The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-01-09 00:00:00

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN KENT.

A terrible double murder was perpetrated shortly
after ten o'clo'ck on Friday night at the Greyhound
Inn, Sutton-at-Hone, a village which lies midway
between Dartford and Farningham. An army pen-
sioner named John Knocker, about forty years of age,
who has lodged at the Greyhound for some time past,
without the slightest provocation cut the throats of
the landlord of the inn in question (an old man
named David Smith), and a lodger, a bricklayer's
labourer, named Alfred Kemp. Both men died
almost immediately. Knocker, who had previously
been drinking at a neighbouring inn, entered the
Greyhound about ten (the closing hour) and was
served with a pint of beer. In the tap-room were
seated Kemp and another lodger named Stroude.
Knocker sat down wi`h them for a few minutes, and
then, without saying a word, he approached Kemp
from behind and passing his left arm around his neck,
with his right hand cut his throat. Knocker thet
tried to reach Stroude, who, however, managed
to escape by the back of the house. The
murderer then proceeded to the bar, where he
met the landlord, and, after a desperate
struggle, also cut his throat. An alarm having
been raised by Stroude, two police officers accompanied
him to the house, and in the taproom found the body
of Kemp, which was stretched out on the floor in
front of the fireplace covered with blood. In the bar-
parlour was the body of the old landlord. After
committing the crime Knocker walked to Dartford, a
distance of about three miles, and shortly before mid-
night was apprehended, on suspicion, on the West-
hill, by Police-constable Benge, his face and hands
being covered with blood at the time. On going to
the station, which was near, Knocker said, "I have
been looking for a policeman ;" and when the con-
stable asked what for, Knocker replied, "I meant to
give myself up." The constable again asked him
what for, and Knocker then replied, "Why, for that
job at the Greyhound, at Sutton." Knocker added,
"You will hear quite soon enough about it." He
then said," I did it myself; there was no one there
but me. I am ready to swing in the morning. I
would as leave swing as be choked." The murderer
had been drinking heavily of late, and when taken
into custody he smelt of drink, but was not intoxi-
cated.

At the Dartford Petty Sessions, on Saturday after-
noon, Mr. T. Bevan in the chair, Knocker, was
charged with the crime. The prisoner was clad in
workhouse attire.

The first witness was James Stroude, a bootrnaller,
lodging at the Greyhound Inn at Sutton. He said a
few minutes after ten o'clock on Friday night he was
in the tap-room of the Greyhound, when the prisoner
came in. He appeared to be perfectly sober at the
time. Kemp, one of the murdered men, was in the
tap-room. Kemp was a bricklayer's labourer, and
also lodged at the Greyhound. The prisoner lodged
there. Kemp and witness were seated on one side of
the table, and on the other side the prisoner. A few
minutes after the prisoner came in he called for a pint
of beer, and after having been served he got up quietly,
and walked towards Kemp. Kemp could not see him.
The prisoner placed his left arm round Kemp's neck,
and with the right hand cut his throat. The
prisoner did not say anything either before or
after he did it. Witness retained his seat until he
noticed Kemp falling out of the chair. Kemp fell
sideways, and witness saw the blood running on to
the floor. The prisoner then made towards witness.
Witness could not see what he had in his hand, but
be rushed out of the rcom and met David Smith, the
landlord, in the passage of the howl,. He heard him
exclaim, "Oh, don't murder me." Witness then
rushed out of the door, and proceeded in search of a
policeman. Having found two ofrwers he went with
them back to the inn, and en going into the tap-
room he saw Kemp stretched out on the floor in
front. of the fireplace, quite dead. There was a strram
of blood running from his neck. Witness could add
nothing more.
The Prisoner: That man (meaning witness) was
not in the tap-room at all. I don't wish to ask him
any questions.
In reply to the Chairman, Stroude said: I know
the prisoner and so I do Kemp.
John Crowhurst was next called. He said he was
a labourer lodging at the Greyhound Inn, at Sutton.
Shortly after ten on Friday night he went upstairs to
bed. Previously he had been in the tap-room, and
left Kemp and Stroud and the prisoner there. He
was just getting into bed when he heard a crashing of
chairs and things, and hallooing downstairs. He put
on his boots, and on coming down he heard the land-
lord of the house, David Smith, say, " Don't murder
me." On reaching the bottom of the stairs witness
saw the prisoner pull Smith from the table in the
room and throw him down on the floor, and draw a
razor across his neck. He at once gave an alarm.
Oa returning to the house, he found the old man
Smith lying on his back in the parlour. He was quite
dead and the floor was covered in blood. The pri-
soner had gone away.
The Prisoner: These witnesses were upstairs at the
time.
Constable W. H. Benge said shortly before twelve
o'clock he apprehended the prisoner on the West-bill,
Dartford. He was going in the direction of Crayford.
His face and bands were covered with blood. Wit-
ness told him that he should take him into custody
on suspicion of murdering two persons at Sutton. On
going to the station, the prisoner said, "I have been
looking after a policeman." Witness said, " What
for ?" to which the prisoner replied, " I meant to give
myself up." Witness again asked him, What for ?"
and the prisoner then said, "Why, for that job at the
Greyhound, at Sutton." The prisoner added, "You
will hear quite soon enough about it." The prisoner
said, " I did it myself; there was no one there but
me. lam ready to swing in the morning. I would
as leave swing as be choked." When at the police-
station witness searched the prisoner and. found
4s. 61d. on him. He had nothing else in his posses-
sion. The prisoner had been drinking, but was not
drunk.
! Prisoner here observed that he had no questions to
ask the constable.
Superintendent Wester then applied for a remand,
until after the inquest, which was held on Monday,
when prisoner was committed on the capital charge.