The Sun. — 1842-12-03 (London, England)

PARKE.)  CUARGE OF WILFUL MURDER.—Robert Williamson, aged 63, described in the calendar as a baker was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife. Hei was also similarly charged at the Coroner's inquest. Mr. Clarkson was counsel for the. prosecution, and Mr. C. Jones defended the prisoner. From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner was a Chelsea pensioner, living in Chelsea Hospital with his wife. On the 26th of October it appeared that the prisoner and his wife returned home to the Hospital intoxicated ; the wife fell down stairs, or, as it was asserted on the part of the prosecution, the prisoner, who had quarrelled with her, knocked her down stairs. From the fall, after lingering for some time at St. George's Hospital, she expired. Mr. JONES, at considerable length, addressed the Jury for the prisoner. Several Chelsea pensioners and others gave the prisoner an excellent character for humanity. Lord DENMAN summed up, and The Jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner Guilty of manslaughter, but strongly recommended him to mercy.—Sentence deferred. William Dewey, 40, a soldier, was next charged with the wilful murder of Ellen Derrick.  The prisoner, by the Coroner's inquisition, appeared to be charged with the offence of manslaughter. Mr. Charnock defended the prisoner. In this case, it appeared that the deceased had lived with the prisoner as his wife for several years, and on the day mentioned in the indictment the prisoner was seen assisting the deceased, who was very much intoxicated, along the street, and she was observed to fall several times. The prisoner picked her up, and when she fell, some of the witnesses expressed their opinion that the prisoner kicked her, but the fact was by no means distinctly proved. When the prisoner got the deceased home he obtained the assistance of the neighbours, and appeared to have done all he could for her relief.  Mr. Baron PARKE, at the close of the evidence for the prosecution, said that there did not appear to be any foundation for the charge of murder, but he must confess that he was surprised, when the Coroner's Jury had returned a verdict of manslaughter only, that a charge of murder should be preferred against the prisoner. _ _ _  Vord Chief Justice DENMAN said he quite concurred in the observations that had been made by his Learned Brother, and he thought that they applied equally to the ormer case. He could not help expressing his opinion that in such cases as these it was most cruel to put an individual upon Ms trial for his life.  Mr. CHARNOCK then addressed the Jury, and said that the prisoner and the public were indebted to the Learned Judges for the opinion they had expressed in reference to this and the preceding case, and he trusted it would have the effect of preventing, for the future, such an -occurrence, as that an individual should be subjected to the terror and misery of being arraigned upon a charge affecting his life when the evidence could not, by any means, support such an indictment. The Learned Counsel was then about to proceed to comment upon the facts as affecting a charge of manslaughter, when the Jury stopped him, and said they had made up their minds, and considered the charge was not made out against the prisoner. Baron