The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-01 00:00:00

THE DENHAM TRAGEDY.

the jacket sown up by a woman drinking at the bar, and,
after going again to the public-house we were in first we
returned to our lodgings. I was there when the prisoner
was taken, about half-past five. I did not take sufficient
notice of the key to swear to it, but it was about the size
of the one produced.
Superintendent Jervis—l produce the key identified by
the last witness. On Sunday last, the 29th of May, I took
the lock produced from the front door of Marshall's house,
which opened into the room where the bodies of Mrs. Mar-
shall and her sister-in-law were found. I tried the key.
-It fitted the lock. There is white paint on the key similar
to that on the lock. The lock appeared to have been
painted with the key in it.
Daniel Love, warder of Reading gaol, deposed that the
prisoner was discharged from that prison on the Bth of
January last. He gave him the cord jacket produced
(which was found in Marshall's bed-room) and a pair of
boots similar to those produced.
Prisoner—Those are not the boots. _

AYLESBURY, TUESDAY.
The adjourned magisterial inquiry, into the circum-
stances connected with the deaths of Emmanuel Marshall,
35, Charlotte, his wife, aged 32, Mary Ann Marshall, his
sister, 30, Mary Marshall, his mother, aged 77, and three
children, Mary, Theresa, and Gertrude, aged respectively
8,6, and 4, was held this morning, within the walls of
the jail of the county town of Aylesbury. Up to Saturday
it had been supposed that the prisoner would be brought
from the jail to Slough. A report became current on
Saturday that in consequence of the great pressure upon
the police on Wednesday last in the endeavour of
the mob to get at and maltreat the accused,
would not be deemed prudent to give them
all oPportunity of taking summary vengeance upon him,
but the owners of the brickfields, whose men had turned
out on the last occasion, had tendered themselves to be
sworn in as special constables at once, and Captain Drake,
s chief constable, assisted by Superintendents
Dunham, Jervis, and Denson, had made every
arrangement to meet all contingencies. At the
eleventh hour, however, a far greater difficulty arose, the
governor of Reading gaol refusing to part with his
Prisoner. On Friday it would appear that the coroner
sent his warrant down for the safe custody of Jenkins,
,P4l,d on Sunday the deputy constable reached Slough and
'Mormed the magistrate that the Clerk of the Peace
for the county of Bucks had advised the governor
of the gaol not to give up the prisoner, and that acting
on that advice the Governor would not allow him to be
brought to Slough, considering that if the prisoner were
rescued or killed he would be held responsible: A council
was immediately held, and we understand Mr. Coleman,
re of the magistrates, went to London and consulted Mr.
Bruce upon the matter, but that gentleman de-
clined to interfere. Arrangements were then promptly
Made for conveying the witnesses to Aylesbury, and at
eleven
o'clock this morning the accused was brought up
before the magistrates of that county. Matters had been
so quietly conducted that not a person in Aylesbury
seemed to know what was going on, and in perfect
quietude the chain of evidence was drawn so tightly
round the accused as to leave him, apparently, no chance
of rebutting it.
There were no less than sixteen witnesses to be
called to-day, several of whom were new, and had
most important evidence to offer. The first of them was
nrY Salter, a carman. who met prisoner at Hanwell.
Nws witness deposed as follows :—On Saturday, May 21,
as coming from Acton to Uxbridge along the turnpike
road, when 1 saw the prisoner at Hanwell Asylum close
to
the,crates. I was driving my cart and and he overtook
e• He asked me to give him a ride on to Uxbridge, and
,4 did so. He sat on a bundle of sacks, and I put him
'cwn at the Green Man at Uxbridge between five and six
in the evening. He rode six miles. As we came along he
said he had got no money, but that he had a brother near
Uxbridge, who he knew had some, and that he
should have some of it. I asked him his brother's
name, and where he lived, and he said that
was a question he could not answer. He told me all
this without asking, and he further said he should not go
and see him till after dark. He did not say anything
more particular, but that he had been moving about the
country and spent a lot of money in his time. Another
man who got up after the prisoner had ridden two miles,
and Jenkins spoke to him.
At this point witness was asked to identify the man who
rode with him, and he pointed to a gentleman with sandy
Whiskers, sitting at the reporters' table, wholly unlike the
Prisoner. After a long and searching glance round the
room., witness was stretching out his finger, when
Prisoner exclaimed " Was it me " ?
Witness : Yes, it was you. Beant it you ?
The Bench : Is that the man or not ?
Salter : Was he fair or dark ?
Witness : Yes that's the man. I was dazed by the
light at first, and did not see him. He was dark.
Charles Trevener, of the Bucks police, stationed at
Jaenham, repeated the evidence given before the coroner,
84 to meeting the than at three o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing coming away from Denham about half a mile from
ipenhana.
Witness afterwards described the finding of the bodies
had
of the murderous implements with which the tragedy
ad been carried out, the appearance of which covered
with blood and brains, as found, created a thrill of horror
in the court.
Elizabeth Simpson then repeated her account of having
,met the prisoner when she was looking for a key on
Sunday morning, the 22nd instant.
John Smith, coal dealer, Denham turnpike-gate : On
Shay morning, the 22nd a little before eight, I saw the
'‘ian, who was speaking to a woman on tramp. Ile
Passed her came up to me, and pulled a purse out of his
Pocket.He said he had been to see his brother, and he
mad set him up in business. He said he had given him £2O and
his sister gave him a watch, and that he was to take care
of it, and not sell it. He said he should raffle it, and
aPend the money as soon as he could. He shewed me a
Watch and chain like this. It had a locket on it then,
and stood at ten minutes to eight. He said he could not
tell the time by it now he had got it, and he asked me
What time it was. He asked me to buy the watch and
chain for £2, and I told him I had got watches enough.
'le wanted me to go down to Uxbridge to drink
with him, and I would not. He said he'd got plenty of
money, and pulled a purse out which seemed full. He
said it had £l9 19s. 9d. in it, and he also took silver out
of his pocket, but I did not see the gold.
Clerk (to witness) : Did you notice his clothes?
Witness : Yes. The boots were cracked across the
••.innt. is These are them. I cannot swear to the clothes.
hat the man (pointing to the prisoner).
Sarah Alderman, barmaid, repeated her evidence given
at the inquest.
Clerk Yesould you know the prisoner again
itness : ; that's the man. He gave me a shilling
for the drink, and I gave change to him.
Prisoner : I didn't give you a shilling.
~kargaret Syms, who keeps a second-hand clotheb
:u131) in Union-street, Reading, said she had bought a dark
-eat and waistcoat (produced) for 4s. 6d. The prisoner
ealne to her on Tuesday wearing the coat. A man was
With him with a waistcoat under his arm. He gave the
mane of John Groves, Uxbridge.
James Woollaison, a smith, deposed that he was lodging
it,the Oxford Arms, Silver-street, Reading, on Tuesday.
"en he was there the prisoner came into the tramps'
*kitchen and asked where the girl was. He said he
Wanted to see a friend. He took a key out of his pocket
and offered it to the woman. She refused it, and said it
:light be thought she wanted to commit a robbery. There
tiers four or five present ; nobody would have it. I took
from him and threw it into the corner where
rags and bones were. He also shewed us a ticket for a
l ratch pawned at Uxbridge. He remained four or five
it.°llrs there, until the police came and arrested him. The
eYeavas like this (key of Marshall's house produced.)
Llarriet Willes, who had spoken to the last witness,
corroborated his evidence, she had found the key in the
cupboard the next day.
Wit Clerk said : You will know that man again
ness : Ay I shall know him fast enough there he
tp'alids. Witness boldly faced prisoner, who for the first
ttne chopped his head. Witness pointed out a reporter as
„.? Prisoner ; but subsequently identified Jenkins, who
Elizabeth Simpson saw prisoner leave Marshall's house
(t 31,11 the morning of the murder dressed like Marshall. She
4LMight it was him. He had a carpetbag.
Prisoner cross-examined the witness, but elicited
nothing in his favour. She identified him by his side
ace, and thought the scar was bigger.
lit "(14 Smith, coal dealer, of Denham, saw the prisoner a
tle before eight on Sunday. He pulled out a purse,
Which
seemed full of money. He said he had seen his
lother,rwho had set him up in business, and his sister had
fwell him a watch. He said she told him not to sell
t' but he meant to do so as soon as he could.
l,e said his brother had given him twenty pounds.
6" watch was like that produced. He wanted me to
hiLY if but I refused. He said the watch was no good to
8 ' and wanted me to drink, and pulled out a purse. He
maid he had 19s. 9d. I noticed his clothes. The boots
acre cracked across the front like these. I wont swear to
he clothes, but these are the boots.
0.24, „rs- Sarah Alderman, wife of the keeper of the Dog
1-)lick public-house, on the Uxbridge-road, half a mile
ar, her OTe. the scene of the murder, stated that prisoner called
house about eight o'clock on the Sunday morning,
on his representing himself to be a traveller, was
jurved with a pint of beer, for which he tendered a shilling
wittaLYinent. Both she and her lodger declined to drink
before, and did not drink all his beer.
-Kr_isoner : Did I not pay for two pints ?
itness explained that she drew one pint of common
prat'AV
atnillide as prisoner asked for the best, she drew another
ootffheerreodnteo. pay for both, saying the lodger could rink
..,I"risoner : Did I pay you out of a shilling ?—Yes.
pie'rlBoner : No I did not. Did I not chuck two penny
-I,_es on the table?—Witness : No, you did not.
-1.,.!,150ner : I did not pay you out of a shilling.
.:a'itness : You said you had kept a public-house.
snobs. : I have kept a public-house.
sho,,rs-;-Margaret Lyons, keeper of a second-hand clothes
co P, I-Leading, said that she bought the coat and waist-
the —Produced on Tuesday, the 24th, at three o'clock in
Thattaaternoon. The prisoner came into the shop with a
clothilanied Woodison. Prisoner was wearing the black
coa produced, and Woodison had the waistcoat
I,Talletre his arm and under his coat. Prisoner said he
witu a slop- Being told they had not any, he asked
She ess to buy the coat and waistcoat for eight shillings.
shit she she could not give that, but would give four
liiinngS• Ile said, " Another sixpence," and she gave it
'LTA She asked. his name. He said "John Groves, from
1311Zrilads—ghee." About an hour afterwards Superintendent
whi '" came, and she gave him the coat and waistcoat
had,purchased of the prisoner.
/nes Woodis. uorne: I am a smith living at Reading. I
"as lodgingdu at the Oxford Arms, Silver-street, on Tues-
-123;., the 24th of May. When I wen t in about about half-past
1 hiaCl dinner I sawy the prisoner there, in the kitchen.
vie never seen him before. He got into conversation
of Inc. fle asked me if I would show him where the
wnia.vas, as he wanted to see some one there, and he
from
Le stand some beer. I said, " Yes." " He took a key
41:1.,1is pocket and offere it to woman in the house.
wan,'"4d, `` I don't want your a
key ; people might think I
a to rob
said, „ „
.your house." No one would have the key._
hone„ . rut it in the cupboard along with the rags and
-t ;
itcriala hitch and
may bring the old woman a penny out and I took
it and threw it • in. Ile took a pawn-ticket . It was
guard in at Uxbridge for 15s. He put
we a,;iti. Pocket again, and I went out with him. When
twnp
* any feurnetheer
to the end of the street I said, " Have you got
llyou have, let's have a pint before we go
tane coat • e said "'Yes • and after that I will sell
"8. , and we will have some more." I took him to
°len tVills:B' where he sold the coat and waistcoat. I
Rot):.
Whei returned
tpoarnbroker's, where he purchased
Public-house, where we had got

Witness added that when the prisoner was discharged
he said he knew a man who had got some money, and he
would have it, and rather than have eighteen months
again he would murder him. Witness told him not to do
such a thing as that.
Mary Ann Sparks, sister to Mrs. Marshall, who ap-
peared in deep mourning, identified the coat, trousers,
braces, necktie, shirt, collar, and knife found in posses-
sion of the prisoner, as having belonged to her brother-in-
law, Emanuel Marshall. She knew that he had a pistol
like the one produced, but not so bright. She could not
swear to the watch and chain, believing the chain was
more solid. Maiy Ann Marshall had a silver watch and
gold chain. •
Thurra Spooner, sister to Marshall, said the watch and
chain produced were very much like her sister's. She
found £2O and a wedding-ring in her sister's box and
drawers. _ _

The Magistrate—Have you not a brother in America ?

Witness':-.Yes.

The Magistrate—Does this man resemble him hi any
?
way
Witness—No ; he is not at all like him ; my brother was
taller, thinner, and much fairer.
(While saying this, however, there seemed to be an un-
easy feeling about witness.)
Mary Ann Sparks identified all the articles except the
pistol. Thought the chain seemed more soiled than her
sister's. _ _

Sergeant Jervis produced a key sent by Harriet
Willis. Witness went to Denham, took off the lock of
Marshall's house, and compared the key with it. The
key opened the lock, and the two corresponded in every
particular.
At the close of the evidence the Chairman of
the Bench put the usual questions to the pri-
soner, who fumbled at a written scroll which had
been under his arm all day, but said he had nothing to
say. He was then committed to the next assizes in June
on the charge of wilful murder. Before leaving the room
prisoner asked to have the ss. 9d. returned to him which
the police had found upon him, and except when one of
the witnesses pointed at him he never flinched throughout
the examination, although evidently impressed at times
with, the weight of evidence against him. He scanned
most of the witnesses narrowly.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE ,1, 1870.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDA Y.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock. _ _ _

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BILL.

Lord CAIRNS gave notice that on the bringing up the
report of amendments to this bill, he should move a reso-
lution with respect to the further progress of the measure.

contractors in order that convict and hired labour
might be employed thereon. The instances he had
mentioned were not the only thing that re-
quired explanation, as he was in possession
of information which chewed that contracts for ma-
and chinery and boiler houses had been entered in neither
case had there been any copies of the contracts laid on the
table. It was desirable that inquiry should be
made, because he felt assured that without
such was done the country would be called
upon to pay an amount for extra work, that would oc-
casion much surprise. Having stated his opinion that
Deptford Dockyard had been sold much below its value,
he concluded by asking the House to insist upon the in-
quiry that he asked for.
Sir H. SELWYN IBBETSON seconded the motion. He was
of opinion that the sum for which the land of Deptford
Dockyard had been sold was very much below its actual
value, and if it was uot, as he supposed it was, from cer-
tain information in his possession, it was desirable that
the matter should be fully explained. It was also desir-
able that the statements in circulation that the purchaser,
a Mr. Austin, who was a partner with a Mr. Bristowe, was
a brother of the solicitor to the Admiralty, and therefore
stood in a more than ordinary favourable position,
should be thoroughly explained.
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS said he had been in communi-
cation with the right hon. gentleman relative to the sale
of Deptford dockyard, and nothing certainly could have been
more open or straightforward than his explanation with
respect to the property. When he asked him the price he
told him it had been nearly fixed at £BO,OOO, but that he
believed a satisfactory offer of £75,000 would not be re-
fused. There had been all manner of rumours in circula-
tion with respect to the sale of this property, one of which
was that it had been disposed of to a company
of American shipbuilders for £140,000. However, he had
merely risen to bear his testimony to the frank and open
manner in which the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Childers)
had acted during the time he was in communication with
him relative to the disposal of the property.
SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE, supported the motion for the
appointment of a Select Committee.
Mr. BAXTER detailed the action taken by the
Admiralty with reference to Deptford dockyard. They
were advised not to sell it by public auction. The trans-
action with Mr. Austin, was made through Mr. Marsh,
the well-known auctioneer, and the Admiralty were not
aware, in the first instance, that the former was the
principal.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON said that the explanation of the
Secretary of the Admiralty with reference the sale of
Deptford dockyard had not justified him, and remarked
that the Government would not have been compelled to
accept any bid at a public auction, inasmuch as they could
have fixed a reserve price.

Mr. SAMUDA said the fact was clear that the House
had only authorised an expenditure of £1,250,000 in the
case of Chatham, and an alteration had been made with-
out the attention of the House being directed to it, or
without its permission having been obtained. He thought
that some explanation was required on the subject of.
Chatham and Portsmouth Dockyards. On the face of the
matter it appeared as if a great deal of favouritism had
been shown the contractor. It was stated in a report that
this large excess which the country was asked to pay was
mainly attributable to the want of convicts, and yet, not-
withstanding this, the contractor had the difficult part of
his work taken away and given to the convicts to execute.
Mr. TREVELYAN contended that the late Government
knew all about the condition and position of the Chat-
ham and Portsmouth extension works. He defended the
director of works, and complained that some very hard
words had been said about him. The hon. gentleman
stated that there were now 1,100 convicts employed on the
works instead of 700. At great length he described the
nature of the work, and the principal circumstances at-
tending the contract, with the view of shooing a select
committee was 'accessary. The Government asked the
House to trust the Admiralty in this matter, and remarked
that by the end of the year they would be in a position to
see whether a select committee was necessary.

The House divided, and the motion was lost.
The House then adjourned until nine o'clock.
VISITATION FEES.

Mr. LOPES called attention to the present state of the
law with regard to the payment of visitation fees by
churchwardens, but he did not move any resolution.

NAVAL STORES.

Sir JOHN HAY moved for a return of stores rejected at
Portsmouth Dockyard since the Purchase Department
had been established at the Admiralty, and copy of any
correspondence between the Admiralty and Rear-Admiral
A. C. Key on the subject of his removal from Portsmouth
dockyard.
Mr. CHILDERS said he had no objection to the first part
of the motion.