Star. — 1820-04-20 (London, England)

PETTY TREASON AND MURDER.  wAitricig ASSIZES, APRIL te. this day Ant Heyrr.9, whose crime has excited such sensation in the public mind in this quarter, was put to the bar, awl 'arraigned before Mr. Justice UST, who was appoited to the Bench, in consequence of his indisposition. She was a middle-sized young wbman, and stoutly made ; she preserved an undaunted. firmness, was dressed in a black gown; a grey shawl v..a: thrown loosely over I:er shoulders,, and s!le had o;1 a fine muslin mob cap. The eldest of the !Hiss Dormers was the first witness examined, and on coming forth to give her evidence, attracted the sympathy of the crowded Court. Three young ladies, tile eldest apparently not 18 years of age, callftd upon in a Court of Justice to xppear as witr.eses on the prosecution of the murderer of their mother, could not but excite a feeling of sympathy in the bosoms of all who possess the better sensibilities of our nature. After they had answered all :Le questions thought necessary, they were permitted to leave. a scene which at least must have been deemed a severe trial to their feelings. Miss Dormer stated, that she was the daughter of the prosecutor, and lived at Ashow, in this county, in the month of August last. She has three brothers and two sisters, who were all at home on the 29th of August: the prisoner was in the service of the family; there were also three men servants. She remembered prisoner being charged with taking away some notes.—[Here the Judge interfered to prevent going into evidence on this point].—Tire witness proceeded:, ' They had some friends to dine with them on that day, being Sunday the 29th of August—Mr. W. Hinde; and Mr. T. Harris. The two Mr. Brays came after dinner. Her sisters Harriet and Mary, Mr. Joseph Dormer her brother, Mr. William Hinde, and herself walked alter-tea to Mr. Aldridge's, and returned a few minutes after seven o'clock. Her mother made the tea, and the prisonei waited sin them : she left her father, the two Mr. Brays, Mr. 'l'. Harris and the prisoner, with .her mother, when She went out. There was nothing particular in her mother's manner that day; she returned about ten minutes past seven o'clock ; she saw the prisoner in. the passage as she came in, who appeared much agitated, and perspired much. Witness asked her if any one had been there ? she replied, " No, nobody.* She then went into the wood-yard and retarned immediately, but appeared to be still very much con., fused: witness observed blood on the floor of the' passage, the spots of which appeared smeared, as if there had been an attempt to wipe them up, and she pointed out the blood to the prisoner, asking what she had been doing ? in reply, she said, 44 0, nothing." Witness told her to get a mop and wipe it up, and then asked her where her mother was? the prisoner said, " She is gone towards Ashow." Miss Harriet Dormer soon after called out "Mother, mother," and. agted where her mother was and the prisoner said, " She was gone into the garden about  ten mintues before,' to gather cucumbers." Witnessl then said, " I went up stairs to my own room; and saw my mother's room-door-shut as I pasied. by; my sister-Mary followed me up stairs. When in 'my room, I heard my fluter scream Violently ; found my mother dead, and there were drops of blood in the passage, which had the appearance of being wiped." In answer to a question from the Judge, Miss Dormer replied, " She was sure the spbts had been wiped; they seemed to be smeared along." y. the Jtioas.—Prisoner, will you ask this witness any questions ?—No, my Lord. Mary Dormer was next sworn : she said she was fourteen years old, and that she went with her brothers and sisters to Mr. Aldridge's, and returned together; on entering the house she saw the prisoner in the passage, . who seemed to be very warm and confused; she heard her sister ask her where her mother was ? and the prisoner replied, " gone towards Ashow:" She did not ask the prisoner any questions, but witness's sister Harriet called out— " Mother, mother." The prisoner said, " she was gone into the garden." Witness saw marks of blood on the floor ; she then went up stairs, and opened the door of her mother's room, and saw her lying on her back on the floor: saw just her feet, but did not see blood ; and screamed out, being frightened. By the