The Sun. — 1861-10-02 (London, England)

THE MURDER A 7 BIRIVIIVGIIIV. THE INQUEST.  BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAY. This evening an inquest was held on the body of the unfortunate woman,. Anne Walker, who was murdered on Sunday last by John Thompson, with whom she had cohabited. The inquiry took place before J. B. Davies, Esq., at the Hope and I.'l.nchor, Coleshill-street. The prisoner was present. The first witness examined was Sarah Berris,ford, who deposed that she was a single woman, living in Tanter-street, and several young women lodges,' with her. Deceased was a married woman, and had three children ; but having parted from her husband she had lately lived as housekeeper to the prisoner Thompson, at Sutton Coldfield. On Saturday night last deceased asked her (witness) if they, meaning herself and prisoner, could have a bed, as it was too late for them to go to Sutton. After hesitating some time she consented. The following day deceased and prisoner went out twice for a walk together. The second time the deceased returned at three o'clock alone, and asked witness if sho might go and lie down for half an hour, and she appeared rather the worse for liquor. Deceased then went up to bed, and in a few minutes after the prisoner entered the house and said, " Where's Anne ?" Witness replied that she had gone to lie down—uyon which the prisoner walked out of the house, but returned in five minutes, and went up to the bedroom in which deceased was lying. Witness, in a quarter of an hour 'afterwards, had occasion to go upstairs, and when she went into the room occupied by the deceased and the prisoner she saw the latter on his knees rubbing deceased's arms, which had been hurt by a fall. Prisoner said to deceased, in a kindly tone, " Will you go home, Anne ?" when she replied; " No, I won't yet." Witness then left:the room and went down stairs, but, hearing a scream, she returned again, and saw deceased lying on her back, bleeding, and heard her say " I said I would go with him" two or three times. The prisoner was standing about a yard off with a knife in his hand, and it was covered with blood, and he said, several times, " I have done it." Witness then ran down stairs crying " Murder," and went to look for a policeman, and, having found one, she went for a doctor. The deceased was pregnant at the time of her death.  The prisoner, on being asked if he had any question to put, said, " No; but she has said a good deal that is true, besides a good deal that is not true." Elizabeth Green said she lived in the house belonging to the last witness, and on Sunday afternoon last was sitting in the kitchen when she heard a noise upstairs. She went up a few steps and met Sarah Berrisford coming down, exclaiming " Good God ! the man is killing the woman." Witness went up into the room from which the noise and screams came, and saw the deceased lying on her back on the floor, and the prisoner kneeling over her passing a knife across her throat several times. There were no other persons in theroom but Thompson and deceased. She had not heard any quarrelling between them during the time they were in tha house. She saw the prisoner enter the house and go upstairs the last time, and he did not appear to be drunk. She (witness) slept in the next bed to prisoner and deceased on Saturday night, but heard no altercation between them.  William Carless deposed that he was passing along Stafford-street on Sunday afternoon last when he heard a cry of murder proceeding from a house in Tanter-street. Ile went to the place, when two young women directed him upstairs. He went up to the bedroom where he saw the prisoner standing and the deceased' lying on the floor bleeding. Witness said to the man " What have you done this for," at the same time mitching hold of him by the coat. Prisoner replied " I have done it," and then handed him a pocket-knife stained with blood. A police-officer then entered the room, and took the prisoner into custody. Could not say whether deceased was alive or dead at the time.  Other evidence having been given, the jury, after deliberating an hour, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner.