The Sun. — 1825-11-21 (London, England)

THE CORONER'S INQUEST.  The Jury met on Thursday to investigate the case. Joseph White, a surgeon, proved, that the deceased had died from  , . .„ . .........,.... wounds inflicted with some obtusely-pointed instrument.. of considerable weight. The jaw of the deceased was fractured ; there. was a wound on the back of the neck, and three on the -skull.  Elizabeth Burrows said, I am nearly 14 years of age, and am no relation to Mrs. Wood. I have lived in the house ofi the deceased either a fortnight, or three. weeks. I lived with Mr. B. Dunn, who lodges there; he is my,uncle. Samuel Wood, Mrs. Wood,- and myself, got our suppers together ; no other person was in the house, except three of Wood's children, who were up stairs in bed. After supper, Samuel Wood wanted me to go to bed, but Mrs. Wood said I had better sit up with her un-ttl my uncle came. The deceased and Wood were drinking rum and water. They had no quarrel then, but were very merry. They talked, but I cannot remember what about. Wood was very much in liquor, and when he was going up stairs, as if to bed, he fell on his knees on the. stairs. Mrs. Wood told me to go up stairs, and wait till he was gone to sleep. I went and took a candle. In about five minutes I beard him go down again ; he then came up stairs again, and tried my room door, which was fast. He again went down, and I heard Mrs. Wood call him a rogue, and said she would go and see if she could•not fetch a constable. I did not hear Wood say any' thing, nor mention money. 1 heard the deceased crying, and shriek out " murder!" I immediately ran down stairs, and saw her on the house floor ; she was not bloody then ; he was across he. She had hold of , the coal-pick, struggling to prevent him hitting her with it. He got it from her, and gave her three blows, having hold bf the coal-pick with 'both hands, as hard as he could, over her head. &he did not speak after the first blow. The blood flew all about after he began to strike. When he was upon her I ran up to him and said, "Oh ! Mr. Wood, what are you doing ?" He did not speak, but got off from her and ran after me. The door was a little open, I catched hold of it, and whipped out before he could get hold of me, I cried out, and many personS who lived opposite heard meand tame to me.. Never saw the coal-pick in the house before; -there was another hammer to break coals with.  William Wainwright, watchmaker, Bridlesmith-gate, said, Wood came to my house on Tuesday, and said he wished to speak to me, for he had something on his mind which made him very uneasy. I asked him what it was? He told me he had caught a person in an improper situation 'with his wife on Saturday, and that he was a ruined man. He asked me what he should do ? I advised him to. discharge the person coming into the house, and-licOmfortablY with his wife.— 'He said he could not live comfortably with her any more, and that "he should do something in a few days which all would be astonished at." I asked him what he would do? He said he would leave the town.  John Simpson sworn—l was passing near the Milton's Head, and heard the shriek of " murder !" I ran and saw the little -girl (Elizabeth Burrows) running away, and Wood running after her, with a coal-pick in his hand ; he followed her about -seven yards, and then. turned back into the house. He closed -the door after him. I heard him give something a blow, but what I could not tell. In a few seconds I heard him drop something, which I judged to be a coal-hammer. In about Calf a minute.after he came out, and was making his escape towards the open paddock. He had not either coat, waistcoat, or handkerchief on. Asked Wood what he had done so for ? -Wood answered, " Oh ! good Lord, what could I do when I caught her in the fact ?  Other witnesses were called, who confirmed the evidence, and the Jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Wood. The deceased bore an irreproachable character in the neighbourhood, so that the statement of the prisoner respecting her conduct is entitled to little or no credit.