The Sun. — 1833-12-21 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.  HOME CIRCUIT ....KINGSTON, DEC. 20.  Benjamin Bedwell, aged 57, master-mariner, was indicted for the wilful murder of Elizabeth Bedwell, his wife.  The particulars of this case have already been given at some length in all the daily papers. Mary Ann Barnes examined—On the 19th of November I was servant to the prisoner. On that morning the prisoner and his wife breakfasted in the kitchen. I was directed by Mrs. Bedwell to go to the house of Mrs. Hopkins, to request her to come to the prisoner's house. I went to the front door to go there, when I was prevented by the prisoner, who locked the door and took away the key. I then saw Mrs. Bedwell go up stairs to the room of Mr. Plummer, who lodged in the house, and begged him to make an alarm at the window. The prisoner was then standing in the passage ; but he followed his wife and pulled her down stairs. Mrs. Bedwell then went into the front parlour, and the prisoner followed her. He pulled her out of the parlour down stairs into the kitchen. I followed them. Mrs. Bedwell went into the front area, and the prisoner went after her, and, pulling her in, placed her in a chair by the area door. The prisoner then desired me to be off out of the house, and not stop there making a noise. I had been crying. I went into the back kitchen. Before I left the front kitchen I observed three knives on the tray with the breakfast things. One knife was thin at the point. After I had been in the kitchen a short time I heard Mrs. Bedwell say, " I am stabbed, I am stabbed." I screamed out " Murder," and a neighbour of the name of Leech came over the area rails. Several other neighbours also came in. On cross-examination she said the deceased was a kind and affectionate wife, and the prisoner's conduct was affectionate and kind. The deceased was sixty-three years of age. I did not observe any cause for the prisoner's conduct. The prisoner was the commander of a vessel trading to Constantinople. Previous to this I had observed my master's conduct to be very strange, which had been observed by his wife and relations. It had been proposed that he should be put in confinement, and that she should be separated from him, but she would not consent to it. She was fond of him and kind to him. He sometimes complained of his head, and tore his hair. Mr. Leech, of Southwark-square, went to the prisoner's house on the morning of the 19th of Nov. "The prisoner's appearance was exceedingly wild,and he thought it prudent to call for a stick. He then forced his way into the kitchen and reasoned with him for ill treating his wife. She was on the ground. I said to the prisoner," probably you may be hanged for this." His answer, in a hurried tone, was, " Hanged, hanged; take me to be hanged ! I'll go and be hanged this minute." The police then came in and I gave him in charge. Mr. James Plummer, medical student, took lodgings in the prisoner's house on the 15th. On the 19th, as he was sitting at breakfast, he heard a person come up stairs in a great hurry. It proved to Mrs. Bedwell. She came in and desired I would  not take any notice of what Mr. Bedwell said, adding that she thought he was ill. Mr. Bedwell then came into the room, and said he would not be insulted in his own house, adding that I must seek apartments elsewhere. I had never insulted the prisoner, his wife, or any of his family. On cross-examination, he said that the prisoner appeared in a great passion,and was quite incoherent. Mr. Howell, surgeon, of Union-street, proved that the death of the deceased was caused by the wound in her side. He attended the prisoner last June and July. He then appeared gloomy and melancholy. lam decidedly of opinion, said witness, that he is in an insane state of mind.  The Jury immediately acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity, and the Learned Judge ordered him to be confined, during his Majesty's pleasure.