The National Register. — 1811-12-22 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST. Yesterday an Inquest was held over the bodies of Mr. John Williamson, Mrs. C. Williamson, his wife, and 13. Harrington their servant woman, who were inhumanly massacred on 11.1ursday nieht last, in their dwelling-house, New t;ravel. lane, bhadwell. The Jury commenced their investigation soon after two b'elock, and continued their laborious task till late in the evening. After the Jury had inspected the unfortunate bodies, they retired to the Coroner, \V. Unwin, Esq. in waiting at the Black Horse, opposite the dwelling-house of the deceased. The .most material evidence was given by Mr. Anderson and John 1 urner. The substance is as follows: Mr. Anderson was first examined, he deposed that lie was a constable, he knew Mr. and Mrs. Williams.ai, they were characters highly respected in the neighbourhood, and for the space of 15 years kept the King's At ms public-house, which was the resort of foreigners of every description. At ekven o'clock every night they invariably closed up their house. On 'Thursday night, Mr. Williamson adopted the same plan. Ten minutes before eleven witness called for a pot of beer. Mrs. \V'. drew :he beer, and said to him, " You shall not carry the beer home, I will send it." During the time she was drawing the beer, Mr. \V. who was sitting by the fire, said to Mr. A.." You are an officer, there has been a fellow listening at my door, with a brown coat on, if you should see him take him in custody or tell me." Mr. A. answered " He certainly would, for .his and his own safety." These were the last words Air. A. mentioned, and then retired. Witness lived next door but one to the deceased; between twenty and thirty minutes after he left the King's Arms, he intended to go for another pot of beer ; as soon as he got out of bis house he heard a noise, when he saw the lodger lowering himself down into the street by the sheets. He tan into the house for his staff, and proceeded to the spot. The watchman caught the lodger in his arms, when witness and others broke the cellar-flap open ; they all then entered, and began to look round the cellar; on coming to the staircase, they saw Mr. Williamson lying on his back, with his legs upon the stairs, his head downwards ; by his side was an iron instruineilt, similar to a stone-mason's crow, about three fee: long ; in diameter three quarters of an inch; it was much stained with blood. Mr. Williamson had received a wound on the head, his throat was dreadfully cut, his right leg was broken by a blow, and his hand severely cut. From these mai ks of violence, witness supposed Mr. Williamson made great resistance, being a very powerful man. While wine ss and others were viewing the body with petrified feelings, they beard a voice saying, " Where is the old mar. ?" At these words, they, proceeded up into the sitting-room, when tlny saw Mrs. Williamson b mg on her left side; her skull was fractured, and her throat cut, and bleeding most profusely; near to Mrs. Williamson was the servant-woman, lying on her back, wi h her feet under the grate; her skull was more dreadfully fractured than that of her mistress, her throat most inhumanly cut • to the neck hone, and none of the bodies were cold. Witne,s then stared that the premi es were afterwards examined, and it was discovered that the murderers had mane their escape from a back window 'ooking into a piece of waste ground belonging to the London WA Company. The sill of the winodow %vas stained with hood, and the sash remained thrown up. 1 he distance which the villain: had to jump did not exceed eight feet, and the ground beneath was soli clay, so that the?  .....- ~ :..:,.._ter  . . .