The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-08 00:00:00

INQUEST ON THE BODY.

Mr. Caroner Hargreaves opened an inquest at
Blackburn Town Hall on Friday morning on the body
of the female child found mutilated in a field at Bast-
well on the previous day, and which is supposed to be
that of Emily Holland, aged seven years, the daughter
of John Holland, mechanic, of 110, Moss-street.
Mary Ellen Eccles, a girl 12 years of age, deposed to
speaking to Emily Holland shortly after four o'clock,
in Birley-street, near her residence, and she said she
was going for half an ounce of tobacco for a man in the
street. (A man wearing a mixture coat, black dirty
trousers, and with clogs cut open and down at the
heel.)
Elizabeth Holland said she had seen the trunk of
the body at the Town Hall, and she was certain it was
that of her child. She could tell, because she was
small made with little bones. They could almost
count the ribs on her skin. She had never seen her
daughter since she left home at one o'clock on Tuesday.
Dr. Maitland said he had examined the trunk of the
body of a female child, about seven or eight years of
age; also the legs, one of which, the right leg, cor-
responded with the trunk. The body was smeared
with blood and covered with hair. He was satisfied
that the child had been abused before the murder.
The legs and arms had been cut off, and the thigh
bones broken and smashed. A good•sized sharp knife
had no doubt been used. It was quite possible that
the murderer had cut the throat of the child first, then
carried the body away, and after wards severed it.
There were two distinct cuts on the windpipe, one
going right through. It was desirable to make a
post-mart em examination.
Richard Fairclough deposed to finding the legs of
the child at lliihton. They were wrapped in two
copies of the Preston Herald, one dated Saturday,
March 25, and the other Wednesday, November 10,
1875.

Police-constable Rostron gave evidence as to taking
possession of the trunk of the body. It was folded in
two copies of the Preston Herald, dated March the
11th, 1876, and March the 18th, 1876. In the parcels
were same dark hair, which have evidently been cut
or torn from some body. A few white ones were amongst
them.

A Juror remarked that the newspapers, being in
consecutive order, pointed to the fact that the murderer
was not a tramp.
Chief Constable Potts said they had evidence that
the man in whose company she was seen was a tramp.
A Juror expressed his belief that the papers had
been bought at some shop on the way to Brookhouse.
The father of Emily Holland was next called, and
stated his belief that the remains were those of his
daughter Emily. The hair found in the papers
corresponded with that of his daughter, dark brown.
The inquiry was then adjourned.

MONDAY.
The united efforts of the borough and county con-
stabulary, 180 in number, exercised throughout the
whole of Saturday and Sunday, have failed in discover-
ing anything further respPcting the outrage, murder,
and mutilation of Emily Holland. Thousands of per-
sons on Sunday viNited the places where the n-utilated
portions of the body had been discovered. The services
of a bloodhound were employed on Sunday to dis-
cover the missing portions of the body, but without
succees. The post-mortem examination of the trunk
of the murdered child has confirmed in all par-
ticulars the identity of Emily Holland. The arms,
head, and clothing of the deceased are still missing
Since the discovery of the crime the police office has
been surrounded by hundreds of persons to learn the
latest news. Several persons were arrested, but the
evidence against them totally failed, and they were
discharged.

TIIISDAY.
A Government reward of £2OO has been published,
and it is hoped that it will elicit the desired informa-
tion. The emptying of the cesspools in the part of the
town where the murder was committed has not re-
sulted in the discovery of the missing dress, arms, and
head of the murdered girl. The police have again
searched over the fields, ditches, &c., in the neighbour-
hood where the trunk and the legs were found, but
their efforts were not rewarded by any discovery.