Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1873-09-18 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ITHE INQUEST.—VEBDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. On Tuesday the inquest took place on the body of Martha Addison, who was kited by Charles Dawson, • with whom she cohabited, late on Saturday night as above reported. Great interest has been exhibited in ascertaining the details of this terrible affair, and large numbers of people gathered during Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, in the neighbourhood where the murder was committed. The deceased woman bore a very good rerutation for industry, and kept the house of the prisoner, it is stated, in a very cleanly state. She made gingerbeer, which she sold to the ironworkers engaged nearly opposite where she lived, receiving pay for the same when the men took their wages. As already stated, Dawson was one of a gang of poachers, and though an ironworker, but irregularly followed that occupation. He does not appear to have been a man of drunken habits, but often Mused the unfortunate woman who had thrown in her lot with his. She appears to have been living with Dawson for two or three years, and was originally a native of Barnard Castle, where his father was-for many years boots at the King's Head Ile now livei at Bishop Auckland. The prisoner has - a wife, who is living at Stockton. Since he has been under arrest for this awful crime, she has several times called at the police office and shown great interest in him. The prisoner has been at times greatly affected since his incarceration, and has, we understand, eaten little or nothing, and presented a dejected appearance in court. The prisoner is a small man, but well knit, and has a determined looking aspect. Early on Tuesday morning the prisoner was taken before the magistrates, and a' short statement made sufficient for a remand, the prisoner remarking that the statements of the witnesses were untrue. The prisoner was then taken in a cab to the place where the inquest was held, the Allen Arms, at Albert Hill. In passing through the neighbourhood where the murder was committed, the prisoner was received with howls of execration on the part of the crowd which had gathered in the vicinity. Mr Dean, deputy-coroner, officiated. The first witness Galled was William Addison, labourer, of Bisbop Auckland, who identified the deceased as his daughter, who was 25 years of age. Nacho' Newton, a Widow, stated that deceased and Dawson called at her house, and she noticed that the latter was worse for drink about seven o'clock. The deoetioed and Dawson quarrelled in her house about eight o'clock, when Dawson struck deceased with the palm of his hand on the side of the head, but she did not return the blow. He did not hurt her. Dawson returned about ten o'clock, and deceased was gone, upon which he remarked, "If I light on her, I'll mike her that she'll not run away again." Thomas Mullen, underhand puddler, deposed: I lodge with Charles Dawson, in Cleveland-street. Three of us stayed in his house as lodgers. We all left the house together on Saturday evening. They bought some ale, which Dawson partook of, but not deceased. Dawson did not seem to be any the worse for liquor. He subsequently went to look for deceased with Dawson. They were unsuccessful, but eventually met her at the railway crossing at Albert Hill. Dawson strupk her behind the ear with his fist, and knocked her down. He lifted her up by the arm. She cried, but did not say anything. She hadziven bim no nrovocation. When they got in their use, near at hand, prisoner looked the door and put the key in his pocket. He then took off his coat and waistcoat and threw them on the bed, and lit the candle. Dawoon had a revolver in his hand. He said to witness that if he made any alarm, or spoke of what be saw him do, he would put the contents of the revolver into him. Prisoner then struck deceased on the head with a bottle, which caused her to fall on her back. He then threw the bottle at her which