The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-31 00:00:00

YESTERDAY'S CROWN COURT.

His Lordship took his seat on the bench at ten o'clock.
MURDER AT NEWTON HEATH.
Nathaniel Currie, (31,) stood charged with having, at Newton
eath, about two miles from, Manchester, wilfully murdered

Anne Ellison by throwing her into a canal. The case appeared
to excite considerable interest, the court being filled at an early
hour.

Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, assisted by Messrs. Monk and Sowler,
conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr.
Joseph Pollock. • . .
-
Mr. Wilkins gave a continuous narrative of the circumstances
which are detailed in the evidence of the following witnesses :

Benjamin Booth, a surveyor, of Manchester, produced plans
of the ground where the occurrence took place ; they were
handed to the jury for inspection.

She was a big pieces of Murray's
„ and prisoner was a strecher at the same place. De-
ceased was a teacher at a Sunday School, and was a regular
and good girl. Was not aware that she had any follower. On
Wednesday, the 10th December, she returned from her work a
little after seven, and she seemed lively, and in her usual
spirits. She went out about seven o'clock, saying she was
going to see Jane Pilling. Went to bed about ten, and was
called up about ten by his wife, who stated that deceased had
not come in. Witness went to various places in Manchester,
and continued walking about until four in the morning, and
about five saw the prisoner, and asked him if he knew anything
about Ann, as she had not been home all night. He said
he had been at the new Trades' Hall, and could not get in,
and he appeared confused and agitated. The factory bell
rang and he went away. In the course of the morning
he sent his dauzliter Mary to make inquiry about Ann.

years of age in October last

Did not tell her to say anything about Ann being
drowned, as they did not know anything about it. About nine
o'clock, gave information to the police, and during the fore-
noon received information that a body had been found in the
canal. Went to the Three Crowns, and found the body of his
daughter. On getting back, found the prisoner's wife, and she
said something about the occurrence which had taken place.
He then went out, and in the evening, when he got home, after
making arrangements as to the body of the deceased, saw the
prisoner, and owing to what had been said by the prisoner's
wife, told him he was the villain that had destroyed his daugh-
ter, and threatened to tura him out of the house. He after-
wards went away. The body was buried in the Ardwick ceme-
tery, but was afterwards exhumed, and a post ',torten: exami-
nation made by the surgeons. . _

Jane Pilling lived in Kennedy-street, Ancoats, and was a jack
tenter at Murray's mill. Knew the deceased, and gave evi-
dence to the effect that she had made no appointment on the
10th of December.

Cross-examined by Mr. Pollock.—Had not observed any dif-
ference in the demeanour of the deceased immediately before
the time of her body being found in the canal.

Mr. Darby called.—Worked at Murray's mill, and knew
both prisoner and deceased. On the 10th of December saw
them in Elizabeth-street, near Shaw's factory, about a quarter
to eight in the evening. He appeared to be enticing her to go
somewhere with him, and she did not wish, but she afterwards
went with him in the direction of Butler-street. He next
morning heard of the drowning when he got to the factory, and
mentioned what he had seen the preceding evening.

Cross-examined by Mr. PoLLoCx—Dienot come forward to
give evidence at the time, as he was only made acquainted
with the fact of the inquest being held when it was over.
Br Mr. Sergeant WILKINS—Saw their faces distinctly whe
they went towards Butter-street.

Abraham Lame, who lived in Jarvis-street, Manchester? stated
that he worked at Murray's mill, and knew the prisoner and
deceased. Heard of the deceased being found in the Canal the
morning after the occurrence. It was his business to clean the
mill gears, and about six weeks before the deceased was drowned,
he saw the prisoner and deceased in the room by themselves,
when the hands had gone to dinner, and the prisoner was
fastening her dress. _ .