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 THE
HIITCHINGSES.

Committal of the Accused
Mot for Wilful
Murder.

Nino.lay (yesterday) : Before Mr. G. Harbin (hair-
man), Mr. G. Bullock Mr. T. E. Bennett, Mr. Troyte
Bullock, Mr. H. it. batten, Mr. Eastment, and
Mr. Lambert.
The three prisoners, George Hutchings (father) and
Giles and Peter Hutehings (sons), were brought up
charged with the wilful murder of Police Constable
Cox and the attempted murder of Police 'Constable
Stacey.
The Chairman, previous to the hearing the C3llO,
expressed to Mr. !Ikons), the deputy chief constable,
Ids regret that Mr. Valentine Gool.l, the chief con
stable c.f Somerset, was linable from illness to he
present. He was, however, happy to we I • (Mr.
liisgood) Ir,wnt.
Ntr. 'toward, on the part .4 the polies., appeared for
the prosecution. Mr. Sydney Watts defend...l the
butcher, Vagg, and Mr. Joliffe the prisoners
Hutchings.
Mr. 8i5.4.(0.1, wevions hi the opening addre.a..,l the
solicitor for the prosecution, said be 1111•Aire.1 tom. Maki, a
few remarks, not as re.rar.l.4l the (-rime itself, but
simply as viewed as a public matter. Ile regretted to
have to state the Chid Constable was so exceedinglV
ill tha• he had been prevented taking any active part
in the case. Under those dr...mist:tile 41 it was hi.,
duty to appear to pros cute the three prisoners at the
liar. He was very glad to be able to state that lie
would have the assistant, f Mr. Howard, a solicit cr
of high standing. fie hal been employed for these
reasons. Mr. Howard was engage.) in the county of
Borset to (.4inchtet the proceedings against the two
Itichanlses, for being neees«,ries after the fact, and
from the manner in which the witnesses were
examined, and the way in which Mr. Howard on.
'Meted the ease, he applied to the Chief Constable,
who thought fit to accede to the application that that
gentleman's services should be retained in so very
seriou, an investigation.
The Chairman : We are very glivi to see hint
here.

Mr. Bisgonol comtinneol : There were uttwarolio of 20
witnesses to be eCalllith.4l. and hot haol n., doubt when
their evidence had heen taken the magistrates would
find that stun a eltain of facts were lonought against
the prisoners that they would be justified in mewling
them for trial to a higher tribunal.
Mr. Watts, who defends Vagg, at thiS juncture
askol the Bench to take Ilk CASO dm the TuoelaY,
instetul oof .nt the Wednesday. His case, he con-
tel),lo.l, WAN totally instinct from that of the two
Inch:noise...
Mr. Howard objected. There was no degree in
areessories after the fact. Vagg ava,, eititally euilty
of a substantive felony with the Rieltardses, and an
such .110111.1 lA, triol with theist.
. With every ilisposition to consult Mr. Watts's
convenience, the 'tench were obliged to refuse his
application.
Vaeg was then called into the dock, and his reitog-
itisancea for his ittopearanee ont Wednesday were
renewed ; Mr. Thomas 111..... re, .1 Tooth and Ma.
Anthony Spurr, of West Coker, again tendering them-
selves as sureties. .
Mr. floAVArll tillAt itprIALA the ease. IP4 maiol he
ittopearigl "whore ti o ent to. otelnet the krioc.uti.it
against the three Ilitteltingges whohgg sof sore tlson
charged with one if the most serimis erimeg it WAS
I woSiii de for fling! 111141 to pa, it. They wen...barge.'
with the wilful Howler of PC. 1... v., on the lialt of
N. ither last, awl alt, with attempting to murder
P.l.- 14t,w0Y. Awl in coteltietin.; the ease lie woottl.l
Ap.i. in any way dinse,ly or indirectly strain any single
fart ArAili4 thrill, hut he well.' mehmv. etr to lay thong
as fairly mid as dearly as poosiloloo In-fire the Itettelt,
in owing its ho olhl that the simple duty of the
111.1Zi.trAt.CS WA,A tip say whether or not then. Was
suffieient evi./enee to send the three town for trial. At
the same time he Joelieveol it would SAVO a
brie amount of exami . tati•on and perhaps
id erows-examination if he were to state
to them the law of the CRS,. ill the first
place in every ease of hounieiole the law pre-mined
until the contrary was proveol that it was wilfully and
maliciously olone. It was not for him in behalf ..1 the
prosecution to prove that there WA" any malice what•
ever, lie shontl.l not therefere take till their thee li'p'
e Ming witnesses to proove that, but he would gimplv
.hew that en that .lay when the constable was killed,
all three .of these men were there present, and that not
only did they beat one of the onistahlot to death,
there and then. they attacked the eeimml, until he
became insensible. Not ''lily was the prestunpthm of
the Mows having been given, hut that it was also
done in colti 1,1..1, for it would appear that what little
life WWI left in eox after the first Nom, was taken froom
him there and then, for it would Ile SIAAVII that who,
Stare., was bein.4 attacked, I ! x was unable ho renikr
the slighegt assistance. It was not neeessary for him
to twove by wh.oe Itoonol the lohow WWI given it weal.'
suffice for him to sleow the t.risoners were all aeting in
concert to render them equally guilty. Mr. Howard
then opt ohs' several eases on the imint. he would shoo
state that those who instrnete.l I' ltoyl no feeling
except that od doing their duty. The police houl olone
their oluty most faithfully, hut at the Sallie thee no one
comb' say they hail olone it in atiooppressive way. They
leol given the prig one& every latitude, iwnead of
jumping at proseention, whielo he thought risiontutsl
to their credit. He then called
P.(', Stacey, a Alta no...kinrz yomnge.onstable, olio AP-
Is-aro' in plain clothes, ate' meat oi hatted ev it lone, with+
has air...m.ly appeared in these columns. In the amerse
of lois statemunt In, nail he wasstationolat Westt 'Are,
and had loeen In the f. orimalsont three years. The even-
ing mien which the nett-der hmk play was the evening
'whore the Ye oil fair. 'lie witness then oletailot tloe
facts, with which the reader must 100 fully acquainted.
Cross-examined by 'Hr. lolliffe, thecomitable nabl he
bail been exatnineil loefore in Baker's ease, lie diol
not hear them my "We will Ito Goo- hoth.of the 11—*I."
When the prionteri first 'wood them they said .410 el
nieht." Pile witness oleelittol to admit it was said in A
friendly way, and Mr. Howard contended that Wilo,
simply a matter of construction]. Between eight awl
half-pa.st eleven, the first aud s 'app,! OOP§ Wheli he
saw the poisoners he WAS "on olitty."
Mr. dolliffe : Drinking ale, I believe, is being on
duty?
Witness: Didn't get that chance. They went to
the Reol-house Inn that evening, but theyth.l not have
any beer—only ale.
Mr dolliffe : You want to make it very mild, what
is the olifferenee?
Witness : We couldn't afford twee.
He also went into other places, lett he had never
stated Coe was the worse for li.por.
Mr. Howard ohjeeted t.. this line 4 enos examina-
tion. If a man WAS drunk it teeth! not justify his
being intanlerol.
Mr. JAM had no intention of putting any such
absurd pn ots osition.
Mr. 'lowan' would tell him plainly that lie hail.
Mr. Joanne sald nothing oof the kiwi ; his olojmt was
141 show whether are not the witnesi was is stun a
rotolition as wolthl allow hi., eviolence to be worthy oof
cre.lenee. .

Witness continuesl : Ile Irel never told anyone lee
had wished (.ix not to stopand Intempt the leriseeners.
When he (witness) went up to them he had his staff
out ready. There was a load in the carte ever° I with
a tarpaulin, but he could not say what it was. Ile
could not say the 4.1,1 Man hal any stick that night, or
that he etneek him or injure.' Il i ttt in any way.
George Hutchings : I never got out if the cart at
all.
The Magistrates' Clerk said be would put down that
remark.
Mr. Joni& wapsasked if ho!thetight ho was justi.
fieel in doing se. ' e Bench ruled that he WILS —most
decidedly.
Then, said Mr..foliffe. addressing Mr. Marsh, now
let US pee whether in your anxiety you have put down
the very important answer to a previous question.
Mr. Marsh : Before you address me like that I
would tell you that I took dowu the observation Attlee
ropiest the Bench.
Witness continued: When he fell into the ditch he
did not know where he was staggering. Ile fell on
his face. He could not say whether the affair lasted
beyond the mere exchange of four or five blows.
Ilmaxamineel Both himself and deceased _
perfectly weber. The old man got off the cart and
came towards him with the others.
itr.
i'f:e Yeovil,
deposesl to the correctness
of a l
i. 4 inn ohe murder which was put in.
~V ifntte
stne of
Dr. Garland was then called, and deponed to the
injuries the murdered man received. His opinion
WM that the countable came to his death by a
succension of kicks. Stacey, when he sow him, he
considered to be suffering from conclusion of the
brain. Ile hml braises about him, and hml evidently
received a very severe blow at the back of the head.
He had been in a critical state, and suffered con.

were I

Squibb, wife of Mr. George Squibb, of
Netherton, a farmer, proved that on the evening in
quell
op at about eleven that night, both constables
,
were
After r
,:bewitn. e further evidence the Bench committed
priiioner3 for trial on the charge of Wilful
all three
r.

t._i_siolerabl v.

Thousands at,, to take Cocoa lecause the
varieties commonly sold are mixed with Starch, under
he plea of rendering them soluble ; while really making,
them thick, Amor. and indigestible. This may be easily
detected, Pr if Cocoa thickens in the cup it prows the
addition of starch. CADBURY'S Cocoa Essenea is genuine:
It is therefore three times the strength of these Cocoas,
sad a refreshing Beverage like Tea or Coffee.
PCRE To IS RARE PERURCTION.—The Puro, Strong
Fragrant and delicious Teas imported by POLAND,
ROBERSTON t CI, Curtain Road, Landon, E.C., ewe
now be obtained in air-tight packets in quantities: ranging
from 2 no. to I lb., of most respectable firocers, Cheinista,
Bakers, Cenfoctioners, Stationers awl "then:, and the
others, at the following prices per lb. : Black, 25., and
26. 6d.: Mixed, 3s. : Green, 3s. Ad. ; Assam, 3..
pecked in Tine, 2, 4 and 8 lb.. All qualities guaranteed
Pure as Imported. The 8 lb. Tin sent carriage paid to any
Railway Station in the United Kingdom on receipt of
Post Office Order. The public are respectfully requested
to ask for Poland, Robertson and Cm 's PIM! MLR, aml re-
fuse all others, as large quantities of worthless trash, con-
rioting of warehouse sweepings, Tea damaged by salt
water and decomposition, are, by a process of steaming
and dyeing, made to resemble genuine Pure Teas. For
particulars of agency apply as above.

U, US. ;
01.41. n WO,l

Printed and Published at It, Hish-street West Dordwatfr.
In the parish of Holy Trinity, by 010. VILAX SIAM, a N.
Wish of AU Sainte Dorchester, for the Proprietor.
Tooday, Januay 30, 1817.