The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-02-02 00:00:00

li..

COMMITTAL OF HUNTER FOR
WILFUL MURDER.

On Friday last, the court was again crowded, to bear
the examination of William Harker and Charier Baiky,
charged with the murder of Elizabeth Cox. 1
There were on the Bench—The Mayor (Mr. G. B. Web,
ford). Dr. Drew. Mr. W. Talbot, Dr. H. Tigard, Mr. (l.
Reynolds, and Mr. James Milledge.
Hunter is a rather big man, with a somewhat open
expression of countenance. and rather a smile than a
truculent look. He was very reticent hut carefully
listened to every bit of evidence. (lie is a little deaf) and
made frequent remarks to Mr. Henrille, clerk to Mr.
George. When the Supt. gave evidence punter pushed
Bailey aside, and leaned over the dock almost into the
face of Mr. Vickery, in his care to catch the whole ,if what
was said, lie looked fully at all the witnesses, and did
not appear to cast down his eyes at all during the evidence.
llis face had no expression of bluster or of unconcern, but
rather that intent enquiring look seen on the faces of the
partially deaf, who endeavour to read by their eyes what
they cannot perfectly hear. :Occasionally his lips trembled
when the finding of the dead girl was mentioned; but
there appeared on the one hand no affected emotion, nor
unnatural hardness on the other.

Mr. R. N. Howard appeared on behalf of the proee-
cution, and Mr. George defended.
The boy Hutchings, questioned by Dr. Drew, said the
head of the girl WU towards the shore and the feet sea-
wards. He turned the body round ansl pulled it on shore
legs first.
Frederick Stodcting, • boy: I live at No P. Burden's-
buildings. On the sth of Januaisy I was playing at
" mush" on the sands at about half-past nine in the
morning. I saw George Hutchings go into the sea after •
ball, which was knocked into the water about two or three
yards. In consequence of what he said, I went into the
water and said " I think it is a man who is drowned,"
but on going up knee deep I found it was the body of a
woman. Her head was towards the shore, and her feet
seawarda. her clothes were all over her head. She was
naked up to her shoulders' her clothes were over her
head. I was the first to touch the body. I caught hold
of ono of her legs, when George Hutchings came and
helped me to turn it round, and we pulled it on shore. I
pulled her clothes down.
FAward Ilansford : I am a licensed porter of this town.
On Thursday evening, the 7th of January, just before ten
o'clock, I was.cleee to the Esplanade, opposite No. a
Augusta-plans, just one side of the Victoria Hotel. I was
Locking my trucks to the chain. While so engaged, I saw
a tall labouring man and a stoutish girl, of middle height,
pass by. She had a check dress on ; I could see it plainly,
as a lamp was shining on it. The dress produced looks
like the same. The man had his arm round her waist with
his face towards her. They were going in the direction of
Devonehirwbuildings. I have known Hunter for years.
From my knowledge of him, and the dress he had on, I
should think it was be; I did not see his face. From the
description of the deceased I believe it was she who was
with Hunter. I did not see the dead body. The man was
whispering to the girl, but what he said I could not hear.
By the Mayor : I was able to distinguish the dresses the
lamp was shining behind them, and they were only shout
five yards distant,
Mark Roberts: I live at Ct. Bury-street, and am •
licensed porter. I was at the Customhouse when the
Jersey boat came in on the 7th January. I was enraged
to take some luggage to Mrs. Flood's and to the railway
station from the boat Hunter assisted me in so doing.
We left the Custom-house about ten minutes to nine, but
I will not be sure as to ten minutes. We left the 1
at the station, and then had a glass of beer eaufrigit
Keeley'a At that time Hunter's clothes were dry. 1 and
he then came back to Mrs. Painter's house, which is
next door to the Custom-house. I went in, leaving him
against the Custom-house, and when I came out he was
still there. I wished him goodsnight, as I was anxious to
get home to see my son: who load been away for five years,
and it was half-past tune when I got there. I was out
from 90 minutes to eight until half-past nine, and my
clothes were not wet. I saw Hunter at eight o'clock.
There was a slight shower of thick rain whilst we were
loading the luggage, but not sufficient to make us wet.
Cross-examined I first saw Hunter at eight o'clock
standing at the Custotu house door, lie was not with me
all the time until we took the luggage. There was a thick
rain that night, but not enough to make any one wet. 1
could have gone to the station in my shirt sleeves and not
have sot wet. I was not more than five minutes going
from Sirs, Painter's to my own house.
John liSiari : I keep the Market-house Inn, St. Edmund'
street, On the evenings,' Thursday, January 7th. Hunter
called at my house and asked for half a-pint of beer. It
was about ten o'clock. He sat down and stayed there
until eleven o'clock. He sail how wet he was, showing
the sleeve of his jumper at the time. From a quarter
to eleven o'clock to eleven he was standing before the
fire. lie looked ;as if he had been wit in a heavy storm.
Ile said what a jets he'd had with the girl ; I think heals*
s.oid his arm ached and lie was weary. He look° up
several times. He said he had seen some boys chasing a
girl at Seymour's corner—he went to her and asked where
she wanted to go, and she replied she wanted to go to Mr.
Trenchard's, on Greenhill ; lie asked her whether he
should take her there and ihe &lid she was agrocable. He
also stated that on the road she was very sick several
times and stunk of spirits. and while siek she dropped an
onion from her bosom. When she got to Mr. Trenchard's
hack door he thought the senunt would come and receive
her, but she said "It ie not here I want to go. I want to
go to the Union—Fin out for a dare liberty." He then
took her beck, thinking he should see a policeman to give
her up to; but he did not see any policeman. She said
she must go and get mime tea and sugar to take to the
union; she caught up her clothes to run away and then lie
saw she had on a onion skirt. I sob! "Bill, she could not
be so very drunk to run away." he replied "She'd loom
sick several times and was better off," and sublet he went
straight to the police-station and told P.C. Ilaifurti of
what heal occurred. lie talked about the girl several
times and seemed full of jokino. My wife said "I wish
you'd shut up your mouth, Bill ; I want to get this child
asleep." On the following morning when the inquest was
about to be held, he came into the house, said I asked him
if the deceased was the girl who was with him. He said
lie hasl been to look at her, but could not swear to her.
He also said be had been to the polieeman, because if any-
thing happened to her he might get the blame. Ile said
several tunes that he went onth the girl out of kindness,
I bemuse some boys weno diming her.
Crues-examinesl: I ant nut sure as to the time; it might
have been 10 minutes to 10 when Hunter caine in my
house on the Thursday evening. I naturally heard the
yarn; I did not think there was anything serious; he
I appeared to be chierful, and challenged a man to play
some mimic. He had bad as much drink as a man could
carry.
By the Mayor: Ile Made out his arm RAI wet; he
looked very damp, as if he had been out in the rain. He
slid not steam from the trousers ; I must have seen it if
there bad been any, for I was close alongside him. From
what he said I thought he had just come from the police-
' station.
P.C. liansford : About a quarter before eight on the
evening of January 7th Hunter came on to me as I was
going Into the police-station and said "nave you seen any
woman on your beat r I looked round and said " Yes,la
good many. Ile then said " You laugh hard; I meant
a woman ' tight' -an old woman from the Union:' he
added "I meant not an old woman, a young woman,"
anti said he had met her in the streets and she stated
ehe was living at Mr. Trenchant's. Greenhill : but
when she got past the Burden Hotel she saisl she did
not live at Mr. Trenchant's but came out of the union.
He added he took her down as far as the King's Head,
Best-street She asked him where be was going to take
her, lie told her "Ti the police-station ;" but she made
a filthy remark, caught up her clothes, and ran away, say-
ing she was going to buy some thing' to take in the union.
I then went to the steamer. I was on No. 1 best, extend-
ing up the right hattsi side of Mary-street to the King's
Statue. After the statement of Hunter I went round,
but saw nothing of the woman. 1 passed throught East'
street about eight o'clock. It took about half-an-hour or
three-quarters to complete the beat. I searched outhousos
and chmeta, hut could see no person answering the des-
cription of the woman. There was a little driving rain
before eight &clock, but not enough to make me put on
my cape -this was before I met theater. After I had seen
hint up to ten o'clock when I went into the station, there
was no rain.
Examined by Do Drew: When he WY waking to me
at eight o'clock he did not appear to be wet.
By the Mayor: If he had been very wet I must have
seen it, for he was standing whiinds a lamp post, and I
was three or four feet from nt Ho was resting on *
prat with his left arm, his right arm being towards We.
If the right itlll of the slop was wet through I must have
seen it. Witness added He was the worse for drink at
the time. The report sheet produced contains my hand-
writing. I met the sergeant several thugs on my but : est
ten o'clock I met him in Mary-street
Cross-examined by Mr. George: There was no shower
of rain about ten o'clock—none to make any one wet et
all.
By the Mayor: It was • dark, thick night Ile was the
worse fur drink, but quite competent to take care of him.
self. I did not use my cape on Thursday night The
following day I met Hunter on the bridge, when he asked
whether he slid not tell use about the woman the previous
night. I said " Yes.- lie added "Did not 1 tell you to
look after her r I observed " I suppme it is the woman
you were with last eight" He said "No, it wasn't."
Sere. Harvey: On the sth January, the body of •
woman was weelood ashore, my attentiou being called to
It lying on the Sands opposite to the Victoria lioteb She
a-as lying on her face with her arms close up the chest,
the fists being Leif closed. I load her conveyed to the
police station. Hunter and Richard Cox canoe there
amongst others, Both looked at her, awl Cox said to
Hunter—" Yee, that's the girl you was with last night"
Hunter said—" Yes, that is the girl; she told me she lived
at Greenhill. I took her up se far as the Burden Hotel,
and she would not go any further. I then brought her
lack so far as Esstortreet, and loft her. This was
between 10 and 11 o'clock. It was shout 10 when lii
saw the body. Hunter was in the ball when the inquest
wee held. On his coming boats Aterwanis, Sergi. Apse):
said to him "What's the use of telling lilaying yeu
don't know the girl, when you said this monotone ou. did r
He replied "I never said any such thing that I know'd
the girl." Sergt Amoy observed "Yen, you did," Hunter
answering " I slid not. On the night of the 7th, 1 com-
menced my duty at live o'clock I visited most parts of
the town, seeing all the cot/stables on their heats, and
they were all steno their duty. I passed up East-street
about eight o'clock, and also just before nine, but saw
nothing of the deceased. There was a little rain about
seven and afterwards, nose like fog than rain ; but I don't
recollect that there a-u any rain after eioht. I did not
wear my cape that evening, and did not get wet—that is,
wet through. I was a little damp. I tact the Supenn-
tendent at the Statue about 10 mm sastNis- I
reduce the clothes which the female er took off,
and I received them from the nurse.
Croseexammed : I received the clothes from Mrs.
English. Coulsl net swear to the number of things. I
afterwards received them (rum Mrs. Riggs,
Sergi Aeon : On Friday, oth January, I did not see
the body till it was brought into the passage. Prisoner
and Cox came in sad newel the body. They went in and
looked at the body, and Cox said " nat's the woman you
KY with lain nights Hunter." They passed toward the
feet of the body, tort light from the back yard, and
Hunter looked at the fun and said "Yes, that's the one'
I sailed one of your men s attention to her lest night, that
Ormak," and he mentioued Ilansford's name,
limiter was in the Hall when the Inquest was held, and
when he came to the bottom of the steps, I accused him
of telling lies one way or the other, either bef ore that it
W the bogy, or now, that it was net os, He did not too
me about it, but the Superintendent He was not called
at the insiuest, and it CM in consequence of sousethiug I
was told II the Inspector, I asked this question. After
it disl rain till I left
duty
-pa
Cresseexamined : I :night have been indoors a quarter
of an hour at the tiuoe. IWM out continnally till one
o'clock; them was no rain.
Sergi. Harvey, re-called: When the body was brought
to the station, P.C. Bartlett bound two maims in the
bosom of her dress.
Mary Bond: Now, gentlemen, then, what did you
to ask lAA the quietism I recognise the clothes
and the black bat as those of a woman I saw betwixt three
and four on Thursday afternoon go Into the Bird-in-Hand.
She came down the street direct ' herself. stood and read
the play bill, and then she went into the boom I
did not sae her afterward..