The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-04-25 00:00:00

THE BLACIEBTJRN MURDER.

0011FIESION DT TEI MURDERJZ.

Blackburn is in • state of wild excitement, in con-
sequence of the full conf esaion which was made on Monday
afternoon of the murder of Emily Holland. Since the
commission of the dreadful crime, or rather since the
mangled remains of the poorchild were found on the 30th
ult, the most painful impression has prevailed in the
whole neighbourhood on the subject, and the most intense
anxiety that the murderer might be brought to justice.
From almost the first moment a large amount of suspicion
has attached to William Fish, barber, of Moss-street, a
married man with two children. Emily Holland
his door daily, and there were several indirect edcircum-
stances which drew upon
that on him the attention of his neigh-
bours, which at len became so unpleasant at he was
compelled to appeal to the police for protection. In conse-
quence of the feelings with which he was regarded Fish's
premises were twice searched, het there was eethieir to
link him with the crime, and the police did not consider
ihemselves justified in taking him into custody. Sunday,
' however, Chief Constable Potts, had arranged with • man
lamed Taylor, of Preston, to bring over two does, one •
moss betweee • bloodhound and • spaniel and the other
a Clumber spaaieL With these dogs Superintendent
Eastwood and two detectives directed their steps to Fish's
shop—a building containing four room*, two below and
two above. The lower apartments' were scoured very
carefully, but the only parts which attracted the hounds
were the sink and the slopetone, near which portions of
human hair were found. From thence the officers went
upstairs the dogs following. At once they seemed to have
caught the scent The bloodhound made for the chimney
in the front room. Taylor took the hint rummaged the
"vent" with his hands, and presently drew forth from
• recess at the back • child's skull and portions of human
fiesh wrapped up in • coarse paper, covered with blood.
Both Fish and his wife were present, but neither spoke.
Ile was at once arrested. Meanwhile the crowd that had
gathered round the house had learnt the nature of the
discovery, and excitement was almost uncontrollable. It
was with the utmost difficulty that the officers, as they
conveyed the prisoner along the streets prevented him
being lynched. Long after the wretched man -had been
consigned to the cell under guard of • couple of police-
men, who remained with him the whole pied excited
gatherings remained in the front of the !mike-station,
round the door of Emily Holland's parents, and before
the prisoner's own house. Lets at night his wife visited
him and declared that not only had she known nothing
of the murder, but that she still did not believe her
husband capable of committing such a crime
On Monday William Fish was brought before the magis-
trates. He is a man of about 95 years of age, and was
formerly • parish apprentice, havine, been taken out of
the Blackburn Workhouse by Mr. iftadvrick Bramwell,
who WWI MN of the coroner's jury, and who is said to hare
directed the attention of his fellow-jurors to the
suspicious circumstances connected with his old
apprentice.
Mr. PotteChief Constable charged the prisoner, with com-
mitting the crimes of rave, murder, and mutilation on the
body of Emily Holland, on the 26th tilt Another man lain
custody on the charge. After the evidence of the police the
prisoner was remanded till Thursday. lie declared before
leaving the dock that he was innocent of the murder, and
knew nothing about it. Since his removal to the cells,
however, he has made • full confession of his guilt. The
particulars will not be made public till Thursday, when
the adjourned inquest will be held, but it is known that
he admits that "be killed the girl and cut her to pieces,"
and that he declares "he alone did it, and had no confed-
erate whatever."
Robert Taylor, the other man mho is in custody, has
been removed to Preston. According to the medical men
who have examined him, he is • dangerous lunatic. It is
stated, however, that he gave a rational statement of how
be get to Ashbourne. His clothes are still in possession of
the chemical analysts.
Since the prisoner's confession another visit has been
made to his shop, resulting in the discovery, among the
coals in the cellar, of • portion of Emily Holland's cloth-
ing. It was cut up in small shreds No more of the min-
ute limbs have been found, but this excites no surprise,
as it is believed they were burnt.
At on period in the recent history of Blackburn has any
event created so much excitement
LATICST PallTlCULaita.
His wife had an interview with him on Tuesday. The
meeting, as may well be imagined, was • most painful one.
The poor woman who seems not to have the least notion
Prior to his confession that her husband was capable of
committing so dastardly a deed, was overwhelmed with
grief, and while not inclined to palliate her hushand's
horrible offence she naturally assured him that he had her
forgiveness for all his misdeeds. Much sympathy con-
tinues to he manifested for the parents of the murdered
girl Emily Holland. They are both said to be seriously
ill, hotline lvroken down under the severe tension to which
their feelings have been subjected during the past three
weeks. When the man Peter Taylor took his departure
from Blackburn on Monday, accompanied by the two dogs
he received quite an ovation. As indicating the terrible
dread which be must have laboured under constantly to
emceel his crime it is stated that he took pert daily in the
conversation amongst his customers respecting his crime,
and so late as Sunday forenoon, when he was pursuing his
occupation asusual, he inquired if anything further was
known of the murder. Fish is described as a man of very
peculiar appearence, lie is diminutive in height, sod
slim in build. He has • prominent forehead, and eyes
deeply sunken in their sockets. Considering his delicate
appearance, a belief has arisen that he will not suffer the
due reward of his guilt, but that before the trial can take
place, and the sentence which it is presumed will be sure
to follow fin take effect, he will have sunk beneath the
weight of his terrible crime.

TRE •DJOURNSO INQUEST.
The adjourned Mowed into the circumstances connected
with the murder of Emily Holland at Blackburn was
resumed Thursday morning at the Borough Police Office,
before Mr. T. Hargreaves, the district coroner, and Mr.
Deane, deputy coroner. Unusual interest centred in the
procee ling., it being known that the confession which
the prisoner Fish had made to the police would be made
public in the course of the inquiry. Long before the hour
at which the inquiet was announced to commence an
eager crowd beseiged the doors of the court, which were
guarded by policemen. in the corridors and other parts of
the Town Hall a large body of constables was drawn up.
The widespread interest which is taken in the case was
manifest by the large attendance of representatives of the
Press, who numbered between fifty and sixty. They
were admitted at nine o'clock, and speedily filled all the
available space within the limited area of the Courtroom.
Precisely at ten o'clock, the Coroner took his seat. Owing
to the crowded state of the court, the Jury and many
members of the Press were unable to find seats. Con-
siderable excitement was manifested when at ten
minutes to eleven • clock the prisoner Fish, guarded by
polite-officers, was brought in and placed in a chair on the
platform. He wore • wild haggard look, and ascendedthe
steds with apparent difficulty. He was followed by the
man named Robert Taylor, who was apprehended at Ash-
bourne on suspicion of being concerned in the murder,
and who sat in a chair next the table.
The Deputy-Coroner (to the prisoner Fish): Listen to
the evidence. It may implicate you. Does anybody
represent you?
The prisoner: No.
Do you wish to say anything to the witnesses that have
been called before t—No. If this man (pointing to the
prisoner Taylor, who sae on his left) is alluded to. I sent
for the tobacco.
You sent for the tobacco I—Yee.
Did you go to Mrs. Standing's shop I—No.
The Deputy Coroner then read over the evidence given
previously before the coroner's jury, and in reply to the
question as to whether he had anything to my, replied
"No in a low tone.
The Deputy-Coroner (to Fish): Do you wish to say any-
thing to these witnesses?
The prisoner Fish: It is all false
What is all false—what them witnesses say t—Yes.
About seeing this man I—Yes.
You think so 7—Yea.
Do you say anything about yourself?—? did it.
Mr. Supt. Eastwood was then called, and in the course
of his evidence said: On the Pith of March the deceased
Emily Holland's father came to the polire-office and made
a report about his daughter. Hi, name is James Holland.
She was raven years of age. He said his daughter was
lost, and I sent a constable with him to go and search the
neighbourhood of Mose-street. Brookhouse, and as far ea
the cemetery. They went to search and make enquiries
to see if they could find the child, but she was not found.
I remember Monday, the 3rd of April, I searched the
house at No. 3, Motstreet occupied by the prisoner
Fish, as • hairdresser's shop. We ma& • thorough
eternization of the rooms, downstairs and up, looking to
see if we could find an trams of blood. On Sunday, the
16th of April we searched again. I was accomParled by
Detective-officer Holden and Peter Taylor, of Nelson'
street, Preston, painter. He had two dogs with him ; one
was a bloodhound and pointer, and the other was •
spanieL When we went into the place the prisoner had
I been brought to the shop by detective Limey. When
Taylor and I and Holden rot inside I spoke to the
prisoner, and I told him that the dog was a bloodhound,
and that we were going to make • further search of his
premises. Ile did not week. The bloodhound began to
scent the place. This was in the first room on the ground
floor. There are two rooms below and two above. The
room we were in was the one used as the shop. Then we
went into the back kitchen, and about the slopetone in
, the kitchen both dogs commenced to work as if scenting.
Detective Holden opened the stairs doors which leads out
of tfie hack kitchen, and the does, without being spoken
to, made right upstairs. The bloodhound went into the
back room, and then into the front When it got beside
the chimney it seemed to went it, and Taylor 114C11110 to
understand the movements of the dogs, and at once
doubled himself up in the chimney. He got his head up,
and put his hand clown • draught or mammon the left side.
First he pulled out the two cinders, intermixed with a
little blood. He then put his hand down the same place
again, and brought out a part of the skull produced.
The prisoner and his wife were present at the time, and
the prisoner was very nervous. I sent for the chief
constable, and he gave orders that the prisoner should be
taken into custody. He was taken into custody by Detec-
tives liodden and Uneasy. We removed him by the back
door, and the house was left in char= of two police
officers during the night and the following morning. Next
1 morning I made • further search with Mr. Potts, and
I took down the whole of the bricks in the chimney piece.
I We then found these portions of the skull (producing
.mall pieces of bone, the pieces vendor in exe). We also
found • few more scull bones. We found • piece of paper
burnt: this was down in (be draught with the bones.
There are small portions of the brain along with the bones,
There had been no fire in the grate for some time. After
the prisoner had been taken into custody, I charged him
at the policeetstion with the wilful murder of Emily
Holland, seed seven years, at 3, Moss-street, on the Mb
of March, 1176. He replied,' lam innocent, and God
I knows I am."
James Holland said: My daughter Emily had dark'
brown =tr. The portion of skull produced is that of my
little girl, and the hair on it resembles hers in colour.
TIM CONFESSION.
The following confusion was then read s—l told
Constable William Parkinson that I had burnt part of the
cloth= and ItOt the other Part under the cosign my shop,
adlnowwllhtoeaYthltlalçuilty of the morder. I
further wish to say that I dent want the innocent to
suffer. At • few minutes after five o'clock in the evening
i wee standing at my shop door in Illoas-etreet, when
deasesed child OM. Past She wag going tiP Moss-street.
I asked her to bring me oats =lt ounce of tobacco front
Cox's shop. She went and brought it te me. I asked her
io ro tut. ray shop She did. I asked her to go upstairs,
and she did. I went op with her. I tried to abuse her,
and die was Diesly deed. I then cut her throat with •
rumor. This was in the front room near the fire. I then
carried her body downstairs into th,..e shop, cut off
her bead, arms, and legap=mtd et the body in news-
and put those into a box in the but
ritPcsai. The arms and head I put in the fire. On the
Wednesday after I took the parcel containing the lege to
Lower C'enlilfe, and at nine tickek that night I took the '
the body to • field at Beetwell and threw
, rtarriezrccsthett2 On Friday after I burnt part of the
clothing. On the Wednesday morning I took pert of the
head which wee =burnt end pet it up the chimney in the
front bedroom. I further wish to say OM I did all myself.
No other perms had anything to do with it. The forego.
log statement has been read over to me, and Is correct It
1
is my egestery statement, led before t made it I was told
Mitstosurenbil be taken down In writing and given in
NM
Atter ilailiM mesellintlem the foremen of the Jury
said: The Jury 111Facesef
be disatineL
INSIX SW Itebert Taylor hes
net been so k kkaskt ON kb
At likk illkStirg

beginning It was quite right and proper that he should
have been taken into custody.
The Coroner: Oh ye.; there is no doubt about that.
There is an telling what your verdict might have been if
Fish had not made this statement,
The Foreman of the Jury: Just so.
The Coroner: You are 'ii agreed,
The Foreman of the Jury : Mr. Coroner—We have come
to an unanimous verdict of " Wilful Murder" against
William Fish in the case of Emily Holland.
Taylor was then set at liberty, and Fish was removed to
the cells below. He was supported on either side by •
police-ogicei as he left the hail, and seesuest exceedingly
weak and dejected.
The inquiry terminated shortly before two o'clock.
About half an hour afterwards the prisoner Taylor left the
Town Hall, escorted by his two brothers. He was heartily
cheered by the large crowd assembled outside. Ile seemed
not in the learnt degree to comprehend the terrible podtion
in which he had been placed, and proceeded at once to the
Borough Arms public-house, near the Town hail.
Mr. John Vaazhan, Primitive Methodist minister. Mack-
burn, writes :—I had at, interview with his wife, who
told me that she was, some years ago, a scholar in one of
I our Sunday schools, but that her husband was a scholar in
St. John's school and a member of St. John'. eonrrecation,
and never was, in any way, crunected with the Primitive
Methodists."

--A-t—th;-illackburn Police Court, Friday, before the
Mayor (W. It. Parkinaon) and other magistrates, William
Fish, barber, was bmught up on remand, charged with
the wilful murder of Emily Holland, on Tueaday, Vlth
March. The Court House was densely crowded. The
prisoner presented the same haggard and dejected appear-
ance which has characterised him since Monday. At the
commencement of the proceedings.
The Chief Constable, addressing the Bench, said.
To show that all suspicion was not di% erted from Fish
in his mind, he mentioned that when the prisoner went
to the police station to ask for protection, he said to him,
" You shall have protection, but after the investigation is
over you will have to be hanged.'
He was then committed for trial to the next Liverpool
assizes.

The prisoner was removed amid much hooting.
OFSCRIPTION OP PRE PaISONER.
A Correspondent writes : Thin afternoon I was
permitted to see the prisoner enter the small exercise-yard
adjoining the cells in the Town Hall, and his appearance
was as unlike that of a cold-blooded munlerer an could
possibly be imagined. He was essentially " common "
and insignificant in dress, gait and features, and he
appeared dejected and yet feverishly anxious. It would
be dllbcult to produce a more ordinary, commonplace
person than this man, and there is certainly nothing in
his face to Indicate strong pasitionn. The features are
types of what may be often seen in thousands of the
lower clause The narrow shoulders, sunken chest, and
loosely-hung limbs are perfectly in harmony with the
small shrunken face and large but ill-shaped head and
the restlessness of the deeply-placed eyes add to the
unattractiveness of Ina appearance. Physically he is much
below the average height, weight, and strength of an
ordinary man. As he steps with uncertain feet along the
narrow flagged yard, with its high stone walls dotted with
barred windows, he seems to realise his puition to the
full, and looks uneasily about him. His sister is waiting
to see him, and for a few minutes they talk together, but
the prisoner is clearly very ill at ease, and dose not care to
prolong the interview. He is accordingly very soon after-
wards removed to his cell, and the two constables enter
after him, for he is guarded constantly for fear he should
attempt to take his own life. I get • glimpse of the large
family Bible, which he is said to read very usidiously,
and then I leave the corridor. Fish's demeanour since he
has been placed in confinement has been peculiar. It is
evident that he is excessively conscious of his position,
and yet he has determination enough to beat hack his
feelings and render them partly subservient to his will.
He eats most heartily, and the police supply him with
whatever food heexpressesa desire for. Nothing, however,
is admitted from his friends outside, and this precaution
is • very necessary one, as the means of self-destruction
might easily be conveyed to him in his food. He is
provided with three meals • day, and at two of these he
usually partakes of meat His health does not appear at
present to suffer from the confinement.
Thelprisoner, prier to being brought before the coroner's
jury was in • weakly and excited condition, and it was
deemed necessary to give him a dose of brandy and soda-
water. Ilia sleep during the last night has been very
unfreehing. lie has in his cell a large Bible and several
books and tracts, and these he frequently reeds. He
expresses • wish that the time may soon arrive when he
may pay the penalty of his crime. It is stated that he
reads with great apparent interest the reports of the
different inquests that have been held. On the night of
Good Friday he read to some customers the report of the
previous day's proceedings, at the conclusion of which he
exclaimed, "If that fellow gets hung I will have a jolly
spree ; I will break the pledge and get drunk." Os the
Aht, at Darwin, he said the munleeer deserved to be cut
, . .

In pieces. On the 6th inst. the police for the second or
third time searched his rreinises, whereupon a flock of
persons surrounded the door and even filled the street.
To day two little fingers from the hands of Emily Holland
were discovered in his hoase. Peter Taylor who had the
charge of the dogs, was offered .C2OO and free premises if
he would allow them to be exhibited. He said he would
show them on his own account the Amphitheatre .4
Varieties was engaged, and, we are ashamed to relate, an
Immense sum waa taken at the door.
REROVAL OF FISH TO LIVERPOOL.

The prisoner Fish arrived at Kirkdale Gaol Saturday
morning, in the custody of Chief Constable Potta, Soot.
Redwood, and a Liverpool dedective. Extraonlinary
precautions had to be taken to remove the prisoner from
Blackburn unobserved by the public, who were assembled
in crowds around the 'Loin Hall, where Fish was in
custody during the whole of last night. About three
o'clock this morning the police took the prisoner from the
Town Hall through a sole door, and lodged him in the
county police station, his removal being accomplish,'
without the mob being aware of the fact. At five o'clock
• carriage and pair was obtained, and the prisoner was
conveyed in it to bedeck Hall Station about ten miles
from Blackburn, Nobody having suspected that the man
had been removed from the Town Hall, the crowd
lingered there, and his departure was therefore entirely
unnoticed. Chief Constable Potts and the other officers
arrived with there charge at the Lostock Hall station at
twenty minutes to seven, and after waiting for refresh-
ment (the prisoner taking coffee and buttered oatcake)left
for Kirkdale. Shortly before the train reached %Yellen it
somehow leakedout that the Blackburn murdered wasin it,
at the Bootie Lane Station • eniwtl collected round the
prisoner and hissed and hooted him with great pertinacity.
One woman shouted out, "Murder him before he gate up
the steps," and another shaking her list at him said, "(lii,
you rascal," The officers, in consequence, of this mani-
festation of feeling, hurried the prisoner almost at a
running pace from the station to the gaol, which is only a
short distance, and arrived within the precincts of the
prison, just as a large crowd of working men, chiefly
brickmakers, arrived on thespot, no doubt with the object
of giving the prisoner a hot reception. Whilst Fish was
waiting in the vestibule, pending the signing of the usual
documenta, he thanked Chief-constable Potts and
Superintendent Eastwood for the kind manner in which
they had treated him since he had been in their custody,
and expressed a hope that if anything could be done for
his poor wife and family that they would do it. lie was
then searched, and there was found upon him a Bible and
Prayer book, several tracts, and a pipe. The warder took
the books from him, informing him that the chaplain
would supply him with similar books. The prisoner by
ne means wears the emaciated and hagganl appearance
which some people have described, lie did not appear to
be at all effected, and whilst sitting on the forin he
occupied himself by eating with evident relish cake. The
usual formalities having been complied with, he was
removed to a cell In the interior of the prison.

MOLE IXTERvIEWS WITII FISH.

Twice on Seurday the prisoner had interviews with his
wife and children. The second interview took place in
the evening, and it was of a painful description. On
meeting they kissed each other moat affectionately. Both
were overcome with tears. When Mrs. Fish told her
husband that she forgave him, as she hoped for God to
forgive her her sins, he exclaimed, "Thank God." The
wife urged her husband to prepare for the next world, as
he had little time to spend- in this. She also remarked
that It was a bad job that he should have brought himself
to such an end. n• interview lasted for some time, and
the parting scene was a most affecting one. In the
evening he was visited by the Rev. T. Heys, who read the
story of the Prodigal Son to him, and afterwards prayed
with him. Fish shed tears in profusion, and prayed most
fervently. He was subsequently supplied with his tea,
which he seemed to enjoy.
The question of the culprit's religion would appear
to be finally settled. After the usual inquiries ha
was formally booked, in accordance with his own
declaration, as belonging to the church of England.
Among the articles found upon him when searched in the
usual way were a Book of Common Prayer, a Bible and
several tracts. The criminal thanked Chief Constable
Potts and Superintendent Eastwood for such consideration
as they had shown him, and expressed a hope that some.
thing might be done for his wife and family.
Great sympathy is felt for Mrs. Fish, the wife of the
priaoder, and a subscription list is about to be opened to
relieve her and her two little children.