The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1893-03-10 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

EXCITING SCENE.  At Poplar Town Hall, London, on Monday evenfng, Mr. Wynne Baxter concluded the inquest on Ann Darby, who was found murdered at 14, Soietia Street, Poplar, on February 23rd. Mr. AiEsa.; Lewis represented the Public Prosecutor, and Superintendent Wells the Commissioner of Police.—Ale evidence showed that the crime could have been committed by a person standing beside the bed without such person being marked by blood. The deceased's purse was undisturbed between the bolster and the pillow. The deceased was friendly with her neighbours' but the day previous to the murder deceased's friends discussed her removal to a more respectable house.—The Coroner read certificates proving that Honorah Driscoll, a lodger in the house, had been an inmate of Colney Hatch, suffering from mental affliction. The police evidence having been taken, the Coroner summed up. He said that robbery could not have been the motive, as the deceased was receiving poorlaw relief. The deceased was insured by her daughter, but it was for a nominal sum. Absence of motive was apparent only in cases where crime was committed by persons not responsible for their actions, and no motive could be detected in this case. North Driscoll was the last person to see the deceased alive, and the facts given in evidence showed that the crime must have been committed by someone lathe house. Death took place between 6.30 and 9.30 a.m. on the 23rd, and Mrs. Sweeney and the Goss family had accounted for their movements. No , one in the house could have done the deed except Norah Driscoll. She had been in an asylum, and when insanity was fixed in a person it was possible for them to commit acts and be oblivims of them. Afterwards Driscoll was extremely calm—a significant fact—and if she had committed the crime she had no knowledge of it. After reviewing the circumstances, the coroner said Driscoll was the only person who fitted in with the conditions of the case. They had evidence that no stranger had visited the house, and no stranger, moreover, would know where to find the chopper. After reviewing the illusions attributed to Driscoll, the Coroner said that the person might Ihave been insane on Wednesday night but sane on Thursday morning. The evidence showed that Driscoll borrowed sixpence the night before the murder of the deceased., but urged someone else to take it back next day, and this person found the body. After observing that Driscoll did not go the natural way to discover whether the deceased was dead, the Coroner asked the jury to consider themselves in the position of a grand jury, and to say whether the case should go for trial.—After a short deliberation, a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown" was returned, but the Coroner intimated that the jury were not unanimous. About two thousand persons had assembled outside the court, and became very excited at the finish of the case, the foot and mounted police experiencing difficulty in keeping them orderly. So strong was the feeling against Driscoll that the police assisted her to escape from the back windows of the Town Han by a ladder, whence she left disguised, accompanied by Rev. the Hon. James Adderley, vicar of Poplar, and son of Lord Norton, who took her through the neighbouring schools,  thence through the gro' unds of le chura into the East India Dock Road, so that she reached her 'N3use unobserved by the great crowd.