The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-11-01 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE FIRST DAY.  The prisoners were brought up on Tuesday morning, the Judge taking his seat at ten o'clock. The male prisoner, in answer to the eharge, pleaded "Not Guilty," and maintained throughout a defiant demeanour. He was described in the calendar as a publican, and of impeifect education, and Catherine Barnes (28), his wife, was described as well educated. Both were charged with the wilful murder of three children, named Alice, Mabel, and Florence, at Tranmere, in September last. . _ _  . . Mr. Maointyre, Q.C., Mr. Swetenham, and the Hon. R. C. Grosvenor (instructed by Mr. B. B. Moore, Birkenhead), conducted the prosecution. Mr. Marshall defended the prisoners. The court was crowded as soon as the doors were opened, ant a large number of ladies were present. The female, who was weeping, mildly pleaded 'Not guilty.* After the jury were sworn he was accommodated with a seat. She buried her face in her handkerchief, and sobbed violently. She next apparently swooned, but soon recovered. After this she seemed more composed, and during the rest of the day listened attentively to the evidence. The male prisoner was also accommodated with a seat. Mr. Mclntyre, having opened the case Evidence was given at considerable length whlob directly bore out the facts in the counsel's opening statement, and which has already been given in these columns. The female prisoner, who was from the first accommodated with a seat, gave way to bursts of weeping during Mr. Mclntyre's speech; and when the first witness, Mrs. Moreton, a neighbour, was called, she swooned away, but was soon brought back to sensibility. She is a woman of middle size, and not ill-looking. The male prisoner is a tall man, of military appearance, and his farts expresses great determination. The judge directed him to remain standing for some time after the ease had been opened, but ultimately he was given a seat. He maintained throughout the day an appearance of indifference and self-possession quite in contrast to his wife's behaviour, and frequently wrote on pieces of paper, tarnished him by the gaol officials, information for the guidance of his counsel. . .  The list Of witnesses examined included Louisa Barnes, or, as her proper name is, Maria Louisa Waller, 13 years of age, who was brought up by the prisoners as their own daughter. She spoke to the accommodation provided by the prisoners for sleeping, saying that she, the two boys, and the babies, as a rule, slept on the mattress, and had blankets and covering over them. M's. Barnes used to feed the babies with bread and milk several times a day, and sometimes in the middle of the night. There used to be good food provided in the prisoners' house; and she had had bread, potatoes, and meat. They used to get bread from the bakers and sometimes from the Convent, and they had a quantity of milk daily. The babies used to get milk from a bottle. She fed the children herself the day the police came to the house. Used to take the children out with her mother in the fields by the Waterworks. The Court rose shortly before six o'clock. THE SECOND Ders