The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-05-17 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

THE RICHMCND MURDER.  Kate 'Webster, the domestic servant charged with the murder of her mistress, Mrs. Thomas, at 2, Vine Cottages, Richmond, on or about the 2nd March last, was again brought up on Saturday at the Richmond Police Court. The case for the prosecution closed on Friday, and Saturday was principally taken up with the reading over of the depositions. Mr. Poland was not present, the Crown being represented by Mr. Batchelor, of the Solicitor's Department of the Treasury. Mr. Valentine Browne also did not arrive until some time alter the commencement of the case.  The boy Porter, upon his evidence being read, desired to make a correction. In hie examination in chief the witness said, referring to his visit with the prieoner to Vine Cottages, "She had two keys, and opened the side door." This was inaccurate, as witness had the keys. Porter was accordingly re-sworn and said: She gave the keys to me at the Oxford and Cambridge beer-house, and I gave them to ber when we got to Vine Cottages. Julia Nicholls next stepped forward, but before her evidence wae.read_over,_  Mr. Batchelor said he had two or three questions to put to her, and the witness was accordingly resworn. She said: I remember seeing Mrs. Thomas at church on Sunday, the 2nd of March. She wore a blue bonnet, trimmed with red. The bonnet which the police have shown me is the same.  Mr. O'Brien said that as the bonnet was in evidence it ought to be shown to the witness.  _ Pending —the production of the bonnett, the depositions of several other witnesses were read and signed. Mr. Browne having now arrived, said : I regret that I was not able to be present at the opening of the Court, and I understand that tht. boy Porter has given fresh evidence, which, as I understand it, is not an amendment or a correction of a statement already made. The evidence as it stood was that on the night of the 4th, the boy Darter went with the prisoner to the house and removed the box, and he says that he had the keys. I will show you the materiality of this evidence as against the prisoners—l think I put it to the boy in crossexamination—Didn't the prisoner leave the boy and go into a house or hotel in Richmond, where she got the keys from Church; that she left Church then, proceeded to Vine Cottages, and brought away the box, joining Church at the bridge. As new evidence has been brought out to-day, I have to request that that evidence may not be allowed to remain upon the depositions, as I have had no opportunity of cross-examining. The Chairman: The question which you have raised, Mr. Browne, originated with the boy Porter. While his depositioes were being read over the boy said, with regard to the keys, that he had them. I don't think we can withdraw that correction from the deposition.  Mr. Browne: The case for the Crown closed yesterday, and I apply that, as this is fresh evidence, the boy Porter should be asked to sign his evidence afresh.  The Chairman: The Bench would not allow the introduction of new matter.  Mr. Batchelor sub—m-i-t-te-d- that if a witness were not allowed to make any corrections in his evidence, the reading over of the depositions would be useless. The Chairman: The Bench decides to retain the evidence.  Julia Nichols was then recalled, and having been shown the bonnet said that it was the same which Mrs. Thomas had worn on the Sunday night. Cross-examined by Mr. Browne: That is the bonnet Mrs. Thomas wore on Sunday evening, the 2nd of March. I saw her at the Lecture Hall before the service. I saw Mrs. Thomas, and spoke to her. It was about a quarter to seven o'clock when I saw her. I have also seen her at the house of Miss Roberts, my mistress. Mrs. Thomas was a frequent visitor at Miss Roberts. I know that at about the time of the boat race many blue bonnets are worn in Richmond. The trimmings of the bonnet produced are of an ordinary character, but I have never seen any similar. There is nothing remarkable about the bonnet. When I saw Mrs. Thomas at the Lecture Hall I was not particularly struck with the bonnet. As soon as Miss Roberts told me that Mrs. Thomas was murdered—that was the Wednesday before the prisoner was taken—l thought about the bonnet.  The reading of the depositions havine been concluded, the enquiry was adjourned until Friday next, when the prisoner's counsel will open the case for the defence.