The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-28 00:00:00

THI ALTON MURDER.

Yesterday Mr. H. Hardeld, deputy-coroner for
the county of Hampthfre, opened an inquiry at Alton
into the sense of death of Fanny Adams, eight years of
age, who was foully murdered on Saturday afternoon.
Frederick Baker, the young man in custody on suspicion
of murdering the little 1, was present, and preserved
throughout the proceeding. a calm and collected de-
meanour. He is about 27 years of seq, is under the
middle-size, dark-complexioned, with a sinister cost of
countenance.

Minnie Warner was the first witness. She stated—l am
71 years of age, and at ode o'clock on Saturday went trio
the Hollows" to play with Fanny Adams and her slater.
We bad sot been long plating when g young gentleman
came and spoke to us. He pis me • Pennyi telling
me that if would run a little way down the hollow with
Fanny Adana he would give me another halfpenny. I
went, and when we had got down there he came to
ns again and mid if we would go into Mr.PhaleraftWield he
would pick some berries for us. We all went, and bepicked
some blaekbenies. He then told me and Lizzie Adams to
go home, and he took Fanny up in his arms and earned
her up the hollow. I went away, and did not see Fanny
any more, He was dreamed in a light waistcoat, light
trousers, a black jacket, and a tall black hat.
George Adams who was deeply affected in giving his
evidence, identified the remains, which had been viewed
by the jury, as those of his daughter, who was eight years
of age last April.
Harries Adams said that on Saturday afternoon, shout
half past
.one,, her daughter Fanny Adams left home,
accompaned by her sister Elizabeth and Minnie Warner.
She ilid not know which way they went, but they
were in the habit of going to a place called the
" hollows." Fanny did not return. She learned
from her sister that she had gone with a gentleman up
the hollow. Between five and six o'clock she went with
Hrs. Gardner and Minnie Warner into the hollows to look
for her. She saw amen ooming out of a gate opening from
the hollow lane into the flood meadow. Minnie Warner
" That is the man who gave us the penniev." He
beard her say so, and he said "No ; it was only three
halfpennies." Mrs. Gardner took hold of him and asked
him what his name was. He said, "No matter about my
name ; you will find me at Mr. Clemente' office if you
want me." She bad since beard that the person whom she
met was named Baker. (The witness here looked round
the room and identified the prisoner as the person whom
she had met.) Mrs. Gardner asked him what he had done
with the little girl, and he said he had not seen her since
he left her playing at the gate. They then went home,
the prisoner going in a contrary direction towards the
Basingstoke road. The lane called ". Hollow " led to
a hop garden, in the occupation of Mr. Clialcraft.
homer
daughter went up the hollow again, and not finding her
daughter she told her neighbours, who made search for her.
Jane Gardner stated that she was a general servant,
residing at Alton. She was • near neighbour of the
parents of the deceased child. Os Saturday afternoon she
heard that the deceased was miming, and about half-peat
five she went into the Flood-meadow with Mrs. Adams to
look for her. At the top of the meadow she saw Frederick
Baker going from the hollow in the direction of the Basing.
stoke-road, by a footpath which was by the side of the
river Wry. She called to him, and he came to meet her.
She asked him what he had done with the child whom he
had taken away at half-Fast One, and who had not been
seen since! He said " I haven't seen one." She said
" What did you give those children halfpennies for ?" He
made no answer. She said " Hale comes one of the
children," and Minnie Warner came up at the time. Wit-
-12401. said to her " Did this gentleman give you any money
to-day r She said " Yes, threepence." The prisoner said
" No: it was three halfpennies." Witness asked what he
had given Fanny and Elizabeth, and Minnie Warner said
halfpence, and told her (Minnie Warren) to go home end
spend it. Witness asked her what he did with Fanny,
and she said the prisoner took her up behind the high
hedge in the hop garden. She then turned round tors M.
Adams, and mid' Why don't you give him in charge ?"
Kra Adams said nothing, and Baker then said, " I am
quite willing to go with you to the police." Then she
said " We will have your mires," and be said, " I am to be
found at Mr. Clement's office." Witness then went home.
The Deputy-Coroner (to Baker)—You have been seen
in the direction of the place where the child's body was
found, and also going with her in the same direction in the
course of the afternoon • and as suspicion point. to you in
this matter, I think it right to inform you that you are at
liberty to ask this witness any question you please.
Baker—l have no question to oak this witness.
Ann Burritt said she resided near the church at Alton,
and that on Saturday afternoon, shortly before three
o'clock, when returning home from the shop, she saw
Frederick Baker coming towards Alton along a footpath
which was in front of Mr. Chalcraft's house. Baker bad
on light trousers and a high hat ; but she did not notice
his waistcoat. He walked in the direction of the town
past the churchyard. She saw him again between five and
six o'clock coming through the churchyard. She noticed
him particahrly, because he looked so hard at her and her
little girl, and kept looking around at them.
Emma Smith said she lived with Mr. Knight at Alton,
and on Saturday afternoon, between five and half-past
five o'clock, she was standing in the garden, and saw a
man coming from Mr. Chalcraft's hop garden into a lane
called the " Hollows." She did not know him, nor would
she know him if she saw him again. She was positive
that he had on a dark coat, light Mermen and waistcoat,
and a black high hat.
Elizabeth Warner deposed to seeing Frederick Baker go
up the hollow about five o'clock on Saturday afternoon
last. She did not see him return.

Thomas Oates, labourer, proved finding the scattered
remains. _ _

Harry Allen, a coach-painter, and Thomas Swain, a cord-
weaver, gave evidence to a similar effect.
Maurice Biddle, clerk in Mr. Clement's office, said the
prisoner was a clerk in the same office, and witness usually
sat in the same room with him. Witness left the office
about 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. He could not say
whether he was there then or not. About a quarter to 6
o'clock the prisoner came to the office, but he could not
say when he left. He seemed very excited. He said to
witness that as he came along the meadows he met with
some women who asked him what he had done with the
child. He further said that if anything happened to the
child it would be awkward for him. Witness went over
to the Swan tap to have a glass of ale, and
.prisoner fol-
lowed. He then told witness that he was going away on
Monday, and referred to a similar case which occurred at
Guildford. Prisoner first told witness that the child was
mining. He said he knew nothing of her, and that he
only gave her some halfpence. While they were at the
tap the boots said he was going away, remarking that he
could tarn his hand to anything, but Baker could not.
Baker said, "Oh, I could turn butcher."

The Deputy Coioner—Was he sober then!
Witness—Re seemed very much excited. Subsequently
he told prisoner that he had heard the child's bead had
been found, and suggested in • chemist's shop that they
should go and see if there were any truth in it, saying,
"Baker, they say you've killed the child." Ste made
answer, " Never mind ; it is) • bad job for me," or words
to that effect. They then weat to the office and soon
after Superintendent Cheyney took charge of him.
Dr. Louis Leslie, of Alton, said that on Saturday night
last he was called upon to examine the remains of a child
at the police-station. There was the trunk, the head, both
legs, and part of one of the arms had been separated from
it. From one of the legs • foot had been separated. The
intestines were entirely gone. The right ear was severed
from the head, and there was a very deep cut dividing
the muscles extending from the forehead to the end of
the lower jaw. Both eyes were cut out. On the left side
of the head was • deep cut, end there were three incisions
lin the left aide of the trunk. He also founds deep cut on
, the left arm dividing the muscles, but not separating it
from the trunk. The fore arm on the left side was out off
at the elbow joint. The left leg nearly cut off, but still
banging to the pelvis. In front, on the left aide, a deep
incision dividing the vessels and muscles of the thigh. On
the right side he found • deep incision entering the chest
between the fourth and fifth ribs. There was also a
cut on the right thigh dividing the muscles. The
chest and pelvis were completely cleared of their content*.
There were five incisions in the liver, three in the lungs,
and the heart entirely separated from the larger vessels.
The breastbone was cut away and wanting. There was
' dislocation of the spine; in fact, the body was hacked to
pieces. He believed the dismemberment took place slier
death. He made • post mortem examination of the head,
and found on the top of the bead • cut completely divid-
ing the scalp. The blow must have been very severe, and
might have been inflicted with a bludgeon or • stone.
He found blows on the right and left side of the head,
causing extravasatlon of blood under the scalp. The blow
on the head would be sufficient to cause insensibility, but
not immediate death, though probably death would follow.
It was quite impossible to tell whether criminal violence
had been perpetrated on the person of the child, every
evidence being entirely swept away. He was of opinion
that the child was stunned, and probably did not
suffer afterwards in the dismemberment of the
body. On Saturday night he examined the pri-
soner, and found no scratches or cuts on him.
The legs of his trousers and his socks were wet, one leg
particularly. Witness remarked on that fact to him, and
be said "Yes, unfortunately for me, they are wet, but
that proves nothing. I am in the habit of getting into
the water." There was blood on both wristbands, and
Superintendent Cheyney asked him how he could amount
for the blood, and Baker said, " I can't account for it,"
and looking at his person, added, " I see no cuts or
scratches that could account for it."

William Walker, painter, said that on Sunday morning
he was in the hop garden, and found a stone with hair and
several pieces of flesh on it. It was in the hedge close to
where the head was found.
Superintendent Cheyney said that when be took Baker
Into custody, and told him of the charge Against him, he
said, " I know nothing about it lam willing to go any.
where with yon." The prisoner's clothes were produced,
showing spots of blood on them. In a diary which was
produced, belonging to the prisoner, was found the fol-
lowing entry " Saturday, 24, killed a young girl ;it was
tine and hot."

Poliae-eoustable Waten deposed that he found on that
day a human eye in the river Wry, and that Police-con.
stable Maeternian found a second eye in the same place.
This concluded the evidence.

A verdict of " Wilful Murder" was returned against
OW prisoryar, fee whom committal a warrant waa at ones
sada out.