BURGH.

Trial of Robert Emond for

Murder.

On Monday, February 8th, the Court of Justiciary proceeded to the trial of an indictment charging Robert Emond, grocer and draper in North Berwick, with having, on the night of the 25th, or morning of the 26th of October, assaulted in her own house, at Abbey, near Haddington, Katharine Franks, and her daughter Madeline, with a table knife or hatchet, by which they were mortally wounded, and died immediately thereafter.

Marion Inglis deposed to the position of Mrs. Franks's house, and to the dress which she and her daughter wore on the day of the murder. On the Monday morning witness's little girl went to Miss Franks; but returned immediately, saying she could not get in. Witness saw the shutter closed, and was afraid they were unwell; it was thought they had gone to see Mrs. Emond. On Wednesday morning witness was present at the discovery of the bodies, and described their situation. Understood the mother and daughter slept together. Mrs. Franks told witness a week before, that, having sent some boxes to North Berwick to Emond, when she arrived there, she found them open, and accused Emond of opening them, and some hot language occurred.

between Emond and Mrs. Franks, as told by her, witness believed that Emond entertained evil purposes against Mrs. Franks.

Lord Gillies said, he considered it his duty to notice the very distinct evidence given by this witness.

James Storrie, miller.-On the Wednesday, went over their garden-wall, where he found Mrs. Franks in the stye, lying with her face downwards; gave the alarm ; Madeline Franks was found dead in the bed-room; the key of the outer door was lying inside the window of the kitchen.

Alexander Dudgeon, miller, corroborated the former evidence.

John Lloyd, superintendent of police at Haddington, heard of a murder at the Abbey, on the 28th October. Went to the place. The blood on the floor was covered by the carpet. There were footsteps in the room,—not of a naked foot, but of persons having on shoes; they were in different parts of the room, but chiefly about the body of Madeline, and they were quite dry. The room was in confusion, and the articles in the drawers had been pulled out. The drawers appeared as if they had been broken open; there was a secret place in them, which was open. The foot-marks were chiefly as if the person had been going to the door. One of the marks was the print of an entire shoe; the others were chiefly from the impression of the heel;