just at this time it was understood that a man named Gough had
been taken into custody on suspicion, and a considerable mob assembled
outside the house in which the Inquest was sitting, which did not die.
petse till six o'clock.
Mr. O'Brien and another surgeon, said there was no doubt that the
wounds were sufficient to cause the death of the deceased.

Mrs. Crutchfield was the next witness-1 saw no one leave the house
at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Elisabeth Singleton, living exactly opposite the deceased's house,
gave similar testimony.
Mary Anne Whinnett—l went to the house of the deceased about
six o'clock on Thursday evening; I found the door shut and fastened ;
it was not usual to find it shut and fastened in that manner, at that hour
in the evening : I ksockedsevetal times and no one answering, I looked
in at the window, and saw either the staircase or cellar door open, which
prevented my seeing into the kitchen% there were two dogs in the house;
I was in the habit of coming to ate house of the deceased once or
twice a-day ; Witham and she lived very comfortably together: I have
never hoard that he kept company with any other soman ; never heard
he was paying his addresses to any one else; I was not aware that Wl-
tham was otherwise than a single man lodging with my mother-in-law ;
we were all on good terms with Witham, who appeared always very kind
to the deceased.

-- May I saw, at 6 o'clock on Thursday evening, a woman stand.
ing at Mrs. U'hinnett's door; she wore rather a light-coloured gown : I
am confident the door was open ; the hour might be about 20 minutes
to six, and I am sure it was very near that time.
The Coroner observed that he thought the present witness must have
seen the last witness when she had been unsuccessfully endeavouring to
get in.
Jane Norris recalled —Gough, who is now in custody, called at my
mother's house on Tuesday, when she said to him in a jocular way,
" I thought you were hanged long ago ; " they parted, however, very
good friends ; nothing hostile passed between them.
Gough was then brought in. He is a middle-sized man, apparently
belonging to the very lowest class, with something very remarkable in
his exterior. He admitted that he had seen and spoken to the deceased
on the Tuesday, but on the day of her death (the Thursday), he was at
home, as the womau who lived with him could depose, from half-past
o'clock till 8.

Mary Anne Griffith,.—! have been living with John Gough about
two months ; 1 can swear positively that he was at home from half-past
3 till 8 at night on Thursday.
Mr. Tavey said, there was a witness to prove that Gough was seen
within a hundred yards of the spot at five o'clock on the Thursday, and
other facts might be discovered t he therefore earnestly desired an
adjournment.
This was, after some conversation as to the moat convenient day,
agreed to. The inquest, then, stands adjourned to Wednesday. It
adjourned at 20 minutes to 6.
To the particulars above given, it may be added, that strong ex-
pectations are entertained that the murderer will speedily be discovered.
The most patient attention was given by the coroner and the jury
during the investigation, and nothing could be more zealous anti active
than were the police and the officers of Union-hall in prosecuting
their search. _

Witltem, in giving his testimony, spoke in a subdued tone, was
much affected, and burst into tears when forced to admit that he was
the husband of the deceased. He is a thin, undersized man, about 30,
and pale visaged.
A reward of 501. has been offered by the Lambeth Association for the
discovery of the ctiminal.
The deceased appeared to have been in delicate health—at least
not robust. She was a woman of small stature., slender make, and,
we understand, looked fully as old as has been stated. The silence
of the tuo dogs during the perpetration of the offence has not been
accounted for, and is, under all the circumstances, very remarkable s
they are exceedingly ferocious, and it is thought that they would
never have allowed a stranger to enter the dwelling without a
furious attack. The excitement which this event had created is by no
means abating, and the anxiety for the discovery of the murderer is
universal. The inhabitants of the district belong to the very lowest
class. Prince's-street is less than half-a-mile from Vauxhall.ganlens,
lying between it and High-street, Lambeth, which leads to the Palace,
the street running parallel and near to the river.
ONE or MAIIONET'd Assaree Shereef at
ilfusepak or Cuddapak, was erected in the year 1135, A. H. by command
of libdson Nubbee. It is a large square building, open at the top,
with a beautiful gateway and minarets; it was built to contain a hair
from the beard of Mahomet, which was preserved in a gold box with
crystal top; small holes were contrived to admit water so as to fiord the
hair once a year, on a particular festival, when pilgrims came from
distant lands to see and to adore. On this occasion the gateway was illu-
minated by 2.138 liihts. It was the custom of the Prophet, when in
familiar conversation, to pass his fingers through his beard, when a hair
would sometimes detach itself; the disciples humbly prostrate, would
beg the precious relic, and keep it with care. When, in course of time.
Hydet marched as conqueror into Cuddapak, he dispatched this hair un-
der an escort to Seringapatatn, where it remained the most precious gem
of the royal treasury, ut til the final overthrow of Tip rho by the Hri-
doh troops, after which no trace remains of the hair, which is supposed
to have been stolen, and to have passed into the hands of the Nabob of
Curried, who has a curious collection of relics of the Prophet and his
family../siefic Journal.