Maistone and Kentish Journal, 1 December, 1898.

The Charge of Murder at Chatham.

Thomas Daley, 40, a labourer, was placed upon trial for the wilful murder of Anne Penfold at Chatham, on the 3rd and 4th June last.

Mr. Dering and Mr. Sankey prosecuted. Mr. Marsham defended.

Jock Mowl put in a photograph of the room, at the Brook, Chatham, occupied by the prisoner and deceased.

Mrs. Todd said that she knew the deceased well. On the night of 3rd June she saw the deceased in a public house. She was then well and sober.

James Collison, the landlord of the "Victoria" Ale House, King Street, Chatham, new the deceased by her coming to his house. On the 3rd June she came to his house, about half past 9 o'clock, and had a half pint of beer. He had never seen the woman drunk. She was always well behaved.

Mrs. Bailey, the wife of Charles Bailey, said she lived in the next room to that occupied by the prisoner, in King Street, on the Brook, Chatham. On the night of 3rd June, about 12 o'clock, she heard the deceased woman cry out "Oh don't. Pray don't. Oh, my arm." After that she said "I am dying. I am dying." The prisoner replied "A good job too." The prisoner made some other remarks, which were deposed to by the witness, but are unfit for publication. The row went on nearly all night, and early in the morning she heard the prisoner go downstairs. The woman was moaning and crying out "Oh, oh." Then, at about 2 o'clock in the morning, all became quiet. She knew the voice of the prisoner.

Frederick Bailey, a labourer, said he was husband to the last witness. He was at home with his wife, and heard in the prisoners room noises from 10 to half-past. Afterwards he heard kicks and blows. At about half past 11 o'clock be heard of crash against the wall of the prisoner's room. He was partially deaf, and could not hear what was said. He heard a woman's voice, and a man's.

Cross-examined:- He did not go into the room because he thought it was a drunken row.

Mrs. Grant, the wife of Charles Grant, said she lived in the room below that of the prisoner. On the night of June 3rd she went to bed about half past 11 o'clock. She heard nothing in the prisoner's room. (His lordship showed her the deposition made by her before the Magistrates, and she then admitted she heard noises.) At half past 6 o'clock the next morning the prisoner came to her room and asked if he had heard moans in the night. She said "No," and the prisoner replied I think my missus is dying.

The medical evidence showed that the woman's death might been caused by are having been kicked or trampled upon.

For the defence it was shown that the prisoner in 1897 was treated at St. Thomas's Hospital, Rochester, and was not altogether responsible for his actions.

The jury, without leaving the box, found the prisoner guilty, and sentence of death was passed in the usual form.