Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-01-21 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MURDERS AND A SUICIDE PREVENTED.—At the Marlborongh-street Police-court, London, on Friday, Ann Hutchinson, a married woman, 36 years of age, residing at 70, Warren-street, Fitzroy-square, and who appeared to be in a state of great distress, was charged as follows: Alice Atchison, a young woman, servant to a person in the house, said—l sleep in the house. At a quarter to 12 last night I was in my own room, when the prisoner's little girl came down to me, crying, and said her mother was going to destroy her and her little brother. I went upstairs immediately, and did my best to reconcile the prisoner. On the table there were two knives. The prisoner said she would destroy the children, as she was tired of her life and thou she would cut her own throat. I then left the room and went down stairs, telling the little girl that if her mother attempted anything of the sort again, to come down and tell ice. I heard a noise, and the little girl came down and said that her mother was going to destroy her; that she had caught hold of her, and was just going to cut her throat, but she managed to escape. She also said that her mother was about to cut her little brother's throat once on the bed. I then went upstairs and told the prisoner that if she was Ruing to do that, she had better have some one to stay with her. The prisoner said she would not have any one with her. The prisoner then sent the little girl for a quartern of gin, and drank it; and after she had done so she seemed to be out of her mind. The prisoner then took up the two knives from the table, and sharpened one of them on the poker. I then sent the little girl for a constable, and went downstairs. On my return to the room with the constable, I found the prisoner had cut her throat slightly with one of the knives, there being a mark on her throat and blood on the small knife.—Mr. Knox : Small knife; why it is a table. knife. Witness: The prisoner then, in the presence of the constable, jumped out of bed and attempted to cut the little girl's throat. She caught hold of the child and said she would cut her throat, having a knife in her hand; but the child wrested herself from her grasp and got away. The constable then left the room that the prisoner might put on her clothes, and she then said that if the policeman did not take her away that night, but let her stop till next day, that she would send the little girl for some laudanum, and give it to the children—that they would then go to sleep and never wake again. She then dressed herself and was taken away by the constable.—Mr. Knox: How long has she lived in the house I Witness: Throe months, sin—Mr. Knox: Do you know how she gets her living I Witness : I believe by walking the streets.— Mr. Knox : Have you ever seen her drunk I Witness : Only once or twice.--The prisoner declined to ask any questions, and Mr. Knox remanded her for a week, and ordered the children to be given up to a person in the house who has promised to take care of them. One of the children, the girl, is eight years of ago, the other, a boy, six years of age. Decision IN