The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 7, 1868.

THE TODMORDEN TRAGEDY.

' Yesterday the prisoner, Miles Wetherill, was
brought before the magistratesat Todmorden, on remand,
charged with the murder of Jane Smith, at the Tedrow,
den Vicarage. The hearing took place in the Oddfellows
Hall, and the public interest which the came has excited
was shown by the large crowd that bad aseerobled,
and rendered approach to the hall almost b.
Policemen, with the prisoner in charge, had to figClittet
way through the crowd, and some of the magistrate.
had to make their way over the roof of an aStoining
building, and enter the room through a aide window.
The prisoner was not defended ; and when asked if he
would like to have his mother in court, he answered in the
negative.

The Rev. A. J. Plow was the first wither.. He damoribed
the art:muteness under which the CriMO was committed,
and which hayealready been detailed in the Express. He had
remonstrated with the prisoner for keeping company with
so young a girl as Sarah Bell. Witness slid not see the
prisoner upon his premises after be remonstrated with
him ; but be frequently beard whistling near the house ,•
the window bad been broken with stones ; and pistols had
been fired. On one oocasion a window wu broken, and
the back door covered with shot at the same time.

The prisoner-:reioarliietoCeiyou how itwsa that
you denied me, after the honourable way in which I came
to you, and knowing my honourable intentions
Witness—l have already said that the girl was so young
that it wu quite sufficient to induce an. to deny you.
Prisoner—Why did you deny me after you knew her
parents had no objections ?
Witness—At that stage the girl knew very little of you,
she oared little for you, and you were indifferent to her.
Prisoner—l think you are mistaken there.
Witness—She told we so.
. . . .

i'rieOner—lco youthink, if she had not oared for me,
she would have gone with me afterwards?
Witness—ln that consisted the sin, in my eyes. Sarah
Bell, when it was put to her, had no wish that the matter
should go on ; and we had no notion that the matter was
going on at all till within a mouth of her dismissal, which
was six months after the explanation. I mention this
just to show why it was I thought she should leas*.
Prisoner—Don't you think she oared for me, when she
would go with nie after that time?

Wit;ess—l ain't say.
Prisoner—Didn't you once say she was a steady girl?
Witness—Yes. She was a very steady girl.
Prisoner—Didn't you afterwards say, when she left,
that you mistrusted her?
Witness—Yea.
Prisoner—Didn't you say. that if she had been a respect-
able girl she would not have gone with me after that tune?
Witness— I may have said so.
Prisoner—Did not you say when you said you mis-
trusted her, that I blasphemed every time I mama the
church ; didn't you refuse to open a reading room because
you were afraid I should go ? and didn't you say you
would rather I stayed away from church ?
Witness-4 to the blsapbemy, I cannot say that I used
those exact words.

Prieoner—Tbose were the words.
Witness—l am not aware that I refused to open the
readin room for fear you should go. I believe I did say
I would- rather you stayed away from church. When you
spoke to me about having your revenge, I believed that
you referred to the servants, and not to me or to my family.
Prisoner denied that he bad broken the windows, and
he then asked the witness—Do you think your wife ever
said to Sarah, " Will you have a weaver ?"
Witness: I know nothing about it, but I think it is
very unlikely.
Prisoner—Did you think my intentions were really good
to the girl
Witness—l hay. DO reason to doubt it.
Prisoner—Do you know whether Sarah was ever " car-
peted " by;you or your wife ?
Witness—l believe I once lectured her.
Prisoner—Didn't you speak to her of me in a shunning
way ?
Witneu—That interview led to her dismissal.
Prisoner—Don't you think she eared for me when she
gave up her situation?
Witness—She had no choice ; she was obliged to give
it up.
Prisoner—Didn't you give her a week to consider of it
before you gave her notice
Witness—Not that lam aware of. Her eooduct wee so

Migrant that I should think it very unlikely.. _
Among the other witnesses examined was Barth Bell
herself, and a number of letters that had peeped between
her and the prisoner were read.
At 7 minutes past 9 o'clock the come far the pressitioa
closed, and the magistrates' clerk asked the prisoner If he
had anything to say in answer to the first charge—namely,
wilful murder.
The prisoner said—l wish to say • few words, but it
will all amount to nothing, When I began to keep com-
pany with Sarah, I thought I would act as an honwarable
man. I waited upon Mr. Plow one night when he was awn-
! ing out of church, and told him I wanted to ask • favour,
which I hoped he would grant. I told him I wanted to
keep company with Sarah, and whoa he asked me bow
long I had known her, I said Ibad bad my eye upon her
, aver since she came to Todmorden. He rid that was
quite natural. I caked him if be would grant
me that favour, and he said, " Oh, no, be could not
think of such • thing." I said I thought I would
' come and ask him in the right way, sad I little
thought he would deny me. I said also that I did not
want lo go whistling about the back yard sad that my
intent ions were good. He replied that lie had always
looked upon me as • respectable young man ; that Sarah
was a good girl, and he would spunk to his wife about it.
I went to Lim • day or two afterwards, and he told
me that he bad talked the matter over with his wife,
and they could not give their consent. Ho maid they
were both vary well phased with the honourable way in
which I had acted, but they could not allow me to come
into the house. I asked that Swab might be allowed to
come oat Ia see me, but he refused, and I saw it was no
use asidog for the privilege, but I was determined to
keepingto ths hones, and I did go until Jane told about us
company. A stop woe then put to it. Siam then
(bass prisoner made • violent garters, and tore •
paper he held into fragments) I have beim going to ruin
&1141 ever be. I will di* HU ••dog ; but, after all, I
am glad Mr. tad Mrs. Plow me living, and I hope they
will forgive me.