The Express. — 1847-03-31 (London, England)

ALLEGED MURDER AT BARTON-UPON-IRWELL.—Elizabeth Johnson, aged 33, was indicted for the wiltul murder of William Henry Johnson, on the 27th of November last, at Barton-upon-Irwell, by administering arsenic to him. Several witnesses were first called, who stated that up to t4e Friday before deceased's death, he was in his usual health. Martha Livesey said : I live at Barton-bridge with my mother, who keeps a shop there, and sells drugs. I have known the prisoner for about a year. I recollect her coming to the shop in November last. It was on Friday. the 27th of Nov. She asked for three pennyworth of arsen...c. She said it was for rats which were in a gutter near her house and that she intended to put the poison into the gutter. I ;eked her if there were any children in the house, and she said there were not. I served her with the arsenic, which she took away with her. I recollect being at the police-eflice at Crott's-bank on the 4th of January last. Forrester the policeman was there. I raw him with the prisoner at kis home. She went up stairs with Mrs. Forrester. When she came down again, Forrester asked her if she knew me. She said she had no recollection of me. I said it was strange she did not know me, so often as she had been at our shop. She said she did not know me, and that she bad never been in the shop. I said she had been there frequently. I told her she had been there far arsenic. She said I was quite mistaken; she had never been in the shop for that. I told her she had, but she still denied it. Sarah Hardman corroborated the evidence of the last wit. nese, having been present when the prisoner bought the arsenic. She added, I saw the prisoner the same afternoon, afterwards, in Eccles-lane, going towards Barton.--Jane Bradshuw : My father keeps the Trafford Arms at Bartonbridge. I know the prison, r. I saw her on the 27t bof November, when she came and called for a glass of gin and water. I saw her go into Mrs. Livesey's shop.—John Whitehead : I knew the deceased, Johnson. I lodged with them for a few weeks. I left home on the 24th of November sad returned on the 28th. I saw Mrs. Johnson when I returned. She said her husband was very poorly, and that be was taken ill on the Friday evening. He had vomited very much I asked her if she had sent for any assistance. She maid she had not, but had sent for some stuff for him from Mr. Hopworth's, the surgeon. I saw Johnson, on the Sunday morning, in his bed. He appeared to be very poorly, though be did not complain much. He hod been vomiting. Mrs. Johnson removed the utensil, and I did not observe it. I saw him again two or three times on the Monday; he was then very ill. I saw him again on Tuesday, and be was still in the same state. Mrs. Molt was from home, but returned on Tuesday evening. I saw Johnson again on Wednesday evening. He was very ill indeed. Mrs. Johnson asked me to go up stairs and read for him. I went, and while I was reading he vomited very mach. That was about twelve o'clock. Mrs. Johnson came up to him. No one else attended to him. I saw him two or three times on the tame afternoon. On the but occasion I was called up, it was to assist Johnson out of bed. The prisoner's father called me up. Generally speal/4ing I was not much at home.— Benjamin Mellington call. d lam a cousin to the prisoner. I went through Barton to Davy liulme one day in Nov. I called and saw the deceased Johnson. He was in bed, and seemed to be very sick. I asked him if he was in pain. He retched very much as though he wanted to vomit but could not. He complained of being thirsty. I was with him about half an hour. I dined there, I believe with Mrs. Johnson. She seemed quite cheerful, and did not appear to apprehend any danger —Several other witnesses were ez• amined, and when our report left the trial was still going on.