The Sun. — 1868-10-15 (London, England)

THE CHARGE OF MURDERING A RUSBAND AT LEAMINGTON.  On Wednesday, at theMeamington Petty Sessions, Laws  Court, a besotted-looking woman, was charged witt  having wilfully and of malice aforethought killed and murdered her husband, Isaac Edwin Court, at Learning• 'nn.  The prisoner said, in reply to the charge, her husband fell downstairs himself.  The post-mortem examination of the body, it was stated, had not been completed. The first witness called was Inspector Horswill, who said that about half-past ten o'clock on Monday night he went to the deceased's house ; he saw a light in the shop, and after Police-constable Hunt had kicked at the door for some time the prisoner appeared at the bedroom window. She was dressed, but professed she was in bed. She said she did not know where her husband was, and refused to admit them into the house. By and by the prisoner came downstairs, turned the gas off in the shop, and opened the street door. He and Hunt went into the house, and, on looking down the cellar stairs, which open out of a passage between the shop and kitchen, they found the deceased lying dead on the floor at the bottom. He apprehended the prisoner on the charge of being concerned in the death of her husband, when she said, " I couldn't help it ; he came in drunk. I said, ' Don't fall on me,' and he went towards the cellar steps, put his hand out as if to reach something from the shelf, and fell down the steps." She was not drunk at this time, but seemed under the influence of liquor. He asked her when her husband came in drunk, and she said " To-day." When in custody at the police-station she made a similar statement as to her husband's falling downstairs, but said it occurred three or four days ago, in the daytime—she believed the previous Friday. A. thimble was found near the body. The prisoner declined to ask any questions, but said she tried with all her might to pull her husband up when he fell down the cellar-stairs.  Mrs. Ruth Payne, the wife of a car-driver, living next loor to the deceased, deposed that on Thursday night last the prisoner and the deceased came home drunk. Shortly cater twelve o'clock she heard a heavy fall in Court's house, apparently as of some one falling on the floor of the kitchen at the back of the shop. On Friday the prisoner told her her husband had gone away. On Sunday morning prisoner was crying, but witness did not know what about.  Mrs. Julia Daly, who lived opposite to the shop of tne deceased, said the prisoner told her that her husband had gone to Birmingham for a spree. On Sunday she went to the prisoner's house, and saw her crying and washing her face. Witness wanted to go into the cellar to look for the deceased, when prisoner replied, " He's not there ; I waa there this morning myself." On Monday prisoner said she aad written two letters to Birmingham to her sister, inquiring about her husband, and was going to write another. The same night she said, " He's gone and 'listed !or a soldier."  Mrs. Charlotte Poulton, of the Black Dog Inn, Satchwell-street, said the prisoner and deceased were at her Rouse on Thursday night. They were both drunk, but left about nine o'clock, apparently on very friendly terms. On Saturday night prisoner came and asked if her husband was in the taproom. She told her he was not, and she eplied, " Then he's at home asleep." On Sunday night prisoner came again, when witness accused her of having gone something to her husband, and threatened to send for i policeman to see where he was. Prisoner said he was tone for a soldier. Witness told her servant to go 'or a policeman, but the prisoner pushed her back, said 'he would not have a policeman about her place, left the louse, went home, and locked the door. She was more or ess under the influence of drink every time witness saw ler. She seemed more sober on Monday night. The Bench remanded the prisoner for a week. It is stated that there are injuries on the body of the deceased which cannot be accounted for by a fall downstairs, tithough they are not the actual cause of death.