The Sun. — 1870-06-04 (London, England)

THE MURDER OF A STEPMOTHER.  Yesterday', at the Thames Police-court, William Redhead, aged 18 years, was brought up on remand before Mr. Lushington, charged with the wilful murder of Sarah Redhead, his stepmother, at No.-80, Sidney-street, Stepney, on Monday afternoon last. Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, appeared for the prisoner. He was instructed to defend the youth by Captain Munro, of the 7th Tower Hamlets Volunteers. Agentleman representing the firm by whom the prisoner was employed was also present, and manifested great interest on his behalf. Mr. Robert Edward Swyer, surgeon, of the Mile-endroad, said he had made a post-mortem examinatfon of the body of the deceased. A bullet had fractured the tenth rib, passed through the bodY, and lacerated the heart in its passage, causing immediate death. From the position of the wound he believed the deceased was coming down stairs, and as she turned the curve of the stairs she was shot. The prisoner must have come out of his room and fired at the deceased. Mary Ann Morris, the wife of James Morris, labourer, and living in the house where the murder was committed, said she was on the landing on the top of the first-floor stairs when the shot was fired. The deceased was walking down stairs, and had nearly reached the bottom, when she was shot. The deceased had just left the room in which the witness lived, and followed her out of the room. Directly afterwards she heard the report of a gun, and smoke ascended the staircase and deceased fell. The prisoner was standing up in his room close to the door when she saw him. Mr. Philip Norris Page, sergeant in the 7th Tower Hamlets Rifles, said the prisoner was a member of that corps, and was practising at the range on Saturday last. He delivered to him 30 rounds of ball cartridges. The prisoner fired 20 of them at the range, and had 10 rounds left. The prisoner returned eight of them, and fired tu o for himself a% practice. Mr. Edward Worels, superintendent of the K division of police, said that, after reading the charge to the prisoner at the station-house on Monday afternoon lastj he asked him if he had any answer to make, and his reply was, " All that I can say is that my stepmother has been very unkind to me and my sister. That is all I have to say. ' Annie Brighton, in addition to her former evidence, said that when she stepped over the body of the deceased after leaving her room, the feet were towards the stairs and the head towards the street door, and she believed the deceased fell off the last step. Mr. Worels—That completes the case for the prosecution. Mr. Charles Young.—l am entrusted with the defence of this most unfortunate lad. lam aware that your worship has no alternative but to commit him for trial on the grave charge of murder. I have numerous witnesses to speak to the mild and inoffensive character of the prisoner, and his uniform good conduct in all the relations of life, but I will not call them here. His employers have also sent their representative to this court to speak to his fidelity, honesty, and attention during the three years he was in their service. The prisoner will reserve his defence. Mr. Lushington committed the prisoner for trial.