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THE RAMSGATE MURDER. j
The trial of Forward, alisa Southey, the murderer of
his wife and child at Ramsgate and of three children in
Holborn, London, was began at Maidstone on December
2'\ arid lasted two days. The prisoner behaved in a
strange manner. He was called forward in the indict-
ment, bot he insisted that his name waa Southey. Thea
he refused for a long time to plead, arguing wi'h the
judge meanwhile. At last the case was opened, and
proceeded for some time, when the prisoner again inter-
fered, and apparently wished to defend himself. Iiis
solicitor conferred with him on the subject, and the re-
sult was that Mr. Smith, the counsel retained for him,
stated that the prisoner was not in a fit atate of mind
to know what he wished. After tome arguments, how-
ever, the trial was allowed to proceed, Mr. Smith still
defending the prisoner, who frequently interrupted the
witnesses. The defence relied upon was the supposed
insanity of the accused, and that plea was sought to be
established by the motiveless nature of the murder, by
the evidence of the medical men who. bad
examined the prisoner, and by the extravagant conduct
of the accused in the court. The facti under whioh
Forward murdered his wife and ehild were admitted,
and the only question which the jury had to determine
waa whether at the time of the murder he knew that he
was doing that which was wrong. Tho evidence was
conflicting. The prison surgeon and other offioiale all
expressed their opinion that he was perfectly sane.
While the prison surgeon was being examined the pri-
soner several times shrieked out. For the defence three
medioal men were called, who all expressed opinions
that the prisoner was insane. On some points, how-
ever, they differed. One of them said he did not think
the prisoner comprehended the nature ol the present
proceedings, while another thought Southey knew per-
fectly well that he was being tried for murder. After a
oarefol summing the jury found the prisoner " Guilty."
There was, upon this, not merely a murmur of satisfac-
tion, bnt the commencement of st burst of applause,
which was, of ooaree, immediately checked. The pri-
soner waa then cilled opon in the usual way to say any-
thing he Lad to say against sentence of death. He said
nothing, and, indeed, showed no feeling at all. The
judue then passed sentence of death on the prisoner,
who seemed atlast awe-struck and spell-hound.
. The miserahte vanity of the Tillisa Southey, lt is
said, is apparent in his letters, his speeches, his de-
meanour, both before and after the commission of the
murders and at his trial. Notoriety at any price seems
to have been bis guiding principle. He was preposte
rously vain nf what he imagined tobe his literary talent,
and waa constantly ia the habit ot' sending MSd. to the
ofiioe of * All the Year Round.' , Tbéie contributions
being utterly wortbesss were declined, and on receiving
notice to this effect .Southey wrote a eeries of insolent
personal letters to Mr. Charles Dickens, informing bim,
.among other things, that as these articles were sup-
pressed through jealousy, he Southe.«', would make a
publia exposure oí Mr. Dicken i's conduct in the transac-
tion in a published letter, to be addreisod to
"David Copperfield, Esq., Murderers' Den Rotten
borough."
' The following ÍB a copy of the letter which Southey,
alias Forward, wrote to Mrs. White, the mother of the.
children murdered in London, immediately after he had
committed the orimo: -
'. Hurriedly written.
a Annie, Annie, roy poor, dear Annie! My beloved
wife. ' I could bear up no longer. Do not shriuk from
me. lt was an aot of true, kiad mercy. If there, is one
act in the past whioh you have. not already ceaiod to
remember aa tender companion, true kindness, and
love-if there is one act ot my life towards you whioh
you with like feeling atill remember, pat it eldo by
aide with what has now happened., Could 3 ou havoseen
m 1 saw, and foresaw, you would once ' mote bless me
for having done what I have-tor having aavea yon tho
terrible puin of doing yourself what you have bo:orc
tbougit of doing and wished.and would have done to-
day without the power 10 carry out. Thank God, there
is no evident Buffering. I was spared that in my awful
anguish. Annie, I could bear up no longer. 1 bad not
one bnpe, not one joy left me. I do not wish to re-
proach yon, my pogr dear wife, fer this you are dud
malt be. When 1 first got tbem (meaning possession -
of the ohiliren from Hr. White)-I felt ray heart so
moved towards them that I thought I would send word
for you to come to me, and we would tollón for then .
but there were many reasons which made it Imponible'.
Among the rest I could not communicate with jon even,
-The poor.dear little things seemed- aa if, even.on their
parts, they thought of our nnien and were united with
me, and felt that love which links ns for ever-yes, for
ever." If anything 'could kiil'~affection, what I have
passed through in the last month would doit You,
Annie, whatever may come, cannot cease to love me.
Annie [hero the words are illegible]-by one belief
and by one understanding.: But tbe large, dark, soft
eyes seemed as ir they conveyed as a medioine to me
that inexpressible, toting gaze-the deepest liveliest
memory of my life which bclongB to me. liven at the
last he turned them «pon me, and stemed to bless me
os be smiled, and affectionately fell upon me, as if by
some magic charm of sympathy. This oame from you.
Poor miserable man ! After all, what do we know of
spiritual affinities?" . One went to rest like a poor,
tired old man. Ay, even as I Bball. Be teemed ill,
wearied, and sad, and willing to go to rest. Nature
seemod herself to acquiesce. Tte middle one (thine)
seemed to bo even then »8 always nonchalant, gentle, im-
passive. And so my risen soul has passed through this
other fierce and dreadful trial. It almost seems as if my
very oapacity to bear suffering canees it to come to me.
They did not suffer. You oatt tell somewhat what I must
have endured. But, Annie,have pity forme. What have
I got before me ? Do not leave me to bear it all alone...
Help me to finish. Do not desert me in my awful need.
Will yon not come to me? Come with me. Help meto
achieve my purpose. You know it is hi(-b, noble, and
honourable. To share and complete my triumph will
savo your suffering unenviable, aud fur, far greater
than yon will know at present. Will you not trust
him who bas never deceived you T-who has bora a true
husband, who will bo to tbe litest moment of bia life Î"
A parcel lies for yon addressed Mrs. S-, cate of
M S-, where 1 weat to play the evening you were at
H-. lt contains what I used, and is a painleis scent.
And now, once more, my wife-my poor Annie, cling-
ing, to you like nn Infa-1, unable to cease thinking of
you,, ever constantly calling on your loved memory and
name,.endeared once more Annie, I. yes I poor God
forgotten, man-despised, and woman-bated wretch,
turo, and in my saul's deepest feelings I breathe sa
ardent, holy blessing npon yon. Look baok nntil you
know what I am. Do not wrong me, nor let others dp
so. Let judgment, not feeling, measure my doing«..
God bless you as I bless you.
" E. (Ernest, his Christian name)." :
Tne MUBOBBEB FORWÀRD.-This wretched criminal
exhibits the samo demeanour as at his trial. Bis
protest to tbe judge was founded on his objection to
being defended by counsel ; but as be did not elect to
defend himself ut tho trial. Mr. Justice Mellor did nat
entertain tbs application for a new trial, but said the
application mast be made at the Home-office. Although
Southey refuses to attend the services in connexion
with the gaol, he receives the visits of the chaplain, the
Rev O. S Woolmer, and hos expressed a desire to see
the independent minister from Ramsgate. Be spends
a great deal of timo in writing to the dukes and other
noblamen.aiiainiit whom he thinks be has a grievance,,
and is supplied regularlr with paper for the purpose.
The execution will take place on the 11th January, on
the scaffold which will be erected in front of the sontb
wing of the gaol.
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