The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

THE ALTON 'WADE&

The main statements as to the barbarous murder
and mutilation of Fanny Adams, at Alton, turn out to be
true. Rumours of all kinds are circulated, and the excite-
ment of the neighbourhood readers it difficult to obtain
• clear or full narrative of even what is known. The most
reliable account seems to be this :—On Saturday afternoon
three children—she demand Fanny Adams, her younger
sister, and a girl named Warner—went playing in a meadow
about 400 yards from their homes, when they were ac-
costed between one and two o'clock in the afternoon by •
young man named Baker, who offered the deceased • half-
penny to go with him up a hollow, or old road, leading to
the village of Sheldon, by the side of a hop-garden ber
longing to Messrs. Henry and John Chalmaft, farmers'
and Warner threehalfpence to take the sister away
and not to ante with him. The dammed took the half-
penny, but declined going with him, whereupon Baker
took hold of her hand, and led her away crying. The two
other girls wandered about the fields till about 6 o'clock is
the evening, when they retained home. After waiting till
between 7 and 8, and the deceased not returning, the sub-
set of her noaappearanes was dimmed by the neigh-
bmrs, aad fearing some foul play is the matter • party •
combined together and went in search. Soon after enter-
ing the hop-garden previoualy mentioned, and on looking
about, the mutilatig remains as described in yesterday's
paper were found. The mother, on learning what had
occurred, became nearly frantic, end rushed off to coin- •
municate to her lausbaad, who was engagedp at • cricket
match on the Bates, bat hefere she got far she fell from
the excitement and hula, Imeennepei here.
The young man Baker, clerk in a solicitor's office, was
taken into custody by Superintendent Cheyney, who told
hies that he felt bound to take him on simpleton of mur-
dering the girl Fanny Adams. Baker replied, "He was
innocent of the crime." He was then taken out the back
way from the office to the pohewsletion, to prevent
through a large and excited crowd who were usemrectgn
front of the office, some of whom declared they would kill
Ma. On being eserabed two mall finer knives were Wong
in his posseneon, but they were net stained with blood. He
was dressed in • black hat, black frock ooat, light waistcoat •
and trimmers. On his clothes being examined spots of blood
wareobservedoa With mistimed& of his shirt. One had evi.
deatly been lately washed. Traces of blood were observable ,
in places on his trousers, which had been smeared in wash-
ins. One of his socks was wet, indicating that he had
bean steadies in water, the River We, running close by
the scene of the tragedy. The conduct of the prisoner
throughout this shocking affair has been cool and collected.
Assenting the prisoner to have been the perpetrater of the
deed, it must have been done between one and two on the
Saturday afternoon, for he returned to hie ordinary avoca-
tion man at ter two o'clock. He was seen in does proximity
to the mese of the murder between five and six, and was
observed at the Swan tap, in the High-street, drinking a
glass of ale and smoking a cigar. He chatted as freely and
as coolly as if he knew of nothing that had occurred.
Anothersccoant received from Alton last night says:
" Fanny Adams was seven years and six months old, and
her father is • brieklayer, working for a budder here.
The murderer, Frederick Below, is 211 years old, and his
father is a tailor in • small way of business, living in
South-street, Guildford. The young man has lived in
Alton for shoat twelve months past. On Saturday
afternoon, as seen as the information was conveyed
to the station, Mr. Superintendent Cheyney west to
the spot and eared diligent search to be made in all direc-
tions for themeless's' parte of the body, and having made such
inquiries as seemed necessary he went to the office where
Baker was employakandfound him there. That was nearly
nine o'clock, the usual tine for Bair to leave being eight.
Superintendent anyway said, Have you head of this
murder, Baker!' and he said, Yea ; they say it. me.' The
superintendent said, ' Well, yea axe suspected ; and
Baker replied, 'I am innocent' Mr. Cheyney then said,
As the case stands I shan't lose sight of you. I shall
leave • man here,' Further 'equities' resulted in Baker
being taken tate custody and conveyed to the police sta-
tion, though it was with peat difficulty the mob was Iceo
at bay. When the charge was entered on the sheet at the
station Baker merely said, ' I am innocent ;' and made
no reference whatever to his crime during the whole
of yesterday. This morning he was taken before
Mr. Edward Knight, at Cawton, and remanded
on the clone of wilful murder. A great crowd of persons,
especially women, collected, end yelled and hooted the
the prisoner most vociferously—their execrations making
an evident impression on his mind after he was put book
into the all. Of course undone and earnest search has '
been continued throughout the day for the weapon with
with which the murder was committed, but as yet without
seems, That, however, is not very astonishing, as the
presumed murderer did not return to his office till nearly
7 o'clock in the evening and was seen two or three twice
up the lane near where the foul crime was perpetrated.
To-morrow the river Wye, which has its source close by,
will be thoroughly dragged, • large posse of constables
having been detained for that purpose.
"This afternoon a discovery was made which has put the
murder almost beyond all questioa. Superintendent
Cheyney, is searching the desk used by the primmer at
his office, found a diary put away behind some law papers ;
and under the heeding Saturday, 84th August' is the
following entry, is the handwriting of the murderer :
• Killed a young girl -it WS/ fine sad hot.' On this
book being shown to Baker, he at once admitted it to be
his ; sad when asked as to the entry, said, Yes, that is'
my handwriting, but I did not mean to do it so. I was
intoxicated after I saw the women.' The inquest will be
held toonerrow."