The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-01-30 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF P.C. COX.

THE EXAMINATION OF VAGG
Took place on Toes,ley, before George Harbin, F.sq.,at
the police-station. Ile was defended by Mr. Sydney
Watts. The following evidence wan adduced :
Police-Conetalile Giboin proved that on Saturday,
the prisoner came to the police-ffitation about half-pant
with a horse and trap. Prisoner PAO. "Here's two of
them." I took one of them nut ssf the cart, and two other
ronatables task the other man nut. I said to Yalu,
" Where's the other man r Vagg replied " I don't
know."
Police-cnnstable Moldy said : I am stationed at Mil
ford, and on Saturday I met the Deputy-Chief-Constabl
at Harlington about half-past one, and, with Police-
constable Pry, went with him to West Coker, to Varies
house. Prisoner was standing with others at the front
gate. Mr. Ilisgood spoke to prisoner, and they went into
the yard together. Mr. Diegood then called men to the
yarl'and said, "Mr.Yagg has norbiection tnyour searching
the premises" Prisoner opened the stable door, and I
went nst„ the stehle. Prisoner did not speak to me, but
went leek to Mr. Itiegood. I searched the under part of
the stable first, but found nothing. I then went up into
the loft, and smirched about. Vega said, "Patty, you
will find him in the corner," and toy his instructions
removes' a quantity of old boards, some of them from six
to eight feet long, placed in a slanting position against the
wall. I don't believe a man could have got tinder the
beanie after they were placed OM they were. There was'
no vacancy to erawe tsar out. I began to pull him out Ile
said, "Puddy, don't hurt me, and 11l be quiet I ohoold
have come to you before, but I was afraid you'd beat me.
ITe moved his hands, as though to put them in his poeket,
when Mr. Bisgood sail. " You must keep your hands
quiet" Mr. Biecnod said, "You're sure that's the man.'
and feisnner replied, "Oh, yes, I know Mr. nobly very'
wen.. He had his boots off ; they were stuffed with hay.
Ile asked for water, and it was allowed him.
Cross-examinol : Peter looked rough, but didn't appear
to have "pitched" h. lie's pine back al little. W 3
found tootle chop knife in Hutchings's pocket, a small
Mee.: of meat, mot a small twice"( breast In the loft were
hay, timber, ansl a heap of carrots. I was not afraid of
him, nor have I been.
Mr. IliaGoots sworn : On Saturday, the 3001,
I left Yeovil shortly after 12, and pmceedesl by
way of the donetion to Hardington. There I met the
sister of Peter Ifutchi mos corning down to her house, and
ledrited that she had ~,,, e from West C-Acer. She was
nerving what appeal-sot to me meat, in paper. I took up
ruddy and Fry, and drive toward. West Coker. We got
i. Vagg's abut ten minutes before two. VKCIC Mai
poilltt,i ilia by Middy ;Iso wits 'speaking to two gentlemen
who were in the road, 1 celled him aside, and :asked him
if lis- knee who I was unit he replool "Ye.'.' 1 asked him
how be knew me, ant he replied he lint wen Ine in YeoviL
lit,.. told him we had been wserching about for Peter and
• nil,, had env oitketiini Vit3lll.M•retlillg his premises,
end he No" 1 called !Nobly. Vag:: hol a key in his
hand, and he went over and milockpl the door, and Puddy
went ioto the stable. N'airg came beck to me, and I
asked I • Ihe was the man who had brought in the
other two prisoners to YeswiL Ile said. Yes " I
noticed that lie wa. coneislembly agitated. Ile staked me
to walk into his. lonise, but I refused. I then looked him
straight is, ths• face, mid asked if he knew where Peter
• (This w:ss in the yard). In reply to my question be
Raid, "Yes" 1 asked, "Will you show me where he I. r
Voss," very I said, "I
101.'1—Witness : Ile said, "Come alsing." and I follsovol
hon. Ws, went lip a sorry steep ladder nailed tine to the
wall. We went iii. into the loft and Vagg psinted over
to the timber-obl rafters and partitions. I said to
" Go ant search ." end he went siver and pulled
back the wood. I really believe the prisoner aislol him.
Plldely said, " lice, he is r and I directed him to pull
hi os out.
Cross-examined Veer gave me every assistance, and
when 11-ft I thankol him.
Mr. Watt.: When slid you commence these proceed-
ings!
Witness : I ascertained on unquestionable authority that
an acting-sergeant and three men passed loy and stoke to
Vagg, and that the prisoner Pit stood have been in the
house at the time. The reason I thanked him was that I
thought he kept the thing quiet until he could IWO an
officer, and that 1 was the find he hail seen. The persons
who were with Vagg said to the officer, "Pretty fellows
yea must be, Vagit has beaten you all." I was of opinion
be ought to have told these officers at once.
The magistrates said the whole CAPC turned upon that.
Immediately the Deputy Chief called be should have
volunteered.
Witness : When I sew the agitation I came to
the conclusion that the accused was on the premise. I
think if this Inol not come out since, I should not have
taken these prorepling.s. Hutchings seemed to be in a
very sad state. Pale and faint, aid 1 1 thought the timber
luso been sos him. During the Somley Vega- might have
got rill of every trace of Hutchings, but I don't think any.
thing was ton-hest

Ihe Deputy Com:Wile said that MRS all the
evidenne. anil he :inked for a remand till aliinday next.
Mr. Watts: I've .imply to tell you I've a most complete
answer in thin ra:e

The I lerk : But you nuein't give it now. Do you object
to the rt•matk4l.

Mr. Watts ill.] not, hot apt.lie4 rm. the readmission of
There was n.. ra, rit all against his client.
The inagi..trate consented to a,hit ar,ir-ed to hail, an.l
Mr. T M.POre, 1101WitOr. and Mr. Spore, W11.91t (..ilriter, were
hound in LIU eac),, the pri,oner in 1:1019 to appear next
Manley.

The magi:trate observed that it was a very serious
rharee, and that it was evident these men eentd not have
ken at large so long without RAMO aid.

It was arramnal that the prnemolinen on Monday next
would be taken in the Town Hall.