The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-27 00:00:00

DREADFUL MURDER AT EVERLEIGH, WILTS.

On Saturday this retired village, which is situate in
the midst of the Downs, or plain, 14 miles from Devizes, 1
15 from Saliabury, and 12 from Andover, Ilangerford,
and Marlborough respectively, was the scene of • must
frightful tragedy. The *hole pariah is the property of
Sir Frauds Dugdale Astley, wl.o is at pr. sent non-
resident ; and the manor-house is let, with the shooting,
ke., to Mr. C. J. Munk, chancellor of the diocese of
Oloucester, and only ion of the late Bishop. It eppeare
that there are two keeper.' lodges, the dr.{ distant shout
hslfamilc frossi the manor.house and from any other
dwelling, the second about half-a-mile off from the
first. They are both eusbo-ouied in the woods, and
remote from all usual thoroughfares. Early on
Saturday Mr. John Hill, the head gamekeeper,
occupying the first lodge, left house for a few
slays' visit into Worcestershire. and, in consequence
of the solitude of this situation, Either Stocker, the wife
of the under-keeper, cause up from the furthest lodge
to sleep that night with Mrs. Hill, in her hushand's
absence. Mrs. Stocker returned to her own lodge at
o'clock on Sunday morning, and about 11.30 a.m. her
husband, John Stocker, walked over to Hill'.., and saw
Ann Hill seated in
_a chair in the back kitchen, r•
. .

•
a newcpsoer. out of which she communicated some par-
ticulars to him through the window, which was open.
She also mentioned her intention of going to church in
the aftenioon. the service heinz at 3 p.m. This suede
it Stocker's duty to attend to the reared birds during
her absence, and *mot lingly lie went home to dinner,
returning shout 230 p.m. It would seem that Ann Hill,
immediately after Stocker left, went up to a boiling-
house, shoot 200 yards in the rear of her lodge. cud
adjuitiitta the kennels, in which were several dog., to
prepare Polite food for them. On Stocker's retton he
had to pa* the boiling-house, and observing the door
open, which wee unusual, lie looked in, and saw the
unfortunate woman lying on the ground, in • pool of
Wool, with her throat frightfully cot front ear to ear,
already dead sad stiffening. Shocker then hastened to
Ili" inanur.house to acquaint his master with the sad
nceurrenue, and by 4 it.tu. Mr. Carter, surgeon, of Pew-
sey, Dr. Bartlett, the rector of the parish, and the
police, were on the spot. At first it was thought that
tt.e act woo suichlcl, hut a more minute investigation
show"l that the unfortunate woman bed been first
geretted with with a suctll rope. the heist rings of
which sire traceable in three circles round the neck and
under the chin, so also a i ctured wound, Reverently
math- in cutting he cord away, in the side of the neck,
end that afterwards the throat was cut by a strong
decided stroke, inflicted probably from behind, from left
to right. Neither cord nor rutting instrument has been
fount. On examining the house, the window in the
rear and the door in fnint were found open, the key
bring in the lock inside; the key of the back door,
which was loeked, with other keys, was found ia ti.e
pocket of the deceased. The draws,s in the
had been partiallv ransacked, and letters and other
articles araitered shout the floor. Only me room was
in any way disturbed. It is observable that a
alteplierd, tending his flock at no great distance oil,
did not hear any of the dogs bark. The unfortunate
husteind lout been autannoned I.ome, when the extent of
the supposed robbery will be iuvestigated. The police
are using every exertion.
This under-keeper, John Stocker, is now kept under
the strict surveillance of the police, of whom there is
a strong body at Everleigh, including the county
superintendent, Captain Meredith. The two lodges
and the boiling-hutee, from which the corpse of the
unfortunate woman, Ann lull, has been removed to tier
own house, are in the position of the former, and no
one is allowed to enter them. On Tuesday, upon the
information of Mr. Thourts Stretten, superintendent of
the Marlborough div,siou of Lite county police, John
Stocker was charged before Mr. T. E. Fowler, of
Dorrington ; Mr. E. Dyke, of Pigheldran ; the Rev.
\V. C. Lukis, rector of Collinebounie Ducts ; and the
Rev. S. C. H. Crook. vicar of Upavon, magistrates of the
county, with the wilful murder of Ann Hilt. Ecidepee
was given by John Hill, the husband of the deoeaM,
ii ho returned from Worcestershire early on Tuesday
morning, sod Mr. C. J. Monk, his employer. The
t.risoner was remanded until the uext day, at 10 a.m.
The I runner is • slight built man of prepossessing
appearance. with fell eyes, fresh complexion. dark hair,
and light brown whiskers, about 26 or 27 years of aim,
and under MI. Bin, in stature. He hes always borne a
sery good character for steadiness, Lit ility, and quiet-
ness of behaviour. He has • wife and a child about
two years old.

The refresh i rig rind sustaining properties of tea depend
on the quantity of theist it contains; the early ',wino
leaves hove always moat of this ocential quality, for am
ounce of this fine Tea contain+ 10 trains ; the autumn
crop has but little, and is onisequently rery deticien•
in iforour. The English pay for and desire to obtain
the alike tea, but often have the autumn crop through
a deceptive practice the Chinese have of "incise or
ouring the withered leaves ; for minerals
are used to make all appear alike, and
enables the Chinese to pass off the low brows in
phice of the best. Merchants derive great profit from
the practice, bet the celestials theroaelres never use
coloured Tea. HOHNIII AN k Co. London. knowing that
sterling quality is preferred before mere appearance,
import all without powdered colour on the surface : the
Green is of a natural dark olive (sot &Isis's), and the
B rick not intensely dark. This tea is to be bad only
of Horn troupes AnECTS: for Local. lists,/ advertisement
in this as) '5 paper.
On Sunday morning two corn and cotton warehouses
were burnt down at Liverpool, and property worth
C 4,000 destroyed.