The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

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EXAMINATION OF THE' \ASIOU, t&U7?,.tty
TITRAPSTONE, 14,10:Nar. S
This morning William Weekly Ball, aged 45, de-
scribed as a butcher, of Rams ey, Northamptonshire,
was brought up in the custody of Inspector William-
son, at the Thrapton Police-court, on the charge of
having murdered one Lydia Attiey, in 1850, new
just 14 years ago.
The magistrates upon the bench were General
Arbuthnot (chairman), W. Stopford, Esq., the Hon.
Mr. Vernon, and the Rev. H. Duihy.
Mr. W. F. Gaches, of Peterborough, was present
on behalf of the prisoner ; and Mr. H. P, Markam,
of Northampton, prosecuted.
A plan was produced showing the proximity of
the prisoner's house at Ringstead to the spot where
the skeleton was found, which is about a quarter or
a mile, and can be approached mainly by a hack
way across fields, it being necessary only to traverse
the dullest part of the main rood for about 20 yards.
The greatest excitement was manifested, and the
court was densely crowded. .
Among the witnesses examined were—
Joseph Groom, who said—l am a labourer, re-
siding at Ringstead, and lived there in 1850. I re-
collect the night before Lydia Attley was missed.
On that night I was smoking my pipe in a street in
Ringstead. Idid not see a man and woman together,
but I heard their voices, which I knew. A short
time before I saw Lydia Attley. I cannot say that
I knew the prisoner's voice so well, but I knew
Lydia Attley's quite well. I know Ball's orchard.
The place where I was standing was at the en-
trance to Ball's orchard, but there were two
boards that prevented my seeing. I heard
two people go into the orchard, and Lydia Attley
said, " I was not going in there with you to-night."
I heard her say afterwards, " I believe you
mean killing me to-night, Weekly Ball." I also
heard her say, " The Lord have mercy upon me if I
am to die in the state lam in." I heard a voice ag,
if it was getting weaker. It was a human voice.
This was about a quarter to ten o'clock. I have
never seen Lydia Attley since.
By Mr. Gaches—l was cn that night at work till.
nine o'clock. lam certain it was not ten o'clock..
I left my fellow-workmen at the gate at 9 o'clock..
I knew Lydia Attley very well. I had known her
18 years before she was missing. She used to call
at my house at different times, and stay rn hour
talking to me and my housekeeper, who is now my
wife. I was talking with her on the night she was
missing. I should think about 20 minutes before
10 o'clock. She had been in my house before that
night. She was in the house while I was washing
myself. When she left my door I went into my
house, and I did not walk away with Lydia Attlee,
because she told me she was going to see Weekly-
Ball about some money, and if she did not have
some there would be a row that night. She never
applied to me for money on that night on my oath.
I knew Lydia Attley'a voice because it was a re-
markable voice. Ball lived in the same village 28
I did. I might have conversed with Ball occasion-
ally, but the reason I could not recognise his voice
was because he did not speak so loudly as she did.
On this particular night Lydia Attley's voice had
not made any particular impression on me. I was
no more intimate with her than I ought to have been.
When she went away from my door that night I did,
not follow her more than ten yards. I then put my
back against the wall, and went on smoking my
pipe, and I remained in that position from five to
ten.minutes, and then went back into the house. T
stayed in the house about a quarter of an hour, and
then went out again. I did not go three yards
from the door that time, and was absent a few
minutes, and then went in doors and went to
bed. Lydia Attley lived in the London-road, and
I went there a few minutes before nice o'clock to
fetch a job, and I am sure I did not see Lydia
Attley there. Ido not remember seeieg anybody
on the road. Lydia Attley was in my house.
By Mr. Markham—There was no pretence for
saying that an improper intimacy existed betwatA
me.e.nd the deceased. woman.
By the Rev. Mr. Buthb.:,--I did not think the
noise serious, so 1 did not interfere. I thought it

A

was a row only.
John Hill—l am a labourer, and when Lydia
Attie3r was missed I lived at Ringstead. On that
night I went to Mr. Beavis's orchard. There is a
field belonging to Mr. Hill, and from that field
there is a road leading iron the Black Horse across
the field to the back lane. While against the hcclgo

I heard some one coming up the narrow close. It
was Weekly Ball. This was a contrary road for
him to go home, as it would lead to Thmford. Amer
he went into the back lane he turned himself round,
and I saw it was Weekly Ball. It was a beautiful
moonlight night. I know it was Weekly Bhll, as I
have known him for more than thirty years. I then
got over the hedge into the slipe, and then over a
wall into Cherry Orchard, and when I got a few
yards I saw Lydia Attley and Weakly Ball in the
lane together. They went down the lane which
leads to the back gate of Weekly Ball's orchard. I
heard Lydia Attley say, "I won't," and when they
got further I heard her say, "I won't ; it's yours,
and nobody else's." Then I went on till I got to
the edge of the style; then I skulked down under
the hedge, because I was so close to them. They
had not then got to Ball's orchard, but they went
down the turning leading to Ball's orchard, and I
heard her say, " I won't go in there, Week, to-
night." She called out two or three times, and she
retreated a little, and Ball went up to her, looking
to me as if he caught hold of her ; but I cannot
swear to that. They went towards the:gate leading
into Ball's orchard, and I heard the latch go. They
then disappeared, I then went home.
By Mr. Gaohes—l left Ringstead five years ago:
I had no particular reason for leaving, only I had a
week's notice from my landlord. I did not receive
a notice to leave because I kept a brothel. Two
young women came to visit. I was never required.
to appear before the magistrate, but I told what I
knew to the police, and they wrote it down. The
superintendent came to me two or three years ago,
and took down ray statement. It was Superinten,
dent Williamson. I have made two statements. It
was nearly a fortnight after Lydia Attley was missed
before the police came to inquire about what I had.
seen. They came several times before I told them
anything.
Richard Warren—l am a labourer, and have lived
at Ringstead 47 years, I recollect the Ringstead
tte tohwlweakasernnadocsw the
hey
very
enclosure.
field
wereeßingsteads
cthaet enclosed.
si
dbh side.
horse
sr
fillheteealddwdgisane
open
Mr..
uye
ryreso.
turoogNnaheod:
bad road. I was in the employ of Mr Peeche this
month, and on Wednesday, the •t 3d was dig-
ging out a ditch in the Keystone-lane, on the Ring-
stead side. The hedge and ditch had been made
after the enclosure. I kept on digging till five
o'clock, when I dug up a skull about five feet from
the stump of the quick. I examined the'skull and
laid it on the bank. I then continued digging the
ditch till near six o'clock, when Thomas Barnham
came down, and I showed it to him and went home.
I told my wife, and the next morning I told
my master, and said, " I think I have found
Lydia Attley." After dinner we went up to
dig for the remainder of the skeleton, and
went on working till we laid it quite bare.
The skeleton was lying with its head towards
the hedge and the feet straight towards the road,
the face downwards. After doing this I sent for
Inspector Williamson. In first taking out the skull
I broke it into three parts. Inspector Williamson
came up directly, and Mr. Leete, the surgeon, also
. came. He examined the bones. They were then
taken out and taken to the Rev. Mr. Sandiland'a
house. We found nothing whatever in the shape of
clothing. The road was a sloughy place. Carts
sometimes went that way, but frequently could not
pass at all.
Henry Dix--I am a labourer. I have lived in
Lydia Attley
Ringstead all my life, find recollect
being lost. She of,cn came to my house.
I wasOn one
occasion she asked me to draw a NOM,
but
r •
Fr
unwilling to do so because she Enlarge in the family
Way. This was about a f,,rtnight before she was
i
• lost. I drew the tooth,
whlclt side
being h was on the l
found on
' of the jaw. I heard
of
the
eBkre skeleton I
saw the skeleton I
made an observation to
the 3d of February,
andbfo
Inspector Williamson about
the tooth I
bad taken
out.
(The lower jaw was
he cavity left where I
drew the tooth. left here produced).
Tr heret is
two back teeth in her jaw,
and there are two back teeth left in this jaw.
The exeunt" • ation was then adjourned.