The Express. — 1848-12-22 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.  NORTHERN CIRCIIIT.—Yonn, Deo. 20. llikee Er. mien Platt. Ten MUADIS AT LAMM —Thomas Makin, 17, was charged with the 'wilful murder of Esther Inman at Leeds. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. Hall, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Wheelhouse appeared for the prosecution ;lir. Overend and Mr. Johnson defended the prisoner. After *friary had barn sworn and charged, Mr Hall stated the ere. The doessald, Esther Inman, • girl between 16 and 17 year§ of age, ived at Hunslet, near Leeds, with her step-father, Thomas Watson, • tailor then. The prisoner, a boy between seventeen and eighteen, lived also at Hagan with his father, who is • glassblower. The prisoner was working sea wood-tuner with Mr. Holdswortb, and had been there two years in that capacity. Both wen members of the Methodist Connexion, attended the same school, the same chapel, and he believed the same singingseat in the chapel, and eventually became lovers. The murder took place on Sunday, the Bth of October. Esther Inman had been to • village near Leeds, called Kirketall, to see a sister of hers, and about ten o'clock that night we find her sitting as home with her father-in law, and her elder dater wee there, and two women named Smith, mother and daughter. While they were all sitting there a whistle was beard from tbe garden, but if that was a signal intended to , be beard in the house, it was not noticed, it seems, by Esther lonian. Shortly afterwards one of the party left the house, saw the prisoner, remind a message from him desiring the • doomed to come out, upon which she returned to the house 1. and delivered the message. The deceased hesitated • little at first, but she put her boots on and went out. The two 1 visitors, the Smiths, left the house, and then passed the pri- 1 lour and Esther Inman together at the garden gate. t That was a few minutes after ten o'clock. Very shortly after the step-father, Watem, had shut the door when „, the two Smiths went out, a cry was heard calling upon ", the father to open the door. He rushed out, and he found Esther Inman laid prostrate in the garden ' • he took her 2), in his arms, bleeding from two wounds. She cried, "0, he it'' has stack me." He carried her into the house, and after a few ejassktions, she instantly died She bad two mem& 1 on her bread. In her dress was a dagger, an instrument r which we my gave her these wounds. Let us now tarn to 3 the peYmer. We left him and Esther Inman standing 2 together near the garden gate, alnioat at the instant of the catastrophe. A witness of the name of Rayner saw them a some yards within the garden, and the prisoner at that time I wasstanding with his left hand on the breast of the young woman, and hieright hand in hie jacket pocket ; and he must at that time hue been actually preparing to inflict the blows. Within two or three minutes after that • cry of murder was heard from • finale voice. One other witness then went up and saw the prisoner at the bar running out of the garden, . after the cry of murder. By another whores, named Watson, he was son running towards his own heme. Another witness had his attention attracted by the conduct of the prisoner, and that witness followed him into that home. Prisoner was standing in the middle of the floor, and looked very white in the face. His brother said, " Tom, what's thou been doing ?" He said, " Nay, nought." His brother said, " I'm sure thou km ; thou's done something." Prisoner said, " Yes, I have ; I've dose her job at last." His mother said, " Tom, thou surely hem's, has thou 1" Prisoner said, "If you won't believe no, you must go see for yourself." The mother then went out. An alarm was given, the police were on foot, and an inquiry was made where the prisoner was expected to be found, but he was net found until the night of Monday, when he was discovered in the Fres Market, in Leeds, in a very desolate condition. He was told why be was apprehended, and he distinctly denied that he had been with the girl on the Sunday, or sent the message by the younger Smith. Prisoner was busily engaged in making an instrument like a dagger some weeks before. Them fats were fully proved by various witnesses. Mr. Overend, in defending the prisoner, ingested that deceased bad esmmitted suicide, but His Lordship, in summing up, said, looking at the evidance given about the deceased calling out " murder," there ii was little room for supposing that she caused her own death. 1 In conclusion, the learned Judge said, if the jury could find 11 any eirermsuutoes which bore out the suggestion that the prisoner's from was excited on that caution, then they j must find him guilty of manslaughter, but be was afraid he could not point out any such circumstances, and if they thought there were none, however painful it might be, they I must find him guilty of murder. The jury, after being aheent twenty minutes, returned into court with a verdictef Guilty, but, in consequence of the extreme youth of the prisoner, strongly recommended him to the clemency of her Majesty. The prisoner was then asked if he had anything to say why the sentence of death should not be passed upon said: ';My lord judge and gentlemen of the jury, I can truly and perfectly say that am perfectly innocent of this crime. It seems to be rather difficult for me to have nothing found upon me—no blood, nor anything of this kind. I can't really, I can't talk for myself: but I am perfectly innocent' of the crime. I never had thoughts of doing .what I call -• my lover, Esther Inman,' any injury—never in my life. I always intended and strived to do the best I could for ler, and I thought any ill of her. I cannot say any more, my lord judge." His lordship than amused the black cap, and passed oentenoe of death.