The Express. — 1848-01-03 (London, England)

POLICE.- SATURDAY.  CLERKENWELL. TWOFOLD MURDSO. Esther Parkas, between 30 aad 40 years of age, was charged with the wilful murders of Armenia Blake, aged 7, and Robert Blake, her brother, aged .3.—Mrs. Jane Moore, of No. 9, Cupid's-court, St. Luke's, deposed that that morning, about 4 o'clock, she and her husband were awoke by a loud knocking at the door. On looking out of the window she saw the prisoner, who was very much agitated, and she exclaimed, " Oh, Mee. Moore, I have done it!" Witness asked what she had done. She replied, " I went out with Blake last night, intending to go to the play, when he met with a woman and took hold of her arm, and immediately left me. I have murdered the two children." My husband sent for a policeman. The prisoner lived with a man named Blake, to whom the children belonged. Witness went to the house where the prisoner lived, and saw the children lying dead.— Mary Mathews depaied that she was alarmed by the prisoner, who said that she had murdered two children. Witness procured two policemen ; they entered by the parlour window, and found the children. They were undressed, and were warm. Therewere scratches on their threats.—Mrs. Lucy Mathews, of No. 8, Cupid's-court, was alarmed by cries of " murder" between fourand five o'clock on Saturday morning. Saw the prisoner at Mrs. Moore's door. Asked her to go in doors. The prisoner said, " I shall not go in any more ; my heart is bleeding." She complained that Blake had taken her out to go to the play, and he left her to go with another woman.—Sergeant Standard, 11 G, found the children lying dead on the bed in the parlour.—W. Grubb, of No. 3, Cupid's-court, where the murders were committed, saw the children in bed the night I efore, at twelve o'clock. The prisoner was standing at the corner of the court. At an early hour in the morning he heard of the murder.—Mr. C. Adams, of the Duke of Bedford, Golden-lane, saw the prisoner and Blake at his house on Friday night last ; whilst there, Blake slipped away from the prisoner. She left, but shortly afterwards returned with the deceased girl, when prisoner said, " I will have my revenge of the children, if I can't have it of him." She looked at the clock, and said to witness, " Mark the time, it is now twenty five minutes to eight o'clock." She had same gin, and left with the girl. The prisoner bad cohabited with Blake for three 3 ears. There were other persons present when she used threat. towards the children.—G. Fowler, 161 0, di posed that on Saturday morning, the prisoner came to deliver herself into his custody. She said she had murdered two children. On the way to the station-house she said, " It was my intention to do this nine months ago, and I have done it now to my sorrow, but I knew what I was about."— 11. Hayward, searcher at Featherstone-street station-house, deposed that when the prisoner was brought to the station she complained that Blake had ill used and cut her. Her under clothes were covered with blood. Sheeaid, " For God's sake don't let my clothes touch yours-4 am a murderess. I have murdered two children." She said Blake had driven her to it—Mr. Francis Wright, surgeon, deposed that he was sent for at a little after tour o'clock, and the children must have been deed about an hour; he examined the bodies and found marks of violence on their throats, near the windpipes. The marks or scratches arose from some one grasping the throats tightly with the fingers, and he should say that death was almost instantaneous.—Policeman 26 0 saw the prisoner rush out of the house, calling out—" I have murdered the children to revenge myself of the father; they were innocent; through my vindictiveness I have done the deed." Witness cautioned her to say nothing. She said In reference to Blake, " I doted the ground he waited upon, and he knew it." She also said, " I was not like a person who was drunk; I knew what I was about—l was quits sober."—The prisoner, who was much affected, was then remanded.