The Sun. — 1846-11-11 (London, England)

EDINBURGH HIGH COURT OF  JUSTICIARY. - - CHARGE OF MURDER. Janet Campbell or M'Lellan was on Thursday last placed at the bar, charged with the murder of her husband, James M‘Lellan, by means of arsenic or other poison. The prisoner, who was dressed in deep mourning, and appeared to be about forty years of age, pleaded not guilty. Hugh M‘Grgor Mason, who lived in the same house, proved that on Sunday, the sth July last, the deceased was taken ill immediately after taking his breakfast of tea, which had been prepared by the prisoner, but of which she declined to partake at the time ; that when requested by the deceased to go for a doctor the prisoner excused herself, and the witness went instead, and that the sick man died the same evening. Margaret Drew gave evidence of considerable illfeeling having subsisted between the husband and wife for some length of time before the death; and another witness spoke to threats uttered by the prisoner against the deceased.  Henry North, who appeared to be suffering dread fully from the beating which he had received, and was al lowed a chair whilst he gave his evidence, corroborated the evidence of the other witness. He was endeavour ing to part Smith and Noonan, when a number of per sons came down from an upper room, and he had hardly got to the foot of the stairs when he received two blows on the head, one from Sheen, and the other from a person he did not know. While down he was struck and kicked by several persons at once, and at last succeeded in escaping through the trap-door of the bar, although so nearly strangled that he could not speak. The landlord sent for a cab, and he was taken to the hospital, where plasters were applied to his head and face, and bandages were wound round the whole of the upper part of his body ; and he was still suffering severely from the ill-usage both in his back and on the side of his face. The MAGISTRATE here directed that a certificate should be obtained from the surgeon of the hospital, whither North was about to return, as soon as he had given his evidence. Mr. Thomas Watkins, landlord of the White Hart inn, Milibank-row, stated that he was inside the bar when the circumstances took place, and generally confirmed the evidence which had previously been given. He further stated that after the first part of the fray, which occurred between Smith and Noonan only, the latter went up stairs, and shortly afterwards came down with eight or nine of his friends, and commenced the affray. Police-constable 147 C took the three prisoners into custody as the ringleaders of the uproar, though not without some difficulty. Noonan, who appeared with a couple of black eyes, replied that it was " a fair quarrel " between Smith and himself, and as for the kicking of North he was perfectly unconscious of anything of the kind. Sheen, who exhibited a foot tied up, alleged that he only used his stick to walk with, and that it was not until North had struck him on the bridge of the nose, which " bothered" him ; and he believed that he did strike James almost without knowing anything about it, as he happened to be holding the stick Irish fashion, by the middle—that was all he knew of the matter. Shehen said that all the truth was that he was just having a bit of a raffle for the benefit of his " missus," and the row came on, but he never saw any kicking at all. He would call his witnesses. But the first was a very unfortunate call, for when Mrs. Mary Connor was put into the box she was immediately charged with having struck the constables in the discharge of their duty, and with attempting to rescue the prisoners, and was accordingly taken into custody. The prisoners stating that they had other evidence, which they could not just then adduce, the magistrate remanded them till Saturday. He would allow each of the prisoners to go on bail of 100/. fur themselves, and two sureties of 501. each.