Hi,
Hopefully Alwyn will not mind me posting this, lengthy as it is? It is an account of a
murder trial at Carnarvon, in August 1823. I have deliberately omitted the final paragraph
which contains the verdict. Read the account, and lets have your own verdicts. Guilty, or
Not Guilty?
I will post the verdict tomorrow night.
Regards,
Keith.
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From The Times, 25th. August, 1823
CARNARVON GREAT SESSIONS
MURDER - THE KING v. ELIZABETH MANNING
Mr. COCKRELL having opened the indictment, Mr. WYATT, the Attorney-General, in a very
feeling and impressive manner opened the case.
Thomas Thomas, of Bangor-ferry, examined by Mr. COCKRELL. - I am a chaise-driver; I live
near Bangor-ferry; I live in the cottage next door to the deceased Mr. Manning's
house. I saw the deceased about half-past eight on Monday evening, 4th of August instant,
before his death; Mrs. Manning was arm-in-arm with him; he had her pattens in his hand.
The two houses are separated by a stone-wall, I think. It was difficult in the night when
one is between sleep and awake to hear what passed in the other house. I think we could
hear if we applied our ears to hear. I awoke in the morning of the 5th about two
o'clock, and heard a noise in the deceased's house; it appeared to be moaning
proceeding from deceased's house; it lasted ten minutes or less; I went to sleep
directly after. I got up five minutes before six next morning to go to my work; I heard
the door of the next house shut, and saw Mrs. Manning; she was going out of the house, and
was proceeding towards Penychwyntan, on the !
road to Carnarvon. I did not see her come out; I could not. I then went to work.
Emma Thomas - I am the wife of the last witness. I know Mr. Manning, he lived under the
same roof with us, not in the same house, the two houses are divided by a partition. I do
not know what the partition is, whether of stone or not. We lived in one, and they lived
in the other. I was awoke on Tuesday morning, the 5th instant, my husband awoke me between
two and three in the morning. I slept a little, and then awoke again, and I then heard the
clock strike three; when my husband awoke me I heard a noise. The noise proceeded from the
adjoining house, where Mr. and Mrs. Manning lived: the noise was like moaning and crying
like a woman in distress; I thought she was in distress, I thought he had struck her; it
lasted about ten minutes; we then slept.
Examined by CHIEF JUSTICE - When I heard the crying, I believed it was Mrs. Manning's
voice. When I heard the crying it was between two and three in the morning. I knew the
deceased for about three months before his death. I always considered him out of his mind.
I slept very sound after three o'clock.
R. A. Poole, Esq. - I am son to the prisoner. I recollect her coming to me on Tuesday
morning, the 5th inst., to my lodgings at Carnarvon. It was before I got up, I think about
eight o'clock. She came straight to my bed-room, in much distress, and much agitated;
by saying "she came straight," I mean she came hastily, without knocking; she
had come several times before, but knocked, or sent up my servant first. I think the first
thing she said was "I do not know on earth what to do, Manning is dead, he has cut
his throat." I think before I got up she showed me her hand, which was cut on the
fore-finger. I got up immediately. I saw my clerk go by, and sent him immediately for the
coroner, and desired him to call at Gorphwysfa, that he might know where this had
happened. I got a chaise, and took my mother to Gorphwysfa; I met my sisters at the door,
and told them what had happened. I called for the gardener, who was the only man-servant
about the house, to go with me to the hou!
se of the deceased: he was not in the way. I then asked a maid-servant to go with me to
Mr. Manning's house. We went there. I asked my mother on the road from Carnarvon to
Gorphwysfa, for the key of the house; she felt her pocket, and gave it me. With the key I
opened the door, and went into the house. I went upstairs, the servant followed. I saw the
body of Mr. Manning, upon the bed, with his head towards the entrance from the stairs. The
head of the bed was the other way. There was a sheet upon the body, up to his breast. I
did not touch the body, or any thing in the room. There was a great deal of blood on the
floor, and some of it was partly wiped. I should think it was wiped with a mop or wet
cloth. The great mass of blood was only wiped. A number of spots of blood were untouched.
I saw a razor shut, upon the drawers. The window was open. I touched nothing, and desired
the servant not to touch any thing, and she did not.
Robert Roberts, wheelwright - I knew Mr. Manning, and had often seen him. On Tuesday, the
5th of August inst., I went through the window into the room, where I heard that he had
destroyed himself; it was about two o'clock in the afternoon. I went in first, and
called another man, H. Hughes, blacksmith, to follow me. I saw the body in the room, on
the bed, with the head towards the feet of the bed. When I went in, the bed was on my
right hand. I called Hugh Hughes, and when he came we looked upon the body. It was covered
with a sheet. We touched nothing, and went down stairs. I opened the door, and let several
persons, who were by the door, in, and we all went up stairs, when we saw a razor upon the
table, upon a cloth, upon the chest. The floor appeared bloody, and partly wiped or
mopped; we continued about a minute, and left every thing as we found it. It was about two
o'clock in the afternoon when we went there.
Mr. Poole again examined by the CHIEF JUSTICE - I went there about ten o'clock in the
morning.
Robert Roberts in continuation - We remained in the house about two minutes, merely looked
at the body, and left every thing as they were. I was at the house when the coroner was
there the next day (Wednesday the 6th.); I saw the constable open a bundle. It was in the
room where the deceased lay, near the top of the stairs, upon a stool, and not in the
least concealed.
Edward Carreg, Esq. - I am a coroner for Carnarvonshire. I was brought up a surgeon, but
don't now practice. On Wednesday, the 5th of August, I went to the late Mr.
Manning's house, about 12 o'clock. I think I went alone, or with another person,
before the jury assembled. I saw the body upon the bed; and there was a sheet thrown over
it. I did not examine the wounds, but desired the surgeons to do it. (Produces a razor.) I
found this upon a table in the room. I do not know whether I took it, or the constable
gave it me.
By JUDGE KENRICK - I did not examine the body minutely, but looked cursorily over it. I do
not know whether there was a pillow upon the bed or not.
John Jonathan - I am constable of Bangor; I met Mrs. Manning on the road on Tuesday
morning, the 5th instant, about six o'clock in the morning; she was walking towards
Carnarvon; I met her near Tros Carrol, about half a mile from Bangor; she asked me if the
mail has passed me? I said no, and she went on. I went to Mr. Manning's house on
Wednesday, the next day, about 10 o'clock: I had summoned the Jury; I went to the
bedroom of the deceased, and saw the body; the coroner desired me to search the room; I
found a bundle of clothes upon a stool, at the top of the stairs; it was not at all
concealed, and any body who went in might see it; it was covered with a blanket; had in it
two sheets, two pillow-cases, a pillow, a chemise, a shirt, a man's and a woman's
night cap, and a pair of white stockings; some of them were a good deal blooded; they were
wet, some with blood, and some with water; I saw a razor in Dr. Carreg's hand; there I
saw it first. I have got the clothes with me;!
they are now in the same state as I found them, except being dried; there is a small cut
upon the pillow-case (produces it and the pillow); the pillow-case is very thin, and it
may be a tear; the pillow is not cut, but the shirt is; I am not certain whether it is a
cut or a tear (produces it).
Chief Justice RAINE - It evidently is torn.
Mr. Thomas Roberts - I am a surgeon at Bangor, and attended to examine the body of Mr.
Manning, about two or three o'clock on the 6th inst. I found three wounds, two on the
throat, and one from the right ear along the lower jaw to the chin; the wounds appeared to
be made with a sharp instrument. The larger wound was enough to cause death, it being from
near the right ear to about three inches beyond the left; from my observations I think
that the large one was not cut first - that it was likely to produce immediate death.
Neither of the wounds intersected each other, but were three distinct wounds. It occurred
to me at the time that the large wound began from the right to the left, because I could
hardly think a man committing suicide would begin so far back as three inches behind the
ear. If it was so cut, it must have been done with the left hand. If it was done by any
other person, it might begin at the right.
Cross-examined by MR. BLACKBURN - The larger wound in my opinion, produced death in about
half a minute. It was impossible a man could moan for ten minutes after receiving such a
wound. The two small wounds appeared to be done first. If the larger wound was done by any
body else, I do not think the deceased could in the least struggle after it was done. I
should think the deceased, if alarmed with the two first small wounds, would have been
able to struggle and resist. I can't say whether his arm was particularly muscular. He
was a man not likely to be vanquished by the prisoner, after receiving the first two
wounds.
By the CHIEF JUSTICE - Supposing a man desperately bent upon self-destruction, with a
razor or any sharp instrument, could he make the dreadful wound; and might he do it with
the left hand assisted with the right? - I am clearly of the opinion that he might do it
with the left hand alone; there were three small wounds on the left hand, two on the back,
and one on the little finger.
Mr. Hugh Jones, and another surgeon who examined the body, gave evidence similar. The last
witness said he had known the deceased for some time past, and always considered him as a
person of insane mind.
Mr. ATTORNEY-GENERAL - I have closed the case for the Crown.
Mr. PALMER, for the prisoner - Does your Lordship think that there has been sufficient
evidence to put the prisoner upon her defence?
CHIEF JUSTICE - What do you say, Mr. Attorney?
ATTORNEY-GENERAL - My Lord, I am in this case only public prosecutor, performing a painful
duty, and I can have no other wish than that justice may be done; I must therefore leave
the case in your Lordship's hands.
Mr. PALMER - My Lord, I, on the part of the prisoner, have no desire whatever to stop this
case short, and on her part I court the closest investigation.
CHIEF JUSTICE to the Attorney-General - From your opening, Mr. Attorney, which does you
infinite honour (and which, if I shall have occasion to address the jury, I shall
endeavour to repeat word for word), I expected the case would end as it has.
Mr. PALMER (addressing himself to the jury.) - Gentlemen, are you or are you not fully
satisfied of the prisoner's innocence, or do you wish to hear evidence on her behalf?
If you are not satisfied, I, on the part of the prisoner, am prepared to enter into the
fullest defence.
(...................................Verdict to be
announced..................................)