The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

THE LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 28, 1870.

!
j‘ _ ,

MORNING EDITION.

community, and thus the ignominous tale will be
perpetuated. Could those miserable beings,
who passed from this world in us sad a con-
dition as our fallen nature, can sink to
have looked beyond their wretched death-
bed, they would have seen that their wrongs
would be chronicled, and their oppressors called to
account, when they had passed from the scenes of
their sufferings. It has been truly said that the
altars of NEMESIS are beneath every outraged roof,
and so it has proved in the St. Pancras Workhouse.
In the hurry-skurry of existence, the ceaseless whirl
of events seemed to push the matter out of sight,
when, lo and behold, the scene shifts, and we find
ourselves called upon to witness another act in the
supposed completed tragedy of St. Pancras. It has
been said—

" All fame is foreign, save that part,
Plays round the head, but touches not the heart."
And so disgrace does not consist in the things that
most readily catch the eye; but in those that lie too
deep for casual observation. The true eau c of
shame for the late Guardians was the state of the
workhouse in which they presided, and not in the
outcry and clamour which was raised about it.
However, as some minds cannot be affected by any-
thing that is not directly put before their eyes in the
shape of immediate loss, let us trust that those who
have carelessly turned away from the records of the sick
untended,the dying neglected, and thepoverty-stricken
ground down to the lowest point, will think it a dis-
grace on the parish that this sale should come off, and
visit their wrath and indignation on those who brought
about such a fiasco. For the sake of the public may
this affair be the last scene of all in this strange
eventful history, and may other and better fashions
prevail. Let those whom it most immediately con-
cerns—the other guardians of parishes—lake heed by
the lesson, and reflect that, if weighed in the balance,
they too may be found wanting, and that a far
stricter test will henceforth be applied to
all who are placed in authority over the poor. The
game has been played out with t vengeance,
and no other metropolitan parish can be permitted
to emulate St. Pancras in its strife and discord, its
sad disclosures and harrowing stories, and to crown
the edifice, in the scandal of the seizure and sale of
its parochial goods and chattels.

THE news from Canada, although not altogether
satisfactory, gives no ground for uneasiness. The move-
ment of the Fenians, so far from producing the effect
which its designers hoped and expected, has met
with a prompt and vigorous resistance. There has
been little fighting, the losses and injuries being
reckoned by units, so that the Hibernian heroes cap-
not even take consolation in the recollection of a
spirited encounter. They have been baffled and re-
pulsed in the most ignominious fashion, their
leader has been arrested and imprisoned,
their force demoralised, anrl, according to
some accounts, entirely dispersed. Even O'Neill's
imprisonment is deprived of the faintest
prestige of martyrdom by its being occasioned for
want of the necessary bail to answer a charge of in-
fringing the neutrality laws. It would be
difficult for an elaborate scheme to break
down in a more complete and ignoble
manner. and the disowning of all know-
ledge of the affair on the part of the President
of the Fenian Council gives evidence of the popular
estimate of it's ill-success in the States. The United
States Government has acted with com-
mendable promptitude and decision in the
matter. For some time past the columns
of the New York press have been filled with
quiet little satires on what they termed " The
Fenian scare," plainly intimating that the apprehen-
sions of the Canadians had overturned their
judgment. When, however, the recent events shewed
those apprehensions to have been only too well
founded, the Government at Washington did all that
could possibly be expected. A. proclamation from
President Grant, warning all persons to keep aloof
from illegal expeditions, and directing United States
officers to arrest their progress, if possible,
was immediately followed by the movement of
American troops to the border, which they still
guard. The arrest of O'Neill, which is said to have
completely demoralised and disorganised the Fenian
force, was accomplished by the United • States
Marshal, General Foster, and latest accounts report
that both sides of the border are efficiently guarded
by the Canadian troops on the one hand, and by the
American troops on the other.
A telegram from New York, May 27, repeats the
statement that a large body of Fenians, variously
estimated at from eighteen hundred to four thousand,
had crossed from Malone, and entrenched on the
Trout River, a mile from the border, a spot distant
some eleven miles from the station of the
British troops at Huntingdon. There had, however,
been no fighting, and so thoroughly are the Canadians
on their guard that should the invaders be rash
enough to renew 'the attempt of Monday, there
can be no question whatever as to the
result. The events of the last few days have at all
events shewn us that one long-standing and general
apprehension has been hitherto exaggerated. There
is no insuperable difficulty in guarding the Canadian
frontier, at all events from such a foe as the Fenians.
The vigorous co-operation of the American Govern-
ment has, no doubt, greatly facilitated the
task; but the energy and patriotism of the
Canadians have proved fully equal on their
side of the border to the exigencies of the case.
We have seen enough of the Fenians on both sides
of the Atlantic to know that if not thus firmly met they
would have been unscrupulous, if not actually formid-
able foes. Even now, though having failed in disabling
a single Canadian or in keeping possession of a rood
of ground, they have done some mischief by cutting
the telegraph wires and impeding communication with
the States. We have, too, yet to hear the
particulars of the disastrous fire at Quebec, the origin
of which has not been accounted for. The loss and
annoyance occasioned by an enemy is not
always to be measured by his dignity or
his importance. A guerilla warfare has
been known to harass and perplex the most brilliant
and successful general, and these miserable Fenians,
whose efforts against Great Britain scarcely rise
above the level of absurdity, once contrived by
their Clerkenwell exploit to startle -the Eng-
lish metropolis. Out of the midst of all the evil
they have caused, there arises, however, some good.
The Canadians have shewn that they are fully
capable of their own defence, and whatever their
future, truly and thoroughly English in their courage,
their patriotism and their discipline. The Fenians
have accomplished other ends which they certainly
did not include in their programme. They have
strengthened the slackening ties between the colony
and the mother country by the keen interest
excited by the hour of danger, and they have promo-
ted a good understanding between the Governments
of London and Washington through the ready and effi-
cient enforcement of the neutrality laws by President
Grant.

In reply to the Earl of Carnarvon, in the House of
Lords at evening, Earl Granville declared that there
was no change in the Government policy in refer-

ence to Canada, but added that orders had been
given to suspend the movements of the troops
during the continuance of the Fenian ex-
citement. The noble for i also stated during
the evening that he should bring up the Irish Land
Bill at the beginning of next week, and on Tues-
day propose an adjournment until Monday, the 13th
June, when, unless such a course were objected to, he
should move the second reading of the measure. Their
lordships were engaged for several hours discus-
sing the Ecclesiastical Titles Act Repeal Bill.
Much opposition was offered to the second reading,
but ultimately the bill was read without a division.
The Beverley and Bridgwater Disfranchisement Bill
was also read a second time. In the House of Com-
mons Mr. Monsell made a statement with reference
to the Fenian attack upon Canada, which was well
calculated to reassure those who might have
entertained any apprehension of very serious
results from the inroad of the Fenians.
Lord E. Cecil brought forward a motion, de-
claring that in the opinion of the House the present
state of the law with regard to the use of false weights
and measures, and the preventing and punishing the
adulteration of food, drink, and drugs, was most un-
satisfactory. The evidence which the noble lord
adduced in support of his motion was indis-
putable, and he withdrew his proposition after
receiving an assurance from the Home Secre-
tary that the subject should have his best attention.
An unusual scene occurred, when the House at 12
o'clock went into Committee on the Burials Bill.
The forms of the House were frequently resorted to,
in order to postpone the further consideration of the
measure, and an hour and a half was wasted in fruit-
less efforts to accomplish that effort. The House
adjourned at five minutes past two.

L 22,
~,,,,k
Caurt ''':.. ‘,,,,--_:-.-, '--- Circular
„.......„ \4„„v, ..

THE UXBRIDGE TRAGEDY.

RESUMED INQUEST ON THE BODIES.

At 10 o'clock yesterday Mr. Clearaby, the coroner
for the southern division of the county of Bucks, resumed,
at the Swan Inn, Denham, the inquest on the bodies of
the unfortunate victims of this horrible massacre—Em-
manuel Marshall, 35 ; Charlotte, his wife, 33 ; Mary Ann
Marshall, his sister, 29; Mary Marshall, the grand-
mother, 77 ; and the three children, Gertrude, Theresa,
and Mary, aged respectively four, six, and eight years.

The interest in the matter has not a whit abated since
the first hearing before the Coroner, and a crowd of
persons surrounded the inn in which the inquiry was
being held. The exigencies of the case, however, required
that only those absolutely interested should be admitted,
and a strong body of the Bucks constabulary, under Capt.
Drake, the chief constable of the county, and Superinten-
dents Dunham, Jarvis, and Denson,- maintained order
both in and around the building.
The bodies of the victims have since the hearing been
placed, the elder ones in decent elm coffins, and the younger
in the steriotyped blue sarsnet, studded with white nails.
The house has been visited by many thousands, and it has
required all the courage of the police upon the spot to
prevent the curious breaking in.
The Coroner stated that the inquest had been adjourned
for the purpose of enabling the police to prosecute the
inquiry. Since then a man had been apprehended and
taken to Slough. He (the coroner) added that in justice
to the man he had attended at Slough, and requested
that he might be brought before this court,
and Captain Drake had given him a very
satisfactory reason for the non-attendance of the
prisoner, he considered that in the excited state of the
public mind he would not be able to answer for the safety
of the man. If during the inquiry suspicion pointed to
any second man, he doubted not that the jury would
grant a further adjournment, meanwhile they would go
as far as they could with the evidence before them, and he
would state that there was most important evidence
forthcoming.
Thomas Dunham was then called and said—l am
superintendent of the Bucks Police, stationed at Slough.
I received information of the murder at Denham
on Monday. Witness then detailed, as stated by
him at the inquiry, that he went to the house
and found the murdered persons. Mrs. Marshall
was only partially dressed and had severe
wounds on the head, and her sister a wound over the eye.
He proceeded to the kitchen, where he found old Mrs.
Marshall, lying on her left side, having severe wounds
about the head. She had one stocking on, the garter
partly fastened, and her night dress on. Near her was
the youngest child, and the others in the fire-place. Mary
Marshall was very much cut about the head, and
lay across Theresa with her face uppermost,
and she had evidently been struggling. In the
workshop I found Marshall. I felt the bottoms of his
stockings; and was sure that he had not walked across the
blacksmith's shop, as there was no dirt on them. I may
add that I examined the body, and found the two pockets
pulled completely out, and hanging down.
The Coroner : Were there serious injuries on the
head ?
Witness : Yes, and he had evidently been pulled back-
wards, his hose being pulled back, and his waistcoat
bundled up under his arm. His head had evidently
fallen on a machine near the door. I found blood
also on the step, and on the lintel of the door outside.
The beds had evidently been slept in, and the clothes had
the appearance of having been pulled down in a hurry.
In the front room I found a pair of old corduroy
trousers with a piece of blue cloth on the right knee.
The bottoms of the trousers were smothered with blood.

[They were here exhibited, and were those usually
worn by tramps.]
Witness : I also found two boots in the same room.
Upon one boot is a piece of human brain
(sensation), and they are evidently those of a tramp being
rather large with rag soles inside them. In the room
facing the south I found a waistcoat and cord jacket
(produced), and also a black cloth coat, billycock hat,
three handkerchiefs and pieces of cloth, a blue and red
striped shirt, a smock, and a hammer. The drawers in
the rooms had been ransacked, and in the bureau was an
empty watchstand.
Witness then detailed the information he had received
from Coombes, and the action taken thereon, and con-
tinued : I apprehended the accused at a lodging-house in
Silver-street, Reading, the tramps' kitchen being in the rear.
I was told he carried a pistol, and therefore used some cau-
tion in taking him. Before I crossed the room he said, " I
never killed man, woman, or child."
The Coroner : Before you spoke to him?
Witness : Yes. I saw his hand go to his pocket,
and we rushed at him and secured him, and took a pistol
out of hfs pocket, loaded with powder and a slug. We hand-
cuffed him and charged him with the murder. He denied it,
and I said " Why you scroundel you've got on the murdered
man's shoes." He said, " That may be ;" " and his
trousers," said I ; to which he made the same reply. I
found in-his pocket the purse produced. On the prisoner
I found the boots produced,rbelonging to the murdered
man, and a shirt corresponding with those in Marshall's
house, which will be identified by the person who made
them. At a shop in Union-street I found some
other articles belonging to the murdered people
and the woman identified Jenkins as the man who
sold them. When I apprehended the man I said, " I
know you, you've just come out from two months for
stealing stockings." He said, " That's my b name
now ;" he never speaks without an oath, and I never met
such a man before in that respect. The Deputy-Governor
of Reading Gaol identified him as John Jones, an old
offender.

John Spencer Ferris Bell said : I was called in on Mon-
day evening at half-past seven to the house of the Mar-
ehalls. In the first room I found the corpse of
Charlotte Marshall just inside the door, lying a
little on her left side, with her face covered
with blood, her head against the wall, and the wall smeared
with blood. Close by, Mary Ann Marshall was lying, with
her feet on the other, her face and head covered with
blood. In the back kitchen I saw the dead body of the
grandmother with her arm round the youngest child, who
was dead by her side. Both of their heads were
covered with blood. In the fire-place were the bodies of
Mary and Theresa. In the forge was the father com-
pletely covered with a sack, his legs crossed, lying on his
back, with his feet without shoes. On removing the sack
I saw two wounds on the back of his head. Turning him
over I found his face completely smashed in. At two
P.M on May 24 I made a post mortem examination of all
but Mary Ann and Charlotte, and next day on
them, assisted by Drs. M`Namara and Pratt
of Uxbridge, and Dr. Fox of Scarborough.
and we were of opinion that they had been dead sixty
hours, though there was still riger mortis. On the back of
Emmanuel's left hand was a severe bruise, and the fingers
of the right hand grazed, but no wound except on the
head and face. The front of the face, clothes, and body
were covered with grit and ashes, as though they
had been dragged along. There were four wounds
on the face, over the right eye, . top of the
nose, and left eye, and a long, large, deep
one over the chin. The upper and lower jaw, even to the
bone under the eye, were completely smashed, and the
hair matted with blood and ashes. The scalp had five
wounds—one over the left side of the heed, another behind
1 inches long, behind that a smaller one, at the back a
large wound, and at the right side of the head a long
lacerated wound. Neither of these fractured the skull.
There was a fracture of the skull, right across, so that the
skull could be pulled in half, great effvsion into
the brain, the scalp wounds were probably produced by
the poker, and those on the face and skull by
the sledge hammer or back of the axe. Theresa
Marshall, aged six, had no fracture or bruise
of limb or body, wound of scalp and Vrofusion of blood
on the right side of the head, blood coming from the ear;
face uninjured. On removing scalp several pieces of bone
came away revealing the brain, in fact the whole right
side of the skull was smashed, even down to the spine.
The whole injuries on this side were probably
produced by one blow of the sledge hammer. Mary
Marshall, jun., aged eight, no bruises, wounds or
fractures of body or limbs. Semi-circular incision five
inches long, almost completely detaching the right ear from
the head, Small wounds at the back of the head near which
a scarred cut was seen. These were made by the poker,
except the starred cut. Wound on right side of the face,
and the upper and lower jaw broken, and a punctured
fracture corresponding with the starred cut. Base of skull
fractured, and skull divided in half. With regard
to Gertrude Marshall, aged 4, blood came from
nose, mouth, and ears, no bruises, wounds, &c., of limbs
or body ; two small cuts on left side of scalp ; all the
bones on the left side of the head completely stove in and
fractured in all directions ; frontal bone alone intact ;
many fragments of bone detached ; extravasation in brain,
which injuries 'were probably made by a sledge hammer.
On Mary Marshall, sen., aged 77, there was a graze on
right knee. Bruise over right and left eye, triangular
wound on temple. Right side of head, wound three
inches long-, behind which there was another of the same
length. Behind right ear a wound, also cuts, deep and
lacerated. Blood oozing from left ear. Fracture across base
of skull, so that skull could be pulled in half.
much effused blood in brain. On Mary Ann Marshall
(32), slight cut on upper lip ; wound, inch in length, on
outer angle of left eye; teeth knocked into
mouth ; wound, inch and quarter long, down
parting of hair, as if done by axe ; large
fracture on the right side of the skull. Base of skull
fractured right across, so that the skull could be pulled in
half, and several pieces of bone detached. Charlotte
Marshall (wife) had the left upper eyelid bruised, blood
coming from left ear, jagged transverse wound an inch
long over right ear ; wound three inches long at back of
head ; another of same length in middle of the head ;
another jagged at the left side of back of head ; human
blood under scalp ; fracture at base of skull, right across,
so that skull copld be pulled in half. Injuries done by
sledge-hammer or back of axe. A feeling of relief was
expressed in court at the end of this hideous recital.
George Houseman M`Namara proved assisting in the
post-mortem examination, and agreed with last witness
in every particular.
Charles Coombes, through whose evidence the prisoner
was apprehended, was-next called. He detailed a con-
versation in which Jenkins said he could earn his living
between three and six, before they were up. (Sensation.)
This statement did not surprise the witness.
Coombes was then severely examined as to the whole
of the occupants of the lodging-house on Saturday. He
said: There were Jenkins, Carter, and Phil. When I came
down on Sunday Dan says to me, " You wouldn'tknow the
blacksmith." I said, " Why not ? " Dan said, "Why, he's got
a watch, a carpet bag, and a suit of clothes." That was
about nine in the morning. About ten Jenkins came
downstairs. I almost stepped back with surprise. I
said, " Halloa ! What have you been doing." I told
Mrs. Balland there must be something wrong. A brother

would not give a man his watch and chain and strip him-
self. Mrs. Balland says, " Nonsense, there's nothing
the matter. I have no doubt he got them all right." I
says, " Well, you'll hear something by and bye."
Witness continued : At night when they were going
to bed, Jenkins said he should go out into the road and
fetch in a horse and trap, he had bought of a man that
was driving it along the road. He went out and
witness again asked Mrs. Balland what she thought,
now ? and she made the same reply, but witness was
sure there was something wrong, and continued to
think so. Next morning he saw Jenkins coming
out of the Bell beershop with two "gals," and in the
evening he told him he wanted to pawn a watch and
witness made an excuse to get rid of him, but he followed
him and then they got drinking. -While they were in
the Queen's Head, a man said " Have you heard of the
murder." I says " Murder," he said " yes, of seven
people." Jenkins then suddenly said, " Which is the way
into the back yard." I shewed him and saw him go
into the closet. I told Mrs. Balland again, I said, " That
man's done the murder and no other."
By the Coroner : I fancy Marshall had a pony and
chaise, and that Jenkins went there on Sunday for them.
He told me that he had stolen as many horses as there
were in Uxbridge.

Coroner : When was that ?
Witness : Before he " did " the two months. He told
me he stole his father's horse, and sold it for 214, and that
then he wrote to his father and told him where it was, and
he went and fetched it.
Sarah Alderman, landlady of the Doc, and Duck, about
a mile from Marshall's house on the Uxbridge- roaa,
proved that at a quarter before eight on Sunday morning
a man came to her house and wanted to be served. He
said he was a traveller, and came from Wycombe. He
had a carpet bag like that (produced) and paid her ls. out
of a purse.
Mary Ann Sparks, sister of Mrs. Marshall, recalled,
said she recollected Marshall wearing such a hat as that
which was worn by the prisoner before his arrest. " This
shirt is like those I helped to make, and I know my sister
altered the collars like this. That is my brother's tie,
and those his trousers. [She then identified every article
seriatim.]
Daniel Love, warder of Reading. said I knew: the
accused as Reynolds, alias Jones, alias Owen. I recog-
nise this jacket as one whichbelonged to a man who served
seven years. I gave it him. He also had these boots,
which belonged to a warder, and are somewhat peculiar.
That was on the Bth of January, when he left, and he had
done eighteen months for stealing a ewe and a lamb ; when
he left he asked me how long it was to Uxbridge.
He said he knew a man who had got some money, and he
would have it, and rather than have eighteen months
again he'd murder him. He is described in our calendar
as a widower, and smith, and I fancy comes from Bath. I
believe his name is Owen.

The Court adjourned at 1.30 for half an hour.
James Western, assistant to Mr. Butcher, pawnbroker,
Reading, said on Monday evening a man came in with a
watch and chain, and asked 255. I asked him his name,
and he said, " George Wilson, of Reading." I said, "Is
it yours?" He said " Yes," rather sharply. He added
he was going to Reading, and was on the spree.'
I said, "We don't lend to people on the
spree." He said, "Oh, lend me something, if its
only 155., as I must go to Reading to see my father.''
Mr. Butcher advised him not to leave it, and he said,
" You're one of those quiet men ; you're like my
father." I then gave him a duplicate, and lent 15s.
The Coroner: Has the other half been traced?

Superintendent Dunham said he could prove he was
trying to sell it in Uxbridge.
Superintendent Duncomb said that Jenkins was offer-
ing this watch to a man in Denham on Sunday, but he
had not been able to get him yet. It was possible
that he had exchanged the watch with this man.
In answer to the coroner, the superintendent said
he thought the militiaman who had threatened
' Marshall knew nothing whatever about the murder, as it
had been clearly discovered where he was during the time
and all the night.
P.C. Trevener, to whom the accused had related the
story of the man trying to throw his wife into the cut,
identified the tramp's clothes found in Marshall's house as
those worn by the man he had met.
This concluding the evidence,
The Coroner said the whole of the evidence was very
strong, thoagh circumstantial, and it all pointed to one
man. That man as far back as January, had stated' his
intention to have Marshall's money or murder him. Ile
came to Uxbridge, but committed an offence for which he
suffered imprisonment, and only came out on Saturday,
and then he was clearly proved to be out all night the
night of the murder. He returned to the. house
on Sunday with a carpet bag, wearing Marshall's
property, part of which he had since destroyed, and
beyond this in the bedroom were articles which he was
seen to wear at the lodging-house on Saturday, and with
which he had not returned to the lodging-house.
At this point Superintendent Dunham produced the
key of the house of the murdered family, brought from
Reading, which was found on the accused.
The jury at once returned a verdict of " Wilful
murder" against John Jones, alias Jenkins.