The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-24 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT DAGENHAM.
ADJOURNED CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE

BODY OF CLARKE.

DAGENHAM, THURSDAY NIGHT.—This evening, at six
o'clock, C. C. Lewis, Esq., Coroner for the southern division
of the county of Essex, with the jury empannelled to inquire
into the circumstances attending the death of George Clarke,
the policeman of the K division, re-assembled at the Cross
Keys Inn, Dagenham, further to prosecute the inquiry.
The first witness called was Priscilla Page, whose evi-
dence went to corroborate that of her mother with reference
to Police-constable Kempton saving that he did duty for
Sergeant Parsons on the night deceased was murdered.
In answer to questions from the Coroner, the witness said
that on the night of the murder she slept in the same room
with her mother, in consequence of her father sitting up all
night in his barn to watch his corn. The last time she saw
her father that night was about half-past ten o'clock, when
he went into the barn.
Ralph Page examined—l perfectly recollect the night of
the murder. It was on the 29th of June, and was a
Monday night. I left my house on that night between Rine
and ten o'clock, and went into my barn, taking the key and
locking myself inside. I laid myself on the top of some
sacks of wheat, and remained in the barn until five the next
morning. The only thing I heard during the night was my
dog barking three or four times. I should say, as well as I
could judge, it might be between one and two, or nearly three
o'clock when the dog barked. I heard of Clarke being
missed on the night of Tuesday, the 30th, from my wife,
who said one of the policemen was missing. I saw the po-
liceman Kempton on the Wednesday morning, near my
house. I asked him whetherhe had found his comrade, and
he said no. I said, "Is there any truth about dragging the
ponds yesterday ?" and he said," Yes, we were dragging the
ponds until nine o'clock last night." He then said, "I think
it was of very little use dragging the ponds, for I think he'll
not be found till harvest-time, and then he'll be found in one
of the corn-fields." I made no observation to him at this
time, but in the afternoon of the same day I met Sergeant
Parsons and three policemen. The latter were setting on a
gate in the road, belonging to Mr. Collier. The sergeant
was conversing with Mr. ➢larsh, and I entered into con
versetion with the three men. I stated to them that which
Kempton had spoken to me about in the morning, and I said,
" If so be he is in a corn-field, it is easily to be traced in the
state in which the corn is in now, for was a dog to run into a
field of standing corn you could track the way he had gone."
Sergeant Parsons then came over to the men, and he said
they had looked round the corn-fields, but could find no
trace of anything of the sort. Our conversation then ended,
and I went home.

Mrs. Page and Kempton were here called in, and Mrs.
Page repeated her assertion with respect to Kempton saying
he did duty for Parsons, which Kempton as positively
denied.
In answer to the CORONER, Mrs. Page said, that she never
said to a Mrs. Scott that she was up all night in her kitchen
on the night of the murder.
Mrs. Scott was called, but for some time refused to take an
oath. She at length said, that on Sunday week last she
went to see the spot where the man was murdered, and heard
Mrs. Page say that Kempton did not state one word of truth
before the coroner. She asked her if she (Mrs. Page) did
not hear cries for help on the night of the murder, and she
said she did not, for she was up in her kitchen all night.
This statement was partly cwroborated by another wit.
ness, named Bright, who was present on the occasion alluded
to by Mrs. Scott.
Mr. John Colin, surgeon, of Romford, examined—l have
this morning, in company with Mr. Butler, re-examined the
exhumed body of the deceased Clarke. It was not much

more decomposed than before burial. The wounds presented
a different appearance than when I first saw them, as some of
the integuments had given way. ➢ly attention was called
to the large opening in the skull, with a view of ascertaining
if a pistol ball had been fired into the head, but on exa-
mining the other side, it was quite clear that that was
not the case. Our attention was then directed to the wound
behind the ear. I pressed the cutlass produced by the police
into the wound to the depth of about an inch and a half. I
am certain that this wound was inflicted by some sharp in-
strument or knife, and not by a ball. In addition to the large
opening at the back of the skull, we found another fracture
extending downwards towards the neck, which I have no
doubt was done at the same time as the large opening, mid
with some blunt instrument.

By the CORONER—Every one of the wounds ahout the de-
ceased's head and neck was quite sufficient to cause death.
Although the cutlass only fitted into the wound an inch and
a half, it was no doubt deeper. I think the wound was in-
flicted by a sharper instrument than the cutlass. The wound
across the throat was certainly not done with it. The wound
across the throat, and the one in the neck, were no doubt in-
flicted before death, and whilst the deceased was lying on
the ground. I came to this conclusion from the appearance
of the blood, a quantity of which had run down the right
shoulder, and there being only a small spot on the shirt. The

Large wound on the skull mist have taken the murderers of

the some time to have done. He could have no
power to defend himself after the wound in the head. The
wound at the back of the neck, extending to the vertebra;,
was done with the cutlass.

Mr. Charles Butler, surgeon, corroborated Mr. Colins's
statement, and, in addition, stated that it was a most singu-
lar circumstance, but not a particle of brain was found in the
skull of the deceased.

Elizabeth Dodd, a simple girl, made a rambling statement
with reference to crossing Dagenham fields on the night of
the murder, and seeing a tall man with a fustian coat on in
conversation with a policeman, and to hearing the man make
use of threatening language to the constable; but the evi-
dence was so vague that the Coroner would not enter it upon
his depositions.
William Kettle and James March were called to prove
having heard Kempton say that ue uoiug uury for Par-
sons on the night of the murder. At first they said they did
not know anything about it; but the latter, on being re-
minded by his master that he had told him that he did hear
what Kempton said, his memory appeared refreshed, and he
said that he heard Kempton say that he was on the horse
that night.
Sergeant Parsons here said, that he thought the time had
arrived when he should be allowed to speak. It appeared to
him that they were endeavouring to prove him the murderer.
He could, however, produce three or four witnesses who
would wholly contradict the statements made.

.
The Coßmma, said there was no imputation whatever upon
Parsons. They were endeavouring to test the truth of
whether Kempton did make the statement attributed to him
or not.

Julia Parsons examined—l reside at 49, Oxford-street,
Mile-end, London. Sergeant Parsons is my brother. I was
staying with him at Dagenham from the Saturday before the
deceased was missed until the Monday week after. I re-
member the night of the 29th. I was out before the men
went on duty to go to Romford. I returned home to Dagen-
ham station about a quarter after nine. I came home across
the fields by the thatched cottage. On getting into the road
I met my brother and the deceased Clarke. My brother was
riding, and Clarke was walking. I stopped and spoke
with them. Clarke appeared very cheerful. My brother's
wife was with me, and she said she was tired, upon which
the deceased, in a joking manner, offered to put her on
my brother's horse. We then returned home and Clarke
and my brother went on. My brother came home again
to the station about twelve o'clock. He then made out
the report and afterwards want out again. That was
before one o'clock. I did not see him again until about
nine the next morning. I went to bed directly after
my brother went out. I slept in the room adjoining my
brother's room. I heard no one come home during the night,
but about a quarter-past six o'clock I heard my brother say
that Clarke had not come home, and that he should go
and look for him. My brother went out, and on coming
home at nine o'clock had breakfast and said Clarke could not
be found.
The CORONER said, if Sergeant Parsons desired any wit-
nesses to be called he would be happy to hear them.
Several witnesses were called, and distinctly proved see-
ing Parsons on duty at different intervals during the night.
The CORONEZ and several of the jury expressed them-
selves fully satisfied that Parsons was performing his duty in
a proper manner.
Inspector Richardson, in answer to the CORONER, said that
that was the whole of the evidence he had to offer.

The CORONER said that there were a variety of articles
which had been found, but as Mr. Anderson, the governor of
Ilford Gaol, was absent in Kent, and who, he understood, had
most important evidence to give, he would put it to the jury
whether the ends of justice would not be better answered by
having another adjournment.
The jury acquiesced, and the investigation was adjourned
for a month.

ACCIDENT IN THE LONDON DOCKS.—Yesterday, at
noon, a very distressing accident occurred at the London
Docks to one of the engineers, named William Cooper, aged
55 years, residing in Nelson-street, Snow's-fields. He was
on the way from dinner to the manufactory, and, while
passing over the swing bridge at the Wapping entrance of
the docks, just after a vessel had passed, his right leg be-
came jammed between the centre of the bridge, crushing
his ankle and foot in a most shocking manner. The poor
man was released with all speed, and taken to a surgeon's
close by, and subsequently to his home, where he now re-
mains in a very deplorable state of suffering.
ROYAL SEA-BATHING INFlRMARY.—Yesterday the
fifty.first anniversary meeting of the Governors of this insti-
tution was held at the London Coffeehouse, Ludgate-hill.
The chair was taken by Henry Desborough, Esq., who was
supported by B. B. Cabbell, Esq., the Rev. R. G. Baker,
M.A., rector of Fulham, Edward Poynder, Esq., and other
gentlemen. From the statement of accounts presented by
Mr. Paul, the secretary, it appeared that the infirmary was
established in the year 1796, and up to the year 1845, 19,972
persons had been recipients of its benefits. Considerable im-
provements and additions had been made to the institution
at Margate, the principal one being the erection of a new
wing, by which 280 more patients could be provided for.
Reservoirs had been constructed for the use of the patients,
and had been productive of immense benefit. The receipts
of the year had been 2,9071., and the expenditure less than
that sum by 516/. A discussion took place with respect to
the balance-sheet, some of the governors being of opinion
that it was too general. For the interests of the institution,
they thought the BUMS expended should be particularised,
and a resolution to that effect was adopted.

THE LAWYERS IN TILE ASCENDANT.—A special
meeting of the Court of Guardians of Canterbury took place
yesterday (Wednesday) morning, for the purpose of reconsi-
dering the subject of excluding professional gentlemen from
the clerkship. The Court came to the decision of rescinding
their former order, by 22 to• 7 ; three guardians did not vote.
The election is to take place next week. We understand there
are several candidates, but the contest lies principally between
two.—Kentish Observer.
THE KINEATON MURDER.— KINEATON, THURSDAY
NlGHT.—James Shelswell, the labouring man who was in
custody on suspicion of having murdered Chater, on the let
of the present month, was brought up to-day for re-exami-
nation at the magistrate's office. After hearing witnesses at
considerable length, the magistrates said, that although the
evidence was of a suspicious nature against him, yet that
they felt it their duty not to keep him in custody any longer.
Shelswell left the room, again protesting his innocence, and
he appeared more affected than during his previous axanai-
nation.

GRAND TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION. Covent-
garden Theatre has been engaged for a great teetotal de-
monstration, in August next; and in the meantime public
meetings are to be held in all the London districts, to
which the friends of temperance from all parts of England and
abroad are invited to attend.

CHEAP PRUlT.—Yusterday, so largo was the influx
of foreign currants, that the price was generally reduced
throughout the metropolis to 10d. per gallon, whereas during
the last week it was the mune per quart.