The Sun. — 1846-04-06 (London, England)

CIIARGE OF MURDER.— Sarah Swift, aged 19, was indicted for the wilful murder of Elizabeth M'Gill, at Liverpool. Mr. Drinkwater appeared as counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. James defended the prisoner. Harriet Robinson said, she is a single woman, lived in Shaw's-alley, and knew the deceased, who is a girl of ill fame. The prisoner is also one of that character. Recollects being in Barber's public-house, where the deceased, the prisoner, and several other girls were. There were sailors in the dancing-room. Elizabeth M'Gill asked, " What do you want there; why don't you go to your own house?" When prisoner -replied, "Tliat so she could," and left the house with Ann Kelly. Witness went out, awl When she returned the beer-house was closed, about eleven o'clock. Met Elizabeth M'Gill near Sparling-street. She was crying, but not drunk. Elizabeth M'Gill struck Sarah Swift, who said we had better go home before we got into cole-hole. The prisoner, who had a knife, ran at her. Sarah Swift said to Nancy Allen, who was present, that she would serve witness in the same way. Gave prisoner in charge to a policeman, who brought the prisoner and Nancy Allen to the house. Knew the knife, and pointed out the place where the knife was thrown away after the perpetration of the act. The knife was open, and covered with blood. Cross-examined—ls about 22 years of age, and leading her present life about six months. Had lived in Liverpool six years. but. not with her father for the last six months. Sarah Munro—Witness refused to kiss the book, but the Judge threatened to send her to prison direct. She then complied, and was then admonished by his Lordship to tell the truth. She spoke to some of the facts on the case, and then &kited, and it was deemed necessary to remove her. Ann Power—Lives iu Shaw's alley, and remembers the 19th of December. She heard the prisoner say she " would serve out deceased in some dark corner." It was about ten minutes past twelve when she met deceased in Masonstreet. There were two foreigners with her, and shortly after she heard the deceased cry out " murder." She (witness) ran up, and the foreigners, who held up deceased, went away. At this moment she did not perceive anything was the matter with her. At the time deceased was wounded there were several men and women near besides the policeman. In answer to a question by the jury, the witness stated that the conversation at Barber's was carried on in the spirit of anger. Other witnesses were called, but their testimony was a mere repetition of that already detailed. John Bold Hyams—ls a surgeon, and was called in on the morning of the-20th of-December-to-see deceased. He had made a' post modem. examination, and the depth of the wound was about three inches. It extended to the thorax, and the knife which was submitted to his inspection would cause such a wound. The wound. was about one inch and a half wide, and deceased might have cried out " murder," but it was impossible, in his opinion, that she could have lived more than half an hour. After the summing up of the Learned Judge, the jury retired for a short time, and on their return found a verdict of Guilty of manslaughter. Sentence, to be transported for life. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice