The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 9, 1863.

MURDER OF A CHILD AT ISLINGTON.

A shabbily-attired young fellow, between 17 and 18 years
of age, who gave the name of William Henry Clarke, and
who described himself as a light porter, residing at 31,
Lever-street, Goswell-street, St. Luke's, was brought up at
the Clerkenwell Police-court yesterday, in the custody of
Inspector Wm. Wiseman, of the N division, charged on sus-
picion of murdering a girl, aged eight
years, named
the ed
ur Eliza-
beth
eery Hunter, on or about March 30, 1862, a
grounds, William-street, parish of St, Mary, Islington.
The avenues of the court were densely an
with great difficulty that persons could g
the recollection of the public that last year the Governmentcertow in.d ed
It, and
will i
be t was
with s
offered a reward of £lOO for the apprehension of a man who
stole a child, named Elizabeth Hunter, from the bottom of
at about 1
Greenma n'o so-1, ectlnoec, Islington,
. A
lthoug ho
env
eSruynedffaoyr nt iwgahst ,
madellla r cbhy 3t
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police, and advertisements were circulated over the country,
no trace could be found of the child. On Monday, from
what came to the knowledge of Inspector Wiseman, he,
along with some constables, went to a nursery in William-
street, New North-road, kept by a person of the name of
Rowe, and, after searching and digging about the green-
house, found in a hole the remains of the body of a child.
The body was covered with about three inches of soil, and
had been covered with quick lime, and was very nearly de-
stroyed. Mr. Billinghurst, the divisional surgeon, was sent
for, and, as far as could be ascertained from a cursory inves-
tigation, the body was presumed to be that of a female child,
whilst the hair and the boots that were found along with the
remains of the body, as well as several pieces of wearing ap-
parel, pointed strongly to the suspicion that it was the body
of Elizabeth Hunter, who had been stolen as above described.
The prisoner had been the employ of the keeper of the nur-
sery, and suspicion falling on him he was apprehended by
Police-constables Stammers, 136 N, and Goss, 318 N, who
told him that ho was charged with murdering a girl, on
which he said " Good God, I know nothing about it." The
prisoner was followed to the court by a large mob of people,
and the place where the body was found was surrounded by
about 500 or 600 people. 'What caused more excitement at
the finding of the bones and the clothes was that on Monday
a paragraph appeared to the following effect :—" Mysterious
Affair,—A strange incident comes notified by the Swiss
journals as occupying the people of Neufchatel. The corpse
of a youg girl, aged about eight years, has been found be-
hind the town promenade, and the particulars given of the
dress and other accessories have suggested her being a
native of England. The British Legation has been put in
possession of the case by the federal authorities, on the pre-
sumption that it has some connection with the reward of
£lOO offered lately by the London police for tidings of
Elizabeth Hunter, who had mysteriously disappeared from
the metropolis."
The first witness called was
Charlotte Hunter, who said--I reside with my parents at
Ward's-place. lam just over twelve years of age. I had
a sister named Elizabeth Hunter. She was seven years and
a half old when I last saw her. I last saw her in Green-
man's-lane. She was taken away by a man on a Sunday
evening. The man looked about as old as my father. I fol-
lowed him a little while and then missed him in William-
street. He said to my sister, " Will you take a letter into
William-street and I will give you 2d." I said " No, she
musi not go." He took hold of her hand, and walked down
the street with her. 1 followed and my bonnet came off, and
when I stopped to pick it up I lost sight of her. I never
saw my sister again. I have seen the prisoner before, but I
do not know that he is the man that took my sister away.
Mr. Alexander (second clerk)—l did rot ask you that ;
you say that it was a man about as old as your father.
Witness continued—The man who took my sister away
had on a pork-pie hat with two ribbons on it at the back,
I have known the prisoner for some time,
By the Prisoner-1 do not say you are the man who took
my sister away. Ido not know whether the man who t.ok
my sister away had on a collar or not. Ido not know what
sort of clothes he bad on. It was on Sunday the 30th of
March, 1862, at 10. o'clock at night, that my sister was taken
away. I had seen the prisoner a little time before I missed
my sister, and I have seen him since.
Police-constable Newbold, 151 N, said—From instruc-
tions I received from Mr. Wiseman, I went to a nursery-
ground in Willie/la street, New North-road. I saw Mr.
Rowe. the proprietor. I asked him if he recollected the heed
of a human being having been found in his nursery. He said
he did, and, after some conversation, he showed me the
place where it was buried. I dug, and found a skull. lie
afterwards pointed out to me the spot where the skull was
found. It was in a greenhouse, under the flower-stands.
Another constable dug about, and as he dug he turned up a
small boot, such as would fit a child. He afterwards dug up
a bone, and then another boot. He kept digging, and found
other bones.
Inspector 'Wiseman, N division, said—On Monday after-
noon, from information I received, I went to the nursery
kept by Mr. Rowe. On going into the greenhouse, which is
30 feet long by 17 wide, there is a shelf running nearly the
whole length on the right-hand side, about two feet from
the ground. Five other shelves, sloped towards the wall,
higher up, one over the other. Underneath are two pipes
for warming the place. Between the pipes is a space about
two fret wide. There I saw a quantity of bones, flesh, hair,
and portions of cotton dresses, &c., all mixed more or lees
with 4uicklime, I sent for a surgeon, who said they were
the bones of a human body. On examining the place I found
that the body was buried abeu i hree feet deep, with a slight
layer of earth over the bones. I took possession of the bones
and had them removed to the divisional surgeon's.
Mrs Susan Hunter, who appeared deeply affected, said—l
reside at No. 41, Ward's-place, Islington. Some time since I
unfortunately lost my daughter. From the time I missed her
to now, I have never seen her alive. On Monday night, at
the police-station, Islington, I saw my child's boots, They
were those she was wearing at the time, as she had no others.
Last night I saw a piece of her jean petticoat, and
likewise a piece of her chemise, and a piece of a coloured
petticoat she wore and the sleeve of her frock, whi ch was
fastened round her waist, a small piece of her pinafore, and
a piece of white tape. I also saw some of her heir. I am
certain that it is her dear hair. Her hair was very short.
She wore an old felt hat. I saw a piece of felt last night
which was very much like that which she wore I know the
chemise by the hemming of it, It was rather a widish hem,
and she did it herself.
Mr. Barker—Have you any doubt about the boots and
other things you have spoken of belonging to your child,
and worn by her on the night you missed her.
Witness—l have no doubt about it, They belonged to
my dear child.
Mr, George Rowe--I live at 38, Sherborne-street, Down-
ham-road. I have a nursery in William-street. I know
the prisoner, and he was in my employ for about eight
months, in 1861 and 1862. He left on the 10th of April,
1862. He had the care of the garden, and attended to the
fires and greenhouses. In December last I thought a cat
was in the greenhouse, as a pot had been removed. I went
to the end of the stage, and looked along it, and saw what I
thouht was a pile of broken pots under the stage, behind
the file. I then desired the boy to remove them. About
two days afterwards the boy told me on removing the pots,
that he had found a skull, and showed it to me. I looked
at it and saw that it was devoid of flesh. Inside of it I saw
portidns of flesh and maggots. After some time it occurred
to me that it had been used by a medical student, who had
placed it there. I had it buried. I was present when the
skull was removed by the constable. I saw the police dig
over the ground, and I saw them dig up a boot, If I tad
had dee slightest idea that anything had been wrong I should
at once have communicated with the police. Afterwards I
saw the police find another boot, several bones, and some
pieces of clothing.
Mr. Alexander (second clerk)—You say that the prisoner
was in your employ up to April, 1862. Had he anything to
do with the greenhouse ?
Witness—Yes. He had the key of the greenhouse. There
is another door at the end which leads into an open shed,
which is unfastened. It was in fact always open. No one
had aright to be there but those who belong to the nursery.
I think it right to say that two other persons have keys and
have a right to come into the nursery.
Mr. Alexander (second clerk)—Do you know how the
prisoner was dressed during the latter part of his service
with you?
Witness—l know that he had a turban or pork pie hat,
with ribbons behind, which he always wore on Sundays.
Mr; Alexander—This place where the bones were found
was not open, and I suppose not very public?
Witness—lt was most private ; and I wonder how a per-
son could have got there. It was so unlikely a place that
we should not have touched it for years had I not seen the
broken pots.
Mr. Alexander—What is kept in the toolhouse ?
IVitness—Sand, soil, lime, tools, &c.
Prisoner—Do you recollect, about the third Thursday in
March, 1862, going with me to the Grecian Theatre P
Witness—No ; I should say it was not likely.
Prisoner—You recollect the turban hat I wore. Did I
not then tear the strings off it ?
Witness—l do not remember your tearing them off.
Prisoner--You say that none but three people can get into
your nursery. Do you recollect the lock being in bad order ?
Witness—Yes.
Prisoner—And people could get in when they pleased ?
Witncss—Yes. And the policemen have often complained
that the nursery door has been left open, and stated that they
have walked from end to end of the garden.
Mr. Barker—Have you anything to say in answer to the
charge ?
Prisoner—T can assure you that lam perfectly innocent
of the charge, and I was never more surprised in my life
than when the officers came to me. As far as I can recol-
lect, on the 30th March I did not go into the nursery at all,
as I stopped with some friends. 1 will not be certain about
the 30th of March, but I think it was then. I plead not
guilty to the charge.
te
Mr. Barker—l now remand you until to-morrow week.
Prisoner—Will you take bail ? I can give good security.
Mr. Barker—No, certainly not.
n Prisoner_l have to ask you to keep my name out of the
as it will be ruin to my friends. It will not
hue:ritsrpm.aßakrie",
hre_ least.
Mr.
have nothing to do with that.
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The prisoner was then removed.
The police stated that the prisoner had before been