The Sun. — 1850-03-26 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET.  CHARGE OF MURDER.—A few minutes before the Magistrate left the bench an elderly man named Alexander Moir, described as a baker, carrying on business at 25, Brydges-street, Strand, was placed at the bar, charged with causing the death of his wife Elizabeth, by violently assaulting her. Mrs. Amelia Mendes, a married woman, stated that she and her husband occupied the first floor in the prisoner's house, the prisoner's sleecing-room being the shop on the ground floor. On Saturday last, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, she was on the stairs, when her servant girl called her attention to a noise in the prisoner's room, which caused her to stand close to the parlour door, when she heard his wife, whose voice she well knew, exclaim several times, " Oh, you will kill me; you are sure to kill me." To which the prisoner replied, " I will murder you before I have done with you." Witness did not hear the sound cf any blows, but there was a dreadful screaming, followed by an exclamation from a boy, the son of the prisoner, " Oh, father, don't kill mother." On Sunday morning she saw her again in the shop, and-since heard that she was dead. Alexander George Moir, an intelligent boy, aged thirteen years, was next called, and being sworn, said the prisoner is my father. I was not at home on Saturday afternoon, being sent on a message to Camden-town. On my return, at six o'clock, I found my mother lying on her bed apparently in an insensible state. I spoke to her, but she made me no answer, and did not in any way recognise me. When my father came to the bedside, I asked him what was the matter with my mother ? And he replied that she had fallen down in the shop. I noticed that she was much cut about the:head, her left eye being cut, and a 'great deal of blood flowing. Her ear was also much bruised, as if from severe blows ; and she remained totally insensible, and never spoke, from the time I first saw her, until she died on Monday morning. In answer to the Magistrate, the witness said that it must have been his younger brother that cried out, " Oh, father, do not kill mother," as stated by the other witness.  Elizabeth Fagan stated that she was a charwoman, and that on Saturday last she was employed in that capacity, from nine o'clock in the morning till five o'clock in the afternoon. Between four and five o'clock she heard a screaming, and from the back kitchen saw the prisoner strike his wife a blow on the head with his hand. Witness went into the room and found that the prisoner had gone into the shop, and his wife apparently had dozed off into a sleep ; upon which witness went home. On Sunday morning she again went to the house, and found the deceased in bed, leeches being applied to her head. Witness examined her person, and found her very mach bruised. There was a cut on her left eye, several bruises upon her hips and the lower part of her body, apparently caused by violent blows. The prisoner came into the room, but the deceased never spoke, although he addressed her. Witness drew his attention to the condition of the deceased's person, and his reply was that she must have fallen down in a fit. The deceased was attended by Mr. \Watkins, a medical gen•leman, but remained insensible, from the beginning until her death, which took place at eleven o'clock on Monday morning. Inspector Dodd, F division, informed the Court that the medical attendant was not sent for until a short time before the woman died; and when the pri• Boner was told the nature of the charge at the station he made no reply. The prisoner said he had no questions to ask, and applied to be admitted to bail. Mr. HALL said that the evidence was so strong, upon a charge of a very serious nature, he should decline to accept of any bail. Mr. Mendes, husband of the first witness, came forward and expressed a hope that the application for bail would be refused, as he could prove on a future day that on Saturday week last the deceased was so injured she was obliged to wear spectacles in the shop to conceal her eyes, which had been bath blackened evidently from a severe assault. The prisoner was remanded till Thursday.