Mrs Rice, a laundress residing in Union-street, Shadwell, stated, that she was sister-in-law to Mrs Vermilloe. She had washed for the prisoner about three years. Last Friday fortnight she washed a shirt of his which was very much torn about the neck and breast, and had a good deal of blood upon it, about the neck and arms: she supposed he had been fighting. On Thursday week he sent another shirt to be washed, which was also very much torn, and marks of blood upon it, which appearances she attributed likewise to fighting. The first shirt she so washed was before the murder of Mr Marr; but the second was four or five days afterwards. She remembered the prisoner's fighting in her house with a lodger of her's, and that then he had a shirt torn to rags; but this was about three weeks back.

Mrs Vermilloe stated, that she had known Williams some years. John Paterson had left a chest of tools in the summer with her husband, to keep safe for him. There were two or three malls in that chest three weeks ago, but within that time they had disappeared. The box which contained them was always unlocked, and any body in the house had access to it. It was in the same room where the prisoner's sea-bed was deposited. She herself could not speak positively as to any of the tools.

The blood-stained instrument with which the unfortunate Mr Marr and his family were butchered was then produced, at sight of which the witness shrunk back with horror. It was with great difficulty she could be got to look at it steadily. She was desired to say whether she had not seen that instrument in her husband's house, and whether it was not the same with which her husband sometimes broke up wood? She answered, that she might have seen it, but she would not be positive. The question was put to

VOL. IV. PART II.

her in various ways, but her answer was always evasive.

Mrs Rice interposed, and said, that her little boys could speak positively as to the identity of the mall, as she had frequently heard them describe a broken-pointed mall, with which they used to play.

The boys were sent for. During the absence of the messenger, the prisoner begged to account for the manner in which the shirt given to the laundress on Friday fortnight, became torn and stained with blood. He said, he had been dancing with his coat and waistcoat off, at the house where he lodged, about half-past eleven o'clock at night; and his sport having been stopped by the watchman, he had retired thus undressed to the Royal Oak, to treat his musician. In the Royal Oak he met with a number of coalheavers playing cards, and they insisted upon his playing. He consented, and lost a shilling's worth of liquor. was then for retiring peremptorily, when a scuffle ensued between him and one of the party, who seized him by the shirt collar, which he tore, and then struck him a blow on the mouth which cut his lip, and from that wound issued the blood that stained his shirt.

He

The magistrates told him to confine himself to the shirt found bloody on Thursday week, to which caution he paid no apparent attention.

Michael Cuthperson and John Harrison, two Prussian sailors who were fellow lodgers of the prisoner's, proved that he did not come home till one o'clock on the night of the murder of Mr Marr and family. The former of these witnesses, upon seeing the mall, said it was very like the one he had seen thrown about Mr Vermilloe's house.

William Rice, a little boy about eleven years old, the nephew of Mrs Vermilloe, was then interrogated about the mall. Before he was shown the

P

deadly instrument, he gave an exact description of a mall he had seen in his aunt's house, and with which his brother and he used to play as carpenters, precisely corresponding with the instrument found on Mr Marr's premises after the murder. Upon being shewn the actual mall in question, he recognised it, and said he was quite sure it was the same he had frequently played with. He had not, however, seen it for three weeks before : but he was almost positive it was the same; and he dared to say his brother would say the same. The prisoner was remanded.

John Frederick Richter, a young foreign seaman, residing at the PearTree, was on Thursday examined. The circumstances of suspicion alleged against him were, in consequence of a pair of blew trowsers having been found under his bed, in a damp state, with the appearance of mud having been imperfectly washed away from the knees downwards. The prisoner stated that the trowsers in question were left behind in the Pear-Tree public-house by a man who had gone to sea. As nobody claimed them, he appropriated them to his own use. He knew of no mud upon them. None had touched them while in his possession; and although he acknowledged having brushed, he denied ever having washed them. Hs was then strictly examined with respect to his knowledge of Williams. He said he had known Williams about twelve weeks, but not intimately. He never drank with him out of the house, and only now and then held any intercourse with him. He was then shown the mall found in Mr Marr's house, which he said was exactly like the mall he had seen amongst Peterson's tools. Peterson had marked his tools with the initials I. P. and upon looking at the same initials about this instrument, he verily believed it was the same he

had seen at the Pear-Tree. He did not know that Williams was an Irishman from his confession; but he had heard other persons say he was so. He re membered Williams had large whiskers three or four days before he was taken up; but when he saw him last, he did not take particular notice of any alte ration in his appearance. It did not strike him that there was much alte ration in his face. On the night of the murder of Mr Williamson and family, he heard a knock at the door a little before one o'clock, and he was afterwards told it was Williams. He did not think Williams was a mariner from his appearance, but he had heard that he was employed on board the Roxburgh Castle Indiaman He had also heard, that the captain of that vessel had observed, that if ever Williams went on shore again, he would surely be hanged. This was in allusion to his bad character on board the ship. The witness seemed, through the whole of the examination, to answer the questions put to him with great unwillingness. The magistrates

cautioned him to be careful about what he said, and encouraged him not to be at all afraid of speaking the truth from any apprehension of the consequences. He still, however, persisted in his taciturnity.

In the evening the magistrates resumed their examination, when John Cuthperson, a fellow lodger of Wil. liams, was again examined, touching a point of apparent importance. He stated, that on the morning after the murder of Mr Williamson, when he got up, he saw a pair of his own stockings lying behind his chest, very much dirtied with fresh mud. He took them down stairs into the tap-room, where he found Williams. him who had dirtied his stockings in that manner? Williams said, "Why! are they your's?""Yes, they are mine," the witness replied. Some lit

He asked

tle dispute then ensued, as to their right ownership, when Williams took them into the back-yard, and after washing the dirt off, returned them to the wit

ness.

A woman of the town attended, and deposed, that two or three evenings after the murder of Mr Williamson, she was standing in Shadwell, and overheard one man say to another, as they passed, "d-n that Turner, we will soon do for him; for if it had not been for him the murder would not have been found out." The magis trates seemed to treat her evidence lightly.

Cornelius Hart (who had been examined in the morning, and disclaimed all acquaintance with Williams, and denied positively that he had called on him the day he was apprehended, and desired it might not be said he (Hart) had called) was contradicted indirectly. It appears, that although he did

not call himself, he sent his wife to enquire whether Williams had not been taken up on suspicion of the murder: and told her to impose silence on the landlady of the public house, with respect to the enquiry on his (Hart's) part.

In addition to the evidence against Williams, it appears that on the morning after the murder he was seen to wash a pair of muddy stockings, in the back-yard of the Pear-Tree publichouse; and also, that he then had on a pair of tight shoes, which creeked a good deal when he walked. These circumstances, however trifling of themselves when unconnected with other evidence, are of importance when combined with the time when the murder happened, the place over which the murderers must have climbed when they effected their escape, and, above all, the testimony of Turner the lod. ger, who states, that he heard the creeking of shoes in the house at the time the murder was committed. On

Friday morning, when the turnkey of Cold Bath-fields prison went to the cell where Williams was confined, for the purpose of preparing him to go before the magistrates of Shadwell police-office, for farther examination, he found him suspended by the neck, from an iron bar, quite cold and lifeless. The magistrates, however, proceeded. to examine the evidence upon which they intended to found his final commitment.

Mrs Vermilloe underwent another. examination. Her testimony differed very little from the evidence she gave on former examinations. She now spoke with some confidence to the mall, and said, she believed it to be the same that Peterson left in her husband's custody. Mrs Vermilloe being asked why she did not disclose her suspicions of Williams before, said, she was afraid that he or some of his acquaintance would murder her :

Q. You need not now have any such fear. You have heard that he has hanged himself?

A. (Much affected and shocked) Good God! I hope not.

Q. Why do you hope not?

A. (After hesitation) I should have been sorry, if he were innocent, that he should have suffered.

She said, that when Williams returned from India, three months ago he put 30%. in her husband's hands, which was not all expended at the time of the murders.-On the night of the last murder, Williams told her that Mr Williamson was going next day to pay his brewer. Williams's name, she had heard, was John Murphy.

John Harrison, sail-maker, and fellow-lodger of Williams, stated, that he never saw any body in company with Williams but the carpenter (Hart). He had heard, that this was the same man who had been working in Mr Marr's house. Williams came home about half-past twelve on the night

8

Mr Marr and his family were murdered. In the morning, when witness heard of it, he told Mrs Vermilloe. He then went up stairs to Williams, and told him also: Williams replied, in a surly manner, "I know it." He was then in bed, and had not been out that morning. Witness said, he might possibly have overheard him telling Mrs Vermilloe. Witness had been reading the newspapers, containing an account of the murder of Mr Marr; and when he found the muddy stock ings behind the chest, something like suspicion struck him. He then brought the stockings down stairs, and shewed them to Mrs Vermilloe and others. From this circumstance, and from the general conduct of Williams, he was thoroughly persuaded he was concerned in the murder. He had told witness that he was well acquainted with Mr Marr. One day he was walking from the city with Williams; he said, that he believed Mr Marr had money to a considerable amount. When he shewed him the muddy stockings, he took them into the back-yard, and washed them at first in a rough manner in cold water; and when witness afterwards saw them they were quite clean. As witness slept in the same room, he had an opportunity of observing his conduct since the murders. As he strongly suspected he was concerned in them, he longed for an opportu. nity of searching his clothes for some marks of blood. He was, however, always baffled in his intentions; for, whenever he attempted to approach his bed, he found him awake. He always seemed restless, continually turning about in his bed, and much agitated, and has overheard him speaking in his sleep. One night since the murder, he heard him say, "Five shillings in my pocket-my pocket's all full of silver." Witness called out to him repeatedly, what is the matter with you, and what do you mean? but he got no

answer. When he slept, he did not seem to be soundly asleep, but always disturbed. In the morning after the murder of Williamson, he saw a pair of muddy shoes under Williams's bed.

Mr Lee, the landlord of the Black. Horse public-house, stated, that Williams used always to make very free when in his house. He has seen him push against his wife, and shake her pockets, as if to ascertain what money she had. On one occasion he took the liberty of putting his hand into the till. Witness remonstrated, and said he never suffered any body to meddle with the till but his own family. He did not know much of Williams's connections. There was a man named Cobbett with whom he seemed particularly intimate.

Mrs Hoare, an elderly woman, who keeps a chandler's-shop in Sir William Warren's-square, stated, that she had known Williams a considerable time. On the Saturday night before Mr Marr and family were killed, he came and sat down in her shop. It was very late. He asked her what premises she had backwards? She said she had nothing but a little yard behind, which reached to the yard of the house where he lodged. She thought of no harm in the questions, until a chisel was shortly after brought to her by the watchman. Before Williams came, she heard somebody trying to open the door, and heard a knocking at the wall. Shortly afterwards she heard another attempt to open the door; upon which she asked, "Who is there?" "It is I,-I am coming to rob your house," answered Williams. She immediately knew his voice; and, happy that it was he, she said, "Robber or no robber, I'll let you in, and I am glad you are come. She then opened the door, and told him of her`apprehensions. This was before the watchman came. Witness knew his voice, and told Williams it was the

watchman. At which information he flew into a violent passion, and swore he would sooner see the devil. He insisted that she should not let him in, but she persisted in opening the door, behind which Williams immediately ran; and when it was opened, slipped out behind the watchman. As soon as the watchman came in, he said, "Here, Mrs Hoare, is a handsome present for you at your door?" shewing her a ripping chisel; " you may depend upon it the person who left it there had no good intentions towards you.' "Witness told him of the apprehensions she experienced. Shortly after in came Williams again; and, taking up the chisel, he said to the watchman, "D-n you, where did you get this chisel?" He replied, “I found it at Mrs Hoare's door there?" Williams then said, "Whoever owned this chisel, never intended Mrs Hoare any good."

The Magistrate." What do you suppose Williams went out in such a hurry for ?"

Witness.- —" I take it he went out to look for the chisel, but could not find it." She said she was then told by the watchman, that nobody else but Williams had left the chisel at the door.

The chisel was produced and shewn to Mrs Vermilloe, and she identified it as the property of John Peterson. It had his initials on it, and the same maker's name as the other tools.

John Cobbett stated, that he had known Williams perfectly well. He had been with him frequently at Mr Williamson's, but he knew none of his acquaintances. He wished very much to have seen Williams, as he had no doubt he should have been able to get something out of him concerning the murders.

Cuthperson, the other fellow-lodger of Williams, proved, that he had always been very restless at nights since

the late murders. He heard him one night singing in his sleep, "Fol de rol de rol lol-I have five shillingsmy pocket is full of shillings." He tried to awake him, to ask what he was dreaming about; but he would not give him any answer. He proved, that on Thursday morning and evening before Mr Williamson was murdered, Williams had no money, and that next morning he had a good deal.

John Fitzpatrick proved, that he left Williams in company with Hart, the joiner, at the Ship and Royal Oak public-house, about a quarter past eleven, before the murders were committed. This was corroborated by Miss Lawrence the landlord's daughter.

The examination here concluded.

On Friday, a coroner's inquest was held at the House of Correction, Clerkenwell, on the body of John Williams, who was found dead in his cell in the prison.

Thomas Webb.-I am surgeon to the prison; I was called to the deceased this morning; I found him in his cell lying on his back on the bed, where he had been placed by the person who cut him down; he was dead and cold, and had been dead many hours; on his neck, on the right side, is a very deep impression of a knot, and a mark all round the neck as from the handkerchief by which he had been suspended; the handkerchief was still on the neck; I saw no other marks of violence on his body; I have no doubt he died from strangulation; he told me, the day before yesterday, he was perfectly easy and satisfied, for that nothing could happen to him.

Francis Knott.I am a prisoner here; I saw the deceased alive and well yesterday, at about half-past three in the afternoon; he asked me if he I could see his friends? I told him I

did not know. This morning, at about half-past seven o'clock, Joseph Becket, the turnkey, came to me in