The Sun. — 1859-12-10 (London, England)

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, DEC. 8. (Before Mr. Baron Martin.) Thomas Mills was indicted for the wilful murder of Rebecca Mills, on the 18th of October last. The Hon. A. Liddell and Mr. F. Ileadlam prosecuted ; Mr. Davison and Mr. Bruce defended. It appeared that the prisoner and his wife on the 18th of October last had been to Acomb, celebrating the event of gutting the first timbers on the roof of a eottage which the prisoner was at that time building. It was shown by the evidence in the case that the prisoner and his wife came to a public-house kept by a person called Ridley about ten o'clock on that evening ; both were at that time intoxicated ; they remained here until nearly 11, nothing having transpired beyond a few words occasioned by the prisoner objecting to his wife smokini, a pipe and having more drink. They then left, and proceeded homewards by a by-road, accompanied by a man named Rutherford, who had left Ridley's publichouse with them. The wife appears to have used abusive language to he husband while the three proceeded on their road linked arm in arm, the prisoner being in the centre; she also lost hold of her husband's arm, and staggered across the road to the wall. On her return it was shown that her husband struck at her and she fell. The blow was repeated, and with the same effect. Rutherford at that time, hearinr, what he supposed to be the steps of persons approaching, went in search of assistance. lie returned, however, without any, and found the ,deceased lying on the ground near the Wall on her right side, and the prisoner striking and kicking her. After this Rutherford made every effort to pacify the prisoner and asked him and the deceased to go with him to Acomb Colliery, which was near this spot, where he was an engineman, to pass the night. The prisoner appeared to have agreed to this but his wife turned towards Ridley's. The prisoner followed his wife, and seems again to have assaulted her. Upon this Rutherford returned to Ridley's public-house, and procured the assistance of two men named .Neaje and Hall. They all then returned to the spot where the prisoner and his wife had been left (a distance of about 200 yards), and found* the deceased lying on the ground, the prisoner sitting astride her body, beating her neck and head with both his hands. They were separated, and in the course of separation the prisoner twice fell on the road.) &They appear then to have placed the cloak or shawl of the deceased over her, and she having said, "Hush, I'm not much, worse; he does not know where lam now," they left her lying on one' side of the road and the prisoner on tile other. On their return to Ridley's they met a girl named Herdman. She, it appeared, after they pasSed fier, heard other screams, and 'proceeded' in; a direction towards the prisoner and his wife, and then observed, both being on their ,feet, that the prisoner: struck his wife on the back, and then kicked lier;Upou which she again spoke to an expressibn lased by the prisonee to his wife at the time, " You you have often provoked nee, but this shall be the last time." Herd roan; being frightened, immediately returned to Acomb, the prisoner following her, and 10 minutes atter tho occurrences she' had witnessed the prisoner and his wife, accompanied by two policemen, passed the door of her master's house. These policemen, it appeared, had heard the screams at about a tThey asked e of distance of half a mile, and on proceeding to the wasr cethetieliy mnignat:tfi t spot whence they appeared to come found the deceased in her re s thoroad.ewmadeai,towards h n oe village complaint,sdher awhat the prisoner met them, upon which the deceased said, " Here, t The p he police arc taking me." Acomb and o i proceeding i prisoner