Widnes Examiner. — 1895-12-14 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH.  AN ACCOMPLICE ARRESTED IN COURT.  At the Warwick ASSIZ9S on Tuesday, Sarah Ann Eden, a midwife, was indicted for the murder of Rebecca Simister, a married woman, at Aston, it being alleged that she had performed an illegal operation which had proved fatal. Before her death Mrs. Simister told her husband what had been done, and it was asserted that the prisoner then begged him not to tell the doctors who had been called to attend Mrs. Simister. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to death. The Judge remarked that the crime was only too common. He hoped the sentence would deter others from pursuing this wicked trade. The same prisoner and Matilda Manning, dressmaker,of Aston, were jointly indicted for the manslaughter of Mabel Gordon, a barmaid, of Leeds, on the 28th of October, by performing an illegal operation. Eden was, however, not put upon her trial in this case. The principal witness was John Hineson, commercial traveller, of Hull, who said he had been intimate with the deceased woman Mabel Gordon, and in September she informed him of her condition. He made arrangements for her to go to Manning's house at Aston. He had written a letter to Manning with respect to Mabel Gordon going to her house, but he had destroyed the letters which he had received in reply to his letters. He admitted writing a letter to the prisoner beginning " My darling Tilly," in which he said : "You ask me about Miss Gordon knowing the relations between us. She knew nothing when I wrote, but I have bad since to tell her,but even then not too much. That is why I addressed you as I did." In another letter witness admitted writing "It' all is over before Clarice goes to the Shop in the morning, send me a wire saying how things have gone on. I got your letter this morning, and from information received I think the party in question has somewhere about ES for the job. You therefore will know how to act." The Judge asked witness what he meant by asking for a wire if all was over, and witness said he meant if Manning had met Gordon. The Judge said he expected an intelligent answer to his question, but the witaess need not incriminate himself. In a further letter the witness admitted writing : " Gordon Can go back on Thursday. She will be very foolish to go before,and run a great risk of taking cold." Mr. Hugo Young had commenced his cross-examination of Hineson when the foreman of the jury was seized with a fit,and had to he removed from the court under medical attendance. During the enforced stoppage of the case the Judge held a consultation with Mr. Soden, the leading counsel for the prosecution, whereupon Mr. Soden announced that he did not intend to proceed further with the case against the prisoner and would consent to an acquittal.—The Judge said he fully agreed with the decision of the prosecution. It appeared to him that there had been a misplacing of people in the dock. The prisoner had been very properly charged with manslaughter and stood a great risk of being convicted,but under the circumstances which had transpired he could not have passed a proper sentence upon her if convicted. He hoped the police would take good care that the witness in the box took up the position which the woman occupied, for it was quite clear that he was the person who ought to be put upon the trial for this crime. —The police then arrested the witness Hineson for the manslaughter of Mabel Gordon.