The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-11 00:00:00

GUILDHALL

Sarah Shannon, one of the lower order of prosti-
tutes, about 35 years of age, was brought before Mr.
Alderman ANSLEY yesterday, on suspicion of having
murdered a man unknown, about ten years ago, in
White Hart-yard, Drury-lane; and Mary Holiday
was charged with concealing the facts after they came
to her knowledge.
Sarah Brown, an elderly charwoman, who resides
at No. 12, Field-lane, Holborn, deposed that about
12 months ago the prisoner Sarah, who had lodged
with her for three years, observed one day that she
was very low spirited, as something pressed on her
mind. Witness told her if she disclosed it to her,
she would be easier : but she refused to do so. Wit-
ness then recommended her to tell her sister, and
she at first said she would not; but she afterwards
went to her, and made a confession. Witness saw
the sister subsequently, and learnt that Sarah had
admitted she had been guilty of murder. Witness
then talked to Sarah about it, and intimated that
she understood the nature of her secret, and asked
her if it was true. She replied it was; but it being
night, witness declined hearing any. thing more about
it then. As soon as they awoke next morning the
subject was resumed. The prisoner had been on the
town since she was 10 years of age, and one man
visited her once a week for nearly seven years. He
came regularly on Saturday mornings, and used to
give her from 7s. to Os. Once h came to her
lodging in White Hart-yard on a Saturday night,
and he explained the delay by saying he had been de-
tained at the India-house in the morning. As
usual, he handed her his compliment soon after he
entered the room, in doing which he exposed
his red pocket-book, which she observed con-
tained some bank-notes, and the sight of these ex-
cited her to murder him. She pressed him to un-
dress himself, and remain with her, and he yielded,
and while he was sleeping she rammed a rag into
his mouth, and choked him. Witness asked if that
killed him. Prisoner said no, but she immediately
bound him do‘Nri upon the bed, and forced a knife
through his heart. Witness remarked that this
must have caused much bleeding, but prisoner said
it did not ; she took care of that. Witness asked
how she disposed of the body. She replied, that
she buried it in the back cellar, in a hole which she
dug near a water-butt. Witness asked how she ma-
naged to get the corpse down stairs without exciting
observation. Prisoner said nobody helped her, and
she did not throw or drag the body down, but she
carried it in her arms, placing one arm under the
shoulders, and getting a good hold of the lower part
of the body, by gathering the shirt tight about the
thighs. She described the hole as about two feet
across each way, and the body was put in doubled
up with the head between the legs. The man was
above the rank of a labourer, but she did not
mention his name or calling; he was short arid
stout, and about .30 years of age. Prisoner was
disappointed as to the amount of the notes, there
being only four for 51. each, which she got a
woman to change for her. Witness asked if she
went to bed after disposing of the body, and the
prisoner said she did not, having quite enough
to do to bury the corpse, and wash the blood
off the clothes and floor afterwards. Prisoner
lived in a three-pair back room at the time, now
about ten years ago. It was not a company.house,
but the lodgers were generally prostitutes. Wit-
ness remembered that about 15 months ago the

The witness said that all she had stated was true,
upon her oath; and she was sure the body would
be found, if the dicers would accompany her to the
house, which she could point out, though she did
not know thd number of it.
After some consideration, Mr. Alderman ANSLEY
directed Corby, who had apprehended the prisoners,
to go to the house with her and search the cellar,
and he discharged Mary Halliday, and remanded the
other prisoner.
The officeer proceeded to the place, and partially
dug up the cellar; but a part of it had been, paved
since the house was taken by the present landlord,
nine years ago, and these stones were not disturbed.
No trace of the body was found.