The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-07-08 00:00:00

•
said,; when we were on the moor, he beard the
corns blearing, and snorting in the hedge, as if they
had 4 calf there, and that he then went &ern and saw
the body. Same one asked him if he looked to see if
..he was dead, and he said he got ever and lifted up
her head, and saw dm was dead. After we bad been
up with the body I heard prisoner soy the parasol was
on thersils. He said the policemen were going to take
him in charge, but that if they did, it would be out of
spite,- and lie would have a piece of " backey" over it.
Thomas Turner I live at Fordingbridge, and know
the prisonet. Oa Sunday, afternoon, about four or
half•past four, on the day in question, I • went to the
spot where the body was bread. Ay brother and two
others were there at the mine time. Prisoner came up
about half an hour afteawards. After we had carried
the body to blidgliain Fenn, I noticed two or three
spots of blood on prisoner's waistcoat. It appeared
quite fresh. I have -seen the waistcoat since, and it
appears as if the blood bad been rubbed or scraped
out.
Martha Turner, wife of the last witness: I reside at
Fordingbridge, and know the prisoner. About half.
peat fonr on Sunday, 22nd June, the prisoner passed
me and told me he had found • woman dead. He was
going towards the lane. I asked him who the woman
was, and he said he didn't know. I asked him if she
were a poor girl, and he said no; the is a respectable
girl, with gold ear-rings. I asked him how be came to
find her; end he replied that be was going through the
field, and he looked over into Harding's, and saw some-
thing flying about, and went and picked it up, and it
was a parasol. He said he went towards the hedge
sod looked over into the ditch, and lie there saw the
woman. He got over, and lifted up her head, and she
was dead and stiff. I asked him bow he thought she
bad come so. and he replied, "she looked stifled in the
mud." I asked him if she was on her face or her back,
and he replied, "on her back." I said if she had been
stifled, she would have been on her face. I noticed
spots of fresh blood on his waistcoat. I have seen the
waistcoat since, and they are gone.
Alfred Henning said: On Sunday afternoon, about 3
o'clock, I was in Hatcher's plot near the church, when
I sew the prisoner going across the field towards where
the body was found. I was with some others, and
about half-an-hour afterwards prisoner returned, and
said a woman was dead in the ditch. We all went
down except the prisoner, who came afterwards and
asked who had removed the book that was in the water.
I did not know the body when it was in the water.
Thomas Beaverkliake, surgeon: On the 23rd June I
made a post-porteog examination of the body of the
deceased, and am of opinion that death resulted from
violence—partly from strangulation and partly from
immersion. I found a considerable quantity of muddy
water in the stomach of the came description as that in
the ditch. I believe death took place from strangula-
tion, as there was extreme lividity and congestion of the
features; the eyes were bloodshot to a great extent,
more so than 1 have ever seen by hanging. The eye-
balls protruded considerably. There were external
marks of compression on the throat, and blood effused
internally to correspond with the external marks. The
strangulation might have been effected by the pressure
of the hand. If the pressure did not destroy life, I
believe it produced insensibility. If death had arisen
from immersion, there would have been much water in
the lungs and little in the stomach, whereas there was
no water in the lungs and much of the dirty water of
the ditch in the stomach. Thews:lel marks of violation
were absent; but this was negative evidence—not posi-
tive. The month, nostrils, and earn were full of mud.
The blood showa by the policeman was human blood.
P.C. Rodeway : I am stationed at Fordingbridge. The
prisoner came to me on Sunday afternoon, 24th June,
about 4 p.m. He told we he had found the body of a
young woman lying dead in a lane between Midgbarn
Moors and Bickton. He also gave me a parasol which be
said lie said he picked up •in Flarding's meadow, blow-
ing about by the wind, and two oows were running
after it. I went down to the spot where the body was
accompanied by the surgeon. After Mr. Rake bad
exarained the body! had it conveyed to Midgham farm.
I then examined the ground, and where the struggle
commenced I found a considerable quantity of blood
on the grass. I gathered up the grass with the bloodon
it, and took it to Mr. Rake, who had gone to Midgbam
farm. I then called prisoner on one side . and asked
him where he was that morning up till dinner time,
and he said nowhere particularly—he lay down in the
garden and bad a sleep. I asked him why the lags of
his trousers were wet, up to and above the knee. He
at first said they were not wet, and then said he was
not aware they were wet. I then noticed two spots mi
blood on the collar of his waistcoat, and asked him how
they came there, and he replied that his nose bled a
fortnight ego. I afterwards saw the blood marks
partly rubbed from the waistcoat. I asked him when
!retest changed his shirt and he replied that he put hit
clean shirt on before treakfast that morning. I took
him into custody about 6 o'clock on the same
evening on suspicion of having 'emulated the I
murder. He said he knew nothing about I
it, farther than finding the body in the lane. After he
was in custody I took his shoes to the spot, but could
not correspond them with any footmarks, as • great
many peorde had been there. I afterwards went to
the pnsoner's lodging. andebtained from his sister-in-
law the shirt and stockings which I now produce. The
shirt sleeves were wet and muddy, and the stockings
were also damp when I received them. The shoes ap-
peared to have been washed. The tongue of the boot
was very dirty under the laces. The features, before
the body was taken out of the ditch, were not recog,
nizahle, and no one could tell whether it was the body
of • young woman or an old one. lam sure when pri-
soner came to me he said it was • young woman.
Superintendent Btannard said: On &today, 22nd
June, from Information I received, I same to lording-
bridge and found prisoner in austody. I went to him
and told him he was charged with baying murdered Miss
Hall that day, and it being a very eerie= charge I told
him to undo his clothes for me to examine them. Fie
undressed, and I asked the prisoner at what tium be
changed his shirt and stockings that day. He replied,
"This morning -before breakfast." I examined his
trousers. Both legs were wet up to above the knee, and
inside there was • quantity of stinking mud. I said the
legs of your trousers are very wet, and he said be did
not know they were. While Inas there P.C. Rodeway
brought the dirty shirt and stockings. I held the shirt
up and asked him, "Is this yours?" He said no. I
have only the one I have just left off, and a striped
shirt which I took off this morning. The whole emelt
strongly of mud. On the 23rd I went to Mr. Thoinp-
son's field with Gosney and others. Onsney pointed
out to me the spot where he saw prisoner la the ditch.
I went and examined the spot and found three large
tufts of EMU which looked as if they had been used for
scraping off the mud. On Monday, the 30th as I wan
conveying prisoner from Ringwood to Fordingbridge, he
asked me if I would allow him to see his brother and
sisterdn-law. I said I don't know yet. What do yod
want to see them fort Ha said, to prove I was at home
by half-past twelve on Sunday at noon. I said your
brother and sister will both be there, but the ease is so
serious • one that you want to get some one to prove
where you were on Sunday morning. He replied, the
only person I recollect seeing was Gosney. Prisoner
said he picked up the parasol about eMhteen mirds
train the body, and lie could see the body when he
picked it up. I sin confident lie could not, nor even if
it were only five yards.
Sergeant Ede sail: On Monday, the 23rd. I wept to
the spot where the murder was cointnitted, and Mr.
Clifton wee with me. Mr. Clifton walked up the gully,
and I walked along outside. He pointed out something
on22.:ll::::wwedhhbußo
ji.thluenhealengle,ththu
was (mind. It was tlse taeseTof 'Miss Hall's parasol.
receivedr n
nfruihem,nPlAcepiringsofnroweehemereebhroutht:vetheb::ypanswaeds
t 7wPif from where the body
found to the stile spoken of was 138 feet. I praises •
George Morris, fanner, said: On Sunday afternoon,
where the body was found. It had been just got out.
hooked at her features but weld not tell who it was.

The men then showed me a book, and I fe;;;x1- ifis;
Hall's name written in it. I then identified her features,
bat they were no covered with mad as scarcely- to be
recognixed.
This being the whole of the evidence, the usual can.
tion was read to him, and the chairman asked hint if Le
had anything to say?
Prisoner: Nothing at all, Sir.
The Clerk: Will you sign your reply?
Prisoner: No.
Chairman : Then yen are committed for trial at the
ensuing amine at Winchester.