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

Colonies and America, but even in Constantinople bad THE MURDER AT PORDINGBRIDGE.
lodges been established. Thus the Mtalioniadan and -
Christian were brought together in the bonds of unit.. [The following appeared in a Second Edition of the
and he hoped the day wee not far distant when 0
Fellowship should be extended to all nations, among Telegram of 'Thorsdny Evening :--]
MINATION, AND COMMITTAL OF TILE
41 people, and when all. tongues should .be cemented
by one common brotherhood. , PRISONER.
Tbillev. Mr. Nunn' proposed "The Health of the The examination of John Jaoob Gilbert for the
Mayor of Wareham," who had so ably presided over murder of Mary Ann Susan Hall, the only daughter
amp that day. of Mr. Hall, of Midgham Farm, whilst on her way
. Mr. • PaNTON 'briefly acknowledged the compliment, to church on the morning of Sunday, the 22nd ult.,
and assurred the company that whenever his services took place on Thursday. Considerable exeitement
snigh6 be required, nothing would give him greater prevailed, and on being brought up from the police-
pleandiro than to render them all the assistance in hhi station, where he had been confined since Monday
pewee'. last, the prisoner was followed by a large ci owd of
Mr; WISTRRH then proposed " Success to Ili. Ware-
persons, and the fact of his having contemplated, if
ham Lodge of Odd Fellows, and thanks to the Com re i Pee '
of Management for carrying out so well the excelleut not attempted, suicide in his cell a few days since,
arrangemente that day. has given additional interest to the case.
Thetoast having been acknowledged, several of the The magistrates on the Bench were : The Rev.
Member.; present proceeded to take part in the sports of W. J. Yonge, in the chair; Rev. R.. F. Purvis,
the field or to examine the specimens ot flours, fruits, J. Coventry, Esq., and G. Churchill, Esq.
and vegetables a hich made up an excellent The prisoner was brought into the room in the
HORTICULTURAL SHOW. custody of a policeman, who sat by the side of him
This exhibition washeld in a separate tent in the field, during the examination. The prisoner looked ex-
the charge to which was 3d, extra, the proceeds being tretnely pale and dejected.
devoted to the funds of the Society. The flowers and John Coltman, builder, Fordingbridge, proved the
most of the fruits and vegetables were really excellent, accuracy of a plan of the spot where the murder was
and called forth the admiration of all who entered the committed.
tent. Among the exhibitors of flowers Mr. W. Pike Thomas Nieklin : I live at Fordingbridge, and am a
stands in the first rank. Re exhibited. • very large labourer. On the morning of Sunday the Und, I went
and splendid collection of stove and gremiliouse plants. down into Mr. Rill's meadows to heft the water. It
Mr. Moss sent 2 cactus's. Mr. George Sansom, 1 was about 9 o'clock. I went up towards Lease Bridge,
cactus. Mr. Thomas Dugdale, 2 crumpled lilies. Mr. where I remained half-an-hour, and then returned along
R. March field, 5 gem-cuisine and 4 fuschiam, all of which the high road home. I saw some cows peeping into the
were fine grown and very Inncc plants and Mr. hedge in Harding's field, but did not go towards the
J. Tuck 8 reaching. Altogether t a large table running spot. That was about a quarter before 11. The cows
through the middle of the booth well stocked with appeared to have been disturbed by something. They
• very line eollection ef lowers, n the side tables kept on going up to the hedge. I thought there were
were the some more col-a in Jack Hohne's lane, where the body
of le Hall . found. They were 10 or 15 yards
_

CUT FLowlits, which were exhibited by Mr. Thomas
Scott, Mr. William Spicer, Mum Oliver, Stockley ; Mrs.
Ann Lillington, Stoborough ; Mr. George Edmunds,
Jane Stickland, Mary Best, and Jane Bennett.
WILD FLoWERR were exhibited by 46 of the National
School children, some of which were entwined into very
pretty devices; and also by Jane Basket, Mt'. Susan
Gorse, Mrs. Talocfille, tco., &c.
FRUIT AND VEGRTABLIS. —Mr. W. Spicer, 6 cabbages,
3 lettuces, 2 dishes peas, 2 ditto beans, 1 ditto potatoes,
1 bunch onions, 3 dislqa gooseberries, I bundle rhubarb,
and 1 bunch of carrots. Me. Tapp, 1 bunch turnips.
Mr. Sheppard, I dish potatoes, 1 ditto peas, 1 ditto
beans, and 2 bundles of onions. Mr. R Wheatland,
7 cabbages, 2 dishes potritoea, 2 lettuces, 1 dish goose-
berries, 1 root spinach, 1 bunch radishes, and I ditto,
carrots. Mr. B. Phillips, I bunch onions. Mr.
P. Parmiter, 1 dish potatoes. Mr. Thomas Ehnes,
1 dish potatoes, 1 bundle sage. Mr. Davis, 2 dishes
potatoes, 1 ditto beans, 1 ditto peas, 3 cabbages,
3 lettuces, and 1 bundle carrots. Mr. George
Sansom, 1 bundle carrots, 1 dish peas, and 1 bundle
rhubarb. Mr. Henry Beat, 1 dials goosberries, and 1
' ditto currants. Mr. William Bort, 3 cabbages. Mr. T.
Hellington, 1 dish raspberriee. Mr. Thomas Smith, I
dish beans. Mr. George Spranklin, 1 dish cherries.
Rev. N. Bond, 2 cucumbers, dish grapes, 1 dish peaches,
1 dish cherries, 1 melon, 1 bunch asparagas, and 1 dish
potatoes. Mr. John Davis, 1 dish peas, 1 ditto beans,
1 bundle parsnips, 1 bundle pars!ey. Mr. Robert
Dugdall, 2 dishes beans. Mr. George Beer, 1 bundle
carrots,l dish peas. Mr. James White, 3 cabbages, 1
dish potatoes, 1. ditto peas, 1 bundle onions, 1 bundle
carrots. 3 lettuce, 2 encumbers, 1 dish broad beans.
Mr. Thomas B. Dngdale, 3 cabbages, 1 dish beans, 2
dishes potatoes, 2 bundles radishes, two ditto carrots,
2 dishes currants. Mr. Jones, 1 dish strawberries.
Mr. W. C. Lucas, 1 dish strawberries. Mr. Dugdale
was the only one who exhibited a dish of black currants.
The Rev. N. Bond's collection of 7 different kinds of
fruits and vegetables was, mem the whole, excelled by
none in the booth, and the finest potatoes were those
exhibited by Mrs. Davis. .

Liss was ionno. ley ya,.
from the spot where I have been told the body was
found. My boy had seen some others there, and I
thought that the cows in the field were looking at
them.

--Helen Smith: I am dairymaid at Mr. Flell's at Midg
barn Farm. On Sunday morning, the 22nd Jane, Miss
Hall left home about 10 o'clock for the purpose of going
to church at Fordit.gbridge. I went to Fordingbridge
about 12. The cows were then quietly in the meadow.
I did not see any parasol flying about. I don't know
whether adhas Hall had • parasol, but I dare lay she
had. I went home to dinner at one. I left the
farm to go to church in the afternoon, but did not go
in as it we. late. I met the prisoner in the lane, not a
great distance from the church. It was about a
quarter before three; lie was going tower& Holme's-
lane, where the body was found I did not speak to
him, nor he to me. I knew him very well by sight, I
was at home when Miss Hall was brought home dead.
Late in the afternoon somebody told me that Miss
Hall's body had been found, and I went home to tell
Mr. Hall. Miss Hall's bonnet was trimmed with white
ribbon and mauve flowers. The bonnet was made of
white crape. I did not see the bonnet when the body
was brought home. (The bonnet was hero shown her.)
I should not like to swear that was Miss Hall's bonnet,
but I believe that it wee. I believe one of the flowers
was like those on her bonnet. The parasol, mantle,
and other clothes produced were Mize Hall's. I saw
the prisoner about half way betweea Cuttinan's house
and John Gilbert's house, about a quarter of a tulle
from where the body was found.
Robert Haskell: I live at Midgham. On Sunday
moreing, about seven o'clock, I went to see my daughter
at Harbridge, and returned at about half-past ten
o'clock. When I came to the stile at the gully at
Midgham Moor, on my return, I noticed some footmarks
I having the appearance of some persons acampering,
such as children at play. I looked up the gully a few
steps, when I saw a place in the hedge where some one
had apparently fallen in backwards. The bushes and
nettles appeared to have been freshly pressed. I also
saw the treading of feet in the water beyond that
point. I could not proceed farther on account of the
water. I sat on tie stile for a few minutes. I first
looked down the footpath leading towards Hickson, and
saw the prisoner coming towards nil. I then turned to
the left, got over the rail Into a • pasture, and came
nearly °poets him, about twenty yards from the stile.
I watelied him, but did not speak to him. He was on
°Re side the hedge, and I the other. He had a short
slop froek on, his trowsers were wet up to the knees,
and his boots were unlaced. There were two cows in
the field where the prisoner was. They seemed in a
kind of uproar, and were pressing close to the hedge
adjoining the ditch where the body was found. After
I had passed the prisoner I had occasion to stop under
an oak, and saw the prisoner stop under an ash tree. I
saw the prisoner look round it once.-8y the prisoner :
You had on a brown smock.—Prisoner : I had not, I
had on the light coat I have now.
John Gosncy said : I am shepherd to Mr. Thompson.
I know the pnsoner, and where he lives. On the morn-
ing of the 22nd of June, about a quarter past eleven, as
nearly as I can guess, I went to see the sheep at Amber
-
land, and saw prisoner in the ditch, leaning his back
against the bank, rubbing the legs of his trousers with
his hands down to his feet. I was Sixty-two paces from
him when I first saw him, and got to within eighteen
paces of him when be looked ashle and saw me. He
picked up something from the opeiosite bide of the
ditch. He got out, and I was about to speak him when
he turned from me and walked away quite smart. I
therefore did not speak to him. • I saw the prisoner in
the lock-up on Monday. He sent for me and asked me
what time it was I Saw him, and I told him about •
quarter past eleven as near as I Could guess. I had no
further conversation with him. He said something
which I did not distinguish, but / understood be said be
should want mess a witness. He did not name Sunday.
The superintendent of police wee present. He appeared
to be picking something off his legs when he was in
the ditch and smoothing his trousers down. I noticed
that his trousers from just above the knee were darker
thee higher up. They appeared to be wet. He had a
short slop on.
Caroline Philpott said: I am the wife of Charles
Philpott, and live at Freeman. The prisoner lodged
at my house, He is my husband's half-brother. On
Sunday morning, the 22nd June, the prisoner got up
between seven ena eight o'clock and breakfasted with ,
me and my husband about eight. My husband asked
him to get a floret, and be brought one in about half-past '
nine. He then left the house and I saw no more of him
till dinnertime, after the congregation had left church.
He had the waistcoat and coat on he has on now, but
not the trousers. The trousers and shirt produced by
the policeman are what be wore. I washed the shirt
about a month before the murder, and put it by. He pat
it on the Tuesday previous to the murder, as he came
home wet through. It was not torn in the eleeve as it
is now when he put it on. He put on a clean shirt
after dinner. He took it from the corner where it was
, hanging between one and two o'clock. I did not notice
whether the lower end of the sleeves of the dirty shirt
were of the same muddy colour as they are now. When
the policeman came I went -up-stairs and found the
, shirt in his bedroom. It was rolled up and the ends of
the sleeves were tucked in. The policeman said they
were wet and muddy-looking. The prisoner 1149 also •
checked shirt, but he did not have it on on the Sunday
in question. Prisoner went out again in the afternoon,
just before the afternoon service commenced. About
three o'clock my little child was cross, and r took her
out. As I WAS going down the field I nut the prisoner
with a parasol in his hand. I said, "Lor a mercy,
George, where ilid'st get that?" and he said he picked it
, up down at Harding's, flying about, and the oows were
making a great noise. He asked where my husband
was, as lie said he wanted him to tell him (the prisoner)
what to do, as he had found • woman smothered
in mud. I told him he had better go to
the sergeant of police. He then went away.
On the Sunday, as witness was taking up the dinner,
she heard her little boy say, "George, your trousers are
wet," The boy's hand was on his trousers at the time.
Just previous to this the child had said he saw George
hang his stockings on the bushes. Prisoner did not say
anything in reply to these remarks. Witness saw the
stockings hanging on the hedge when she went into the
garden. They were then dry. When prisoner came
to dinner I did not observe his boots. The boy's hand
! was resting on the prisoner's I nee when he said his
trousers were wet. It was about half-past three when
she met him with the parasol. Prisoner hall a dirty
slop frock, but he did not wear it that Sunday
morning.
Jobe Gosney recalled: The dirty slop frock produced
by the police appeared to be that which prisoner
, had on.
Robert Haskell, recalled, said: The slop produced
was lighter than the one he saw. It might, however,
have been wet.
Fanny Tanner said: She Eyed nest doer to Charles
Philpott, where prisoner lodged. She was at home from
9 tiil 1 o'clock on Sunday morning the 22nd June.
She went in and ontof Philpott's bonze three or lour
times that morning. Prisoner was not there. About •
quarter before four she saw him in Mrs. Philpott's
house.. Prisoner had a parasol in his hand, end she
asked him how he got it. Ho told her lie picked it up
in Harding's, flying about, and the cows after it, and
' over in the watery lane he had found • woman
smothered in sestet and mud. He did not say wbo she
was. Witness asked him if the Wolnall WSS dead, and
he replied that she was dead and stiff, for he lifted her
up. He said there were some books beside her, looking
like a Church Service.
Humphrey Vining, • draper's assistant, said: He was
in Holine shine on Monday 23rd, and he saw Mn.
Wheatley pick up the piece of chenille now produced,
between the stiles. He had examined the bonnet
also produced. He had compared the piece which was
I picked up between the stiles with the bonnet, and they
corresponded.
John Turner, labourer, residing at Fordingbridge :
know the prisoner, and have known him about two
years. I remember on Sunday, about five weeks ago,
I was in Midgham Moore with prisoner, about 10
,'clock, as the people were going to church. • I saw
Miss. Hall come down the footpath from Mhighitto bill
towards Fordinghridge church. She went a little out
. of the footpath to pass us. After she had us,
she came into the footpath again. As she passed,
' prisoner said "there she goes. Anybody may easily
have all &behave and nobody know It. He added: "It is
MSS 11.11, is it not?, I said "yes, it is Miss Hall."
About a fortnight afterwards, on a Sunday, prisoner
same to my house and asked me if I was going for a
walk. This was &bout 9 o'clock fus the morning. I
went with bins into the allotment garden, and prisoner
then said, "come, let's go down round Midgham Moors
for a walk," We went just as the bells were striking
, up for church. We went through Mr. Thompson'e
field, called Lipase. We met Miss Hall going toward&
rdingbridge church. We sat on the stile after Miss
Hall had peened, and as theLwere looking at her, after
she had got 20 or 30 yank, Plimner said,. 'Miss Hall is
• nice young girl, Isn't ate?" I said `yea, silo is."
Prisoner then made same obscene remarks
respeoting her. I happened, from what iii-
goner said, that be meant to abuse Mies Halt
. On the Saturday night before the murder I was at
Knotrles's bridge, about 7 o'clock. Mihail the traterempt..
Prisoner asked me to go with him for a walk next
morning. I asked him where he was going? He said
he was going somewhere few a droll. I sliced bitn
where he called somewhere, and he replied" somewhere
for a walk, the same as %Lanai."
, Cone-examined : I did not ask hint on Saturday aigh,
, to go with me.
Jelin Marsh: I live at Fordiagbridge, 0. 1111,167-1
was at Midgham Moor, where the beely.Wealfele4k..ll
' saw Thomas Turner and the prisoner there. The pri-,
' sonee-did net swat in • getting -the( body` out of the
water. .1 saw dspet 61 blood ilk therner,of one of
her eYea 1 assisted to carry lin Wl.'yt • Mkeer