The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-05
The Acqulttal Of Amclla' Norman for IN
| Attempt the Person OF Henry .. Bal

The Aeqaittai OF Amelia, Norman Cor an
lard.
| Having lately seen number of articles in the
public papers commenting upon the trial and ac-
quIttal of the above female, and also suggesting
that laws should be made, &c. NC, l was induced
| to investigate the matter for my own information,
and now enclose TO you the result OF my research.
In the first place. n have ina. the
last fifty years no less than IL cases OF precisely
similar nature in which the accused were Sac
Quilted" In Scotland, 8, in the same period. In
| iceland, I; and in France and Germany, 4-the
majority Germany-all with the like results. Now,
these trials and acquittals excited no animadver-
sion there, for the simple reason that they in
accordance with the spirit of the law. But because
exctements are got up here, and judges will rule
testimony, the public mind Is reused to phrenZy,
| for it can be called nothing else, and we are
told that the woman ought to be found guilty."
"lhat we are all encouraging crime" and fudge
of that description. "Amelia Norman" was justly
acquitted, and now subjoin out Of the many cases
above alluded to, one IN point. II was the case OF
ton, in 1885, tried before the Chief Baron, &c. &c.
''Miss Ann Broadric was a young lady of con-
siderable abilities fine figure, land much admired
oap Mr. dores his
| former wife for her adultery, he addressed Miss
Broadrc, and lived with her nearly three years,
with every appearance OF comfort. MI. f. however,
saw another beautiful object, possessed OF large
fortune, whom he transferred his affections, and
after a liule time, gave her his hand, On his mar
rage he settled what he deemed suitable provision
Miss Broadrc; stated to her explicitly the varla,
ton of his sentiments, and added that he could
never see her more.
After the first agonies of her grief Miss Broadric
repeatedly requested meeting, The desired in
tervew refused, but she still persisted by let
tiers to move HIM to grant her this last request, but
finding him memorable, she wrote to him, " that
it nothing could induce him to do her this act Of
common justice, he must prepare himself Tor the
fatal alternative, as she was determined that he
should not long survive his infidelity!"
After laps" OF month, receiving no answer
Friday morning, May 18th, went to the Three
Nuns in Whitechapel, and took apace in the South
end coach, which passed very near MIR. Els house
at Gray's. She got out at the avenue gate, and in
her way recognized by Mr.. e., who told his
wife that that tormenting woman, Broadric, was
coming, but that he should soon get rid of her If
she, Mrs. E., would retire few minutes. Mrs
E., however, did not consent to this, but prevailed
upon her husband to go up stairs into the drawing
room, and leave the Interview TO her management
Miss b. being shown into the house, asked for Mr.
E. but was told by Mrs. E. that he was not at
home. 81 am not 10 be so satisfied, Madam" re-
piled Miss b., "1know the ways Of this house, I'M
fortunately too well, and therefore, with youre leave
I searchfor him % On this she rushed INTO the
ana i,nang him ' mere sns Drew
and presenting it at his left side. directed to his
heart, exclaimed, 81 am come Errington
20 perform my dreadful promisev,, and instantly
she said, "Good God, !! fear / have. not de-
spatched you! but come, deliver me into the hands
of justicep Mrs. E: burst into the room, and see
ing her husband bleeding, tainted away Mr. F. now
ever deserved this at her hands, after the care he
had taken to settle her so comfortably in the
world .! She gave no other answer than melan-
choy shake OF the head.
Mr.. Button, magistrate. came, who took the
examination of Mr.. E. after his wound was
dressed. He asked Miss Brodric what could induce
her to commit such an act Of extreme violence 3
Her answer was, that she was determined that
neither Mr.. Z. nor herself should long outive her
lost peace Of mind. Mr.. E. entreated of the magis-
trate not to detain her in custody, but to let her
quest Miss B ''retused to accept" or the magis-
trate to grant. Mr. E. died next day, and the Cor
oners inquest sat on the body onTuesday, the 18th
of May, and brought in their verdict, "WiIful muir
der by the hands Of Ann Brodric."
On Friday, July 18th, Ann Brodric was conveyed
10 the Shire-hall. she conducted into the bail
dock IN the criminal court, attended by three char.
table ladies' and her apothecary. She was dressed
in mourning, without powder; and after her first
perturbatons were over, occasioned by the con-
course of surrounding spectators she sat down on
a chair prepared for her, and was itoerably CON-
posed, except at intervals, when she evinced vio-
lent agitation When the Indictment was reading,
she paid marked attention to it and on the words,
shat on the right breast of the said G. Errngton,
she did wfully and feloniously nfiict one mortal
wound" &c, she exclaimed, "Oh, my great God"
and burst into torrent OF tears.
The prosecution for the crown was opened by
Mr. Garrow, who demonstrated the painful execu-
ton of his office by the humane and affecting exor-
dunn with which he addressed the jury, preparatory
to the statement ofthe evidence he was instructed
to adduce and he proved the offence, &C. &c. on
behalf of the Crown.
The "Lord Chief Baron" before he summed up
the evidence, called the attention of the jury to the
particular plea of insanity produced by the seduc-
lion of the prisoner by deceased on which the de-
fence of the prisoner had been rested, no denial
had been set up against the preparation of the
deed Of which, indeed, there had been given the
fullest md clearest evidence, and of the seduction
also The law certainly required that the will should
accompany the act to constitute felonious muir
der. The defence, in the present case, was that
the prisoner was incapable of lending her will 10
the perpetration of the crime with which she stood
charged On the whole, if the jury thought the la
tent seeds of arrangement, after a convulsive
struggle, lad been called forth this horrible
casion, SO as to overwhelm the of the unhap
py prisoner, they were bound in conscience to ac
quit her. If, on the other hand they believed that
il Was the preparatory pangs OF mind intent on
gratifying its revenge by the death of its object,
they must find her guilty; but they scarcely need
be told that, should doubt remain their minds,
common charity required that the balance should
turn in the prisoners f.vor.
The Jury consulted about two minutes, and then
gave their verdict, 'Not Guilty"