The Express. — 1849-08-06 (London, England)

MIIRDZIL—A JURE or Mexatorre. The trial of Chariot* Barris, for the wilful murder of her former husband, Henry Merchant, by poison, which was commented yesterday, was resumed this morning Imbue Mr. Justice Crisswell The charge against tke pr.:wooer was supported by the following eircumrances In the month of April last the prisoner was livi^g with ter husband in Angelbuildinge, Bath. Her age was 32, his 28, and they appeared to live on coneforteble and happy terms, he as a Eonemasen earning very good wages, and she adding to their weekly income by selling oranges in the Bath market. They had two children who lived with them in their house. On the 3lat of March deceased was at work at a quarry, with two fellow-workmen. lie was in good health and spirit*, and after his elsy's work he tp.,nt an hour or two at a public house. He returned home late, and the prisoner gave him some tee. He went to work, as meal, nest day, but was compelled by illness to return home. The symptoms of lois illness were those that are usually observable in a case of poisoning, and they continued throughout the day. The prisoner was advised to send for a surgeon, wh:ch she declined to do, asserting that the deceased objected to it, but afterwards she went for a surgeon, and as he did not come, she went a second time. The deceased was attended by Mr. Lloyd, who treated the case as one arising from natural causes, and, after lingering a week, the man died on the 13th. He was buried ; but, in conuquecce of suspicions being excited by the conduct of the prisoner, the body we s disin'erred, an inquest was held, the viscera of deceased were sent for examination to Mr. Herapath of Bristol, and the presence of arsenic was indisputably proved. It further appeared that at a short distance from the prisoner's house lived en old man named Harris, who was possessed of some little property, end six or seven weeks before Merchant was taken ill the prisoner told two persons that Ilues had offered her marriage, observing what a good thing it would be if she were a widow. On the very day that the husband was taken ill she went to Harris's house, was with him in his room for a considerable time, and took tea with him. On going away she represented to a woman named Shay ler, who lived in the same house, that she was shout to be married to Harris. On the day atte r the death of her husband she was teen in Harris's company, and about a week afterwards she was actually married to Harris, having given the information necessary to enable that ceremony to take place on the very day of the burial. In addition to this evidence it was sought to show that about the time of the deceued'a illness the prisoner actuall/karchssed poison at the shop of Mr. Bright, chemist, of After a trial of two days the case was brought to a conclusion, and the jury retired. After an absence of an hour the jury returned into court with a verdict of Guilty. His lordship then yelled senteuct of death upon the prisoner, observing that he fully concurred with the jury in their verdict. Mr. Saunders, who conducted the defence, then put in a plea in arrest of execution that the prisoner was pregnant.' His lordship ordered the doors of the court to be cloud, and addressing the high sheriff, commended him at owe to empannel • jury of matrons from females within the court, for the purpose of trying the prisoner's plea. A dozen ladies who had entered the court as spectators were then (much against the inclinations of some of them) compelled to enter • bcx, and were sworn in by the crie r. His lordship said they had heard from the oath that bad just been administered to them the nature of the duties upon which they had been empannelled. They would at once retire and perform thou duties, and they might be &melte in them by a medical man. The jury of matrons were then escorted by the High Sheriff to the rear of the court, and in • few minutes they returned. The Clerk of Assize.—Ladies of the jury, are you agreed upon your verdict ? D , you say the prisoner is with child of a quick child or not ? Several ladies—We say she is. The Judge.—Let the sentence be respited. The prisoner, who appeared to be weak from her etuation, but to be little affected by her awful position, was then assisted from the bar.