Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1883-12-15 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE PLAISTOW MITRDER.  At the West Ham Police Court on Wednesday, Henry John Billing, aged 29, a stevedore, of 19, Sheppard Street, Hermit Reed, Plaistow, was I.,,vught upou remand, charged with murdering his wife Elizabeth, aged, 33, by shooting her with a „evolver at 19, Sheppard Street, on the let inst. The prisoner was further remanded. On the resumption of the inquest on the deceased woman on Wednesday, at the Victoria Tavern, Canning Town. Police-constable Henry Herein, 324 K, stud about nine p.m. on Saturday, the let inst., the husband of the deceased came up to him and said, "I hare come to give myself up. I have shot my wife. Here is the revolver." Witness went with Inspector Leoooq to 19, Sheppard Street, the prisoner's residence, and there saw the deceased woman lying on the floor in the kitchen. She waadead. In her outside skirt pocket he found two purses, containing 22 duplicates of pawa-tioluete, one gold keeper ring, a tradesman's bill,* County Court summons, and one pocket.knife.—Wißiam Smith, of 11, Sheppard Street, Hermit Road, a checker in the service of the Midland Railway Company, at the Victoria Docks, said he was standing at his door on the Saturday evening, when he heard the door of No. 19 open sharply. He heard the little girl (Florence) screaming on the kerbstone. By the time he had turned his head heaaw the deceased fall, with her head towards the lamp-poet. Witness ran towards her, and raised her up in a sitting posture. He supported her. While he had her in the sitting position the prisoner came walking slowly by. Witness said to hint, "For goodness sake help me with her up. She has had a fearful blow." The prisoner looked at her, and then walked to where the little girl stood crying, and said, "Good-bye, give me a kiss." Witness had some parcels, which he put on the front door-step, and, when he went back the deceased had been carried into the house.—Charles Butler, brother-in-law of the deceased, said he had known the prisoner and deceased for eleven and a half years—ever since they had been married. For the first part of that time they were happy, and the later unhappiness witness attributed to her pawning things out of the house. He was a good husband to her, and they lived comfortably according to their means. Her intemperanne was at times the comae of quarrels.—Florence Gertrude Billing, aged ten, the daughter, was called, but the Coroner said she was hardly old enough to give evidence. She did not know what the Book was.—William Winchurst said he remembered Saturday evening. December 1. Between six and seven o'clock he sold the revolver produced, or one similar to it, to a man. He did not know the man. He was a sort of working man. He had not seen the prisoner. He was shown a number of men, but could not rocognise the purchaser. He had had a great many customers that day. It was the only. pistol he sold that day. The man went in and asked to see a revolver, and when one was shown him he produced a cartridge and fitted it. The price was 6e. 6d.—Dr. John Vance, of 3, Widdicombe Terrace, Barking Road, said he had examined the wound in the body of the deceased. He found a bullet wound in the chest, running obliquely from the right three inches down the cheat, 2f from the right nipple, and 3i inches from the lett nipple. He came to t,lig conclusion that the pistol was not presented at I vial part, and that whoever shot at the person did not intend to aim at a vital part--as the heart, lungs, or neck. If a pistol went off by accident it would go straight.—The Jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder as the result of the pistol shot, which, in their opinion, was fired under great provocation.