Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1872-12-21 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

ALLEGED MURDER OF A WOMAN  AT WIDNES.  COMMITTAL OF TILE PRISONER.  On Monti*, an inquest was held at the Prescot Union Workhouse, before C. E. Driflield, Esq., coroner, in reference to the ammo of dealt of Sarah Ann Dutton, also Smith, who died at the workhouse hospital, on Friday, from injuries alleged to have been inflicted by Henry Southern, alias Smith, a man with whom she cohabited. The accused was net present, being contlued, under a remand by the magistrate., in Kirkdale gaol. From a statement made by a wanes., Emma Freeman, it appeared that the prisoner and deceased lodged with her at the Marsh, Widnes. The prisoner was a labourer, P employed en diseharging Hats at Mr. alm* Widnee, but did not work very regularly, being a moll of dissipated habits. The deceased waa a sober woman, and worked occasionally as a charwoman when she wad obtain employment. She was about 37 or 31i years of age. The parties had lived together for several years as man and wife, but not on very comfortable Wine, and quarrels between them were of ' frequent occurrence. Oa Saturday, the 19th October last, the prisoner and Ids wife had an altercation, of which the witness (Freeman) took no notice at the time, and went out. Bearing afterwards that the prisoner was killing his wife, she returned, mid Laud deceased en her bedroom, and the prisoner trying to burst open the door. Prisoner wee pomaded to go away, when deceased oame net of the room aid called him names. She alc threw a piece of wood at him. After fastening hermit in another room, where she remained a short time, she ran down stairs into the beek yard, followed by the primmer, who however, did not catch her. As they were returning, the dmemed threw a stone at the prisoner, and lie threw an empty bottle at her, bat neither of the numilea appeased to have done may injury. The prisoner and deceased then returned to one of the bedrooms, and in a short time the witness (Freeman) heard a noise, and went up stairs. The deceased was then lying on the bed, the prisoner holding her by the hair of her head, and etriking her with tee list in the face. W items mashed been away, but he pulled de0...0d with him, and she fell upon the bedroom floor. Deceased then got under the bed for protection, when prisoner, who wore clogs, kicked her several times, and trampled on her with one foot, at the mule tune threatening to kill her. Deceased cried, "Oh, he has killed ma. lam dune • tam dens." Ile said "11 3ou are not done I will kill you." Deoeased , then came from under the bed, walking very lame, and proceeded to her own room. She showed her arm and knee, both ot which were bleeding, saying the prisoner struck her on the arm with • poker, Mid kicked her on the knee; he also threw some boiling water upon her. After WEnes further altercation, the prisoner and deceased appeared to be more quiet, but tee about au hour the former came down stairs and said his wife was dead. The witness (Freeman) then went upstairs, and found deceased lying upon the bed in a state of insensibility.— She was subsequently attended by Dr. Sing, of Widnes, who, finding that the !lingo shnoe soau4iczl ware for bed iteromremmti:daeto tiea far tient, Union Latium.. The symptoms alt./Tweeds became more aggravated, and the deeemed died on tncia, last. kleieuati Brant, Police Constable Clarke, Mr. F., Francis, Medical Officer at the Workhouse, and Dr. who attended deceased soon after she received 1 the injuries, gave corroborative evidence. The Coroner, under the eireumstauces, recommended the jury to leave another tribunal to decide whether the crime was that of inurdtx or the lesser easel manslaughter. The Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against floury Southern, aliae