The Sun. — 1864-03-24 (London, England)

MURDER.  Thomas Watkins was indicted 'for wilfully, and of malice aforethought, killing and murdering Mary Ann W ttkins, his wife, at liennor, near L2ominstar, in this county, on the 18th of January last. Mr. Cooke and Mr. Matthews conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Wighiman defended the prisoner. When the prisoner was arraigned yesterday he pleaded guilty-, but by his lordship's advice he afterwards withdrew the plea, and the trial was fixed for this morning. The trial occupied most of the day, but the facts, as elicited in evidence, lie in narrow compass. It appeared that the prisoner had led a dissolute life, and had separated from his wife, who earned a living by going out washing and ironing. The deceased lived with a cottager named Smith, and some time before the murder rue prisoner had sand to Smith that he "should like to be the death of his wife and of one or two others." The deceased, too, was afraid of being out at night in consequence of the threats that her husband had used towards her. On Monday, the 18th of January, the deceased went to do a day's washing at the house of James Lane at Ilennor, end left Lane's house to go home at about six o'clock in the evening. When she left Lane's she said she did not much like going home by herself for fear of meeting her husband. The poor creature never reached her home that night, but between 10 and 11 o'clock, as a witness, named David Lipscombe, was passing through an orchard on his way home, a short distance from Lane's house, he heard groans proceeding from the other side of hedge. He got through a fence, and following the direction of the sound soon came up with the poor woman, whom he found lying on the ground in a pool of blood which had flowed from several frightful cuts in her head. Lipsconabe placed the woman in a position in which she could breathe more freely, and having obtained assistance, she was carried to the union workhouse, where she died. Next morning at daylight an examination was made of the locality of the murder, and traces were found of a person wearing clogs of a peculiar make. The prisoner was suspected of being concerned in the murder, and it was ascertained that he had been in the neighbourhood on the evening of the murder. Between five and six o'clock he called at a house about a mile and a half from Lane's, and about nine he was at another house about a quarter of a mile from where the murder was committed. He then wore clogs, and said he was going to Smith's to askshis wife to go and live with him. As he left he said, " Good night; perhaps I shall never see you again." A day or two afterwards the prisoner was apprehended, and, being charged with the murder, answered, " Well, I did not do it." A number of witnesses were examined to prove the above facts. it was shown that on the night of the murder the prisoner caned at several colages distant from halt a mile to two miles from Hennor, with no apparent object. He talked of his wife's conduct, and said she had been unfaithful ta uim during his absence, he having been for fotir years  away, having enli3ted es a marine. About Christmas he deserted, and came down to the neighbourhood of Leominster. For the &fence it was contended thrt the act was only one of manslaughter. His lordship summed up with great care and minuteness, and The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of guilty amidst a deep silence. His lordship then passed the awful sentence of death in the usual manner.  The court was crowded all day, and the prisoner bore the trial with great fortitude.