The Sun. — 1839-05-20 (London, England)

THE LATE HORRID MURDER IN CADOGAN-PLACE, CHELSEA-CORONER'S INQLTEST.-(THIS DAY.)  This morning, at 9 o'clock, Thomas Waklev, Esq., M. P., and a most respectable Jury assembled at the Bedford Arms Tavern, Pont-street, Cadogan-place, Chelsea, for the purpose of investigating the death of Elizabeth Paynton, aged 20, the unfortunate young female who was discovered brutally murdered on Friday night last, at the residence of her master, Mr. Edgell, of No. 21, Cadogan place, Sloanc-street. The shocking occurrence has created a most painful excitement in Chelsea, and the surrounding districts, and at a very early hour vast numbers of persons were assembled round the above house. The anxiety was con. siderably increased, in consequence of Alarchant, the murderer of the poor girl, being in custody. On the arrival of the Coroner the Jury. room was crowded to excess. Captain Bague, Mr. France, and other Magistrates were present. After the Jury were impannelled in the ordinary way they proceeded, accompanied by the Coroner, to view the remains of the ill-fated girl, which laid on the carpet in the drawing-room of Mr. Edgell's house. The sight was both horrid and afflicting ; the head was nearly severed from the body, and from the general appearance the latter presented it is evident the deceased made a determined resistance to the murderer's attack upon her. On the return of the Jury to the inquest-room the CORONER briefly addressed them on the subject of the melancholy duty they were called upon to perform, in the course of which he observed that the difficulties in the case were in a great measure done away with by the accused having surrendered himself into the hands of justice. By the Coroner's order the prisoner, who was conveyed from Hounslow (where he surrendered himself) by Inspector Lawrence of the T division, was brought into the room, but immediately afterwards he became dreadfully agitated and fainted. On his neck-kerchief being loosened he came to, and looking wildly round the room, went into a paroxysm of tears, in which condition he was removed from the room. He is a man of youthful appearance, and of rather a forbidding expression of countenance. The following evidence was then brought forward touching this dreadful affair:— John Middleton, coachman to Harry Edgell, Esq., a Magistrate of the county of Middlesex, residing at No. 21, Cadogan-place, Sloane-street, was first examined.-1 knew the deceased, who was under housemaid in the same family. I also know Merchant, the young man in custody charged with the murder. He is footman to my master. I saw the deceased last alive about a week since, when I went with my master to North Cray, in Kent; about eight I o'clock on Friday evening I returned to town with the carriage, my master remaining at North Cray; whilst in the stable the cook and housemaid came to me and said they had been knocking for admission to the house for the last hour but could make no one hear. I went round to the back door, accompanied by a fellow-servant, and clambered up to the back staircase window, but found it fastened ; ultimately he burst the back-door open ; on going into the kitchen I found neither light or fire. I then opened the street-door for the housemaid and cook. By the