Old Bailey-Patrick Hoy

494. SARAH THOMAS was indicted for the wilful murder of Randal Perry, by striking and thrusting with a certain knife of the value of 2 d. the said Randal in and upon the left side of his belly near his navel, thereby giving him one mortal wound of the length of one inch, and of the depth of three inches, of which he languished from the 27th; to the 29th of June, and then died.

She stood charged with the like murder on the coroner's inquisition.

PATRICK HOY sworn.

I am a chairman: the deceased, Randal Perry, was chairman to Lady Harriot Ongley: on the 27th of June he asked me to assist him to carry Lady Ongley to Lady Sidney's in Dean-street; he desired me to be in Park-lane by half after four; after we had carried my Lady, we returned to her house in Park-lane, and John Fenn with us; I fetched some porter, and the deceased brought up some meat and bread; when I returned with the porter I found the prisoner there.

She ate and drank with you, did not she? - Yes.

Did she and the deceased seem to be in friendship together at that time? - Yes; as far as I could understand, there were no words between them then as I heard.

Whereabouts did the deceased fit? - We were in the hall; the prisoner sat in the pop ter's chair, and the deceased on the edge of a table opposite to her; the two footmen, John Fenn and Richard Pearce, who went with that chair, were drinking with us; one of the footmen, Pearce, staid behind at the place we carried my Lady to, and came in just as d had done eating and drinking; the footman had and I went out and stood on the steps of the hall-door towards the street; when we had been out a little while we heard the prisoner speak loud; Richard Pearce went in and told them not to make a noise, that if she would make a noise, she should go somewhere else, for she should not make a noise there; he came out again, and then every thing was silent for a few minutes I believe.

Could you as you stood on the steps look into the hall without altering your situation? - No, I could not; soon after the prisoner: came out and called one of us by name, I cannot say which, Pearce went in and, we followed him; the deceased then sat on the table with his back against the wall, and both his hands on his belley; Richard Pearce asked him what was the matter; he made no answer for a little time, but took his hands off and shewed him the wound; I perceived the wound; his waistcoat was cut; I did not perceive his shirt at that, I saw it afterwards.

Was there any body in the hall when you came in but Perry and the prisoner? - No; Pearce turned about when he saw the cut, and said, you blasted bitch, you have stabbed the man; she said, God forgive you, as far as I could understand, I don't know what she meant by it; she said, I have done it, I have done it, if I go to the gallows for it: she said she would die by the gallows sooner than that other woman should enjoy him; the deceased raised himself up in a little time after; Richard Pearce wanted to fetch a surgeon to him; he would not let him fetch one; he told him he thought he was not much damaged nor much hurt.

Which did he say? - I cannot be positive which, it was one or the other; he walked to a surgeon's in Piccadilly, he was not at home; then he went to St. George's hospital; he bled very much; the prisoner followed us all the way; she appeared to be concerned, she cried very much.

Did she make use of any expressions during the time she followed you? - I cannot recollect what she expressed.

To your knowledge was there any person besides the deceased and the prisoner in the when the wound was given? - No, not to my knowledge.

Did you find the instrument the wound was made with before you went to the hospital? - No.

Cross Examination.

Was you in company all the time the deceased and the prisoner were together? - No.

Did you or not hear several altercations between them? - No, I heard nothing of what passed between them.

Did you hear him abuse her or she abuse him relative to this woman? - No, they seemed to be quiet enough as far as I understood.

What passed between them previous to her doing of it, were there any words or riot? - I did not take notice of any; she spoke a little kind once, I cannot tell what it was about; I just on the outside of the door.

COURT. You heard the prisoner speak loud? - Yes.

Did you hear the deceased speak loud? - No.

When you came in I think she went on her knees, and said she would not go away from him? - Yes, she laid hold of the strap and would not go from him.

Did she go on her knees? - I believe she did, I cannot be positive.

RICHARD PEARCE sworn.

I am footman to Lady Ongley.

I believe you, Hoy, the deceased, and Fenn were all drinking together in Lady Ongley's hall? - I came in just at the end; I saw none of them eat or drink; there were some victuals on the table.

Who were in company? - Patrick Hoy, myself, John Fenn, the prisoner, and the deceased. The prisoner and the deceased seemed to be in good friendship; I went down stairs, and then Hoy and Fenn and I went and stood on the steps at the door.

Was there any body else in company any part of the time? - No, the valet de chambre came in to deliver a message, but did not stay. When we were on the steps the prisoner spoke something loud; but I could not comprehend what it was; I went into the hall, and desired her to be quiet; that, if she could not be quiet, she must go somewhere else to make a noise; she was then rather raised from her seat towards the deceased; she immediately sat down; the deceased sat on the table, she was in the porter's chair; the deceased's left side was rather to her.

When you went in to check her, did you see any instrument in her hand? - I did not see any at that time.

Were there any knives and forks? - There was a green-handled knife, which is here; when I went in and checked her, the deceased said to the prisoner, why don't you go? the prisoner said, will you come? upon which he answered, why don't you go? this passed while I was there; then I went out again: in about four or five minutes the prisoner came out and called somebody, I cannot say who it was.

Did you hear any noise after you had been in, till the time she came to call you? - Not the least.

Was you near enough, if he had given her a blow, to have heard it? - I think I was; I was not three yards from the door. I went in first; they followed me in. I saw the deceased sitting in the position he was before, leaning against the wall, with both his hands on his betty; I asked him, what was the matter? he made no answer, but seemed to be in agony; he fetched two deep sight; he raised his hand higher on his belly, I then saw the cut in his waistcoat; I turned to the prisoner and said, you blasted bitch, you have stabbed the man; she answered, God forgive you; and immediately said, I have done it, I have done it; if I go to the gallows for it, I have done it; I will die by the gallows for him sooner than that other woman shall enjoy him. I looked for the knife, but could see only a green-handled fork; I had seen a knife there before; the deceased raised himself up a little, and said, take that woman away from me. I put my hand on her shoulder to force her away; she dropped on her knees and laid hold of his strap, and said, I will not leave him, or I will never leave him, I cannot be positive which of the words she used. I asked the deceased, if I should send for a surgeon; he answered, no; he then opened his upper waistcoat, and I saw some marks of blood on an under flannel-waistcoat faced with blue sattin; he unbuttoned that waistcoat, and I saw a large quantity of blood on his shirt. I requested him again to let me send for a surgeon, but he answered, no; don't make a noise, don't be frighted, I am not much hurt. He walked out into the street, the prisoner followed; she appeared to be troubled, and cried: I followed him about twenty yards; then I was called back by John Fenn or Patrick Hoy, I cannot say which: they desired me to mind the door, and they followed the deceased. John Fenn is my lady's footman, I am my master's. When I came back I searched after the knife; there was nobody then in the hall; I found the knife on the hall-table, just behind where the deceased sat, rather to his right side: it was bloody; the blood appeared to be very fresh upon it; it had not been wiped.

How came you not to see it before the deceased went out? - I believe the flap of his coat bid it from my sight.

Was the fork on the table too? - Yes; the knife and fork belonged to the steward's room.

[The knife was produced in Court.]

Did the cut appear to be made with a round or sharp pointed knife? - I cannot say; it was a slanting cut.

What was the prisoner? - Sometimes she sold nosegays and sometimes oysters, I believe.

Was there a connection between the prisoner and the deceased? - The deceased told me, he had a connection with her, but had left off.

He was not a married man, was he? - Not that I know of.

He never had a child by her, had he? - I recollect her lying-in, and heard him say, he had a child by her.

Do you know of his having any new connection? - I heard him say, since the child died, he never would have any more connection with her.

Did you know how long the child has been dead? - I cannot say with any degree of certainty.

Do you know of his keeping company with any woman at this time? - I have heard him say, that since he left this woman he went to see another, and that this woman was very jealous of him, and he could never have any peace wherever he was, she was always haunting him about.

Do you think this was the effect of her jealousy? - I do think it was such; for I have heard her threaten the deceased.

How long before this happened? - I think the space of two or three months; it was at the house of Martin Currin, in St. James's street, she said, she would be revenged of the deceased; that she would stab him to the heart, if she died at the gallows for it.

You did not say that before the coroner? - He did not ask me; I answered no questions but what I was asked.

Did she seem to be sober then? - Yes, she came in and called for a pint of beer; she knew me, and I knew her.

Did you hear her make use of any threats at any other time? - No.

'John Fenn confirmed the evidence of the

'last witness.'

To PEARCE. Was the prisoner a virtuous woman before the deceased debauched her? - I did not know her before.

To FENN and HOY. Do you know any thing of the connection between the prisoner and the deceased?

BOTH. No.

Mr. JOHN GRIFFITHS sworn.

I am a surgeon at St. George's hospital: the deceased was brought to the hospital on Friday night; he was delivered to my cure; one of the apothecary's people saw him first; I saw Pearce in the ward afterwards; he came to enquire about him.

PEARCE. I went to see him; he was under that gentleman's care.

GRIFFITHS. I saw the deceased about seven or eight at night; he had a wound above the navel, it appeared to be made by a round pointed instrument; it was on the left side of the navel, about three inches deep; it passed obliquely downwards, I cannot say how broad, because a wound contracts, it was about an inch in length; I thought it mortal, as all wounds penetrating the cavity of the abdomen are generally mortal.

Did any other surgeons attend? - Yes.

Did the deceased appear to be a porter? - Yes, he had straps about him.

Did he answer to any name? - Yes, that of Randal Perry.

That was the man Pearce came to see? - Yes; the omentum or caul was obtruded about a handful; it was returned into the abdomen; which is frequently fatal.

How soon did you despair of his life? - On Sunday morning; he died on Sunday night; every thing was done for him that was proper.

Did he die of the wound? - I am certain of it; he said a woman gave him a stab with great force back handed; he said he had two children by her, and she was jealous.

Did he say there was any provocation given at the time? - No, that was all he said.

Cross Examination.

Was he in liquor when he was brought to the hospital? - He appeared to be so, but that appearance might be occasioned by the omentum obtruding the nerves, which is frequently the case.

Did you hear him say whether he had given her any provocation that day? - He said no, he had given her none; I asked particularly whether he had given her any provocation that day; he said he had given her none; that was the same night he came in.

PRISONER's DEFENCE.

The deceased used me very ill for a long time; when the man was gone out for the porter, there was nobody there but him and me; he gave me a kick on the hip; when the three men were on the steps, after Pearce had been in to tell me not to make a noise, he gave me a blow on the temples with his fist; I had a knife and bladebone of mutton in my hand, which I was picking; I threw the bone and knife out of my hand and said, D - n him, I would never eat with him any more; I did it without any intention to hurt him: there are the marks of his blows now.

'The surgeon examined her hip and temple,

'and said there was a confusion on her

'hip; that by its appearance the blow might

'have been given her that night; that it

'appeared to be a kick, and that there did

'appear to be a mark on her temple.'

FOR THE PRISONER.

CHARLOTTE HANWELL sworn.

I have known the prisoner nine years; I knew her before her connection with the deceased; we were servants together; she was always a very quiet decent woman.

FRANCIS DOWLEY sworn.

I have known the prisoner eight or nine years: I knew her before her connection with the deceased; I know him to have had connection with her several times off and on; she got her bread as well as she could in the street.

Was she a quarrelsome woman, apt to strike people? - Yes; she has struck myself.

ALICE FINCH sworn.

I have known the prisoner ten years: she kept a fruit-shop before she cohabited with the deceased; I never knew any thing bad of her; he greatly distressed her, and kicked and beat her several times when she was with child; he was very barbarous to her and drove her to such distress that she almost wanted necessaries; the child that was born was almost always black from the bruises she had from him; he left her and took to another woman.

COURT. Did you look upon her to be a virtuous woman before he cohabited with her? - I cannot say, I never heard to the contrary; I went into the room once when he was beating her.

DOWLEY. I have seen the deceased beat her; he threw her down in the street, and she said, if she had a knife she would kill him.

FINCH. I believe she loved him too well; I believe she had no such thought; I believe if ever woman loved man, she loved him.

NOT GUILTY of murder, but GUILTY of manslaughter only. B. and Imp. three Months.

Tried by the First London Jury before Mr. Justice WILLES.

PATRICK HOY was indicted for the wilful murder of Edward Cox, January 14th.

(The witnesses were examined apart.)

MARY COX sworn.

I am the widow of Edward Cox, the deceased. My husband was a watchman at Brompton.

When did he die? - I cannot tell the day of the month, it was on a Sunday. He cried the hour of eleven, and never cried the hour afterwards. I was fetched home from Great Chelsea. I got home as fast as I could. He was at a neighbour's house, Mr. Philips's. He told me that he was very had; and to the best of my knowledge, he died in a quarter of an hour after, or a little better. Those were all and the last words I heard from him in this world.

Did you observe what condition he was in? - All bloody.

What part did the blood come from? - The left part of his head, the side of his head, and teeth.

How long had your husband been a watchman? - One fortnight that very night he was murdered.

JOHN WRIGHT sworn.

I live at Brompton. The deceased was a servant of mine for some years; he got an accident by falling out of a cart, and I recommended him to be a watchman in Brompton. He was employed but a fortnight before this accident happened: I think it was the 14th of January, on a Sunday; I dined at Mr. Hewitt's, a nurseryman, about an hundred yards from where this happened. I spent the evening there till near half after eleven o'clock. The company got up to go. We were talking in the parlour; I heard a crying out, help. help, murder! or words to that effect. I put my ear to the window and said it was Ned the watchman. I immediately went to the door and there I heard his voice very plain crying help! I immediately went to the place where I heard it, it was dark, the moon was just rising. I saw the deceased lying on the ground. When I came to him, I asked him what was the matter? He said, Lord, Sir, I am killed, I am murdered. While I was taking hold of his arm to help him up, there came two young men, one was Mr. Harrison, nephew to the gentleman where I dined, and one Mr. Harris, who lived within threescore yards of the place; Harris laid hold of one arm, and I the other and helped him up. They went immediately after the person they thought had committed the fact, and left me with the deceased. When I had helped him up, I asked him who did it, or what was the cause of it? He said it was a tall chairman in a blue coat. I asked him what was the reason of it, why he had knocked him down? He told me the man asked him the way to London, and he had shewn him the way, that then he said, You shall light me, you shall shew me the way. Cox said, he said I can't, or won't, or something to that effect, I am on my duty and cannot do it; that then the chairman took from him the halbert or instrument that he carried along with him, and knocked him down, that he got up again, and he knocked him down a second time with it. I gathered up his weapons, his stick and lantern. Cox went with the weapon in his hand, and I took his lantern and hat, and went to the house of Mr. Hewitt. We had a good deal of conversation going along; I argued with him why he did not bring a blunderbuss which I had given for the use of the watch-house. I brought him to the door and sent for a glass of rum, which I gave him: then I sent for a glass of brandy to wash his wounds. When the brandy and a cloth came I was going to take the binding off his head; he would not let me, he said he should catch cold, he had better go home. I found his lantern was full of blood; I was a good deal alarmed; I did not apprehend that he had lost so much blood. I lighted the candle, and said, we had better knock up the people at one of the publick-houses, and get assistance. He said No, I think I shall be able to get home, and then send for my wife, who is at Chelsea, and be taken care of. Upon that he went along the road home, and I followed him at a distance. Mrs. Wright was with me so I could not walk so fast as he could walk; he was quite out of my sight before he got to my house. I thought he might stop and sit down in his watch-box. I went there and found him not in his box. Then I concluded he had only got a cut upon his head and was gone safe home.

Did you go to his house? - No. This was about half after eleven o'clock. I was in my own house at about twenty minutes before twelve o'clock. On the Monday morning early I was awaked and told that Ned was dead, meaning Cox the watchman. I was a good deal alarmed, as I was afraid I had not taken the care of him that was necessary, for I did not imagine him in danger. I got up and dressed myself. In going along the village I met a man who had been at my house, and had got the end of the bayonet which was knocked off the stick. His name is, I believe, Philips. I went to all the publick-houses; and I sent this Philips, and some others, and bid them go to Chelsea and Kensington, and enquire if there had been any man at the publick-houses like a chairman, and I said I will go to Brompton before I breakfast. The last house I went to was the sign of the King's-Head at Brompton; the master of the house told me there had been no such man there, but he had heard that a chairman had brought one Levy, one of Mr. Hewitt's men, home on Sunday-night about eleven o'clock.

Did you in consequence of what was said by the man at the King's-Head make any discovery with regard to the prisoner? - Yes. From the information I had from the man at the King's-Head, I took up the prisoner about eleven o'clock on the Monday morning in a court in St. James's-street, about an hundred yards from the King's-Head. I told the people there not to say a man had been murdered, for I did not know what might happen. Levy said somebody came home with him, but he was so much in liquor that he did not know who brought him home, or how he came home.

What time did you converse with Levy? - At nine o'clock on Monday morning.

Whether the prisoner said he went out with Levy or not? - I cannot take upon me to say that he did.

I want to know whether the name of Levy passed at the time, and the prisoner said he went with Levy? - I cannot take upon me to swear to that. I took the prisoner's great coat, it was a blue one, and his hat, and put them into a coa ch and took them to Sir John Fielding's. I went to Brompton with Levy to know who came home with him. While I was there, one Gossett, who is here, told me that he saw a chairman between eleven and twelve, running along the road towards Earl's-court.

Where is Earl's-court? - It lies west of Brompton. He said his coat was very dirty. I was led by what Gosset said, to observe the prisoner's hat and coat, it was dirty with the road stuff on the right side I think. There was not any blood upon it. The prisoner said that was his hat and coat, and he got up and came away very quietly, and did not make the least resistance.

Cross Examination.

This weapon which the watchman had as he told you in his hand, had a bayonet fixed upon it? - Something of that kind. I know nothing of it of my own knowledge.

This was the account of the deceased, that this weapon was taken out of his hand? - Yes, he said so.

When you saw the man he had his head broke? - I believe it was.

There was no apparent wound upon any part of his body of such a kind as evidenced a sharp pointed instrument's having gone into the body? - I heard say so, but I did not see the body.

But if this bayonet had been made use of for the most deadly purpose it would have been directed to some more fatal part. It was not made use of for the most fatal purpose it was capable of, so far we have from the declaration of the deceased himself? - So I understood.

Levy was very drunk, and did not know who came home with him? - No, he did not, he could give no account at all, neither before the magistrate nor to me.

When you found the deceased and brought him down to Hewitt's door, you offered him a glass of rum? - I gave him one.

He desired he might get home to his wife, his wife would take care of him? - Yes.

He walked away from this place and walked faster than you? - He walked quite out of my sight.

There were no apprehensions immediately of danger? - I did not see any, or I should have taken more care of him.

Then you come to another information of the deceased, that when the blow was given him, he called out, O Lord, Sir, I am killed, I am murdered? - He said that before I helped him up.

You at that time saw no person about him? - No body at all.

You gave him a blunderbuss, but did not give him this staff and bayonet? - I did not.

SAMUEL MOORE sworn.

I keep the King's-Head in St. James's-street.

Do you know this Levy? - Yes.

Do you know the prisoner at the bar? - Yes.

Were they at your house on the Sunday when this unfortunate business happened? - They were between eight and nine.

What was the prisoner's business? - A chairman.

What is Levy? - I understand he works with a gardener.

Do you know any thing more of the matter than that these persons were at your house between eight and nine that evening? - I remember they had one tankard of porter.

Do you know whether they went away together or who went first? - I did not notice that.

PATRICK LEVY sworn.

Do you remember being at Mr. Moore's, the King's-Head in St. James's-street, on Sunday evening the 14th of January? - I do.

Do you know the prisoner at the bar? - I do very well.

Was he in company with you there? - He was in the evening.

How long did you stay together there? - I cannot tell what time I staid there; I was in liquor I believe when I came there, and do not know what time I stayed.

What countryman are you? - An Irishman.

Do you remember who accompanied you? - I do not remember the man being in company with me, nor how I got home, nor who undressed me, or put me to bed, I was so much in liquor.

Then you do not know that the prisoner went any part of the way with you? - No, I do not, nor I do not know of his leaving the house with me.

PATRICK QUIN sworn

I live at Mr. Moore's. On the 14th of January last, my master and mistress dined abroad; the prisoner Hoy was always employed at the door as a working man, and I always saw him civil and quiet during the time I drew beer there, which was for five or six months. After he had his dinner on this Sunday he went out, and came in again and had a pint of beer and the like. This man that he went along with home, came between eight and nine o'clock.

When did you see him next? - I never saw any more of him, I know no more of the matter.

PATRICK GOSSETT sworn.

I had been at the Sugar-Loaf at Brompton-green. I was going home that night between ten and eleven o'clock.

Are you sure it was not later than that? - I am certain it was not. I saw a man coming after me; I stopped; the man passed by me. I saw he was a chairman by his coat being turned up. I said, chairman, where are you going this way at this hour of the night. He said he was going to St. James's. I told him he was going quite wrong, for he was going into the country. He stopped and asked me the way to St. James's. I told him to turn back, and go the other way, for he had his back to St. James's. He came up on the foot-way and laid hold of my left-hand and asked me to shew him the way. I told him I could not it was so late. After I directed him the way he went off towards London.

How was he dressed? - He had a chairman's great-coat on.

Was it a blue coat? - It was a very dark night so that I cannot swear to the colour. He was dressed like a chairman.

Do you know Mr. Hewitt's house? - Very well; I work for him; he is a gardener.

You had been at the Sugar-Loaf was that farther from London than Mr. Hewitt's house? - It was nearer to London.

How far do you suppose the chairman was from Mr. Hewitt's house? - He was farther from London than Mr. Hewitt's house when I spoke to him.

How far did you accompany him? - I did not accompany him an inch.

Did he appear to be sober or otherwise? - He appeared very much disguised with liquor.

Was he a stranger to you? - He was; I never saw him before in my life.

Do you take upon you to know him again? - I could not; it was a very dark night.

He seemed very civil to you by your account of the matter? - He did; he asked me to shake hands; I saw there was dirt upon his coat; I wished to avoid him, which I did, and pointed him out the way to London.

ANN MARCH sworn.

I keep an house at Brompton. Levy and Gossett lodged at my house. At about half an hour after ten o'clock on the Sunday evening Mr. Levy knocked at the door; I came down and let him in. I heard a man with him, but I did not see that man.

ALICE FLINN sworn.

The prisoner lodged at my house.

What time did he come home that night? - At about a quarter past eleven o'clock.

Why do you guess it to be about that time? - Because I had a watch which I observed was half an hour after eleven a little after he came in.

Where is your house? - In Villar's Court, St. James's-street.

WILLIAM PHILLIPS sworn.

Mr. Cox the watchman, the deceased, came to my house and called me up at about twelve o'clock at night, and told me he was almost murdered by a chairman. I got up and let him in; I set him down in a great chair and got a fire for him directly. Then he desired I would go down to Mr. Hancock's to fetch his wife and bring some spirituous liquors to anoint his head with; he said be sure you do not come without it. I fetched his wife; when I came back into the house I said how are you; the deceased made me no answer; his wife laid hold of him and shook his shoulder and said how are you Mr. Cox? he said very bad indeed. Those were the last words he spoke.

THOMAS LEADLY sworn.

I am a constable. I took up the prisoner between ten and eleven o'clock on the Monday morning. I found his great coat and hat in his lodgings and I found him in bed.

Did he make any objection to going with you? - He seemed to signify he should be glad to have some of his comrades with him, but nothing more; there is some dirt and some green upon the coat.

Is there any blood upon it? - I have examined it and cannot find any upon it.

The prisoner was not called upon for his defence.

NOT GUILTY.

Tried by the Second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice GOULD.