The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-14 00:00:00

IRE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

brought up and charged with the offence. After some
evidence had been given he was remanded.—The in-
quest on the body was also held the same day, and was
ultimately sejourned.

Sir R. Mayne to communicate with the Governor of
the prison and tell him what they had heard, and that
communication was made in the course of the after-
noon of the 12th of December. Precautions were
taken as to the protection of the walls outside ; but
threw hon. members who had not k
by the witnesses might rent THE LATE FEARFUL TRAGEDY AT
made not be aware that on
that very afternoon a cask of a similar description to TODMORDEN.
the one that exploded on December 13 was seen by a The prisoner Miles Weatherhill was on Friday
woman in ne mightemrhood of the prison walls, and afternoon brought before the magistrates at the Court-
that as far as could be judged, an attempt was made to
,house, Todmorden charged with the murder of Jane
lighted
light it. If it Lad been at that time, no doubt Smith, nursemaid in the service of the Rev. A. J. Plow,
there would have been destruction of life, not only Vicar of Todmorden. The circumstances of the mur.
outside of but within the prison, for it was then the der are fresh in the recollection of our readers, and it
hour of prison exercise; and, further, about the time will not be necessary to recapitulate them.
that the cask was seen there, a white india.rubber The approaches to the court were crowded lung be.
ball was thrown over the wall, which was afterwards fore the hour of meeting, and it was with extreme
picked up by one of the warders, who, having no idea difficulty that the magistrates and those engaged in the
of what it was used for, kept it for his children. At the case could obtain entrance. One of the magistrates
same time it was noticed that the prisoner Burke fell had to pass over the roof of a house and get in at a
out of the ranks and went to a different part of the window.
yard, apparently to take something out of his shoe. The prisoner is a young man of twenty years of age,
Rut the awl( was tagen away and did not cause any and good.looking. He appeared unconcerned before
suspicion among the people living in the neighbour- the proceedings commenced, and lan,hed and conversed
hood. He should mention that at the part of the wall with the officers in charge of him; but as the examina-
which was broken down there was formerly a small tion went on be became more thoughtful, especially
wicket, and when Captain Labahnondiere went back while Mr. Plow was giving evidence. Mr. Gould
to the Police-office he inquired whether that wt.ket conducted the prosecution. The prisoner, who was
was there, because it was thought that gunpowder undefended, took copious notes throughout the pro.
might be used to free it open ; but it did not appear
.celedin
ii.—. hit
A. .1. Plow was the first witnees called. He
to have struck him or any one else that it would be
need to blow down the wall, as WAS actually the case;
nurse, anilaihniltlonbg tlV6rBll¢ let il=e; resided
for, although the information that had been received
WM communicated to the officers on the spot, the cask near hinds On Monday last I left the vicarage at a quarter
was placed close to the wall without anybody sup- past b. I went to Made, and returned at twenty minutes
posing that there was any cause to apprehend mischief to7t:ent did
apt:
hh
mode ,
from it It appeared that that me of carrying out ;
1 rang for prayers.
the design of which they received information did not
room.
deolcr°, received,tmurnthefdortmheathi7ndle, ar d r
of
ur err,
dloowre usrtatos
heldth e
strike those who were set to watch the outside of the
prison, became the policeman Moriarty walked along by some one outside I saw no one, and shut the doer, and
by the side of the wall when the cask was there, and then went by way of the front door to the back door, with.
nearly all his clothes were blown off in consequence of out my hat. I there saw the prisoner standing about three
frrom the back door. I spoke to him, but Ida not re-
mit oe what I raid. I think I asked what he was doing.
the explosion. What their attention was apparently
directed to was the undermining of the wall, they e came forward to me—perhaps two yards. Ile did not
speak. Ile put a pistol to my head, within half an arm's
thought it would probably be blown up from under-
neath, and bad lIG conception that it would be blown length, and fired it. The cap exploded, but the pistol did
down in the way it really was done. That was all the not ge off. I then iseized him by the neck. He took out a
information he had to afford on the mthject hatchet, but Ido not know from where. lie struek me on
the head, I thiek twice, but I cannot swear. lbeld him as
tightly as I could. A great deal of blood was flowing front
nip head. I !mooted out, I think, "Murder t' I was half
stunned then. We struggled to the back door, which was
shut. It was opened, I think, by some one inside. We went Is
at the door, and struggled along the moulage. I was first He
was then using the axe on my head. The axe was In his
right hand. I think he hit me in the passage three times.
I saw three servants in the passage—Elizabeth Splnk, Mary
Bodge,. and J sue Smith. J ape smlth came to m y rescue. and,
as well as I can remember, laid hold of the prisoner. I was
opposite the dining.room door. Jane Smith shouted, but
Ido not remember what she said. The prisoner took out
another pistol, and put it to my ear. He snapped it, and
the cap exploded, but the pistol did not discharge. I took
hold of the pistol and wrested it from Ms hand. I felt then
as it I was dying, and I made for the front door, and went
out to Mr. Greenwood's, the organist. I took the pistol
to Mr. Greenwood, and, in nil presence, it was handed over
to the policesergeant After I wrenched the pistol from
his hand, he struck Jane Smith three or four times on the
head with the axe. I saw blood flowing from her. She was
on her knees. She put both hands up, as it in the attitude
of prayer, and said, "Mercy r The prisoner saw me making
my way to the door, and he followed me. fie put his band
to his breast, and that w. all I saw. I don't remember
whether, in the yard, he pulled out two pistols but I that
he fired two. I can only swear to one. I was severely hurt,
and lost much blood. I have had conversations with the
prisoner in reference to the dismissal of Sarah Bell, who
was diennesed for breach of truth and breach of her
promise. She promised not to speak to the prisoner, and
then broke her promise. She was seventeen years of age.
she had no relatives in the neighbourhood that she knew
The iirisoner said to me that I had taken away her ohs-
racter and all her bread, and he was determined to come to
my house whether I liked it or not. lie spoke about my
keeping my servants secluded from the town, on the same
occasion he said that he would be revenged, referring to
Sarah Bell. I don't remember his using any other threat at
any other time. Ile had asked permission, when Sarah Bell
was in my service, to keep company with her, and I objected,
saying she was very young, not being then seventeen. That
occurred In the beginning of 1867. lie expressed his surprise
at her being so young. I said, moreover, it ehe had been
older, I had an objection to allow a long courtship to be
going on. I complimented him on his straightforwardness
in being no plain with me. Those were the only two
occasions I spoke to him about Sarah Bell. He was in the
habit of attending my church and Sunday school, bat had
not latterly been to school. He was at church on Sunday
week last. I have not seen him on the premises since
February, but for some months since I used to hear
whistling, and on one occasion a window wits broken with
a stone. Pistols had also been tired, and come the back
door was covered with shot, and a window broken in the
home.
The Prisoner I ehould like to know how it was you denied
me, after the honourable way I came to you, knowlng that
my intentions were honourable. Witness I have already
said the girl was an young that I quite made up my mind to
deny you.
Prisoner Why did you deny me after her parents had
no objection to it? Witneee: At that stage the girl knew
little et you, cared little for you, and was quite indifferent
to you.
Prisoner Are you not mistaken in that? Witness My
-

Wile IUM 111 C Du.
Prisoner: If she had been careless or indifferent about
me, would she have gone with me after? Witness In that
consisted the sin in my eyes, in going with you when skews.
Indifferent to you. Sarah Bell said she had no wish that the
matter should go on, and we did not know it was going on
till a month before the dismissal, when we fancied it had
been discontinued sin months.
Prisoner: Did you not think she cared for me when she
went with me all that time i Witness : I cannot say.
Prisoner: Did you not once say she want very steady girl?
Witness: Yes, a very steady girl
Prisoner: Did you not say alter she left that you mistrusted
heel Witness Yes, I did.
Prisoner : Did you not say if she had been a respectable
girl she would not have spoken to me after she had
promised you not to go with me? Witness: I may have said

Prisoner: Did you, on one Sunday afternoon, say you lids-
tru,ted her? Witness: I believe I did say so.
Prisoner: Did you not say, one Sunday afternoon, that I
blasphemed eves y time I went to church, and at the same
time that you refused to open the reading-room for fear I
should go in, and did you not say you would rather nie stay
away from church than go? Witneas : I cannot say that I
said the exact word "blaspheme." I did not refuse to open
the reading-room that I am aware of ; and I believe I did
say I would rather you would stay away from church than

go-
Prisoner I thought he said all of them. Do you remem-
ber distinctly that I said I would have my revenge on you?
Witness No; you said Your servant'
Prisoner Did I say I would have my revenge on you or
your servant? Witnme: I had it on my mind that you
spoke about my servant, because you had been mostly speak-
ing about her.
Prisoner Do you think I broke the window? Witness: I
calmed say.
Prisoner: I know nothing about that affair. Do you
know whether your wife said, Sarah will not have a
weaver?" Witness: I know nothing about it, but it is very
unlikely.
Prisoner : Do you think my intentions were really good
towards the girl? Witness: I have no reason to doubt the
goodness of your intentions.
The magistrates' clerk, Mr. Eastwood, reminded the pri-
; sever that Mn. Plow was too ill to be called, and he niust
! not expect to have to question her, so he must ask all the
questions he thought necessary of Mr. Plow.
Mr. Gould said he did not intend to call Mrs. Plow at all.
The prisoner (to witness : Hag Balkh Bell been carpeted
before you or Mrs. Plow? Witness: Once by myself; I mean
I lectured her.
Prisoner Did you ever speak in a shunning way about
me? Witness I spoke to her once about you, and that in-
terview led to her dismissal.
Prisoner' Don't you think she did care for me when she
gave up her situation? Witness She had not the choice.
She was obliged to go.
Prisoner Did you not give her a week to consider before
you gave her notice. Witness : Not that lam aware of, but
it was so flagrant that I should think it very unlikely for me
to say so —The witness then retired.
Mary Hodgson, the housemaid, repeated the evidence she
gave before the coroner. In cross-examination witness said
she had not told tales. She might have closed the house
door in prisoner's face after the family returned from the
south.
Margaret Ball, a middle-aged woman, who was engaged in
nursing Mrs. Plow on the night of the murder, said that she
went to bed shortly before ten o'clock on that night. In a
few minutes witness heard a scream in a lobby, and Mrs.
Plow asked her to run down stairs. She saw Elizabeth
Spinks and Mr. Plow struggling with the prisoner, the girl
having hold of his hair. Witness saw Mr. Plow run out of
the front door, and she went back into the bedroom Im-
mediately afterwards witnem heard a pistol shot in the dining-
room. She went out of the room, looked over the landing,
and saw the prisoner walking about the lobby, between the
front door and the kitchen. He went three times into the
dining-room. After he returned the last time, witness saw
him reloading tim pistol. Witness saw the ramrod fall out,
and heard several raps upon the staircase. She eaw the
prisoner pick up the ramrod and gii into the kitchen. In
another moment she saw him ascending the stairs towards
her, with a pistol in one hand and the kitchen poker in the
other. Witness ran into Mr. Plow's room, and put her back
to the door, but thedoor had no mtening. Prisoner came up to
the door, pushed it, and said, "Let me is: I shall not hurt
you." Witness said, "The person you want is down stairs, If
you will come with me." Prisoner rejoined, "I have seen her."
Witness said to him, " Ilave mercy upon us!" They looked
at one another, and witness said, " Do not hurt the new-
born babe." Prisoner did not speak. Witness heard a
knocking at the front door of the house. She ran down to
It, and found it was lucked and the key gone. She went to
the back door, which was also locked, but the key was in, ;
and witness admitted Mr. stanetleld and others, and sent
them up stairs at mice. She saw the flash of a pistol and
heard the report in Mrs. Plow's room. She ran, with the
others, up to the room, and fonnd her mietress upon the bed,
the clothes saturated with blood which II ,wed from her nose
and forehead. Witness found eight or nine struck matches
on the fhmr ; and between the sheets of the bed the wadding
of a pistol, and two bullets in the mattress. The blanket
was a little scorched with the flame of the explosion.
Sarah Elizabeth Hell the prisoner's sweetheart) said lam
housemaid at the Friends' Retreat, near York. I left Nlr.
Plow's service in November. I know the prisoner. nor
courtship commenced in the second year of my service with
Mr. Plow. I was torbidden to keep company with the pri-
soner. I told the prisoner that Iliad promised not to keel,
corn iany with him. I was forbidden in the second year. It
was after I became cook. I told the prisoner what I had
told Mr. Plow, about not keeping his company. Ile vented
me, notwithstanding, its the hedge. lie came sometimes in
the afternoon and sometimes in the evening. Ile came when
Mr. and Mrs Plow were at home. It c Imo to Mr. New'e
knowledge, and I gave notice and left when my year was up,
the lath of last Novemher.
Witness was asked whether the prisoner promised to
marry her, and whether she asked her mother's cement.
Witness: It is my private affair. When I left the prisoner
went with me to my home at Newby Wiske, near Thirsk.
' We went third-class. lie remained there two or three days,
and I never any him again till last Sunday. We exchanged
letters. I had told him before that Jane told tales. and he
had said he would have his revenge. lie only said it once
Ile did not say in what way, but Ike said he would have re-
venge, utile,. I came back to Todmorden. flaw the prisoner
hat Sunday, at eleven o'clock, at York, mid I told him I
would go out at two o'clock. lie asked for the letters I had
received from him, and I brought them to him. He did not
say what he wanted them for. He took two or three out, and
returned them back. I had written him some letter,, alai he
gave them me back. I thought that was the breaking of the
engagement. When he got the letters, he said somethieg
about " reveuge low down." I asked him what he meant by
li, and he gave no answer. He gave me a locket, and asked
me to wear it for his sake I mid that I would. I parted
with him a few minutes before nine. I iiiiinired of him how
they all were at Mr. Plow's, and he sal they were well. He
eaid Mary did not speak to his. I asked him if Jane did,
and lie said he would not speak to her. I did not see him
with any pistols or axe. Ile asked me to come to Todmor-
den to service, and I refu=eil, because I had a god eitnation
when I was. I do not know how many times he pressed
me to come to Todmonien. He had spoken shout some per-
son he celled a traitor. He referred to "Jane." I knew
what he meant by calling her a " traitor;'—becauie she told
tale, We had no quarrel; we met and parted friends.
The witness, who is a very interesting, good-I...king girl,
gave her evidence in a low voice, and seemed much affected.
Whets she came into the box the prisoner averted his eyes,
and seemed very much moved, every imiv and then casting
furtive glances at the witness, who appeared to ehrink from
his gaze.
The witness was shown movie letter, 'which were read ~
and she said they were in her and the prisoner's writieg.
The first letter was dated September JO, 1557, and was
written in the following terms by the prisoner to the wit-

lies.
bly dear flarah,-1 beg of you not to leave your place,
but to tell your mistress you will give me up. Now, for your

own interest's sake, tell her for you know that a rolling
stone gathers no moss. Now, Sarah. tell her before she
writes to your mother, for you are only heaping trouble upon
trouble, and I think you have hail Iluite plenty through me.
You have kept me in the dark about being carpeted, but
you see that it is carried out a little by little. now cruel it
was of me to call you false and deceitful I had no idea that
YOU had been carpeted through me, or I would not have
uttered such words at no price, but I hope you will forgive
me, as It appears to me that you area true hearted girl, but it
will be better for you to give me up. If you are determined
to leave your time will be very shortly up, which I regret,
but I hope you wiU have every success in your wanderings,
for very likely you will wander a bit before you settle down.
Now, my dear, you must forget roe. I think you may when
you get into fresh company and see fresh faces. I will see
you once more, and then if you will only say '1 will, I will
say the same. I know it will be a harder task for me than
for you, but I will try in bear it for your sake. ills not be-
cause I ant beginning to dislike you that I want to break MI :
far from it, It is quite the reverse. It is because I want to
free you from your trouble, and if my saying so will do it It
shall be done. Don't give up your place through a wretch
like me, for I know I have been the cause of all this trouble.
To conclude, I say, don't let Jane and Mary know aU I say to
you. I will see you before many days end—Yours truly,
MILEs WEATHERILL "

The next letter, in which the witness spoke of the sorrow
she felt at parting from the prisoner, has been published.
In the next letter of the series, from the prisoner to the
witness, under date November 7, he said; -
I wish you were at Todmorden again. I then should he
happy once more, but now I am miserable ! We are parted,
and what fort Not for any disgraceful action either of us
has done. No, it, for being too honourable and upright
in our dealings, Sarah. It makes my blood boil to think of
the wrongs that have been done to me and to you by Mr and
Mrs. Plow. I wiU never forgive them, for they have ruined
our happiness."
In answer to that letter witness wrote :

" My clear, you must not look at the dark side, but try to
be happy. If all goes on right I shall see you before fang: it
will be a happy day "
The nett letter was dated November 11, from the prisoner
to the witness :--

.• My dear Sarah,--I have had such a row with master and
mistress. I heard she had given you a character, and I
asked her about it, and she had put in what you told me she
would. She said she thought there was not much wrong.
I told her there was a deal of wrung in it, and then I turned
round and would not talk to her any longer. In the after.
noon I saw the master. Ile called on me, and we hail a
regular row. Ile called us anything but Christians, and
spoke of you an not being a respectable girl. Ile made my
blood bud, and I will have my revenge for the girl I love,
unless yen can come to Todmorden, or within a mile of it.
It would plague them worse you conning than me having my
revenge. If you have not engaged in that place, come
somewhere near here, Write as soon as possible, and let me
know whether you Call come or not; and If you will I will
pay your expenses."
• . .

. -
In his next letter, which appeared to have been written on
the 19th of November, the prisoner said ,
" My love, If you have not got a place yet, come back to
Todmorden, if It be only to plague the Plows. tie could
have our walks, and It would so plague them. I understand
they are going to have a cook from near where Jane, the
traitor, cornea. We should not have any occasion to be
parted at all if Plow had been a gentleman. Ile and his wife
and the traitor have spoilt our happiness, and unless that
happiness can be renewed they shall rue it, for I will open
Jane's secret to all Todmorden, and we shall not be the only
ones to suffer. No, the traitor shall suffer as welt I
cannot forgive them for doing as they have done towards at
We acted honourably, and it was not right of them to do as
they have. .

The witness wrote to the prisoner on November 21
My dear Miles—l am sorry you had so much trouble,
but let that alone. You must remember to whom v,mgeanee
belongs; but all will work right, you will see. lam sorry I
shall not gat to Todmordeu as soon as I thought, for I am
now in a place at Middlesborough. I canto yesterday, lout
I think I shall leave when my mouth is up : so I may get
that way yet."
In reply to that the prisoner
.wrote to her—
. .

.• What, a parson gm?a I thought you had had enough of
parsons. Just ask him if he will allow llilm Weatherill to

come courting."
In a letter, without date, from the witueu to the prisoner,

she said

" I received your welcome letters, and I am glad you are
well, but I cannot come to the place you told me of. Please,
dear, don't do al you Shid. It makes me to unhappy to
think of you being wild, I cannot tell you."
Mr. Gould asked the witness if that referred to an expres-
sion the prisoner litel used in one of his letters which she had
returned, and she replied that it did not.
The last letter was dated Monday last, and was as fol.
lows :

"My own ever dear Sarah,-1 em now about to leave
York, but with a very sad heart. My heart is nearly broken
for you, the truest of all women. Life is a misery to me
when I am parted from you. I am now writing close by
your house, the Retreat If all be well, I intend being at home
about three o'clock. You will please wear the locket your
own dear self in remembrance of me. one that love, and
adores you. Pray for sic, for lam a wicked sinner. lam
driven to despair, all through a parson but I always loved
you. Su good morning, my ever darling Sarah-1 remain,
for ever yours, MILES WEATIIERILL. May God bless you."
The prisoner said to the witness 1 don't want to ask you
any questions. What I meant by revenge in those letters
was opening, exposing, Jane's secret to all Todmorden.

The medical evidence was afterwards given. It appeared
that Mr. Plow hail received severe wounds all over his head,
and his left ear was split completely In two. He could not
rest his head in any way. Mrs. Plow had received dreadful
injuries. The hone of her nose was broken, and her head
cut with the poker.

On the charge being read over to the prisoner he
repeated the statements he had made before the
coroner. He said be went honourably to Mr. Plow,
and he ought to have been allowed to see the girl. He
was determined to see her, although Mr. Plow would
not give him the privilege to go to the house, lie in-
tended to act honestly, but, since his good intentions
were thwarted, he had been on the way to destruction.
He kept company with her until Jane stopped it, and I
then he went to ruin and on the way to destruction. I
Tearing up a paper on which he had made several
notes, and, throwing his arms about, he exclaimed he
would die like a dog. He was glad Mr. and Mrs.
Plow were not dead, but he did intend to murder Mr.
and Mrs. Plow, or he would never have been there.
They knew perfectly well that he and their servant
loved each other, but they cohld not bear to see them
together because they were poor. When the separate
charge of wounding with the hatchet was read mer to
the prisoner he said "they did not know where the
hatchet was bought, and he should not tell them."
The prisoner was then formally committed to the
Manchester Assizes on the charge of wilful murder.
At the conclusion an affecting scene took place
between the prisoner and the witness Sarah Bell, who
went up to him and embraced him.

The body of Jane Smith was interred on Friday, at
the parish church, and was followed to the grave by
the scholars of the Siinday.schools connected with the
church. An immense concourse of people assembled
in the vicinity of the church, and the service was con-
ducted with great solemnity.

Since the prisoner has been committed to take his
trial at the Manchester Assizes a number of important
letters have been given up to the police by hia nweet-
heart, Sarah Bell, which will show that he had enttr-
tamped thoughts of the dreadful crime for some months
pabt.