The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-11-21 (London, England)

THE CORONERS' INQUEST. The Jury met on Thursday to investigate the case. Joseph White, a surgeon, proved that the deceased had died from wounds inflicted by some obtusely-pointed instrument, of considerable weight. The jaw of the deceased was fractured; there was a wound on the back of the neck, and three on the skull. Elizabeth Burrows said, I em nearly fourteen years of age, and am no relation to Mrs. Wood. I have lived in the house of the de. ceased either a fortnight or three weeks. 1 lived with Mr. B. l)unn, who lodges there ; he is my uncle. Samuel Wood, Mrs. Wood, and myself, got our supper. together ; no other person was in the house except three of Wood's children, who were up stairs in bed. Atter supper Samuel Wood wanted me to go to bed, but Mrs. Wood said I had better sit up with her until my uncle came. The deceased and Wood were drinking rum and water. They had no quarrel then, bat were very merry. They talked, but I cannot remember what about. Wood was very much in liquor, and when he was going up stairs, as if to bed, he fell on his knees on the stairs. Mrs. Wood told me to go up stairs, and wait till he was gone to sleep. I went, and took a candle. In about five minutes I heard him go down again ; he then came up stairs again, and tried my room door, which was fast. He again went down, and I heard Mrs. Wood call him a rogue, and said she would go and see if she could not fetch a constable. I did not hear Wood say any thing, nor mention motley. 1 heard the deceased crying, and shriek out " Murder !" I immediately ran down stairs, and saw her on the house floor ; she was not bloody then ; he was across her. She had hold of the coal-pick, struggling to prevept him hitting her with it. He got it from her, and gave her three blows, having hold of the coal-pick with both hands, as hard as he could, over her head. She did not speak after the first blow. The blood flew all about after be began to strike. When he was upon her, I ran up to hint, and said, Oh, Mr. Wood, what are you doing ?" He did not speak, but got off from her, and ran after me. 'flie door was a little open, I caught hold of it, and whipped out before he could get hold of me. I cried out, and many persons who live opposite heard me, and came to me. Never saw the coal-pick in the house before ; there was another hammer to break coals with. . .  William Wainwright, watchmaker, Bridlesmith.gate, said, Wood came to my house on Tuesday, and said he wished to speak to me, for he had something on his mind which made him very uneasy. 1 asked him what it was? lie told me he had caught a person in an improper situation with his wife on Satur. day, and that he was a ruined man. He asked me what he should do? I advised him to discharge the person coming into the house, and live comfortably with his wife. He said he could not live comfortably ally more, and that " he should do something in a few days which all would be astonished at." I asked him what he would do? He said he should leave the town.  John Simpson sworn-1 was panting near the Milton's Bead, and heard the shriek of " Murder!" I ran, anti saw the little girl (Elizabeth Burrows) running away, and Wood running after her with a coal•pick in his hand ; he followed her about 7 yards, and then turned back into the house. lie cloned the door after him. I heard him give something -a blow, but what I could not tell. In a few seconds I heard him drop something, which I judged to be a coal hammer. In about halt a minute after he came out, anti was making his escape towards the open paddock. Ile had not either coat, waistcoat. or handkerchief on. I asked Wood what he had done so for ? Wood answered, "Oh ! good Lord, what could I do when I caught her in the fact P' Other witnessts were called who confirmed this evidence, and the Jury returned a verdict of Nl'ilful 31urder against Wood. The deceased bore as irreproachable character in the neighbourhood, so that the statement of the prisoner respecting her conduct is entitled to little or no credit.—Nottingham Journal.