The Sun. — 1863-03-28 (London, England)

CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin.) Levi Taylor, a youth of 18, was indicted for the murder of his wife, Mary Ann Taylor, on the 31st January last, in Manchester. Mr. Sowler, who opened the case for the prosecution, said that this was one of the most melancholy cases of murder which had ever been brought before the notice of a jury; but if he proved the facts laid down in his instructions there could be no doubt as to the conclusion which the jury would form. It was the case of a young man of 18, who up to a particular day had lived reputably and comfortably with his mother at Failsworth, but who one Saturday afternoon in October last left that place to spend his half holiday in Manchester. There he met with the deceased, an abandoned woman, who persuaded him to go with her. He did so, and unhappily fell in love with her. His friends remonstrated with him several times, but in spite of their remonstrances after the lapse of a few weeks he married the girl, and took her home. He hoped, no doubt, to induce her to abandon her evil courses, but after staying for a short time with her husband at Failsworth, she deserted him, went back to Manchester, and resorted to her old haunts. Taylor followed her from time to time, and did all he could to reclaim her, but unfortunately her moral character was too far gone. On the 27th January the deceased entered the service of a person named Schofield, who kept a part beerhouse and a part disorderly house, called the Jolly Hatters, in Shude-hill, Manchester. The prisoner discovered this, and followed his wife to Schofield's, where he saw her on the 28th, on the 29th, on the 30th, and finally on the 31st. Shortly after 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 31st, the deceased, the prisoner, and several other persons were assembled in the tap-room. Taylor asked a female friend of the deceased, who was present, to play on the organ. This led to drink being called for, and some little dispute took place between the deceased and the prisoner in consequence of his not ordering any liquor fot her. After this he did. Subsequently Taylor said he must go by a train at half-past four, and he asked hie wife to leave the room and go upstairs with him for the purpose of taking leave. When they got up stairs the prisoner induced the deceased to lie down on one of the beds, and she had scarcely done so when he put his hand under her chin, and taking out a knife which he had ready in his pocket, he cut her throat, As soon as this was done she managed to get off the bed and out of the room. She went down stairs, and into a room where the landlord was lying upon a sofa. She tried to speak, but could not do so. About the same time the prisoner presented himself to the landlord, and asked leave to go into the yard to wash his hands. His hands were covered with blood. The woman was conveyed to the infirmary, where she died almost immediately. A knife, covered with blood, was afterwards found in an outhouse in the yard. In  fact, when -apprehended, the prisoner told the officer that he had gone into the bedroom with the determination of putting an end to his wife's life, even if he should swing for it, and that if the officer would search a particular portion of the yard at Schofield's house, he world find the knife with which the deed had been executed. The evidence of the surgeon would leave no doubt as to the cause of death, as the internal and external jugular arteries had been cut through. Evidence having been given in support of the above facts, The jury, after consulting for about ten minutes, returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. His Lordship passed sentence of death in the usual form, and the prisoner, who become insensible, was carried below by two officers. Mrs. Jessie Black, wife of Lieutenant Black, pleaded guilty this evening to an indictment charging her with robbery of jewellery, the property of military officers at Fullwood-barracks. She was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.