The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-03 00:00:00

THE ALTON MURDER.

On Teeeday Mr. H. Herdsl4l, deputrooroner for *be
county of Hampshire, opened an inquiry at Alton Into
the cause of death of Fanny Adams. e4ht year**, Met
who was foully murdered on Saturday thaeoon-
Frederick Baker, the young man in custody On
suspicion of murdering the little girl, was Pre."l. and
preserved throughout the proceedings • *elm and
oolleotod demeanour. Flie is about V years of age, is
under the middleciaa, d•rk-oomplazioned, with a
sinister aut of ceuntenanse
Minnie Warner was the flret witness. She stated: I
am years of age, sad se one &stook on Saturday
went into the " brawn* to play wilt Fanny Adams
and her deter. We had not been long play-
ing when a young gentleman ease and spoke to WI.
He gave me • peony, telling me that if I would run a
little way down the hollow with Fanny Adams he
would give me another halfpenny. I weak and when
we had got down he eame to us spin and said if we
would do into Ms. Chalonft's field be *add peen loos

berries for us. We all went, lead h. plaid Ease
blackberries. He then told me and Usel. Adams to
go home, and be took Fanny up in his arms and serried
her up the hollow. I went away, and did not see
Fanny any more. He wu dressed in a light waistseat,
light treaders. a bleak Jaskol, and a tall Mask hat.
George Adauss, who woo deeply affected la giving
identibee the remains, which had been visored
by the jury, as those of his daughter, who was eight
years of age last April.
Harriet Adams said that on Saturday afteenoon, about
half past one, her daughter Fanny Adams left home,
accompanied by her sister Elisebeth and Minnie Warner.
She did not know which way they went, but they were
in the habit of going tea plasm called the "hollows."
Fenny did not return. She loomed from her sister that
she bad gone with • gentleman up the hollow. Between
Sr. and sir o'slock she went with lbo. Gardner and
Minnie Warner into the hollows to look for her. She
mw a man coming oat ol a gabs spatting from the hollow
lane into the flood MINIIkw. Minnie Warner said,
"That is the man who gave us the peonies." Re heard
her say PO, and be said, "No; it was only three half.
pennies." Mrs. Gardner took hold of him and asked
him what his name was. He said, "'No matter about
my name; you will find me at Mr. Mimesis' °Moe if
you want me. She bad since heard that the permit
whom she met was named Raker. Me witness hoe.
looked round the room and ideatilled the primmer u the
person whom she had met.) Mrs Gardner asked his
what he had done with the little girl, and herald he had
not mean her Moos be left her playing at the gate. They
then went home, the Prisoner going is • contra,'
direction towards the Basingstoke road, The lane galled
"the Hollow" led to • hop guden, in the occapatiou of
Mr. Chaleraft. She afterwards went up the hollow
again, and not finding her daughter the told her neigh.
hours, who made march for her.
Jame Gardner stated that she was a general servant,
residing at Alton. She was a near neighbour of the
parents of the deceased child. On Saturday afternoon
she beard that the deceased was misetag, and about
half.past five she went into the Floodmeedow with
Mrs. Adams to look for her. At the top of the meadow
she saw Frederick Baker going from the hollow In the
direction of the Basingstoke-road. by a footpath whisk
washy the ride of the river Way. She sailed to him,
and be same to meet her. She asked him what be had
done will. the child whom be had taken away at half.
past one, and who had not been seen Mem? He said "I
haven't seen one." SU said "What did you give those
children halfpennies leer He made no answer. She
said" Here manes one of the sibildren." sad Minnie
Waner came up at the time. Witmer rid So her
"Did this rentlensan give you any mosey to.dav
She said "Ye., threepenee." The primmer said "No:
It was three halfpennies." Wienerss asked whet be bad
given Fanny and Elisabeth, and Minnie Warner said
halfpence. nod told her (Minnie Warren) to go hoes
and spend it. Witeess asked her what be did with
Fanny, and she said the miscast took her up behind the
high badge in ti, bop garden. She then turned round
to MM. Adams, and said "Why don't you give him la
sharg! ?" Mrs. Adams said nothing, and Baiter then
said, • I am quite willing to go with you to the pollee."
Then she paid "We will have your team" and he said,
"1 ant to be found at Mr. Clemente' Aloe." Wiiiiiell
then went boom. _ . _

The DepotrOoroner (to Baker): Tom kayo been mem
In the direction of the plat* where Lb. eitild's body wee
found, and also going with her in the same directionin
the mums of the 'herewith ; end ae saapielon points to
you in this ninths., I think it right to Worm you that
you are at liberty to ask thhi witness any question you
plasm.
Baker: I have no quwAios to ask this wither.
Ann &mitt said she resided near the thatch at
Alton, and that on Saturday afternoon, shortly before
three o'clock, when returning borne from the shop, *be
w Frederick Baker coming towards Altos along a
footpath whieh we. in front of Mr. Chaloraft's house.
Baker bad on light trousers and • high bat; but gm did
not notice his waistcoat. Ho walked in th• directio• of
the town pest the churchyard. She saw him again
between flee and Mg o'clock coming through the rhumb-
yard. She noticed hint particularly, bemuse he looked
so hard at her and her little girl, and kopt looking
around at them.

Ensa Smlth said she lived with Yr. !night at Alton,
and on Saturday afternoon, between flee and half-pest
live o'clock, she was standing in the garden, and saw •
man imming from Mr. Obalereft's hop garden Into a lane
called the "Hollows." She did not know him, nor
would she know him if she saw him again. She wee
positive that be had on a dark coat, light trousers and
weialeoat, and a blank high bat.
Elisabeth Warner deposed to seeing Frederick Baker
go up the hollow about five o'cloek on Saturday after-
noon last. She did not see him return.
_

Thome Gates, labourer, proved abiding the scattered
remains.
_.

Harry Allen, a eueh-painter, and Tbomu Swain, a
curd -weaver. gave evidence to a similar effect.
Maurice Biddle, clerk in Mr. Clement's office, said
the prisoner wee a clerk in the same ofiloe, and
witness usually sat in the same room with him.
Witness left the office about 1 o'clock on Saturday
afternoon. He could not say whether he was there
then or not. About a quarter to biz o'clock the
prisoner came to the office,lbst be could not say when
be left. He seemed very excited. He said to witness
that as be came along the meadows he nut with some
women who asked him what he had done with the child.
He further said that if anything happened to the child
it would be awkward for him. Witness west over to the
Pwan tap to have a glass of ale, and prisoner followed.
He then told witness that he vu going away on Monday,
and referred to a similar cue which imeurred at
Guildford. Prisoner first told critoess that the child
was missing. He said he knew nothing of her, and
that he only rave her some halfpence. While they
were at the tap the boots said he was going away,
utnarking that he could turn his hand to anything,
but Baker could not. Baker said, "Oh, I could turn
hatcher."

--Tii-t;Heptity Coronet: Was be sober then?
Witness : He seemed very much excited. Sebes.
quently be told prisoner that be had beard the child's
heed bad been found, and stegrected in • chemist'a shop
that they Phould go and me if there were any truth in
it. saying. "Baker, they say you're killed the child."
He made answer, "Newer mind; it is shad job for ma,"
or words to that effect. They then went to the °Mos,
and soon after Superintendent Cheyney took charge of
him.

Dr. Louis Leslie, of Alton, saki that on flaturdsynight
last he was called upon to examine the remains of
'Mid at the pollee-station. There was the trunk, the
bead, both lep. and part of one of the arms had been
separated from it. From one of the kp foot had been
separated. The intestine. mice entirely gone. The
Tight ear wee wavered from the heed, and there was
very deep cut dividing the mesons extending from the
forehead to the end of the lower jaw. Both eyes were
out out. On the left ride of tbe head wag deep out,
and there were three incisions in the Int aide of the
trunk. He Mao found a deep out on the left arm
dividing the meads., but not separating it from the
nook. The fore arm on the left side was cut off at the
elbow joitt. The 1.11 leg nearly out off, but still bang.
ing to the pelvis In front, on the left side, a deep in.
colon dividing the vessels and muscles of the thigh. On
the right side he found o deep Incision entering the
chest between the fourth and Illth ribs There was alao
a nut on the right thigh dividing the muscles The
chest and pelvis were completely cleared of their
contents. There were du Jenne'ss in the liver' three
in the longs, and the heart entirely separated from
the larger vessels. The breaMbou was ant away
and wanting. There wee dislooation of the spins;
In fact, the body was hacked to Meow He
believed the dismemberreent took place after
death. He made • post snorts= examination of
the head, and found on the top of the head • out oom.
piously dividing the gulp. The blow must have been
very severe, and might have been with a bludgeon or •
stone. Be found blows on the right and left side of
the heed, musing extravagatioe of blood under the
scalp. The blow on the bud would be suldeient to
eines insennbility, but not immediate death, though
probably death would follow. It was quite Impossible
to tell whether criminal violence had been perpetrated
on the person of the child, every evidence bMog entirely
'wept away. He was of opinion that the child was
stunned, and probably did not suffer afterward, in the
dismemberment of the body. On Saturday night be
examined the prisoner, and found no watches or eats
on him. The legs of his trousers mid his socks were
wet, one leg partsoularly. Witness remarked on that
fact to him, and be said "fee, unfortunately for me,
tbey are wet, but that proves nothing. lam In the
habit of getting into the water." There woo blood on
both wristbands, and Superintendent Chummy asked
him how he could account for the blood, end Baker
said, "1 ean't account for it," sod looking at his
pimp added, "I see no cots or scratches that could
aceount for it." _

William Walker, painter, said that on Sunday
morning be was in the hop garden, and found a alone
wtth hair and several pieties of flesh on it. It yea in the
hedge close to where the bead wag found.
Superintendent Cheyney maid that when he took
Baker into custody, and told him of theobarge against
him, he said, "I know nothing about it. lam willing
to ffo anywhere with you." The prisoner's clothes were
produced, showing spots of blood on them. In • diary
which was prodooed, belonging to the prisoner, wee
found the following entry: " Saturday, 24, killed a
young girl: it was AIN and hot."
P.C. Waters deposed that he found on that day a
hes= eye in the river Wey, and that P.C. Mastery=
found a second eye in the same place.
This concluded the evidenee.
A verdict of " Wilful Murder" was returned seminal
the prisoner, for whose committals warrant was at 0000
made out.
During the inquest an infuriated mob wesereiteted
'ironed the ion where it was held, and she in front of
the lookup, and their threats were of sash a violent
ohmmeter that two hours elapsed before it was deemed
safe to attempt the remora of the primmest. The
wretched man warn smuggled out at the back of the
house, and, surrounded by polieensen, had to run at the
top of his speed is order to resob the prison before the
erowd, which, haring detected the reanceuven, followed,
at • racing pace, uttering the fiercest threats end the
moat hideous yells. The culprit himself escaped, but
several of the police were hurt by the climate thrown
at him.
MAGISTZLIAL INQUIRT.

On Thurrey the prisoner was brosOt to the Town.
ball in the custody of Saperiztendent Meyney, and on
attire( at the Market-pros was net with loud shouts
and execrations from • large mob who had assembled
outside the building. The evidence adduced was
Mailer to that given before the concur in Tuesday.
Au additional witness Ira examined, George Watkins,
a polioe-oonembie stationed at Alton, who said : On
Saturday last I took charge of the prisoner at Mr.
Clement's office. He lord me whine the murdered
child was, and I told him I thought it wan Mr. Adams's.
He rid he did not know bow they could trace the deed
to him. He bed given children halfpence before. He
remarked to • junior clerk named Biddle, "I don't gee
how I can get out of it ; it roma all straightforward,
but I am innocent." At the police-station he told me
they had found blood on hia sleeves, whirr he amid not
account for, but which the doctor thought was his. A.
to his boots, he said he was in the habit of walking
in the dew, and washing his boots before going to the
one. He farther rfd that if the case Ire gone cm
with he should be defended ; sad it be did not get off
he must be hanged. Thim was all he lied tory, and oil
he intended to say. I took these words in writing, bus
did not offer any indneentent to the primer to sere
such an observation.
Maurice Biddle, junkie dark In the oaks et Kamm
Cleimate, repeated the otinvegliotton be had with the

Prisoner sidaleqwewi to nlis mild; la whiell the latest
ssid if be was soma of the ssulterit 'emu be a bsa
Job for him- in MAP in As rissaor Molmam said
IN did not rowdiest whether st was HA um.. pm'
six that he sold, " is reeky Sias es sees bosh.'
IT. did not rorol..t aviak bell-Pasi bus. " I should
Ilk.bo go to taw Rs wild sot say wheals' ft
wee before or stew gable to tbe top be @Pas alma Us
western. He woold swear that Its was ist ehesat leas
enough from the oils* for As primmer to kom Limo to
bia desk and written what bed bees prodassd. us was
not anima more Hue two Waster, sad he saw do
Wismar Leaks at • desk, hat set Ws sem
The primmer was asked If I. wished es toll 1.7 tie
to which I. replied that Its would like as sail
Mr. Prat* a fellow sleek. bat he did not dries *545
50.4 Se present &aria&
Tbe Chairmen Squired whether the jamas valeta
to make say stabwasett The priscaer ead.,—/ o. not
unless to ammo" the amp se pronst. I ass Mb..
Docent as on the day I wee Wu.
Tbe primmer wu than esstaitted to Ws his aria
st 1. aszl assiss• for the sweaty of Hoak asil Mi
aura witnessed were bound.,., for Sas appeeresse
at the trial.

A Istie—Mowd awaited the removal d Med=
outside the Towe-hell, sod it ma with gime
that the polies wen amble to protest Mei tvem the
violence of the sols, who booted and geodesist them-
selves ha • noel thresisdise maser. TM istmer his
Meg bees removed to Wiestweler gaeL

1711 1117111 AL OP Till =WA

The remota. II the and were labored M the Ahem
°meters, es Wedged*, eftweeea. The Meld =Ma
• fmpslvely ma by the Pow. W. Wind=
et Thad's. mid • large ember et peones
to witeede the Imperil Wreedu et Sewers were pissed
um lb. eAlla sad seheopeuelly epee the we. The
murder is the lest th.t has bete Is All..
or it. Deighboatheed witkia livhay ateffeeey.