The Sun. — 1855-09-18 (London, England)

EXAMINATION OF THE MURDERER.  About half-past two o'clock Daniel Lordon, an Irishman, described on the police-sheet as of 48 years of age, was placed at the bar of Worship-street police-court, before Mr. D'Eyncouit, charged, on his own confessiont with wilfully murdering his wife, Catherine Lordon, a, 15, Parliament-court, Artillery-passage, Old Artilleryground. The prisoner was brought from the police-station, Spital•square, in a cab, followed by a large concourse of persons, mostly females, eager to get a sight of him. Pollee sergeant 13 H deposed that about half-past 7 o'clock this morning the prisoner came to the Chapelyard station, Spital-square, where witness was on duty, and said to him, " I surrender myself up to you." He said to him, " What for ; what have you done ?" and he replied " I've killed my wife this morning." Witness called Policeman 59, who was on reserve duty, and directed him to accompany the prisoner to the house and ascertain if such was the case, and also to send for the divisional surgeon if required. Mr. D'Eyncourt—Was the prisoner sober at the time ? Witness—He appeared to have been drinking. I could not say he was drunk. Witness resumed—The prisoner and the constable left and returned again in about a quarter of an "hour afterwards. He then entered, the charge on the sheet and read it over. He said, "That's it." The prisoner declined putting any questions, to the witness.  John Jackson, 59 11, deposed that he went with the prisoner from the station to his residence, in 15, Parliament-court, Artillery-ground. He heard the statement made by the prisoner to the last witness. The prisoner took him into the passage, and on the first landing of the stairs showed him a woman, who was in a sitting posture, with her head and arms upon her knees, and her knees up towards her chin. Prisoner said, "That's her." Witness took hold of her hand and felt it was cold. He then lifted her head back and saw in her lap a pool of congealed blood. He believed she was dead from her face and hands being cold, and he said to the prisoner, "How did you do this " He replied, "With a knife." He asked him if he struck her on the landing, and he replied " No." He asked him for the knife ; on which the prisoner said, " Come up stairs,, and I'll give it to you." Prisoner then went up stairs, witness following, and from the sill of the second-floor front room window he took a knife and gave it to the witness. (The knife, a long clasp knife, similar to a butcher's knife, was produced.) Witness asked him, "Where had you the knife before striking her ? " and he said " Here," pointing to between the mattress and the bed. The knife is covered with blood up to the hilt. The blood was part wet and part dry. Witness asked him why he struck her with the knife, and he said " We've been to a raffle—we had a row." Witness took him down stairs and back to the station, and sent for Mr. Mears, the divisional surgeon. Mr. D'Eyncourt—What state was he in I Witness—He appeared to have been drinking, and was excited and shook very much. Mr. D'Eyncourt—He appeared to have been drinking? Witness—His whole manner appeared to denote that. Mr. D'Eyncourt—When you first lifted her head did you see the wound in the neck ?  Witness—No, I did not, but I did afterwards, when I assisted her up stairs and put her on the bed. Mr. Shaw, surgeon, had seen the body before the arrival of Mr. Mears. The wound was on the right-hand side, about two inches below the ear, and appeared to be a large wound, sufficient for him to have put in his two fingers. Blood was oozing from it at the time. The edges appeared jagged. It had the appearance of a stab rather than a cut. He only observed one wound. There was a great quantity of blood on the landing of the stairs, but a much larger pool of blood near the bed in the prisoner's room. The deceased's bands were not clasped, but rather closed, and had blood on them. At the station the prisoner asked for pen, ink, and paper, to write to his sister, which was complied with. He then wrote :—" My dear Mary,—Make yourself as happy as you can. If you • and I are allowed to speak to each other I shall beyery glad, and will tell you something.—(Signed)