The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1879-05-03 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SCENE IN COURT.  The woman Webster was brought before the Richmond (Surrey) magistrates again on Tuesday charged with murdering Mrs Thomas. Mr Poland prosecuted, and Mr V. Browne defended.—John Church, croßs-examine 1 by Mr Browne, said he had been to the Treasury twice to give information about the case. Had made no statements except to officers of the Treasury. Saw several statements in yesterday's papers  pnr porting to be his, they were ntit eiaaly erne. Were not got directly from him. Narrative of his evidence given by Inspector Pearman, Mr Mentinnick, and Mr Hughes was true. There were little insocuracies. Had talked the cdse over with his wife. Could not remember where be was born, it was so long ago. Was between 19 and 20 when he joined the army. Did not remember what his occupation was before he joined the army for a living, but he did work for a liv.  jug before he joined the army. Could not remember what produced his discharge, which put him down as a olerk when he enlisted; but he was not a clerk. Recruits did not always give the real description. He was in the Bengal Cavalry before entering the army—in the old East India Company's service— and was in Lydia at the time of the transfer. After that he joinel the 11th Hussars. Could not remember what he described himself when r he joined the Bengal Cavalry at the age of 19. Was not a native of Waterford. It was not correct to describe himself as born in the parish of Marylebone, but be might have described himself EIR such when he joined the Hussars. He produced his "small book" or military.e lger, supplied to and kept by every soldier. He was not properly descrioed in the book. He gave the description himself. He had no permanent residence before he joined the HUBBIVB, as he was in the Bengal Light Cavalry. His brother kept the "Queen Elizabeth" publ;c-house at Fulham. His name was James Joseph. He had one sister. She lived at Chatham. He was enlisted at Soho Square for the Bengal Cavalry, and served nearly 3 years. He was promoted to corporal, and was orderly to two generals in the Hussars. He became coachman to Mr Allen, Pall Mall, after leaving the army, and was two years and a-half in his service. He purchased the Rising Sun beer and wine house for about £5OO. He had not occupied, managed, or resided in any other publichouse. It would not be true if it was sworn be had resided in a public-house in Clare Market. He had known Vie prisoner only since the 9th of March, when she W3H introduced to him. He never knew her when she lived in Rose Cottages six years ago. Church, hesitating on being pressed to account for his time at Vine Cottage on the 17th, the prisoner Webster, crying, broke out, addressing him : "You scoundrel, you know you took the brandy upstairs and tried to make me drunk;" and then, to the Bench, " He knows, sir, he topk my character away seven years ago, and he disowns me now."— Church denied that he was upstairs that day, or that he had ever received stolen property.—The further hearing of the case was then adjourned until Saturday.