The Sun. — 1848-01-10 (London, England)

THE GOLDEN-LANE MURDER.' Harriett Parker, who stands charged with the wilful murder of Robert Henry Blake and Armenia Blake, the two children of Robert H. Birke, with whom she had been two years previously cohabiting, was on Saturday finally examined before Mr. Tyrwhitt, the sitting magistrate, at the Clerkenwell police .court. The wretched woman when brought into the court walked boldly into the dock, and having coolly surveyed the numerous assemblage in the crowded court, seated herself in the seat provided for her. The first witness called was Robert Henry Blake, the father of the murdered children, who repeated the evidence he gave at the opening of the inquest. Mr. TYRWH ITT, at the conclusion of the evidence, asked the prisoner if she wished to ask any questions of the witness. The prisoner firmly said—l want to ask him whether he is sure that it was lead tied up in the corner of my handkerchief, as he has stated, when I was following him about as he has described. Blake—l am not, but I believe that it was. Prisoner—lt was not—it was a square piece of tile. That is all I have to ask.  Jane Jones, a venteel-looking young woman, about 20 years of age, was the next witness examined. She repeated the evidence she gave at the adjourned inqu'est on Monday last. The prisoner declined putting any question to that witness.  John Hewlett was the third witness. He also repeated the evidence he had given at the inquest on Monday last. The whole of the witnesses who had been examined in the case having signed their depositions, Mr. TYRWHITT addressed the prisoner, and informed her that she was at liberty to make any statement she pleased, but it was at the same time his duty to tell her that whatever she might think proper to say would be taken down in writing, and in all probability used against her at her trial. The prisbner then rose from her seat, and in a firm voice said, " I merely wish to state why I followed Blake. He. came home at a quarter before five in the afternoon of the 31st of December, and said to me, ' Make haste and get the tea, and get me some water to wash me, for I'm in a hurry, and have got to meet a girl at the top of Old-street. I'm going to take her to the play.' I then said, If that's the case you may go to her to make yotir tea, for I won't ;' after which he washed himself and went out, anti I followed him to the Duke of Bedford, where he said he had to be at the stump or post at fifteen minutes after five. I SAC, I wouid follow, and I would see his party ; and he said, "fhen come, she will not be ashamed of looking at you ;' and then we went away, mew and him and Hewlett, to the post, where Blake said, ' This stump knows me, and I'll kiss it for the sake of them I'm going to see;' and he did kiss it, and he looked at Hewlett and laughed, and said (pointing to me), ' 11.' hat do you think of her ? She is jealous ? Hewlett laughed and made some remark, and hoped we should be comfortable. We had previously been in a liquor vault, and nad some gin. Well, from the stump we came down Goswell-street, where Blake said, Hewlett (alluding to me), I can get her monkey up at any time; I'm going to meet a little wench.' He went down Fan-street, and back to the Duke of Bedford, and I lost sight of him up to to-day." The prisoner here raised her voice, and pointing to Blake and Jones, said, " Him and that woman there has been the cause of all our misfortunes, and the death of the children lies at their door. Until he became acquainted with her we had plenty, but during the fortnight he knew her, me and the children had nothing to eat but bread and dripping. That is all."  Mr. TYRWHITT then committed her to Newgate for trial.  Previous to her departure she said to Waddington, the gaoler, she wished to be hanged, and hoped she would not be transported. Her firmness astonished every one in court.