SENTENCED TO DEATH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1664, 16 September 1887, Page 3

SENTENCED TO DEATH

The trial of Bridget Mepham for the murder of her Bitter, Ann Oalton, at North Wangaratta, on the 6lh July, haa. been concluded before* the Chief Jaetioa at Beechworth. The slaters had lived together and constantly qnarrelled, Mrs Mepham being a hard drinker. The deceased had agreed to sell some property to her ala*er, bnt had broken the agree- ; ment, and thereupon she had ever alnoe evino9d her ill-feeling against her by thieatening to have satisfaction out of her. In May last, m the presence of deceased and a witneea, she threatened to take her life, and four days before the dead body of deceased waß found, Bhe fell on her knees m the presence of a constable and the deceased, and clasping her hands she said :— " God is good, and I hope you will not be living m the morning" On the day previona to the finding of the body, a man named M. Dean overtook prisoner walking towards deceased's house. He gave her a lift m his trap, and m the course of a conversation, she expressed her intention to kiU her sister. Another witness deposed that on the afternoon before the body was found, tho prisoner, on leaving her house, said :— " lam going over to kill the old wretch. 1 wlil have the worth of tny monpy out of her, if I have to go to the top of the gallowa for It." Mrs Oalton was found m an nuthouse with her head fearfully broken m by an empty bottle. She bad evidently been struck repeatedly with it after she was dead. Mis Mepham had gone away by train, and was. arrested m New South Walea The jury, after deliberating for about 15 minutes, returned a verdlot of •' Guilty," with a reoommendation to mercy. Then followed a painful scene. The prisoner asserted her innocence, and made a long, rambling statement She said nothing would have happened if the neighbors had not interfered. She and her sitter could always* make it up after they bad a few words. Prisoner stated that she was the mother of 12 ohildren, that she had bronght them all up well, and that ehe had been a hard-working-, honest woman, her only fault being; her fondness fur drink, and through it her poor grey head was to go down to the grave, Her youngest child was only 11 years of age, and it was bard on her to be taken away. His Honor then passed sentence of death. The prisoner wan deeply Bgltated, and en hearfng the sentence requested that Hie Honor would direct that her body be handed over to her friends. His Honor said that be had delivered the sentence as the law direoted, tod the unhappy woman waj removed,