The Sun. — 1844-03-04 (London, England)

UNION-HALL.  A woman named Mary Carroll, the wife of a shoemaker in Birdcage-alley, in the Mint, was charged with the murder of Elizabeth Hobbs, the wife of an engineer, under the the following circumstances:— Police-sergeant Sturgeon stated that he was called in that morning to the house, No. 2, Birdcage-alley, kept by.the prisoner's husband • He (the sergeant) examined the body, and saw marks of violence-Visible on the deceased's temple, and also on the side of the cheek, from which the blood was still oozing. He also perceived the room was in a state of great disorder, as if an affray had taken place. He produced a poker and a large fork, which he found on the floor of the-room. Having been informed that the prisoner and her husband were seen to have attacked the deceased, he took the former into custody, her husband having absconded. 65 M stated that he entered the house shortly after the murder, at which time the body of the deceased was warm, and it exhibited marks of violence, particularly about the head and face. The prisoner's husband had abscamded.  Sarah Somers stated that she lived next door to the prisoner's house, in Birdcage-alley, and that between 10 and 11 o'clock that morning, she was alarmed by hearing cries of " Murder" proceed from there, that She went to see what was the matter, and on looking through. a crevice of the door, she heard the deceased and the prisoner'and her husband quarrelling. The deceased charged prisoner's husband with keeping a pair of boots belonging to her, and after a good deal of quarrelling, the witness said the prisoner and her husband both attached the deceased, whom they struck about the head, and she fell down. Heard the deceased exclaim, " Don't ,strike me with the poker, you transported The witness added that in about a quarter of an hour afterwards she went into the house, and found deceased was lying dead in the room. Another witness, named Grey, gave similar evidence as to havinc, heard cries of " murder" proceed from the prisoner's house at the time mentioned, and of his hav•! ing heard the words uttered by the deceased at the time of the affray, afterwards seeing the deceased lying dead, and the marks of violence on her person. In reply to Mr. COTTINGIIAM, the police-sergeant said that a meeical man had seen the deceased, and pronounced that the marks of violence apparent on the deceased were inflicted with a blunt instrument, but, without a post mortem examination, the precise cause of her death could not be ascertained.  The deceased's husband,---anengitleer, stated that he  and his wife lodged in the prisoner's house for the last two months, and that she was a sober woman. That he was not aware of any cause for quarrelling between his wife and the prisoner. That he left home at six o'clock that morning to go to his work, and when he returned he found his wife dead in the room, and the marks of violence about her head. He added that his wife was quite a young woman, that he never knew her to have a day's illness, and that she was in perfect health when he left her that morning to go to his work. Another witness stated that she saw the deceased before the affray which led to her death, and she then appeared to be labouring under the effects of liquor. The deceased's husband said that he had never seen her the worse for liquor. The prisoner expressed a wish to describe the particulars of the case, and what led to the deceased's death —that she had a heavy fall down stairs. Mr. COTTINGHAM said that it was a most serious charge; that at the present stage of the inquiry he would recommend -the prisoner to be silent until her husband was in custody; that a full.investigation would take place; and that for that purpose he should remand her until next Wednesday. The Magistrate gave directions that no time should be lost in apprehending the prisoner's husband.