The Sun. — 1870-11-12 (London, England)

SUPPOSED MURDER, AN D SUICIDE OF TH 1. ALLEGED MURDERER. On Thursday Mr. Payne held an investigation, at the St. John's Vestry Hall, Horsleydown, repecting the death of Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, aged 50, who was found drowned in the Thames under circumstances of a very suspicious character. The proceedings created great interest in consequence of a lodger of the deceased, named James Budge, having, after he had been charged with the murder of his landlady written letters declaring that he would commit suicide, and the police now state that they believe the wretched man has carried out his intention.--John Bowles, a waterman, living at 20, St. Mary's Buildings, Church-street, Rotherhithe, proved that at two o'clock last Monday afternoon he found the body of the deceased in the Thames, near a steamboat, off Horselydown. The body was fully dressed. Mr. W. C. Chamberlain, a draper, carrying on business at Croydon, identified the body as being that of his mother, a widow. Witness was her son by her first husband. He last saw her alive on Sunday, the 30th of October, at her house in Ellis- street, Chelsea, where she carried on business as a tobacconist. She had three lodgers in the house, and one of them was Mr. James Budge, a man who was separated from his wife. The neighbours of the deceased stated that on Monday, the 31st of October, the deceased left her home after shutting up her shop, and she was never after seen alive. On the Wednesday following witness called at the house, and to his surprise he saw Mr. James Budge coming out of the apartments of the deceased, and he asked him what brought him there, and he in reply made a very rambling statement. He said that on the previous Monday afternoon he was sitting at toa with the deceased and she said to him, " Well, Jim, what do you say to going to the play to-night?" and he replied that he did not care much for the play on Mondays or Tuesdays, for theatres were on those nights generally crowded, but if she wished to go to the play he would meet ber at the Westminsterbridge Station of the Metropolitan Railway. She then left home and he followed her, and met her at the railway. They then agreed to walk over the bridge to the Victoria Theatre, and while they were going over she said to him, " What do you say to a jump in ?" and he made no reply, and they went on to the Victoria Theatre, where they saw the performance. Witness, suspecting that Mr. Rudge had never been at the theatre, cross-questioned him, and asked him the name of the play, the dress of the performers, and for a description of the scenery. Mr. Budge was unable to give the required information, and be said, "The real fact is, I took no interest in the play, I only went there to please her." Witness then asked him what had become of the deeeased after she went into the theatre, and he replied " I left the theatre, and upon attempting to return, found that I had forgotten to take a check, and I did not think the play worth while paying for again. After waiting outside the theatre for some time I went home to Chelsea. I never saw her afterwards." Mrs. Mary Smith, a lodger in the deceased's house, produced two letters, both of which were in Mr. Rudge's handwriting. One was written to herself, and was as follows : " Dear Mrs. Smith,—This is to wish you farewell. I cannot stand what others say about me. lam the dupe of others. Against you receive this letter I shall be no more. Mrs. Williams is the cause of this. My head is so bad.—l am "