Glasgow Courier. — 1862-09-18 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE SANDYFORD MURDER.  WEDI`TEADAY,  The trial of Mrs Jessie M'lntosh or M'Lachlan, for the Murder of Jessia M'Pherson Richardson on the 4th or sth of July last, within the house of Mr John Flenl, ing, accountant, 17, Sandyford Place, was proceeded with this morning, at ten o'clock, before Lord Deas. The excitement which prevailed in Glasgow at the time of this mysterious murder was re-awakened by the approach oi the trial, and was in no degree abated by the uncertainty whether it would proceed beyond the initial stage of the mere reading of the indictment at the present court, in consequence of the objections which were expected to be urged by the counsel conducting the prigoner's defence. The prisoner was brought from the North Prison shortly after eight o'clock, by which time a considerable number of spectators had assembled outside the Court Buildings, and the Court was densely filled before the hour at which the Court was to sit. Lord DRAB having taken his seat, the case was called, and the prisoner placed at the bar. She entered the dock with a quick step; but she was very pale, and evidently slighly agitated. She wore a straw bonnet, trimmed with white ribbon, interwoven with black lace ; a lilac merino gown, and a light black shawl. Mr Adam Gifford, Advocate-Depute, assist,d by Mr Andrew Mure, advocate, conducted the prosecution; Mr Andrew Murray, W.S., Crown agent, was present. The defence was conducted by Andrew Rutherford Clark, Robt. Maclean, and Adam Bannatyne, Esqs., advocates; and her agents were Mr 3. A. Dixon, Mr Strachan, and Mr W. M. Wilson, writers, Glasgow. No objection was taken to the relevancy of the indictment. The prisoner having been required to say whether she was guilty or not guilty of the murder of Jessie bi'Pherson Richardson, or of the theft, she replied in a firm voicn. Not guilty, my Lord." The jury was then  pretty t•ng,  empannelled. A special defence was put in to the effect that the prisoner was not guilty of the crime, and that the murder was committed by the elder Mr Fleming. Alexander Stmthern, Sheriff-Substitute of Lanarkshire, and John Gemmill and Wm. Hart, ProcuratorFiscals, were severally examined. After which Mr John Fleming deponed as follows :—I reside in Sandyford Place, Glasgow. It is a self-contained house, No. 17. There is a ground flat, street flat, and a flat above. The sunk flat is reached by half a dozen of steps from the pavement. In July last part of my family was residing at Dunoon. 1 was generally out of town at Dunoon, from the Friday to the Monday afternoon. I was in town on Friday the 4th of July. I left my house at Sandyford Place on that Friday morning about 10 o'clock. and went to my counting-house at St. Vincent Place. 1 attended business during the day, and left town during the afternoon, without going to my house at Sandyford Place. I left my father, James Fleming, and the servant at Sandyford Place in the morning. The servant's name whom I left in the house was Jessie M`Pherson, deceased. I never knew her by the name of Richardson until after her decease. The only two persons to the best of my knowledge whom I left in the house on Friday morning were, as I have said, my father andthe servant. The other members of my family were at -Tay cottage at Dunoon. I had two servants at Dunoon. They were never in town with me as servants. My sister Margaret was at Dunoon. My son John was in town that day. He left the house with me on the Friday morning. He lived with me at Dunoon, and sometimes went down with me in the evening, and returned in the morning. When he went with me on the Friday he returned to town with me on the Monday morning. He was in the counting-house during the day on Friday, 4th July, and went down to Dunoon in the afternoon. He dicl not go in the same train with me. He remained at Dunoon with me till the Monday morning. He left Dunoon by an earlier train than me. Jessie M`Pherson had charge of my house. She was with me some considerable time, and left three years ago. She commenced business in the small grocery line; I think in the neighbourhood of Partick R,d, near Finnieston. By the