The Express. — 1848-02-05 (London, England)

DELIBERATE MURDER OF A SOLDIER IN ST. JAMBS'S PARK. Shortly before five o'clock yesterday afternoon, a soldier of the Foot Guards was deliberately shot in Bird-cagewalk, St. James's Park. by a V/0011111. We glean from the various reports of the assassination which have been sent us the following particulars The deceased, Charles Duckee, was about 21 years of age, and was • native of Leicester, where his family, who are stated to be persons of reepect..bility, reside. He entered the Coldstream Guards about three years since, and was considered • smart soldier. The female, it appears, is a native of France, of the name of Annette Mayers, about 26 years of age, and said to possess great personal attractions, and was living so a kind of upper servant at 40, Albion-street, Hyde Park. About 12 months since, and while tke regiment was lying at Kensington, she became acquainted with a private named Hull, who is in the 7th company, but they quarrelled a few weeks since, and about a month or five weeks ago the deceased offered his company, which was accepted, and from that period up to the fatal event they frequently met. Within the last week or two another female had made her appearance at the Wellington Barracks, who it is stated was deceased's wife. This by some means came to the knowledge of Mayers. At four o'clock yesterday afternoon Duckee went with his company (the .sth) to drill, and they were kept on parade about half an hour. While they were performing the evolutions Mayers was Observed to be looking through the railings, and as the men were dismissed from parade, she went to the gate of the barracks, and was soon joined by the deceased. They both shook hands, and appeared to be on the most friendly terms. They were observed to laugh with each other, and to walk together as far as the Queen-square-gate, when the female suddenly dropped behind, and taking a large horse-pistol out of her pocket, discharged the contents at the head of the unfortunate soldier, who, without uttering a groan, fell on his face a lifeless corpse, exhibiting only for a moment a alight motion of the leg. Two policemen, named Paul and Richards, both off duty, witnessed the occurrence. Paul immediately seized the prisoner.—The millets had entered immediately under the left ear, through the right eye, shattering the head in a most frightful manner. Paul, on taking hold of her, said, "You have shot the soldier:' She replied, " I did it; I intended to do it." Oa being conveyed to the station-house in Gardener's lane, she was searched, b y the matron, but previously handed to the inspector the pistol, pouch, and three letters. On the charge being entered, the inspector asked her what she wished to state, upon which she replied the she had done it. It appears that the prisoner bought weapon a few days' since of Mr. Beattie, a pawnbroker, is Regentatreet, for ten shillings. Meanwhile a stretcher was procured by Davy, 4G A, Serwant Dalgeish, and Paul; and the body was conveyed to the wellington-barracks, where Dr. Skelton, the regimental surgeon, examined the wound, and pronounced the man quite dead, the ball basing passed through the brain. The Adjutant, Colonelldilman, and several other officers were also present. The police-constable remembers seeing Mayers walking in the Birdcage-walk on the previous afternoon, when she was laughing and joking with other soldiers ; but Duckee was then on racquet, and of course could not leave the barracks—had he done so, it is too probable his death would have been a day earlier. The following are the names of the persons who presented themselves at the station as competent to give evidence in relation to tho affair :—Sarah Sexton, of 29, West-creet, Pimlico; Henry Killington, of Earlatreet, Kensington and John Gainrcsal, • private in the 6th company of the 2nd battalion of Coldstream Guards. On being placed in a cell, the prisoner inquired whether Duckee was dead. She was informed that be was, whereupon she declared that she did not care now how soon she was dead herself. While the charge was being entered, ske appeared to be labouring under intense mental excitement. On her removal to the cell, in which she is constantly watched by an officer, she became more composed, and spoke occasionally to him.