The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-10-02 00:00:00

THE PENG!! MIIRDIB.

After a trial which had lasted for seven entire dim.
the Penge ease has endiel in a verdict of wilful
murder against all the f pri.oner., and Lorain
Adolphus Edwina Staunton, 26, former. Pa.rick
Llewellyn, 24, artist. hi, brother. Mrs. Elizabeth
Ann Staunton, 29, wife .f Patrick, and Ali,'
Rhodes, O. siiinster. have been sen.enced to
death. A little mor. than two years ago, in
the Jane .4 1979. Louis Staunton, an auctioneer's
clerk, in by no mean, proaperona circumstances,
married Mi.. Harriett Butterfield. She WM ten
yearn older than himself; she WU of weak intellect
her personal appearanee wan hardly promos'...wing ;
and there can be no doubt that her hnehand married
her for her money. There was no settlement made at
the marriage, and altogether, by taking at once what
ready money she had, and by making her sell her
reversions, ahe was ;,it into possession of nomething
like t 3,000. The married life of Mr. an.l Mrs.
Staunton seems to have been very far from happy.
Louis had ii brother called Patrick, who had married
a Mfis Elizabeth Rhode.. Elizabeth had a younger
sinter Alice, and it is clear that soon after his
marriage a criminal intimacy grew up between Louie
Staunton and Alice Rhode.: that Mrs. Louie
Staunton WWI aware of It. existence; and that,
although she svas ton feeble and weak-minded to
resiet it and to proclaim her wrong., it yet preyed
upon her mind. In the latter part of 1976 we find all
the parties to this sad history of crime and misery
living clone together at endhatn, in Kent. endham
In an nut-of-the-way, demobste little village, and
Patrick Staunton, who in an artist. had a small five.
roomed house there known an The Woodlands. Looms
took a amall firm called Little Grays, within half 'a.
mile of hie brother's house, and to it he brought him
unfortunate wile. _

Before Lonie Stanntnn had been many dart at
17railham we find him making an important change in
hi. domestic arraneementa. His wife, with a child
which had been born noon after the marriage. was
sent to live at The IVondlands with Petrick and his
wife, it being agreed that a pound a week was to he
paid for her keep. No sooner was thin plan carried
out than Alice Rhodee came to live at Little Gray. •
and Its the neighbouni had never seen Mrs. Louie
Staunton, and were ant even aware of her estietence,
Alice Rhodes WM net unnaturally taken to be Lenin
Rtaunton'e wife. Whether the unhappy Mtn. Lenin-
Stannton knew nf what was going on it in impossible
to Kay but on the 17th of November she was taken
;p to town to sign away her last available property.
•roja that day forth to the day of her death her
history can only be gathered by conjecture, but there
is practically no room for doubt as to what that
history was. Having got his wife', little frirtnne into
his hands, Louis Staunton conceived the dialeilical
hies id getting rid of her and of marrying Alice
Rhodes. To this horrible plan his brother Patrick,
Patrick's wife, and Alice Rhode. lent themselves. In
The Woodland, there was a small ripper room, and
there the unhappy woman was kept a prisoner. From
the appearance of her feet her boots and stockings
must have been taken away from her; that it was
Impossible for her to leave the hunt's.. This, however,
was not rill. It was resolved to accomplish her death
by slow starvation, and the atrocions echeme waa
deliberately and systematically carried out. On some
days no fond at all was given her, nn others only a
little, and no, week by week and day by day,
the wretched woman grew weaker and weaker. On
the Bth of April last her child wa, taken by Patrick
Staunton to Ony'e Hospital, where it was placed
under an assumed name. It died the next day, the
cause of death being returned as "inanition," and
Louie, who immediately came and made arraegemente
for its burial, ilemeriheil himself MI Mr. Harris, and
'dated that the child was not his. On the lath of
April the four convicts, who were now acting in open
concert, took lielgines at Penge. Mrs. Louis Staunton
was by this time dying, too weak, from starvation, to
speak or even stand upon her feet. Her death WAR a
mere matter of hour., and it wee necessary. as Teinie
Staunton well knew, to g. 4 a medical certificate, end
a 1.,, if possible, to jimenre it nut of the neighbourhond
of rtsilham ; or otherwise, when the •leath crone to be
reizistere•l, his guilty eecret would inevitably lie
discovered. Accordingly the wretched woman, who
seas now all bet dead, was removed late at night, and
under cover of darkness, to Pence, and there the next
morning she died. When a post-mortem was held
upon her h the cause of death was only too
apparent. She had been murdered by slow starvation
and deliberate neglect. There was not, we are toll,
anywhere in the whole le,ly a partii•le of fat, while
the comae was literally alive with vermin, and in a
con•lition no filthy as irrerietibly to suggest the
inference that for month, paid the poor creature had
not been alleweil to wash herself, or even to change
her linen. The medical man who wrie called in to gee
her did not notice these circtimetances. On his first
visit he sow at once that his patient was in the coma-
tose c milition which immediately precedes death, an•l,
as was not unnatural, he accepted the aecount given
him by the prisoners., which wan to the effect that the
unfortunate woman hail not been long ill; that she
had been attended by a local medical man whose
name was actually mentioneil, and that she had been
brought to Fever so that she might have the advantage
of better medical advice. The story was plausible,
and, although the circumstance, were 'somewhat
unusual, yet there was nothing in them even to
suggest the pnseibility of the foul murder which was
being committed. Fortunately, however, certain fact.
exeitisl Dr. Loneriege'm enejectonsl. npon the strength
of which be withdrew lii, certificate of death and
cosnmuniiiateil with the coroner. An inquest was
hell. ant the prisoners were committed to take their
trial fer wilful murder. They have been found
and. in the case of the men. the terrible sentence of
the law will beyond all imesti,,n be carried 'nt. The
women have been reeem • en•led ti merry, although it
is hard to see what eonei•leration, except their youth
end sex, can porteibly have bilil in their favour. The
recommendation will be forwarded to the proper
quarter; and, although Mr. Justice Hawkins held out
no hope., he yet ilimennraged none, and we may
coneermenthe regard it as probable that the sentence in
their case will be commuted.
COURT.

scexa

At 5 minutes past II o'clock Wednesday night the Pence
Mystery became the Pence murder. Before ten minutes]
more had pustel Mr. Justice Hawkins had assumed the
black cap. and the two brothers and two sisters had been
sentenced to death. The Court had 111...111,,1ed at half-past
ten in the morning, and from that time until fie minutes
past nine, with slight intervals for refreshment on two
omissions, nnthing had been done but the summing-up of
evidence which nearly everyone in court knew by heart.
The morning faded into the afternoon, the afternoon grew
gloomy with the dusk, the night came on, and still no
sound echoed through the ben/ling but the single voice of
the judge. On this the seventh day of the trial the court
was more crowded than ever, and strange to say more
ladies than usual bad taken platen to gratify their
curineity. It was a strange contrast. On one site of the
court, in that hroad pen ender the clock, sat the four
miserable prisoners. Louis Staunton, pale as death, cut
his eyes up at the distant window and appearesl to be in
a trance or • daze. He did not speak ; he did not write;
he did not move. In the centre of the dock, side by side,
eat the husband and wife. Patrick and Min. Staunton.
These unhappy people could ArAreellr have been closer, and
throughout the terrible day they occupied themselves in
constantly writing and conversing with desperate earnest-
ness. At the further end of the deck was plarel Alice
Rhodes, who bowed her head, never looked on the court,
and, like I,llis Staunton, appeared to he stursified with
terror. There had been neemione during this miserable
trial when it required the hest fortitude of all the prisoners
to present their giving way to their pent up feelings, and
we know that on the last day butt one those ladies who
were present were rained to hear the hysterical shrieks of
Mrs. Paurick Staunton and the convulsive Rohs of Alice
Rhode*. But as yesterday wore wearily along there was
no such scene. Whenever any of the audience looked
towards the dock with the grave Governor of Newcate
Gaol in one corner, and the background of male and female
warders, their curiosity was gratified no further than to
see the pale, startled face of Louis, the centre group of
the unhappy husband and wife, probably conversing for
the last toe on earth, and at the opposites-wiser the bent
bead of Alice Rhodes. All was sad and wolemn. No
shrieks, or solo, or hysterical outbursts interrupted the
eteady voice of the persistent Judge. But contrast the
depre.ving picture under the clock with that which faced
the prisoners. The great sword of justice stood out
against a background of crimson. The scarlet and black
robes of the Juslze, the blue silk and dark fur on the
gowns of the sheriffs, the gold chain of office, the bouquets
of chrysanthemum lying idly on the desks, the court
suits, lace ruffle., and glittering swords of the under-
sheriffs, made, with the jewels and dresses of the
young and old, who had come to see the trial, a strangely
different picture from the gloomy sorrow beneath the
clerk. On one side shivering despair, on the other gaiety
and life. This is not the place to comment on the form of
curiosity which prompts women to take a deep interest in
such scenes as there, to conic in their Snnday beet, their
bracelets, and their bonnets, to gaze for hours on fellow
creatures trembling between life and death. There may
have been no worse fault than thoughtlessness : but would
it not have been well yesterday to hide away that number
of Wednesday's resseA, to keep the opera glasses in the
loarkground, if they were necessary at all, and certainly to
endeavour tn supp,rt eahaustod nit uses- without foaming
glasses of champagne, which wire actually consumed in
open enurt at luncheon time I
The day serenest interminable during the long summing
no. S umetimpe there eanos through the open window the
shouting voices of the newsboys selling the various eii•
tions, of the evening papers. At half-past eight o'clock the
shouts herame like the roar of a mob outside the prison
walls: but the day wore sadly on, the clock struck hour
after hour, the daylight went out, and with an illumina-
tion of gas in court Mr. Justine Hawkins at six o'clock
berms anew eerie' of evidence and comment. It was not
until 20 minutes triton that the jury had retired toconsider
their verdict. The jury were taken out of court, the four
prisoners were eworted below by their warders, the Judge
went oust with the Sheriffs, and the anxious ladies who had
remained bravely at their posts, were prepared to discuss
with their companions the probabilities of the verdiet.
An who are familiar with the procedure of criminal
courts know the buzz of relief that occurs after the
suspension of a long sitting. There is A chattertng in the
court, the members of the Bar stretch themselves and
talk to their friends, and those curious people who make
it • point to attend at every calor clPbre have an
opportunity of airing their strangely-acquired information.
So the time wears away until the clock strikes eleven.
Opinions are divided and same say that the jury will not
be hark until midnight. But at live minutes past eleven
voting Mr. Pollard, of the Treasury, bustles into court,
and instenctively every one feels that the time has
arrived and that the Puy are running back. A buzz of
expectancy PAASPA along the bar benches. Seats are
resumed. The Judge is fetched into court "Silence " is
emphatically proclaimed, and once more the two brothers
and the two sisters are in the front row of the dock. There
is no sitting nnw. They must all stand and hear the
verdict pronounced upon them. Loans, still ashy pale. I
looks as if he were in a stupor, and gazes unmoved.
Patrick trembles like a leaf, and, as he has done on every
day of the trial, looks behind pitifully and pleadingly for
his wife. Once she is buy his side he seems more consoled.
The two women, half stooping and shrinking from the
Junk of the Court and the eyes of the women round and
and about them at every corner, stand by the side of the
awn. The dock is now full. The warders have been
doubled and trebled, and it requires all the kindly
assistance of Mr. Smith. the Governor, and all the
attention of every one concerned, to prevent Patrick and
kis wife from falling, It is a dreadful moment, and the
sasPense is painful. Once again the names of the jury-
men are called over, and each one answers. Then, after
another "Silence r the Clerk of tb Arraqms speaks:
"How say you, gentleman, is Louis Staunton guilty of
the murder with which he elands charged r The
Foreman's voice trembles, "Guilty." "Is Patrick
Staunton &milts, of the murder with which he stands
charred? Guilty., " Guilty." "Is Elinabeth Ann Staunton guillt
of the murder with which stands charged r "C,uilty.
There is a shudder at this announcement. "Is Alice
Rhodes guilty of the murder with which she stands
charged "Guilty.' At the last sentence there is
an exclamation of "Oh '7 a sudden, sharp murmur of
pity which runs instantly round the court. All eyes
me fixed on the miserable creatures in the dock
That murmur of commiseration grows as loud that the
recommendation to mercy of the women Is ecerodzimard.
And now Alia Rhodes has fainted in the dock. With •

'piteous moan she hes fallen late the arms of the attend-
ants, and has been gently placed on a chair. "I will. I
will," murmurs Mrs. Patrick Staunton to her husband.
He has iniplored her for his sake to he firm, and she is act-
ing bravely. Still I,lils Staunton gazes upon the Court as
if in a dream. Still lit rib Staunton podtively shivera
How long will that on harm}, woman hear or? Her sister
I. in ianmg in a lanai nO. tit, and smelling salts are being
administered ; and whilst the ohl-fashioned cry of the
usher. " ()Yea Over. "Yes," &As why sentence of death
should not he pronounced, and the Judge sternly com-
ments on the enormity of the offence, the two brothers
and the sisters still stand at the har. Patrick Staunton
grasps his wife's hand ; he presses it intensely and
affectionately. Again she murmurs she will be firm, but
at the mention of death her strength iticcumb., and,
with a pitiful cry, "0, gm me a chair," she sinks by the
side of bar sister in a swoon. And now the two brothers
are left standing to hear the sentence of death pro-
nounced. Before the dreadful words are over, Patrick,
remembering, no doubt, their old affection, has slipped his
hand into his brother's, as mucti 111 to say that if "they
were not lovely and pleasant in their lives," still that in
"death they are not divided." but Louis Staunton, pale,
as hewn-marble, neither trembles nor falters, nor looks at
his brother, nor turns towards poor Alice Rhodes as she
lies fainting in the corner, but simply gazes across the
crowded court into vacancy. As we look amidst the
huddled crowd of warders, fainting women, and pale
men rondeinned to death, they are asked if they have
anything to say against the on-coming execution. Mr.
Sydney Smith, the Governor of the gaol, answers for the
women No; but Alice Rhodes recovered for an instant
answers for herself, "Only that I ant innocent" Louis
and Patrick Staunton say nothin:, but when the Con-
fusion has subsided go down the mid *steps after the
removal of the prostrate sisters. So ends the drama
brought to a trosric conclusion, and as the audience file
out, appalled at the scene just witnessed, one of the lead-
ing counsel—accustomed, no doubt, to sentences of death
—asks my Lord when he will tike the first case in the
morning.
Outside the court a dense crowd remained for several
hours, in expectancy to know the result. The appearance
was precisely such VI used to be presented on the eve of
an execution of some notorious murderer in times gone
by, when such scenes were public. The thoroughfare was
almost blocked by the vast throng which was only di.
pereed when, at a few minutes after ele en o'clock,
tiding, came from the court that all the four prisoners had
been founil guilty of murder, and sentenced to death.
Trirgrapii.

_ .
THE SCRNE OUTSIDE THE COORT.
Throughout the whole day several hundred, of people
thronged the narrow thoroughfare of the Old Bailey, and
elustenui thickly around the principal entrance to the
Court House. About nine o'clock, when the uproar was
at the height, two or three of the superior officers of the
Sheriff's staff niade their appearance in the crowd and
presumably gave direction, to the police to keep down
the turmoil as far as possible. Before this time it had
become necessary to shut the great &errs ordinarily open
during the sesnions, and to post two or more of the
most massive of the p. dire to resist all attempts to gain
admission. A side door leading into Nevrgate yard was at
the nervier, of privileged peeple, amongst who.. evens
toll o'clock at night, ladies were seen struggling throng!.
the throng to make their way into the court. Although
the great majority of those assembled were regular street
loungers, or runners engaged it might be to carry the
intelligence of the verdict to various parts of London,
there was not wanting a considerable admixture of more
respectable people, anxious to learn at once the result of
this all-engrossing case. SCIOII after ton it was known
that the jury had retired to consider their verdict, and it
was rather surprising that in the interval of more than an
hour before their return no erroneous rumours were
started to mislead the crowd. People returning in cabs
from places of aniusement to their homes in the east
found their vehicles jammed in the crowd. Omnibus
drivers, despairing of keeping their time, did not scruple
to declare that there would be another Pence murder,
meaning, it in to be presumed, the crushing as by the car
of Juggernaut of bystanders who blocked their passage.
Pressure on the big and side doors of entrance and exit to
and from the interior now amounted to something very
serious, and threatened to lead to a collision between the
truncheons rd. the police and the heads most prominently
and temptingly available for operations. Good temper on
both sides averted actual hostilities. Messengers emerging
from the Court-house were surrounded and mobbed, and
could scarce make their way through the crush, though as
yet they had nought to tell. When at length the doors
were thrown open, and the persons who had been in
court could be seen through the windows pouring dews
the staircase and evincing into the street, the crowd
1,11.1 the doorway grew denser and the excitement
became augmented to an extraordinary extent. As soon
as the first person appeared from the court he was
besieged by dozens of eager inquirers as to the nature of
the verdict end sentence, and the brief narratives
delivered by the actual spectators of the scene in the
reurt were speedily retailed from mouth to mouth by
those outside. Universal satisfaction was expressed at
the sentence, and it manifested itself in clapping of hands
an.l cheering as soon as it was made known. It was a
matter id is few minutes, however, to diminish the
nurelo•rs of the crowd who had been blocking up the
street loving the bine the verdict was awaited ; and by
dint of the excrtions of the large Inly of police who were
on the ground the street was cleared in about half-an-hour
after the Court closed.
. . .

A London correliondent says :--I mind expressing my
OW I, r n,) but the opinion of those in cowl, when I
say that the verdict created great surprise. Up till the
last moment the previiling impression was that man-
slaughter and not murder would have been the verdict,
especially in the case of the wonien. The announcement
of the verdict created great excitement in the city. At
midnight the evening papers brought out an edition
giving the result, a proceeding quite unprecedented. The
papers had an enormous sale, and there was great
commotion in Fleet-street and the Strand. L .ng after
midnight crowdsassembled in the thoroughfares discussing
the verdict, and seldom has such a stir been seen in the
metn,poli: at so late an hour.