The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-24 00:00:00

THE DAGENHAM MURDER.

On Thursday morning a more minute examination
was made of the spot where the murder was perpetrated,
in the presence of the reporter, and the facts elicited are
most important, as showing that the murder must have
been cool and premeditated, and the spot selected admi-
rably calculated for the commission of the crime. 'The
field in question is situate about a quarter of a mile from
the Dagerham Road. It is an extremely large one, and
on the western side there is a great bend in the high
blackthorn hedge which surrounds ft, forming a perfect
nook. In this nook the body was found; and, as if it
were planned, the spot selected is the farthest point
from either of the three farms in the vicinity, and
upwards of a quarter of a mile from the main road, and
the same distance from the deceased man's beat. The
question arises how Clarke came there, It is absurd to
suppose that single handed he would have ventured to
follow vmagglers or depredators to such a spot, while on
the other hand he would be compelled, as an act of duty,
to follow his sergeant or any brother officer who ex-
pressed a conviction that something might b 3 going on
wrong there,
An absurd statement made its way into ere of the
morning papers of Friday, that Clarke was known to
have a quantity of sovereicns in his box at the station,
and that the failure to obtain the key by some of his
comrades induced the murder. If' the author had read
the evidence of constable Stevens who came with Clarke
to Dagenham from th© Arbour-square station, he would
see that there was no key to Clarke's box, for being,
unable to find it when he left Arbour-square, he him-
self burst it open to show his comrades that he was taking
nothing away but his own.
Although not in evidence, it is a fact that a handker-
chief stained with blood was picked up in the field ad-
joining that in which the murdered man was found, and
it is thought likely to lead to certain and tangible re-
sults. However strong the suspicions may appear
against Sergeant Parsons, it is considered that the
strongest point is that of his not accounting for his time
on the night of the murder, and his persisting in the as•.
sertion that he was on duty, although all the constables
admit that, in the first instance, they committed
perjury in saying so, and now declare he was
not. There appears to be an absence of motive.
unless it could have arisen from the simple
circumstance stated in the first day's evidence, namely,
that on the evening of the murder, while Clarke was
talking to Parsons, who was at the time on horseback,
Mrs. Parsons came along with his sister, and on com-
plaining of being tired, the deceased Clarke jocosely of-
fered to lift her on the sergeant's horse. _

The conduct of the constable Butfoy throughout the
affair, together with his anxiety to cross examine all the
witnesses as to his being on duty on the night of the
murder, has also excited great suspicion; and he, as
well as the sergeant, are closely watched. It is under-.
stood that steps are being taken by the authorities of
the Home-office and the Commissioners of Police to in-
dict the whole of the constables who have sworn falsely
for perjury, but it will not be carried out until evidence
is adduced, which is supposed to be in train, for bring-
ing home the more atrocious crime of murder to the
right parties.—Observer.

AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER

AT LEEDS.

A case of manslaughter of a most appalling character
occurred in the Old Post-office-yard, Kirkgate, (the
resort of the lower class of itinerant Irish, English ped-
lars, and low travellers), on Wednesday night. The
offender, who took away the life of one woman, and
placed in imminent danger that of another, is a man
named Wm. Walshaw, 29 years of age, who is a hawker
of hardware from town to town, but whose chief places
of residence have been Pontefract and Leeds. He co-
habits with a woman, and has children. On Wednes-
day evening he went to his lodgings in a state of intoxi-
cation, and commenced a quarrel with the woman who
lives with him, and shortly afterwards he began to ill-
use one of his children. The cries of the mother
aroused the neighbours, one of whom went and took
the child from him. Walshaw then went away, hooted
by a large body of women who had assembled in the
yard. He was absent for about an hour and a half. In
the meantime his wife got all the women around her,
and began to expose his cruel treatment. The women
resolved to mob him, and on his return two of them
entered his lodgings, while others outside were calling
for him to be turned out. At this moment he pulled a
parcel of knives from his pocket, took one in each hand,
and with the blades open made towards the door. On
the steps were two women named Elizabeth Smith and
Kitty McLoughlan. He made a rip at each. and stabbed
the former in the abdomen, and the latter in the thigh.
Smith's wound proved fatal within about two hours
afterwards ; and McLoughlan was removed to the in-
firmary in a dangerous state. Apprehensive of the con-
sequences, the desperate man attempted to escape from
them by flight, but was secured by policeman Ruddock,
who was at that time proceeding to the police-office to
resume duty. Both Smith and McLoughlan are the
wives of pedlars. The latter has a numerous family.
Smith had one child. Walshaw is generally known by
the title of •‘ Sheffield Bill." An inquest was held on
the body of Elizabeth Smith, and a verdict of man-
slaughter returned against Walshaw, the jury express•
ing their opinion that it was a very aggravated case.
Walshary was then, committed to York Castle, for trial
at the next assizes. McLoughlan is still in a precarious
state at the Leeds Infirmary.—Leeds Mercury.