The Sun. — 1849-10-16 (London, England)

CORONER—Did you threaten him at all, to induce him to make this statement ?  Inspector—No, I did not; it was quite voluntary; he freely answered the :questions I put, after I had cautioned him. He came to the station in the first place on his own accord, and gave himself up, and he was detained on a charge that, by his own confession, he had wilfully murdered Maria Weston, his wife, and Maria Elizabeth, her child. He is now in custody. In answer to a questiim put by a juror, Inspector Coleman said there was another child by the former husband, living with a brother of the deceased at Rushmere, near Ipswich.  Joseph Weston (brother of the prisoner) said, that he was well acquainted with hi 3 brother's disposition, but he had not seen him since Midsummer; Mr. Higgs consequntly dispensed with his evidence, as he could add nothing to the statements in elucidation of the case: he knew nothing of the cause of death of his brother's wife and child.  Sergeant Langston, 19 V, simply repeated the evidence he had given on Saturday last at the policecourt in the Wandsworth-road, as already published in this journal. In answer to further inquiries put by the coroner and jury, Langston stated, that he searched the prisoner, and found upon him three knives (produced) commonly called pruning knives, used by gardeners, a small portion of tobacco, a door•key, and a piece of paper, something like a bill, stained with blood. Upon  going into the house, he found the bodies as above described. He clearly noticed the print of a woman's foot upon the laryling, as if she had endeavoured to get into that room af.er being attacked. He opened that room door, and there he saw a child about nine years of age, apparently an intelligent child, sitting upon the bed. She appeared frightened at seeing him (witnes). Upon being gnEstioned, the child said she had not heard any noise during the night, or at least she did not recollect it. The child was removed, by order of Mr. Herring, the relieving officer, to the union house, where she now remains. Witness found in the room, upon the bed, one shilling in silver, and one halfpenny in copper, a night gown of the baby's on the floor by the side of the bed, and another, full size, also on the floor, covered with blood. By a Juror—The child who is now at the union was sitting on the bed crying when he (witness) entered.  Some of the jurors having intimated a wish to hear the evidence of this child, the daughter of deceased, Mr. Herring, the relieving officer, said that he was certain, from what he knew, having had the child at the house, i. e. the union, since Saturday, that the poor orphan was not aware of what had happened, nor even of the death of her mother at present. The CORONER said, therefore, that at the present, at least, she should not be called. Charles Newman, of Saville House, Tooting, labourer, said that he knew both the deceased and the prisoner, her husband. Deceased was about 39 years of age. Witness called at 1, Carpenter's-buildings, about seven o'clock on Friday last. Weston was quite sober all the evening, and he said he had not been at work that day. lie (witness) sent for a pot of porter, which they drank between them. Deceased and her husband appeared quite friendly. Weston said he had been much troubled of late, and could not sleep. He had intended to go to see his brother, as he wanted to see him, but when he was on the way to London he said he felt in trouble for his wife, because she was unwell when he left her that morning. After this deceased said that Weston looked very unwell and was falling away very fast. Weston looked in th glass, and said, I don't look well, but I shall look worse to-morrow."  By a Juror—There was only Mr. Weston present when he (witness) first went in. Weston had said, in the bearing of witness, that he thought some one was trying to do him an injury, and that he had been to the station to inquire about it. Witness considered that the prisoner had been bad (he meant " weak") in his mind for some time past. He appeared to be quite a different man to what he once was. His wife appeared, of late, to be afraid of him. By the Foreman—Weston said he was afraid some one was going to expose him, but he did not know who. Witness had known Weston ever since he (Weston) was twelve years of age. Witness did not know that Weston had attempted to commit suicide before. He had only known him intimately during the last few months. By a Juror—Do you not think that jealousies and other unpleasantness occurred in consequence of the children by the former husband ? Witness—l do not know ; they generally, so far as I know, agreed very well. By the Foreman of the Jury—Mrs. Weston was employed in the large school at Mr. Pritchard's, as laundry-woman, up to the time -of her death. She was a very industrious person. Sarah Weston, daughter of deceased, was then called, but she stated that she heard no noise during the night of Friday last. The poor little thing evidently knew nothing of the awful occurrence. She stated her age to be 9 years, and exhibited much intelligence. Upon being introduced to the inquest-room she wept bitterly. This being the whole of the evidence, The CORONER proceeded to sum up, and after an elaborate exposition of the law in the instance of voluntary confessions, the Foreman of the Jury expressed a wish that the court should be cleared ; this having been done, a consultation of not more than a quarter of an hour's duration took place, after which the following verdict was returned :—" Wilrul murder in both cases."  The proceedings then closed, the inquiry having occupied four hours.