The Sun. — 1847-10-14 (London, England)

THE BIRMINGHAM MURDER  BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—This afternoon an inquest was held at the Woolpack Inn, Moor-street, on the body of Mary Davies, who was murdered by her husband the previous day in the same street. Dr. Birt Davies, the borough coroner, presided, and a respectable jury having been empanelled, the prisoner was introduced, in custody, into the jury-room. He appeared to be perfectly calm and collected, and throughout the inquiry did not betray the slightest emotion. The CORONER, after the jury had had a view of the body, proceeded to call the following witnesses : Eliza Yarnell, of Mount-street, Bordesley—The name of deceased was Mary Davies. Witness, by working for her, had known her for eighteen months. The deceased was wife of Matthew Davies, and also kept the Prince of Wales, in Moor-street. She was about forty-three or forty-four years of age, and had three children living. 'Witness was at the house of deceased yesterday, and proceeded to peel some potatoes in the back kitchen. 'When she went in Mrs. Davies and the little girl Sarah Davies were in the back-kitchen. Mrs. Davies, the deceased, came in, and she heard the prisoner ask the deceased, while they were peeling potatoes, not to appear against him at the public office. Tho deceased at that time was washing herself. Deceased had previously been making pies and Yorkshire puddings. The prisoner said, "Don't go, Mary—such d—d nonsense—its no use going—I'll be tidy." He alluded to going before the magistrates, in consequence of a summons issued on Friday. The deceased replied, "If God spares me, I will go." He still continued to ask her not to go—his supplications were frequently repeated. The prisoner might have peeled six or seven potatoes during the time. The prisoner during this time steeled his knife five or six times on the steelyard. After her refusal to abandon her appearance before the magistrates, the prisoner put his arm over the left shoulder of deceased, and witness thought he was going to kiss her. She had seen him kiss her under such circumstances and in such a manner before. He said more than once, in reference to going before the magistrates, " Mary, don't go." She replied, "If God spares me, I will go." At last he said, " D—n your eyes, you shan't go," and immediately afterwards .witness saw a gush of blood upon her throat. It appeared to come from the right side. Was sure deceased did not do it herself. The deceased was stooping at the time. -Witness felt sure that the act was the act of Matthew Davies. There did not appear to be any struggle at the moment. Witness then gave the alarm of " Murder !" and the deceased for three or four yards followed her down the yard. After her (witness's) return from the eutry, where she gave the alarm, she saw deceased in the gutter, close to the door of the back-yard. 'Witness subsequently saw a wound in the throat of the deceased. Many people then gathered together in front of the house, and a surgeon was soon on the spot. Mr. Macpherson was that gentleman. From the time witness saw the blood first issue to the time of the death of the deceased was about fire minutes. The prisoner, after the murder of deceased, placed his hands in his pockets, and turned his back to the fire. He did not say anything, nor did witness observe in his manner any peculiarity of any kind. Never saw any slapping in the face or any provocation given by the deceased to the prisoner in her presence. [Witness here identified the knife with which the murder was committed.] The deceased said to the prisoner, who was urging her not to go before the magistrates, "Go off with you, or I'll knock you on the face." She did not offer, however, to do so. The deceased was "as sober as a judge." The prisoner, she understood, had been drunk over night, and she saw him go down the cellar that morning. She appeared to be sober. Had lately seen him often intoxicated ; since last May she had seen him frequently so. By a juror—l do not know where the knife was found. Never saw the prisoner violent except under the influence of liquor. Yesterday morning, before he committed the act, he was as calm as you are. By the