ROBERT MEEK, sworn

I am a constable. On 27 January 1826 at approximately two o’clock in the morning I was called to Levenhall, the town residence of Mr George Benham. I was shown upstairs to the library by the housekeeper. I examined the landing minutely, and found copious marks of blood there, as well as on the floor in the library. I entered the library and discovered the body of Mr George Benham. I was then taken to Mrs Benham’s bedchamber, where there were also marks of blood present, on the floor outside the door, and on the carpet inside. Mrs Benham’s body was discovered in her bed. There was a large quantity of blood also in the centre of the bed. The carpet appeared wet as if attempts had been made to wash it to get out the blood. The prisoner was found asleep beside Mrs Benham’s body. I was present when she was woken by the housekeeper and heard her say, ‘I can’t remember, I can’t remember.’ She said it over and over and appeared to be in a state of some distress, after which she refused to say any more.

I was told Mr and Mrs Benham had been hosting Mr Feelon and various members of a planning committee of the Anti-Slavery Society, formed by Mrs Benham to organize a debate which had taken place earlier that day at the Royal Society of Science.

I later retrieved a knife from a cabinet inside the bedchamber, which appeared to have been wiped clean, containing not a trace of blood on it. There were cold ashes in the grate. I was handed other items by the housekeeper: a receipt for arsenic made out in the name of the prisoner; a jar which had been found beside the prisoner’s pallet, in the maids’ bedroom upstairs, which appeared to contain a human foetus.

I found a book in the cabinet also. Paradise Lost, written by Mr John Milton. I produce the jar, the knife, the book, &c. I took the prisoner to the watch-house that morning before she was transported to Newgate. She said not a word, neither at the watch-house, nor the whole time she was being transported.