The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-05 00:00:00

THE SUSPECTED MURDER NEAR MERTHYR

TYDVIL.

An inquiry was opened on Wednesday touching
the circumstances connected with the death of John Davis,
aged whose body was foetid in Cafspeonar-wood on thi
afternoon of New Year's-day. This young man woe • striker
in • smith's shop at Mountain Ash, and has been missing
none the 2nd of September last. The remains of his body
were found near to an oak tree, not far from a footpath.
From the long time which has elapsed Moos he was musing
(says the Cambrian Daily Leader) the body was almost en-
tirely decomposed. There were certain marks, however,
which enabled his father (a widower, who has now only •
daughter left) to identify him. There can be no question
that the young man was brutally murdered, as
the skull bore unmistakeable marks of severe blows,
which had cut through the bones ; and at the book
there was a mark which seemed to Wiest, that that was
the first blow given, and which probably had the effect of
stunning him. The day he was missed he received 30e. at
the piths where be was employed. Not a coin was found
in his pockets, and there is no reasonable doubt the murder
was committed for the sake of the paltry sum which he
had upon him. Deceased left a kerchief at the workshop ;
and be was seen in company with • young man about his
own age, named Robert Coe, on the last day that be was
seen alive ; and this man Coe WAR teritted by his fellow-
workmen at another smith's shop with having left Davis in
the wood, yet all this did spe provoke inquiry, and It was
only by accident that the body was discovered oe lioaday
I last. When found the legs were tied together. The skull
was entirely bare, and the body was almost wholly
• mass of bones, which were encased with the cloth-
log. The feet were in the boots, and the stockings were
perfect. So also were the various articles of dress. There
seems no reason to question the identity, as the father
speaks positively of the several clear evidences that this is
the body of his sou. Robert Coe has been apprehended, and
is now in custody jat Mountain Ash. After bearing the
taunts of his fellow-workman for • time, he disappeared
from the neighbourhood, and visited Cardiff. A box has
been found at the New Inn belonging to him. He left Car-
diff, and was then traced to Dimas, in the Rhondda Valley,
where he was at work when taken into custody on Tuesday.
Before the jury assembled, Mr. Brown, surgeon, made
• careful examination of the remains, the most im-
portant part of which was the skull, which was
so cut and indented as to leave room for no
other conclusion than that the deceased had been struck by
la hatchet or bill hook several times, sod thus speedily
killed. The head also had been severed from the body by
a hatchet. What the legs could have been tied together
for is a mystery. Whether the murder bad been con-
witted at some other place, and the body had been re-
moved to where it was found, must remain, perhaps, •
matter of conjecture. The difficulty of elucidating the
mystery is very great, after a lapse of four months.
A jury of fifteen was inapsonelled at the Bruce Arms,
and the inquiry was opened • little after three o'clock on
Wednesday afternoon. Mr. William Mills was the fore-
man. After the jury had been sworn, they viewed the
body, and then the evidence of cam witness was taken as
follows ;—George Davis, the father of the deceased, said I
am • poliinman on the Taff Vale Railway, and live at
No. 2, Commercial-street, Mountain Ash. I have seen the
body now lying in the carpenter's shop, and it is my sou's
body. His name was John Davis. He was • blacksmith's
striker, at Cwmpennar. He lived with me, and was 19
years old on his last birthday. I knew him by his (fennel
shirt, and the boots on hie feet. They are strong boots,
and have • particular mark on the back of the heel,
which was worn, and he put a new iron tip on, leaving a
hole underneath that was worn before be had put it
on, I also identified him by a tooth that was pulled
out two years ago by Mr. Brown. I also knew him by
his moleskin trousers. A neckerchief was deficient.
That be left in the shop the last time he was there. 1 also
identified the waistcoat which be wore. I last saw him
alive on Friday, the Ist of September last, in my own
house. He slept there that night, sod between five and
six next morning he called on my daughter to rise as he
was going to work. I did not see him that morning, es I
was on duty till eight o'clock. He never returned to my
house afterwards. The 2nd of September was the pay
day. He used to bring his money home and give it to
his sister. Henry Williams lodged in my house. He
is • weigher at Nixon, Taylor, and Cory's. I saw
the remains of my son's body on Monday night last, in
the middle of the Craig Duffryn-wood ; that is about
half • mile from the spot where he worked. John
Davis, a farmer, told me about the body. Then I examined
all the things I have spoken about. The place where
the body lay was by an oak, a few yards from •
path leading through the wood. There were thick briars
between the path and the body. It was !Yid on the gradual
slope of the mountain, about 500 yards from the main road
leading to Cwropennar. It was within the same distance
from the Cefnpennar Inn.
Mr. Wrenn stated that the man named Coe was in cus-
tody, and he wished for time to make inquiries before further
evidence was taken. The inquiry was then adjourned till
Monday next.
.The prisoner Co. was formally remanded by Mr. H. A.
Bruce, M.P., in the eveninr. He was cool and indifferent
during the abort formal proceedings.