The Express. — 1848-08-24 (London, England)

MURDBII.--The court was crowded this morning with persons anxious to hear the trial of W. Adams, aged 32, charged with having, at Manchester, wilfully murdered Diana Adams, his wife, by shooting her. The prisoner, on being called upon to plead, said : Labouring under a melancholy degree of excitement, I believe I am guilty.—Clerk of the crown: What do you ssy I—Prisoner : Labouring under a deep degree of excitement, I cannot say whether I was guilty or not. I don't believe I am guilty. The • trial was then proceeded with. Edward Craven, one of the Manchester police, stated, tkat on the morning of the 25th of July he was in Lever-street about halt•put o'clock. Saw the prisoner along with deceased. They ap. pear,d as if they were disputint;,the deceaseddappezred Threnthletemarilleage Priso.netrreetat'le and o into alCateyd-s.treliete; go home with him. She replied that she would not, and they quarrelled. The deceased ran away, followed by the prisoner. He put his hand into his right hand pocket, and took out a pistol, which he presented at the head of the deceased, and it mapped ; he was then about three yards off the deceased. He presented it again, and the deceased fell. He seised the prisoner, and found two pistols upon kiln. The prisoner told the witness to be cautious, so one of the pistols was loaded with ball. The prisoner, who appeared quite calm and cool, was taken to the station-house. The prisoner stated that he had intended to destroy himself with the awed pistol. Witness thought his breath smelt of liquor, but he was sober.—Joseph Rough y, • labourer, residing in Lever street, Manchester, stated that about five o'clock on the morning of the 25th of July he was preparing to go to work, when he heard a woman screaming in the street. He went oat to s..e what was the matter,. and observed the prisoner running atter deceased. The prison: r put his right hand into hie right coat pocket, and pulled out a pistol. He presented it to the head of the deceased and drew the trigger, but it snapped and did net go off. He pulled the trigger back again, and seized the dress of the deceased with his left hand. He presented the pistol again, and this time it went off ; deceased ran about two yards and then tell. At the time the pistol was fired the prisoner could not be above half a yard tram the deceso ed. Witham laid held of the prisoner, who was immediately afterwards taken into custody. Witness was not above five yards off the parties at the time of the occurrence. —Jas.Sorley,superintendent of the Mane-.e-air pollee, stated that when the prisoner was brought to Bridewell on the morning of the occurrence, he told him the charge spinet him, and cautioned him so to what he said. He said "I went to meet my wife this morning in Newton street. I stopped her, and said to her, ' Dinah, love, come and let us live comfortable together.' She said ' No, a gay We I have led, and a gay life I will lead.' I then said to her ' you or I must die.' She replied that she would raise the street en me and called me • foul name. 1 then put my hand 'lto my pocket, drew out • pistol, and shot her. 1 don't think I would have shot her had she not called me that bad name. I have nothing more to say ; I don't care how swoon' die."— Mary Ann Smith had known deceased Inc eight years. Her name was Dinah Thomas. She went to live with the prisoner three years ago. She proved that the prisoner had on lormer occasions threatened her. The jury, after • short consultation, returned • verdict of Guilty. Sentence of death was then passed upon the  prisoner.