Village History
through Superintendent Shepherd,
asked the latter whether she (prisoner) did not ask ber to draw her some beer on iue_sday, as the servants’ dinner was later than usual that day Witness replied in the affirmative. Ihe Rev. CP. Plumptre repeated the evidence already given. Superintendent Shepherd, in addition to his previous testimony, stated that on examining the nursery, after taking the prisoner to the police station, he found, at the foot of the bed, leaf of paper produced (appended, marked ” A”). On the chest drawers, under the corner of the looking-glass, he found letter in envelope, addressed and stamped (marked B”), also put in. Sometime in the afternoon of the same day, when in the cell where the prisoner was confined, she asked witness if any letters had been found at Miss Macdonald’s. didn’t reply, and she said, “If so, they will confirm all. know wrote one, and I wrote it in a book.” Witness had compared the leaf marked “A” with the small pass-book produced, which he found in the chest of drawers, and they correspond. The prisoner said further, ” If they had let me lire until Mrs. Logan returned, I should not have cared.” Witness answered, ” You are living, and will live.” She said, No, I shall not, know lam dying.” Prisoner did not ask tbe witness any questions. Mrs. Constance E. Brander, wife of Air. W. R. Brander, of Eltham, Kent, said she knew tbe prisoner, and bad seen write. To tbe best of her belief, the handwriting of the paper marked A” was tbe prisoner’s, but she could not swear to tbat in the letter of envelope. Charlotte E. White, cook at Miss Macdonald’s, stated that, on the Tuesday evening before, she went into the night nursery, where prisoner was packing ber clothes. Witness said, Why are you packing all your clothes, as you are going to Mrs. Brander’ r She said she was’going there, but what she had would do. Witness said, ” Ann will think strange when she hears in the morning you are going.” Prisoner replied, ” She will get a worse fright than that.” Witness had seen her write, and believed the letter, envelope, and paper produced were in her hand writing.—At the request the prisoner, witness was asked if she did not help pack the former’s box, and she replied that she did. Dr. Somerset repeated bis evidence as to the wound which caused deceased’s death, and as to the state of the nurse. Death had only taken place few minutes when saw the body. Miss Macdonald was apprehensive that laudanum bad been given to the child Rossie, but, examining him, found nothing to indicate the fact. Dr. Buckingham, confirmed the evidence of the last witness. to be continued……
Northampton Mercury – Saturday 20 May 1871
