Star. — 1822-08-16 (London, England)

SUMMER ASSIZES.  INTERESTING TRIAL FOR MURDER. MONMOUTH, AUGUST 13. Racket! Edwards and Mary Sandbrooke, her servant, stood charged.by the CorOner's inquisition with the wilful murder of William Edwards, the husband of the prisoner Edwards. To-day the Grand Jury returned a true bill against Edwards, but ignored the bill as to Sandbrooke. About one o'clock Mrs. Edwards was placed at the bar, and arraigned on the indictment, which charged her with having, on the 28th day of June last, wilfully mixed a quantity of arsenic in milk and given it to her husband, who had languished of the poison till the 30th, when he died; and that so she did commit petit treason and murder. There were other counts charging her with administering the poison without stating that it was, infused in any liquid, and with procuring the deceased ignorantly to drink it. She pleaded " Not Guilty." The prisoner being allowed 35 peremptory challenges by her Counsel, Mr.CAMPBELL and Mr.TWIES objected to many of the Jurymen. Several of the panel were also challenged' on the part of the Crown. Even after 12 Jurors were sworn, Mr: Justice BAYLEY permitted the prisoner to challenge any of them on the list being read over with the places of their residence ; and on this being done, a general objection was made to all who resided in the town of Monmouth, in consequence of which five of the number sworn were dismissed from the box. Considerable difficulty occurred in finding persons competent to supply their places, the lha ne 1 being exhausted ; but such persons having at length been procured, the Learned Judge directed the Sheriff to add their names to the panel, and return them instanter, which was done, and the full Jury sworn.Mr. CAMPBELL addressed the Court by observing, that the prisoner would not have taken up its time by these numerous challenges, had it not been that a number of the most scandalous publications had been circulated, tending to prejudice her on her trial. The Learned Counsel held in his hand a number of handbills, ballads, and newspapers, containing shocking details of the supposed murder, and assuming as matter of certainty the guilt of the prisoner. Mr. Justice BAYLEY joined in deeply regretting and censuring the publications, and in earnestly hoping they would not be suffered to influence the opinion of the Jury. The prisoner, who appeared very feeble in body, but did not betray any violent emotion or terror, was accommodated with a chair, by the direction of the Learned Judge. Mr. PEARSON opened the case for the prosecuti.m. He said that in a case of this deep and solemn interest he should abstain from anything like general remark, which might possibly be found inapplicable in the result, or which would be suggested to the minds of the Jury without his assistance. He would'. confine himself to a mere outline of the evidence which would be laid before them, and would implore them while he did this to take nothing which he stated even for a moment as true, till it should be e.tablished on oath. lie then proceeded to describe the situation of the parties, who had been married about two years, and who kept the Cross Keys Inn, at 'Pontypool, until the death of the husband. Atter giving a general view of the evidence, he warned the Jury that one of principal witnesses, Mary Morgan, had varied in her statements, and that therefore they ought to watch her evidence with the ut, most jealousy; and concluded by expressing his confidence that they would give their anxious attention to the case, and return such a verdict as justice to the prisoner and to the Public would be ultimately found to require at their hands. Ann Williams examined by Mr.