The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-20 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF A TRAVELLING
DEALER.

Last Saturday afternoon, at the Town-hall, Welling-
ton, near Shrewsbury, George Harris and Richard
Hart, the men apprehended on suspicion of having
murdered Ilatnard Zusman, at Stirchley, on 15th
November last, were brought up in custody. Mr.
Peele, in opening the case, said the police did imt
purpose to offer any evidence against Hart. Mr.
Bartlett then asked the Court that Hart might be
discharged, and no opposition being raised he was set
at liberty. Mr. Peel then called and examined the
following witnesses:-

Aaron Gothmeir yak! • In November last I kept the
.

"Crown Inn" at Ironbridge. The deceased, Ilarnard.
Zusman, lodged at my house. Tie left on Friday, the 15th
of November, between nine and ten o'clock in the morning.
Before he went he took one or two watches out of the pack
he always carried with him, and WOUIId them up. Ile told
me was going to Finger-lane and Hawley, and said he would
be back again at three o'clock to dinner, but I never saw
him alive again.
John Watktna lam a ehainmaker residing at Finger-lane.
lathe month of November last I was in the employ of the
prisoner at his works at southell, near Hawley. I knew the
deceased Zusman. I saw hint on Friday, the 15th of
November, at the shop. In consequence of something he
said to 111 e, I started to take him to Darrella cottage to see
Mr. Harris, the prisoner. I met Richard Hart, who spoke
to &omen, and the two left me. On Thursday, the 28th of
November, Harris came to the slam. That was the day
before the body of the deceased was found. Harris showed
me two gold watches; one had a long neck-chain, and the
ether was without. They were bright, new-looking watches.
Harris said he had a silver watch which he would cell me.
Harris, one morning after the inquest, came and spoke to
vie. Ile sail he would give me the silver watch he had
ttiered to sell me if I would say there was a man with
Zusman, with a black oilcase parcel with a strap round it,
going in the direction of 3ladeley. I spoke to him after
breakfast, and said, ''l cannot do that ; it will be
taking a false oath." lie said, ''l wouldn't say
anything, then." I recollect the sth of January,
the last day the inqueet was held. On that day I went with a
Mall, named Silas Pool, and the prisoner from the inquest •
room. We were talking about the inquest. Harris said,
"I will lose my heart before I split." Ile had been
drinking. Mr. Leaks- . the solicitor for the prisoner, sent for
me on the day of the inquest. before the case came on. We
went to Harris's house. 31r. Leake, the prisoner, and some
others were present. Mr. Leake asked me whether I saw
Mr. Harris on the day of the murder. 1 sail I thought I
saw hint about one o'clock. The prisoner's sister-indaw said,
" You know you saw him about one o'clock." I then went
to my own house, and Harris followed Inc down. Ile said,
"You are
.goilig.t.do it." I made no answer.

Sophia Darrell, the wife of Solomon Darrell, a labourer,
residing near Barris's works, said: On the day of the in-
quest the m isoner called at iny house. lie said, •' Don't you
say you saw me with the revolver." (Revolver produced.)
That is the little gun " I saw in the possession of the
prisoner about a week or so—l can't say the exact time— be-
fore the body was found. Ile was at my house and was
cleaning it. or something.
Emma Maiden: I live In Finger-lane, and remember being
at Southwell Pit Bank on a Friday about a fortnight before
the body was found. It O 5 about half-past ten. The
prisoner went past. A Jew was with him. Ile the Jew)
had a box with him. Box of the deceased produced nod
identified., The prisoner spoke t. le and said he was going
te show the man that was with him the way to Mr. Wil-
liams's, of Btirchley-hall. I saw the priamer sigain about
one o'clock. Re was returning from the direction of
Stirchley.
Harriet Yates, granddaughter of Mrs. Darrell, gave similar
evidence.

Jlthn Hotchkiss, residing at Stirchley, saw the prisoner and
another man pass at half-past ten on Friday, the 15th of
November, near the Hem Coppice, a mile and a quarter dis-
tant from the place where the body was found.
Edward Purchaae., police-constable stationed at Hawley-
green, said that on the 2fith of November he found the body
In a litch 450 yards from the nearest house. He found ihe
pistol produced in the prisoner's house. He had tried to fire
it, hat without being able to do so. . .

The depositions of the prisoner taken when he was ex,
amined as a witness before the Coroner were here put in.
The prisoner there stated that he had seen and spoken to the
deceased on the morning of the murder, and added that
while speaking to him he hail noticed "a man with MI oil-
case parcel " loitering about.
Anne Robinson said: I keep a pawnbroker's shop in
Shrewsbury. on Saturday, the nth of November, the pri-
soner came to any shop and pledged a gold watch for ES. if
Rave his name as George Barris, Dawley. The name of
Cohen, maker, appeared on the watch. The watch was re-
deemed on the 2slh of January by Mr. Ilarris.
• "" ' •

Isaac Cohen: I am a jeweller residing in Birmingham.
Thedeceased was a traveller in my employ, and in November
last he was travelling in the Bewley .listrict. The ds• eased
furnished me with returns of the sales he made OH ledit.
On the Bth of November he made a return showing ti par-
ticulars of a sale of a gold watch made to the prisoner on that
day. The prisoner signed an agreement for its purchase,
which I subsequently showed to Harris, and he acknowledged
to be his handwriting. .

Two long gold neck chains, both of which .ad been
traced to the possession of the prisoner, were produced
and shown to the witness, who was understood to
identify one of them.
At this stage of the evidence the prisoner was
remanded.