The National Register.
London, England, 1817-08-18 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

WARWICK. •
TRIAL OF .A. TUOMPSON FOR TIIE MURDER OF MARY

ASHFORD.

The prisoner, who is a builder and bricklayer, was arraigned upon I
a charge of having assaulted Mary Ashford, and thrown her into a
pit, in which she was drowned.
Air. Clarke opened the case to the following effect
GENTLEME a—Mary Ashford, a young woman of irreproachable
character, was on the Y7th of May found drowned in a pit near Er-
dington. She went on the 26th, in the evenigg,-to a dance at If y-
burn. The prisoner was there, admired her figure and genteel ap-
pearance, and was heard to say, " I have been intimate with her
sister, and I will have connection with her, though it should cost
me my. life." He accompanied her from the dancing-room. and was
seen with her about three o'clock in the morning. At tour she called
at a friend's in good spirits. On her leaving Erdington between four
and five in the morning of the eith, the fatal deed was done which
now forms the subject of your enquiry. Gentlemen, it will be shown
to you that the footsteps ola anan and a woman were traced from the
path through a harrowed field by which she was going towards Lang-
ley. These footmarks exhibited proofs of running, and struggling.
They at length led so a spot where .a distinct impression of the human
figure, anda.large quantity of coagulated blood were discovered ; in
the same place were seen the marks of a man's knees and tots. From
that spot the blood was distinctly traced for a considerable. space to-
wards the pit, where the body was found. It appeared plainly as if
a man had walked along the footway carrying a body, from the extre-
mity of which the blood dropped. At the edge of thepit, hershoes, bon-
net, and bundle were found, but only one footstep could be seen there.
and that was a man's. It was deeply impressed, and seemed to be
that of a man who thrust one foot forward to heave the body he had
in his anus into the pit. There were marks of laceration upon the
body, and both, her arms had the marks of hands, as if they had
pressed them with violence to the ground. 'l'he evidence of a skilful
surgeon would show that down to this violence she had been a virgin.
Hitherto, however,. the prisoner is nut connected with the act ; but
you will find,. by his own admission, that he was with her at four
o'clock. Year will find the marks of the man's shoes in the running
correspond exactly to his. You will find by his own admission, that
tie was intimate with her and this admission made, not before the
Magistrate, nor till the evident proofs were discoveredon his cloaths:
her cloaths, too, afford most powerful evidence. At her friend Cox's,
at four in the morning, she put off her dancing dress, and put on
the dress in which she had gone to Birmingham. The cloaths she
paten there, and which she had on at the time of her death, are all
over bloody, and dirtied. The surgeon will tell you that the coagu-
lated blood could ant have proceeded except from violence. There-
fore the case apperes,to have been, that he had paid attention to her
during the night—shown perhaps those attentions which she might
naturally have been pleased with; and ofterwanh, he waited for her
on her return from Edrington, and first forcibly violated her, .and
then threw her body into the pit. It will be attempted to show you,
that ho returned home, and that some person must have met her,
and:brought her to the dismal end she met with. : but, Gentlemen,
as footsteps were traced through the harrowed field to a stile leading
to his father's by the very course he took, and he admits an intima-
cy with her, that is a circumstance of the utmost importance.; and
you will bear in mind that he did net admit this till proofs-were ad-
duced against hint.
G..lackson, W. Leven, and Mr. Webster, confirmed the •state.
ment as to finding the body, and the marks of footsteps.
Hannah Cox confirmed the statement, as far as she was concerned.
Mr. Bedford, the Magistrate, swore to the declaration of the pri-
soner. It sets forth that he had been with the deceased till four,
when he waited five minutes for her near Mrs. Butler's, and then
went away and saw no move of her. He had been drinking, but was
not intoxicated. It mentioned several persons he had seen on his way
home, which was by Mr. llolden's, and •says that lie was at home
hg YO minutes past five, when he changed his coat .and hat, but not
his shoes ; alquitigh they were wet by going diqiugh the grass.
T. Dale, the Conatable found the, prisonef at Ilyburn, by 10
o'clock. There was blood upon him. lie acknowledged that he
had been intimate with her, with her own consent, but that he
knew nothing of the murder.
W. Betavu was at the dance, and latard thy punnet ask Cotterill