The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-14 00:00:00

Jane Good, which belonged to her, with the exception of the
mangle, and that that was left there in order that the woman
Butcher might have it. The evidence would trace him day by
day, almost up to the moment of his apprehension. At the
Spotted Dog he gave his name as Staunton, and at other places
he had procured disguises ; he obtained a hod and other things,
and ultimately succeeded in getting a situation near Tonbridge
as a bricklayer's labourer. The extraordinary circumstances
which had excited so much public attention had very naturally
induced suspicion against any stranger, and the result of that
suspicion seas, the identification of the prisoner at the bar by
one who knew him. He was taken into custody near Ton-
bridge, was brought to London, and was now called upon to
answer the dreadful charge which was made against him.
With respect to the muthated remains which had been dis-
covered, it would be found among the medical men examined
there was no difference in opinion as to certain facts. Upon
examination it appeared to be an undoubted fact that the
mutilated trunk must, within a few days, have belonged to
a person, not only enjoying life but in perfect health. there
was no trace of disease whatever, but there was a remarkable
deficiency of blood in every part; the lungs were collapsed, the
heart was healthy, but the entrails were taken out. Still it
was manifest that the remains were those of an individual who
had not died by natural means. The chest presented a healthy
appearance, and all the medical men were agreed in opinion
that death had been caused, not by apoplexy, but by
violence, accompanied with considerable effusion of
blood. Upon the premises were found two instruments
which might have been used in the commission of the horrid
deed; there was an axe, and a knife, both of which it would
be shown were covered with tloiad. Now, whether the un-
fortunate person whose remains hail been found %vas Jane Good
it would be an important matter for the Jury to try. It was
most remarkable, that considering the account of her going
away, that she took nothing with her of any sort or kind but
the clothes she had on her, and that every thing she had
left behind was taken possession of by the prisoner, and either
sold, pawned, or given away by him. There was some evidence of
the person being recognhed as that of Jane Good by a police-
man, who examined the remains, and discovered a mole, ethic('
was known to be on the person of Jane Good. With respect
to the share the prisoner had in the murder it would be in evi-
dence before the Jury that the premises, when all these things
took place, were exclusively under the control of the prisoner.
He permitted no one to light the fire in the harness-room, or
to do anything in the stable. Not one of the family had access
to the stable but himself. Those circumstances, coispleci
with the flight of the prisoner, and his conduct
afterwards, must be taken into consideration, when
the question was what share the prisoner had in the
murder. Another point for the Jury to determine was the
way in which the crime was committed. The different counts
in the indictment were framed in order to meet every means by
which the crime assumed could be committed. He felt himself
bound, however, to call the attention of the Jury to that which,
under the circumstances, appeared to him the most probable
and reasonable cause of death. The state of the body excluded
the idea of death by disease ; it excluded the idea of death
by poison; and the remaining question therefore was,
in what way was it effected. According to the
statement of the medical men, death had taken place
before the mutilation commenced, an/ it would there-
fore be the duty of the Jury, in the exercise of their deli-
berate judgment, to say what was the cause of death. He was
desirous of placing before them all the circumstances con-
nected with the case, in order to enable them to discharge
faithfully and effectively the grave duty which had devolved
upon them. Upon those circumstances he asked the unbiassed
exercise of their deliiierate opinions ; but he thought
himself bound, in the discharge of the important duty
which had been cast upon him, not to shrink
from calling their attention to those parts of the case which
bore on the question they had to decide. In the course of the
narrative that he had given, he had adopted that course, feeling
that the Jury had a most serious and important duty to discharge
as between the public anti the prisoner at the bar. He had
stated to them, not in detail, but rather with a view to give
them a general notion of the scope of the case, and the circum-
stances connected with the departure of this young woman, her
disappearance on Sunday, and the discovery of her re-
mains. If, upon the whole of those circumstances,
the jury should be satisfied that the prisoner at the bar was so
much mixed up with those deplorable events, that little or no
doubt could be left on the mind of the jury as to the result to
which any reasonable, party would come, however painful it
might be, it would be their bounden duty to come to the con-
clusion which, exercising a calm and deliberate judgment,
keeping their attention fixed upon the peculiar circumstances
of the case, those which were calculated to justify a
doubt of the innocence of the prisoner, and those which
were calculated to effect any explanation of his conduct ;
above all, those calculated directly, more than doubts and diffi-
culties, which he is called upon solemnly and seriously to deny,
being placed at the bar under the dreadful charge of murder.
If, after hearing all these things—if, after considering the state-
ments of the witnesses, there remained any reasonable doubts
on the minds of the Jury as to the fate of the unfortunate wo-
man, and as to her being the person thus found, or as to her
being suddenly deprived of life by the crime of murder, and if
there should be any reasonable doubt as to the participation
of the prisoner in that crime, then they would give the priso-
ner the benefit of that doubt ; but it on the other hand
they were satisfied that the case was clearly brought home
to the prisoner at the bar, however painful it might be, they
were bound in the discharge of their duty, and in obedience to
the oath they had taken, to deliver their judgment as a record
of their opinion, whatever the consequences might be to the
prisoner at the bar.
Police-constable Gardiner, V 279, examined by Mr. Anot,-
PHUS—In consequence of somethings, that had been stated to
me I went to Mr. Shiells' house in Putney Park-lane, in the
parish of Putney. When I event there I rang the bell ; the
prisoner at the bar opened the door. I was accompanied by
two lads named Speed and Dag-tall. One of the lads asked if
the coachman was at home. The prisoner replied, "I am the
coachman." I then stepped up to him, and told him I had
come to take him into custody on the charge of stealing a pair
of black trousers from Mr. Collingborne. The prisoner said
" Yes, I bought a pair of breeches, and did not pay for them,"
and pulling out his purse, he said he would pay for them. I
said that was not the charge I had come upon, and the prisoner
said, " Very well; I'll go with you to Wandsworth and settle
with Mr. Collingborne." I asked if he would lot me examine
the chaise and stable previous to doing that, and he consented.
The two lads and I then entered the yard. I saw the prisoner's
child running about the yard. I examined the puny chaise,
and told Speed to stand by the prisoner whilst I made the
search. I then proceeded to search the harness room
but saw nothing; whilst searching the chaise the prisoner
said, "We will go to Wandsworth now and settle it." At
that moment Houghton came in, and asked what was the matter.
I explained to him. The prisoner wanted to go to Wands-
worth, I said I would not go till I had searched the stable. 1,
the two lads, prisoner, his child, and Houghton, then went
into the stable. I desired Speed to stand by the prisoner. I
searched the first and second stalls o f the stable, but found nothing.
I then commenced to search the corn-bins, and the prisoner
again expressed his desire to go to Wandsworth to have it set-
tled. I said I would not go till I had made a more diligent
search. Prisoner then went to the fourth stall, and I saw him
move some hay from one side to the other. I went to him and
told him to go and standby Speed, saying that I did not require
any of his assistance. 1 then removed the hay which he had
displaced; it was one truss; and I searched that place. I
searched two trusses and some loose hay, when I discovered
something which appeared to me to be a goose. I called out,
" What is this ? here's a goose ;" at that moment I heard
the stable-door shut, and en looking round I saw
that the prisoner was gone. I ran to the door
and tried to open it, but I found it was fastened on the outside.
Speed took a three .pronged fork and began to prize the door ;
I assisted him at first, but did not open the door, so I went back
to ascertain what it was that I had found. The two lads and
Houghton followed me down to the stall. I removed the re.
mainder of the hay, and found the trunk of a female ; it was
lying on its belly ; Speed turned it over ; the arms were cut off
at the shoulders, the legs at the thighs, the head was severed at
the lower part of the neck, and the abdomen was cot open and
the entrails taken out. I then went to the door and forced it.
In an hour and a half I pursued the search in the same stall.
I searched the third stall with another constable, and removed
several trusses of straw, when I found a mattress and two
blankets rolled up together. I unfolded the mattress and dis-
covered a large stain as of urine upon it. I saw some blood on
the ground near to where the body was lying. I lett the mat-
tress, tic., in charge of another constable.
Cross-examined by Mr. DOA NE—Speed went with me from
Wandworth; I had known him befoi e; he is here to-day. Dagnall
was the servant of Mr. Collingborne. Ha is here. It was about
half-past nine when I arrived at the stable, and I consequently
examined it by the light of my lantern. In the fourth stall I dis-
covered what appeared to be blood. I did not make any fur-
ther inquiry to ascertain whether it was blood or no. I did
not leave the stable from the time of first entering until about
one o'clock next morning, and I then left there Sergeant
Palmer and police-constable Tye.
By the COURT—I can't exactly say what quantity of blood
there was ; it was not very much ; about eight or ten inches
from where the body was lying, and not exactly under the
body. There was some loose hay in the stall, but it had not
the appearance of animals having been there.
Robert Speed, exarninedby Mr. WADDINGTON—I live at
Wandsworth. On the 6th of April last I went with the last
witness to Putney, Park-lane. We went first to the House
and then to the stable. On ringing the bell the prisoner
opened the gate, and the daughter of Houghton also came up.
The policeman said he had come about some black trousers;
the prisoner said he had no black trousers. We all afterwards
went into the stable, the prisoner leading the way. He opened
the stable-door with a key, which he took from his pocket.
I kept near the prisoner when we got inside, and Gardiner
commenced searching the stable. I saw the prisoner more
some hay in thethird stall, and Gardiner told him to stand
back ; the prisoner then did stand back near to me, which was
About two yards from the place where Gardiner was searching.
Gardiner soon afterwards called out, " What is this ?" I stepped
over to see what it was, and the prisoner rushed to the door
of the stable, and ran out, and I heard the door locked imme-
diately afterwards.
By the Cou R.T..4 afterwards broke the door open, but the key
was not in it then.

Thomas Houghton, examined by Mr. R. GURNEY—On the
6th April last, I was gardener to Mr. Shiells. On that evening
I went into the stable, where I found the prisoner, the police-
man, Speed, and Dagnall. The harness-room was in the care
of the prisoner, and no one else had access to it. The prisoner
kept the key cf the stable, and lighted the fire in the harness-
room. On the morning of the sth, about six o'clock, I ob-
served a smoke issuing from the harness-room; it was quite a
usual thing to have a fire in the harness-room at that time of
the morning. On Wednesday evening, the stove was laid with
a great quantity of wood and coal, ready for lighting ; there was
three times as much fuel as would be necessary for a common
fire.

Cross-examined—l had not been in the harness-room before
for some time, not having been good friends with him.
I had looked into the harness-room through one of the windows
which looked into the kitchen-garden. I was in the garden
about six on the morning of the sth, and was in the habit of
being there every day at that time. I worked till six o'clock in
the evening. I sleep in a cottage which is about fifty or sixty
yards from the stable. I have a wife, daughter, and son living
with me in this cottage; my son has slept for some time p-st
over the stable. The cottage is in tine range of buildings with
the stable, cow-house, &c., there is no back between them, hut
you cannot pass from one to the other without going into the
street. Next to my cottage. is the cow-house, then the tool-
house, and then came the stable, where my son sleeps. I ge-
nerally go to bed about ten o'clo,k in the evening. On the
Sunday previous to the discovery of the body I wc;ht to bed
about ten. My son assisted me as gardener. I have seen the
stalls open, but the prisoner never left the door unlocked when
he was not there himself. There is a door close to the harness-
room which leads up stairs to the room where my son sleeps.
which is over the back harness-room. I had two other men and
a boy employed under me, but none of them slept on the pre-
mises. It is necessary to light a fire in the harness-room in wet
weather to keep the harness dry.
By the COT.; RT --My son sleeps over the back harness-room.
It was in the front harness-room that I saw the wood laid for
a fire. There is a communication between the stables and the
harness-room. There was no curtain to either of the windows
in the harness-room ; the lower panes of the windows looking
into the garden were of ground glass, so that a person of ordi-
nary height could not see into the room.
Samuel Smith Dagnall examined by the ATTORNEY- GENE.
Rif,—.4 am in the service of Mr. Collingbornc, who is a pawn-
broker at Wandsworth. On Wednesday night I was at Mr.
Shiells'. I went to the stable. I remember Gardiner saying,
" Here's agoose." The prisoner then went out of the stable.
I was holding Gardiner's lamp at the time. I tried to get out,
but could not then; the door was locked.
Samuel Palmer, police-sergeant, S 6, examined by the Ai.

URN'ET•GESERAL—Ott the night of the 6th April last I was
on duty in Putney, about a mile from M. Shiells' stables. I
went to those stables that night about eleven o'clock, where I
saw the remains of a human body. Policeman Gardiner,
Houghton, his son, and Speed were there then. I made a search,
commencing with the stable, and in one of the stalls I found a
mattress and two blankets. In the fire-place of the harness-
room I found some small particles of calcined bone. There are
two windows in this room, one looks into the stable yard and
the other into the garden. The fire-place was laid with wood,
coals, and straw. The bones I have spoken of I found amongst
the ashes, and I now produce them ; they are in the same state
now as when I found them. I also found a guard and some
keys in the harness room, and I put them into my pocket, bat
I afterwards lust them. The keys now produced are the same
as those I found.
Robert Tye examined by the Arron,NEv-GENERAL—I am
the parish constable of Roehampton. On Thursday, the 7th
of April I went to the stables of Mr. Shiells, and I saw
there in one of the stalls the body of a woman. I found the
keys before me on the premises, 1 brought them here to-day
these are the keys which the last witness has just identified as
those which he lost. I also found the trunk of a female body,
and I buried it on the 13th of April.
Police-constable Tye 199 S, examined by Mr. Anoutta UR
I went to .11r. Shiells' stable on Wednesday night. I saw the
body of a female. I went into the harness-room to search it,
and I perceived a very bad, fulsome, sickly smell, like the rind
of bacon. I then went to the Sergeant and said, " there's a
very bad smell here, something must be wrong." I examined
the fire-place, arid found two pieces of calcined bone in the left-
hand side of the furnace of the fire-place. They have been
shown to a surgeon. On the 12th of April, I went to Mr.
Shiells' again, and I searched the chaise; on opening the driv-
ing-box, a very bad smell issued from it, and I found a small
piece of flesh attached to the box, on the outside, under the
cushion. On this occasion I found some more bones in the
furnace.

Cross-examined—The small piece of flesh I found on the box
was about half the size of a pea. Palmer was with me on the
6th, when I found the bones which I have produced. He found
some at the same time. I showed the bones to Mr. Allen, a
medical gentleman, the same night that I found them.
John Busain examined by Mr. WaDDINGTO arn Inspector
of the V divison of police. On the night of 6th April, about
a quartar-past eleven, I went to Mr. Shiells' stables. I saw
the trunk of a female, and proceeded to search the harness
room, the door of which was locked. I got the key from
Houghton. I found a wooden box in the room, in which I
found some man's linen and some books. I searched the
stable, and in the drawer of a table I found this knife produced;
there appeared to be stains of blood on the haft and blade. I
showed the knife to a medical gentleman tha mesa day. I
then searched near the fire-place, and on the right-hand
side, up against the chimney, I found this axe. The next
day I examined it, and I observed what appeared to be stains
of blood upon the pole of the axe, and on each side of the edge.
I found this piece of a handkerchief, which appears to be marked
with blood ; it W 43 hanging upon a line across the harness-
room. On a saddle rest, I found the followings part of a
female's wearing apparel : —Two parts of a flannel petticoat,
which seemed to have been torn violently asunder, a part of a
calico petticoat, masked with blood, which was covered by a
box coat. I also found this bottle lying under the window, it
contained a few drops of what I believe to have been milk. It
was on the Bth that 1 found this bottle. On the night of the 6th I
searched the fire-place, and amongst the coals I found a quantity
of calcined bones. Tne fire was laid ready for lighting ; I removed
the fuel, and it was under that that I found the calcined bones.
1 also found a small quantity of tea in a box. On the Bth I
instituted a search, and, assisted by Dr. Ridge, I found these
bones produced, they were amongst the cinders, and by sifting
the cinders we separated the one from the other. I found these
umbrellas in the harness-room. On the same day, I examined
the body, it having been previously washed, I observed
on the neck, about half an inch below where her
head had been taken off, a very dark small mole—
I produce a board with the inscription " Mangling done here,"
which I received from the landlord of the house No. is, South-
street, Manchester-square.
Cross-examined.-1 have kept the knife with great care since
I first found it, and I believe it presents the same appearance as
it did then.
John Houghton examined by Mr. W. GURNEY—I am the
son of Thomas Houghton, and on the 6th April I was in Mr.
Shiells' employ. I slept in a room which was partly over the
stable and partly over the harness-room. I did not go through
the stable to get to my room. Good kept the key of the
stable. Is was always locked. On the sth April 1 rose at
half-past six. I saw the prisoner then. I perceived a smell as
is of the singing of horses. I asked the prisoner what it was ?
He replied that he hal been in liquor over-night, and had been
toasting some cheese. I heard a cracking noise, such as is
produced by a fire burning, and the prisoner said he had a fire
drying the harness. I have seen a little boy with the prisoner,
and the prisoner said he was his son. He told me that his (pri-
soner's) sister, Jane. Jones, had care of him. I have seen her
with the prisoner at Putney three times; the last time was on
Easter Monday. The prisoner did not then tell me who she
was. It was about ten o'clock in the morning when I saw her.
I did not particularly observe her dress, but fthink she wore a
blue bonnet.
Cross-examined—l have seen Susan Butcher at Putney also,
but never any other females. lam quite sure of that. I mean
to swear that I never saw any other female there with the pri-
soner. On Sunday and Monday nights, the 3d and 4th April,
I went to bed about ten o'clock and rose the following morning
about six o'clock. I was on very good terms with the prisoner.
On Monday morning I was working in the kitchen-garden.
fly the Cots RT—The room in which I sleep is partly over
the back harness-room and the stable. It was the day time
when I have seen Susan Butcher there; in the afternoon gene-
rally, neither late at night or early in the morning. Duringthe
night of Monday I heard no noise whatever.
Alfred Benjamin Allen examined by th ATTORNEY- GENE.
eta e—l am an assistant to Mr. Chas. Shillitn, of Putney. On
the 6th of April I was called to go to Mr. Shiells' stable. I saw
the trunk of a woman there and I examined it. The head had
been severed from the body by a very clean cut between
the second and third cervical vertebrae ; the arms had been
taken off as if with a hatchet or some sharp instrument. The
legs and thighs had been taken off at the great trochanter, the
flesh had been cut, and the bones had been chopped. The
bowels were all gone, and there was a longitudinal cut ex-
tending from the sternum to the pubes. The body appeared
to be in a most healthy state ; there were no symptoms of dis-
ease. I did not see the heart nor the lungs. My examination
terminated on Wednesday night. The blood-vessels were
perfectly empty. The person was not at all likely to have
' died of apoplexy, or any sudden disease. I should say the per-
son had been dead about four or five days. There was no ap-
pearance of decay about it, except a very slight smell. I saw
the axe, and examined it at the Coroner's inquest. I should
say the marks upon it were stains of blood. I examined the
calcined bones also; one of them is part of the thigh bone, or
femur, and another is part of the knee-bone. Others are por-
tions of the human skull, the sutures are plainly discernible.
I am inclined to think that the female was in a pregnant con-
dition, but I cannot speak positively. The mutilation appeared
to have taken place after death. It must have taken an im-
mense heat, almost a white heat, to have reduced the bones
to the calcined state in which they are.
Cross-examined—l think most decidedly that the marks en
the axe are those of blood.
Re-examined—There was a slight appearance of blood on
the knife, but not very much.
Cross-examination resumed—l should not like to swear that
the marks on the knife are those of blood. The inspector took
ppssession of the axe on Thursday, and showed it to me on Fri-
day. It appears to me that some of the marks on the axe,
then, have since been erased. I should think that the marks
which 1 saw might have been visible at night by the aid of a
policeman's lamp. The marks on the thigh-bones were pro-
bably produced by such an instrument as as axe. The trunk
was that of a full-grown female.
By the COURT—I should say that she was of a rather fair
complexion, and was upwards of thirty years of age. I should
think she was a middle-aged, well enade, plump person. The
bosom was full, and I should think, from the breasts, that she
had not borne a child. I judge from the general appear-
ance that she had been dead between four and five days. The
rigidity was gone, and the placidity had returned.
Dr. Ridge examined—l am a surgeon, residing at Putney.
I was called in to examine the trunk of a female. There were
no marks of disease about it. I should think the person had
been dead about three or four days from the time I first saw
it, which was on the Thursday. The mutilation took place
after death, I have no doubt. The heart was in a very healthy
condition, but it was perfectly devoid of blood, as were all the
cavities leading to it. The veins were perfectly empty. The
lungs were very much collapsed ; there was neither blood nor
air in them. The person had certainly not died of apoplexy,
and I should think not by any sudden disease. I should think
the person had died from violence, from the sudden loss
while in health, with the muscular unctions in full operation,
of blood, occasioned by the incision of some large artery or
vein. I have examined the calcined bones ; they are those of
a human person. This is the lower part of the thigh-bone, where
it articulates with the knee-joint. This is a portion of the
human skull; it must have been reduced to its present state
by the action of fire. I should think the stove in the harness-
room was quite eapable of producing sufficient heat. I should
think that the deceased was four or five months gone in preg-
nancy.. I judge from the appearance of the breasts. I per-
ceived a smell about the knife produced, such as appertains to
our dissecting knives. I found a piece of flannel in the handle
of the knife, which had been saturated with blood.
Mr. Tatham, examined by the ATTORNEY.GENERRL—I
am a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. I am one of
the assistant-surgeons of St. George's Hospital. I have heard
the statements made by the last witnesses, and I concur in
them. I should think that the incisions were made about an
hour or two after death. This is, no doubt, a portion of the
human skull; this is decidedly the lower portion of the femur;
this is a portion of the tibia ; and this I think is a portion of
the arm. The blood in a body generally begins to stagnate
almost immediately after death. Sometimes the blood does
not coagulate at all after death. The appearances which the
medical gentlemen have described is not consistent with death
from apoplexy. In that case the body would not have been
so devoid of blood.
Cross-examined—l am of opinion that the loss of blood was
caused by an incision of some of the great arteries. lam aware
that a blood-vessel may burst, and death be the result. I have
known such a case.
By the COURT—AII the bones I have seen produced might
have belonged to one person.
Philip MeMurdoch, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
—I am surgeon to her Majesty's gaol of Newgate. I have seen
the bones, and I should say that they belonged to a female.
There is a piece of the skull, and the fragments of the arm
and leg bones. There are no bones belonging to the
trunk. There are not more bones here than are to be found in
the arms, legs and skull of one person. From the evidence I
have heard, I should say that the person had not died of apo-
plexy. By examining the body, I should have been able to
tell whether the incisions bad been made before or after death.
I might also judge from the breasts whether she was pregnant.
By the Coy RT—Aneurism would notproduce collapse of the
lungs.
Jane Brown, examined by Mr. ADOLPHUS—I live at IS,
South-street, Manchester-square, and am a green-grocer. I
let part of my house out in lodgings, and let a lodging to a
woman named Jane Jones, who afterwards went by the name
of Goo 3. That was three years ago last October. I last saw
that woman on the 3d of April; she wasrather a plump woman,
11 and of a rather dark eomplexion. I have seen the prisoner,
Daniel Good, come to see her ; and a little boy, named
Daniel Goo 3, who lived with her. I have been told
by the prisoner that the mother of the boy had
been dead a year and a half. When Jane Good left my house
on the 3d April, she was dressed in a dark mingled cotton
gown, a shawl with flowers on a black ground and a blue
bonnet. It was between three or four o'clock in the afternoon
when she left my house. The little boy had gone to school
about two o'clock. I did not see him any more on that day.
When Jane Jones first came to lodge with me she 'had a board
put up with "mangling done here" on it. She was not in
the habit of sleeping from home ; she never did- so. but
once, and that was on Easter Monday. On Monday the 4th
of April,: the prisoner came to my house, and asked if he
could have the room three weeks longer, in order to dispose of
the mangle, and remove the bed and other articles; he said
Mrs. Good would not return, as she was going into service, to
take care of agentleman's lodge, about four miles from the place
where he was living. The prisoner came again on Tuesday
night, about ten o'clock. He had a latch-key' with him,
and he let himself in ; he said he had come to- town
with the family, who had gone to a ball. I asked him hoW
Mrs. Good was, and he replied that he had not seen her that
day. He came again on the Wednesday night, after I had gone
to bed, I heard him, but did not sec him. The bonnet, shawl,.
and dress produced are those which Jane Jones wore on the
day she left my house. The boots also are these which she