The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-11 00:00:00

SUSPECTED Ai URD3R.

is inquest was held at the Rose of Lancaster Inn on
Tuesday last, situate a mile and a half from Middleton,
and two miles and a half from Oldham, before Mr. T. F.
Dearden, on the body of Joseph Kershaw, aged 25 years,
silk weaver. Th• principal facts of the case are detailed
in the following evidence. The first witness examined
was

Dr. Kershaw, who had made a post-mortem examine
tion of the body. He said—l reside at Royton, and am
doctor of medicine, and a fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons of England. After detailing the appearances
presented by the body. the witness said—l believe that
Joseph Kershaw's death took place in consequence of
his being drowned.
Betty Kershaw, who was next examined, said—l am
mother of the deceased. I live at Green-gate, Alkring-
ton. lam a widow, 6/ years of age. Joseph Kershaw
was my son. I have not seen him since death. He was
25 years of age last July. He was a silk weaver, and
worked at Mr. Cheetham's factory. I saw him last alive
on Thursday night. He earn* from the factory about 20
minutes past six o'clock. He took his tea, and went out
about seven. He had on a cap, a dark-coloured lapped
jacket, and fustain waistcoat. The trousers, I think,
were cord trousers. His clothes were in good repair when
he left home. He had sank all the week that he woulii
g• on Thursday night to chapel. He meant Mills Hill
school, where he west to teach. That was the last
time I saw him. I sent for my daughter-in-law, and
told her to go to Oldham, to see if he was at any
of his relations. He liad two sisters and a brother
there, and my daughter-in-law's husband was also at
Oldham. They came frees Oldham, all of them, during
the forenoon. There was a knock at the door between
three and four o'clock on Friday afternoon. My eldest
daughter and eldest son were at home in the house. The
door was opened, and some one outside said, " Does
Joseph Kershaw live here ? " Some one inside said
yes ;" for I was not able to speak. There came in a
mai, and two females. I did not know them. They
asked to sit down. Then there was a silence for a short
time. The man reached a cap from under his coat, and
he said, "Can yeaown this ? " I said, "I can ; this
belongeds s to cur Joseph, but it has been torn
a
left our house." He next pulled
silver watch, and said, " Can you own this I"
silver watch with a guard attached. I had not
marked
the watch, but I could own the chain. I said,
Io ut,tow aa
sio
ii
What has he done, that you have taken his watch and
cap He said he had looked in at the window of their
houset I did not inquire the man's name. He said
that he went to one end of the house, and could not a
him ; he then went to the other end, and saw a man
running. He ran after him and overtook him, and he
collared him, and he took his hand in this way. [The
witness put her hand to her neck to illustrate the
marmot] He said they struggled a bit ; but isa
while
he broke loose. He ran after him and overtook him,
and collared him again. He did his best to take him to
h
him that if he would go to their house he
would give him hill cap A" hit watch. I could not
ask him any more questions ; was so full. My
eldest daughter said, " How did it end I Which way
their
he eir
toldHe w determined he would not go, and
house,
as and would have done so, but he could
not.
did he run ? He said, "Ile ran towards the cut
(canal), and it will be a pity if he has run in." The
second time he collared him he said he tore his waistcoat.
He said the watch hung down after the waistcoat was
torn. One woman that was with the man was his sister,
and the other woman had come with them to show them
where we lived. I had seen his sister at Mills Hill, but
I did not know anything of there when they came in
Joserh its courting the sistersoonf
the house at first. I think there was a name mentioned.
in at the window, and he said about nine o'clock. The
I asked the man what time it was when my
e was Alfred Ogden. I have learned •
man's name
what his name is. The man said that he supposed they
were struggling about half an hour. He said the struggle
took place in the fields. I never heard it mentioned
fkreedd
that my 8' '
Ogden till after Joseph's death.
He told me many
things, and would have told me that if there had been
touch
in it. My son could write; but he never told the
that ho had written to Ann Ogden.
Subsequently evidence was taken relative to the find-
ing of the body in the canal ; and ultimately, after se-
veral witnessesora wheaedk,beaennd eoxgadmeinn evrd,asthdeetained in the
in quest was
adjourned f
custody of the police.
On Wednesday last Alfred Ogden was brought before
the magistrates at the Town-hall, Oldham, on a charge
of having been concerned in the murder of Joseph
Kershaw.
Inspector Orton intimated that the mother of the
deceased had been taken ill in consequence of the ex-
citement resulting from the death of her son, and the
prisoner was remanded till Thursday. On that day lie
was again remanded, and it is expected that he will he
brought up for examination on Monday (this day.)