The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-23 00:00:00

THE DAGENHAM MURDER.

Yesterday the inquiry into the murder of Police
Constable George Clarke was resumed for the sixth time
before C. C. Lewis, Esq., coroner for Essex, at the Cross
Keys Tavern, in this village. The room was crowded by the
resident gentry of the neighbourhood.
Police Constable George Dunning, K, 397 : I rseollect
the night of the 27th of Aug., between 11 and 12 o'clock, I
was at the station in the back room, and I heard quarrelling
between Serjeant Parsons and hie sister, who were at the
time up stairs. I heard her accuse him of something, I could
not distinctly understand what it was. but the reply Parsons
made to that was, "Do you mean this affair." What affair
ibe alluded to I don't know. She replied, "Yes, this affair
and others Ito." Parsons then began to cry, he cried aloud.
I spoke of this to Serjeant Pearson, and made a report
about it on the Tuesday following I heard Parsons and
his sister quarreling when I was in the street, and I then
heard Parsons threaten to throw his sister down stairs if she
did not hold her tongue.
George Corvan, Police Constable, stated that Dunning
hash called him to hear Parsons and his sister quarreling, hut
he could not hear distinctly one word. Dunning told him
that he heard Pardon' sister say, " You know you are
guilty." Dunning denied having used those words.
Coroner (to Dunning)—Why you repeated to me word
for word, in the yard of this house, that which Corvan has
stated. You are a most unfit person to give evidence before
this jury.
Serjeant Pearson declared that Dunning told him that
Parsons' sister had said to him " You knowyou are guilty."
Julia Parsons, the sister, said, 1 recollect being at the
Dagenharn station on the night of the 27th of August. I
was with my brother up stairs on that night. Ilia wife was
away from him at her father's at Barking aide ; he had
words on that night concerning our own family. I don't
know how long we were quarreling, but should say about
half an hour.—Coroner: 1)o you happen to recollect what
you said to him during the quarrel ?—Witness : I said very
little to him during the time we were quarreling. There
was no allusion made to the death of Clarke. My brother
was making allusions to his brothers not writing tohim ever
since he has been under arrest. Ido not remember what I
said to him, but I was in a passion. I did not say that he
knew he was guilty of it.—Curoner: Will you undertake to
swear that you did not say so ?—Witness : Yes, I will. Ido
not remember having said anything like that. Ile called
me some names I cannot mention, and at the end of the
quarrel he cried. All I accused him of was concerning our
own family. I was in a great passion at the time,
and may not recollect all that was said between us.
I swear that I know no more about the matter than I have
already stated. I have no reason to believe the statement I
have previously made, about my brother being at horn • on the
night of the murder, at the time I have stated, to be untrue
Edward Langley-1 am a serjeant of the detective police
I recollect going to the spot where Clarke was murdered, in
company with Serjeant !'arsons, on the 18th of August. On
my return I picked up a handkerchief (produced) in a mea-
dow adjoining the field where the murder took place. On
attempting to pick it up, it stuck to the ground, and I then
found that it was clotted with blood, as it i 3 now. The
handkerchief is composed of silk, having a blue ground, with
a figured orange, yellow, and crimson border, very old, and
much torn ; there was a great quantity of blood stains
upon it.
Mr. Inspector Richardson and Police-serjeant T. Pears in
were examined, but their testimony threw no light on th
matter. . _

This being the whole of the evidence, the coroner summed
up. Ile said he wished particularly to draw the attention of
the jury to the medical evidence, as it was most important--
clearly proving that the murder was the result of revenge.
The murderer was not satisfied with killing his victim, but
mangled him in the frightful manner seen by the jury, and
detailed in the medical evidence. Had the de-
ceased been killed in an ordinary quarrel, or in the per-
formance of his duty, his assailant would have been satisfied
with inflicting on ham a single blow or cut, such as had been
described, and then left him. They hail it proved, he
further said, that on the morning after the murder, when
Clarke was reported to be missing, that Parsons left the
station-house with constable Kimpton, and, before he had
proceeded 200 yards from the station, he proposed to Kimpton
what tale they were all to stick to in reference to his being en
duty on the night of the murder. Now that had struck him
(the coroner) as being a very strong and suspicious circum-
stance. With reference to the conduct of the police gene-
rally in the case, there were no words strong enough in the
English language to express the disgust which every right-
minded person must feel. Ile applied his observations to
those policemen who had been guilty, to say the least of it,
of wilful and corrupt perjury. They had been the principal
means by which the ends of justice had been defeated. They
had done everything in their power to suppress the truth.
In consequence the greatest difficulty and mystery had been
thrown around the ease ; but it would be for the jury to
consider whether there was suspicion found( d on the evidence
to warrant them in returning a verdict of " wilful murder;"
against some person or persons. After consulting for up-
wards of one hour, the jury agreed to a verdict of Wilful
Murder against some person or persons unknown.
Mr. Rawlings, on the part of Sergeant Parsons, wished to
know whether Parsons was to remain under the surveillance
of the police any longer.—Mr. Superintendent Pearce said
he had no authority to answer the question.
The Coroner would undertake to say that not only Serjeant
Parsons, but the whole of the men who had sworn falsely,
would be indicted forthwith for perjury.
Mr. Rawlings observed that Serjeant Parsons was quite
ready to meet any charge th:X might be brought against
him.
The proceedings then terminated.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SEPT. 21.

CONCILIATION HALL—THIS DAY.
The usual weekly meeting of the members of this body
was held to-day in the Conciliation Hall. At one o'clock,
Mr. John O'Connell, M.P., Captain Broderick, and Messrs.
Fitzpatrick, J. H. Dunne, Clements, &c., entered the Hall.
Upon the motion of Mr. O'Connell, the chair was taken by
Mr. Wm. M•Guinness.
TUE BLINI,TEILIAL PLAN OF RELIEF.—Mr. John O'Con-
nell read the following letter from his father .
"Darrynane Abbey, Caherciveen, Sept. 19,1919.
" My Dear Ray—lt is impossible to exaggerate the frightful pros-
pect of famine and pestilence that lies before us. The failure of the
poor man's crop is known to be all but universal—indeed, the fact is
so familiar, that it is quite superfluous to repeat it. The pkin for
affording relief, through the medium of public works, will be in full
operation in the course of the ensuing fortnight. It is, in its nature,
sufficiently comprehensive, if carried actively and energetically
into effect, to afford employment for the great bulk of
the adult population. To be satisfactory, however, it re-
quires the mast active co-operation of the landowners and
farmers. Unhappily, in the present state of the country, it will not
be sufficient to procure employment for the people. The great diffi-
culty is the procuring sufficient food. The great deficiency is in the
supply of food ; food is already at a famine price, and the leasing
In tar hands of mercantile men the supplying food as a commercial
speculation, will necessarily keep it at famine price. The intervention
of government is, therefore, absolutely necessary ; such intervention
is surrounded with great difficulties, and will impose an enormous
additional burthen upon the government. It must, however, be done,
or the people will starve, it not being, I repeat, safe to have the people
at the mercy of speculators in bread stuffs.' It is true that promises
are held out to keep the market down, by pouring in a supply of
government provisions. Thus the difficulty meets us again; for
the government, in keeping down the markets, will be very likely to
drive the mercantile classes out of the trade, so that the supplying
of the food will ultimately fall altogether upon the govern-
ment. Mane plans have Men suggested to meet the difficulties ;
especially plans to borrow from government, at a low rate of
interest, monies to be laid out on productive improvements on the
lands, to be repaid by the borrower. Let it be remarked that there

are already a million of pounds sterling in the hands of the Boards of
Works, to be lent for the drainage- of Irish enatea ; and so t Yen' kw,
indeed, have availed them/ides of that fund. One fl attire In the pre-
vent exigency affords the greatest letisfaction—it Ia that which ex-
hibita prows of every anti of every pariniasion, and of every
political opinion, combining together, without the slightest relcrenee
to any irritating or party topics —but one and all mule:main :it to
find out the best mode of mitigating the upptoaehing famine. This
has never happened before. It is the first time in Ireland that una-
nimity—complete and entire—haa atiowo itself among men of various
persuasions, and different political opinions, and that unanimity WAS
preserved inviolate amidst the fervour of public meetings.- The
consequence has been that earicus plans hue been suggested
for alleviating the present misery, and anticipating the
evils to result, shoukl another year of famine follow the
present. When we were dealing with the afflicting, but still partial
distress of last year, we fondly anticipated relief from the promising
harvest of the prevent year, but it has pleased Providence to disap-
point our hopes, avid aggravate the evils of our prosrects. Who shall
tell us with confidence, that we shall not have another year of similar
calamity !—Judging from what has happened in other countries, we
Lave great cause to dread the blight will not terminate in the present
Year, but that we shall have another famine year to provide for.
taster ouch circumstances, every man who produces a plan to obviate
the dangers and difficulties of our position and prove ta, is to a cer-
tain extent a public benefactor. There is another entsidemtion de.
serving attention, that the government plan of succour is calculated to
produce throughout Ireland a more extended poor Law, necessarily
calculated to extend outdoor relief to all adult lahounrs, and then.
families, in a state of destitution, u well as to all utter destitute poor.
The English statute of Elizabeth Ia being extended to Ireland,
and the poverty of the country is about to be placed, far Rap-
port, upon the properte, especially upon the landed propeny.
In seeking to relieve the present distress, it will require the
utmost care and vigilance to prevent Ireland being involved in
the entire detail of the English poor laws. But the greatest evil of
all is the want of combination and co-operation between the Irish
gentry generally. The late meetings afford a proof of the peal tiva-
hility.of such a combination ; but then thue meetings lasted only for
part of a day. After conterring amicably, and resolving eloquently,
they ilbsolved into their original elenients, and left no combine ! Lady
to carry out their Intentions. Now, what I m..st ardently &site IS
this—that the gentlemen who resolve to well, and talk so wisely,
should make tan their minds to give permanency to their effisrts by
the continuance of some committee or deputation. How delighted •I
should be to be able, with any prospect of success, to propose tan the
gentry in each locality in Ireland should appoint a itelvgation of their
Lumber to meet together in Dublin, without delay, in order to
organise the test plans for obtaining government and local relief,
during the impending calamities of famine and pestilence, and to em-
body, in practical tore, their suggestions to parliament for laws suited to
the emergency. The first duty of such a meeting as I allude to would be to
address the ministry, and, if tweessary, the crown itself, to call
together without delay the parliament—such a demand. rooting from
such • body, would be irresistible. When the parliament nut, the
iwffuenM of such a body as 1 describe would neensanly be all-power-
ful, and mare 110pC would ark- that an etketted plan liar the relief of
the people of this magnificent island would lie realised. I may lie
anei red at by N.:lle, and laughed at by others, fur making such it i.res
postal; it will be said that what I want it, an Irish pall:matt, and I
nukes that there would be some rename resemblanie to all Irish pit.-
figment in such as raivembhigo—hut there would he name which a
British statesumn need apprehend, or the frost timid antis Lepealer
object to. There are other topics which I would wish to submit to
the 1114,0Cillliort, bar, for the present, I lastpine them. Let me,
however, conjure the gentry of Deland seriously to retest, that
unless they adopt some plan to wake their weight and import-
ance felt by the government, the English plan of out-dear
relief, in its worst form, will be almost insensibly
mtnmmti-
rated to Ireland, and their estates not only burdened but actually mu-
ftis:god. In the meantime, let the Repeal Association continue its
ev.ertion Let It accumulate documents hie the discussion .on the
Repeal question in the next modem of parliament. No rational man
can object to ouch a discussion in the Eritish parliament; neither can
there he the slighti st shadow of a doubt that the union has wonted
bully for Ireland. Before the present distress, it was proved, on the
eel. memorable Devon commission, that tie, agricultural papillation
of Ireland, being *even-eighths of the entire, endured Inure misery than
any other people in Europe. Perhaps, now that it Is assert:noel be-
yond any controersy, that tsar plat for working out the ristoratinn
of the Irish parliament is purely and undeviatingly lase-able, there
mu) he ouch an amession to our strength as would enlace the Repeal
nea data, Belies e ear to he, Very Lillllllllly
T. M. Ray, tee:" •• il,ll I. O'CONNI,LI..

Mr. J. O'CoNNett. moved the insertion of his father's let-
ter on the minutes, and in doing so expressed his regret that
an Recount had just reached the Association from Cashel,
stating that, at the presenunent sessions held there a few
days back, under the Labour Act, the magistrates had sepa-
rated without presenting one halfpenny for the support of the
famishing pour. Such a result could not, however, surprise
the meeting, when he (Mr. O'Connell) inbrmed them that
the se.siuns idluded to were presided over by Lord Glengall
—as miserable an enemy of Ireland as ever oppressed her
starving people. (Cheers.) The terrible fear he hod was
that the poor creatures, thus oppressed, would be, by the
pangs of extreme starvation, driven to nc s of violence ;
but he would, for the sake of Repi al, implore
them to keep the peace, and he would promise
them food. as their reverend pastors had that day
gone to th • Castle, to the Lord Lieutenant, to request
him to take immediate measures fee their relief. (Cheers.)
His (Mr. O'Connell's; father had iu his letter congratulated
the country upon the un.,niwity which had prevailed in ear-
ning out the Labour Act, 1,0 far as he had heard ; but sines
that 'letter was written, the blot which he had discovered in
the act had been hit, and he hoped the government would
take care and remedy it. He regretted the fatality he
alluded to exceedingly, and he was afraid that the only re-
medy which could be applied would be to summon paella-
m.on within a fortnight or three weeks, to pie.s measures
which would comp.l the hard-hearted hu.dlords to bear the
burdens which they ought to bear.
The mstion having been seconded, was passed.
The remaining business of the meeting consisted of the
reading of a lotteries= the ltoman Catholic Bishop of Hlphin,
declaring his adhesion to O'Connell and moral horns ; same
talk 011 the possibility of the penitence and reconciliation of
Young Ireland, and the refusal to receive an officer of the
army us a member.