The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-05-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER IN SOMERS TOWN.  At the Clerkenwell Police-court, on Monday, Charles Latham, Labourer, aged 30, was charged before Mr. Bros with the wilful murder of Mary Newman by cutting her throat with a knife, at 53, Drummond-crescent, Somers Town, on the 19th May. Inspector Austin and Detective Inspector Miller watched the case on behalf of the police. Elizabeth Leigh, the wife of Walter Leigh, a cab-driver, said: "I live at 53, Drummond-crescent, St. Pancras, where the prisoner also lived with Mary Newman, who was usually called Mrs. Newman. She came aad took a back room, unfurnished, from me about five months ago, and had occupied it for about three months when the prisoner came to live with her. On Saturday evening, at about seven, I was at home in the back parlour. While passing through the passage to go to another room I saw Mary Newman's little girl, about thirteen years of age, crying in the passage. I spoke to her, and then ran down to Mary Newman's room. I opened the door, and rushed in, and saw the prisoner kneeling on the woman, who was on the bed. She called out, "Mrs. Leigh, Mrs. Leigh, he is killing me." I called out, "Oh, you murdering villain; you are killing her." I caught hold of him by his collar and tried to pull him off. He looked very wild at me hut did not speak. He had something small in his hand, with which he was striking Mrs. Newman on the neck, but I could not see what it was. Her neck was bleeding. I could not pull him from her, so I rushed upstairs and called Mr. Butcher, the landlord, and another man who was there. They ran downstairs and I ran out of the house and across the road to a house where the prisoner's sister lives. I then ran back to the house and saw Mr. Butcher struggling with the prisoner in the kitchen. I then ran out and fetched a policeman. Mr. Butcher, the prisoner, and Mrs. Newman all came upstairs together, and Mrs. Newman went into my parlour. Mr. Butcher let the prisoner go, and he left the house. I followed him into Charlton-street. The policeman whom I had brought had gone into the parlour to see the woman. I don't think he understood what I meant. Afterwards he came out, and I pointed the prisoner out to him standing at the bar of a publichouse in Charlton-street called the Coffee House. There two policemen took the prisoner into custody. I went back to my house, and found Mrs. Newman in my parlour sitting in a chair with a cloth round her neck. She was just alive, and a doctor was attending her. She was removed to University College Hospital. When asked if he had any question to put to the witness, the prisoner said, "That home belongs to me. My sister took it when I came out of prison. She knows she did." The witness said that was not so; Mrs. Newman took the room. Dr. John Murray Llewellyn said: I was called to 53, Drummond-crescent, at about a quarter to eight on Saturday evening, in the front parlour I found a woman being supported on a chair. She was in a dying condition, smothered with blood. I saw she had several wounds, some incised and some punctured, on the right side of the throat. I bandaged the wounds, sent for a cab, and had her conveyed at once to University College Hospital. I did not seethe prisoner. Police-constable George Batten, 25 Y R, said—l was called to the Coffee House public-house, and there saw the prisoner coming out in the custody of another constable. I then went to 53, Drummond-crescent, where I saw the last witness attending to the deceased, who was sitting in a chair. I called a cab, and took her in it to the hospital, where she was seen by Dr. Holder. It was about twenty minutes to eight when I arrived there, and she expired about ten minutes after her admission. The prisoner, who maintained a stolid demeanour throughout, was remanded. It was mentioned that at the next hearing evidence as to the prisoner's mental condition would be offered.