Glasgow Courier. — 1858-05-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

LORD JUSTICE-CLERK.) ALLEOED MURDER IN TONTINE CLOSE.  Mary M`Lachlan, Margaret M'Kay, and Margaret Cook or Brown, were indicted for the murder of Jame. Johnston, on the sth Dee., 1857; and likewise for rob bery.  The prisoners pleaded not guilty.  . _ Counsel for the prisonera—Mesare Kinnear and Paterson for M'Lachlan, Mr Dunn Pattiion for M'Kay, and John Burnet for Cook or Brown.  The case for the Crown was conducted by Mr Millar, Advocate-Depute. A jury having been sworn, the hearing of evidence was proceeded with. After the examination of Mr Wm. Kyle, surveyor, who described the construction of the building where the alleged murder took place, and other witnesses, who spoke to the deceased meeting with the panels, Isabella Campbell sworn, deponed—l live in a house in a close that enters from High Street, and faces the Tontine Close. My house is the first story up stairs. Mary M'Lachlan came into my house on a Saturday evening in the beginning of December, between eight and nine o'clock, and a man with her. The man was a little the worse of liquor. He sat at the fire. Mary M'Lachlan asked him if he was going to treat me. He said yes, and gave me a shilling, telling me to bring the worth of it. I went out and came back with a gin of whisky in rather more than five minutes. When I came bank the man was sitting at the fire, and Mary standing before him, very close to him. Her hands were near his pocket, as If she was feeling for money. He took a glass of the whisky. Mary took half a glass, and the rest was for me. After the whisky was drunk I went into the other room to lift my child, While I was there, he told her to stand back. Mary stood back, and told him she was only making fun. I then went to see what they were at. He stood up and struck her with the chair on the head. She said he had cut her with the chair. I told her to go for the police, bat she refused. Then I told her to let the man out, and she refused too. She opened the door then and called Margaret 111. Kay, who lived up the stair. The answer was made that MRsy was not _  in. Mary then called for a girl named Collin-, and the answer was that she was not in. (Identifies 111'1ay.) After a little while Margaret M'Key came up the stair. She asked Mary M`Lachlan what was wrong with her? Mary was then standing at my door. Mary said, 'See what that old luffy has done—he has cut my head with the chair,' and with that the man rose to go out, *stooding his arms as if to clear a passage between the two. M'Kay and Nl'Lachlan put their shoulders to the door to prevent him going out. He got out on the stairhead. I heard a scuffle. I did not see whether they ; had is hold of him. At this time I was sittmg at the fire-side with the child. I heard the clash of a man falling at the foot of the stair. She went out again. I went out after a time. The man was then lying on his back at the foot ot the stair with his feet towards the foot of the stair, and his head outwards. I saw Cook or Brown come forward and give him two kicks on his head or his face. MLachlan told her to stop. I went in to my own house after that. M'Lachlan did not return till she got her head washed, for it was bleeding, and there was the space of my hand of blood from her head on the floor of my house. When I looked down the stair knew M'Kay and MLachlan. Isabella Brown, a little girl nearly 13 years of age, sworn, deponed—l reside in the same tenement u Isabella Campbell, and in the same flat. Her house is at one end of the passage and mine at the other. The stair comes up between. I heard a great deal of noise in her house on the evening in question. I went to our door. The noise was coming from Isabella Campbell's door. I heard the voice of Mary M'Lachlan greeting, and cursing and swearing. Mary finaehlan came out after a little time, and cried on Margaret M'Kay. Margaret NVKay came up stairs in about ten minutes after, and went into Isabella Campbell's house. Miliay and M•Lachlan drew the 'nen out of the house. By the