The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-23 00:00:00

THE DAGENHAM MURDER.

DAGENHAM, TUESDAY EVENING.—This forenoon, at
ten o'clock, the inquiry into the horrible and mysterious
murder of the police-constable George Clarke, was re-
sumed, for the sixth time, before Mr. C. C. Lewis, the
coroner, and jury, at the Cross Keys Inn, facing Dagen-
ham Church_

It would scarcely be imagined, considering the long
period which has elapsed since the perpetration of the
murder, that public excitement should still prevail. So
far, however, from having subsided, the interest felt in
the proceedings appears to have increased with each
adjournment of the inquest, more particularly amongst
the resident gentry, and more respectablelcl asses, resident
in the vicinity of Dagenham and the surrounding villages.
Notwithstanding the early hour at which the resumption
of the inquest was appointed to take place, long before
that time not only was the inquest room, but every avenue
leading thereto, densely crowded.
Mr. Superintendent Pearce was again in attendance to
watch the case on the part of the police commissioners.
Mr. Rawlings, solicitor, of Rumford, attended on the
part of Sergeant Parsons (still under the strict surveil-
lance of the police); and Mr. Superintendent l`viacquard
and Inspector Richardson, of the K division, as also
several officers of the detective force, were in attendance.
The Coroner took his seat a few minutes after ten
o'clock, and the jury having answered to their names.
Police-constable George Dunning was first called and
examined—He said, my number is 397 K. I have been
on duty at Dagenhatn rather better than nine weeks.
Parsons has not during any part of that time been in my
charge. During the time I have been at Dagenh km
station Sergeant Parsons has been there. I recollect the
night of August the 27th. Between eleven and twelve
o'clock on that night I was at the station, in a back
room, and I heard quarrelling between Sergeant Par-
sons and his sister, who were at the time up stairs. Ido
not know what they were quarrelling about, but I heard
her accuse him of something. I could not distinctly un-
derstand what it was, but the reply Parsons made to that
was—" Do you mean this affair?" but what affair he
alluded to I don't know. When he said " this affair,"
she replied, " Yes, this affair, and others too." Parsons
then began to cry, and I heard no more. I knew that
he was crying, for he cried out loud, so that I could hear
him. I spoke of this to Sergeant Pearson, who was at
the time in the charge-room, and to Sergeant Corvin,
the acting sergealt. I was called on to snake a report
about it on the Tuesday following, which I gave to Ser-
geant Pearson. _ _

—By the CORONER—I heard Parsons and leis sister quar-
relling when I was in the street, and I then heard Par-
sons threaten to throw his sister down stairs if she did
not hold her tongue. I heard no other threat. I think
this was a quarter of an hour before I heard them when
I was in the station. I have told you all I have heard, to
the best of my recollection, and all I reported to Ser-
geant Pearson.

CoaoNEß—Don't you know that you reported to Ser•
grant Pearson that you heard Parson's sister say, " You
know that you are guilty of it ?" Witness—No, I did
not report the word " guilty " that I recollect.
Collo:um—You must recollect either one thing or the
other, and if you do not you are a most unfit person to
give evidence either before this or any other jury.
George Corvin, police-constable 100 K—l am acting
sergeant of police, stationed at llagtinhatn. On. the
night of the 27th of August I was on duty at the Da-
genham station. Between the hours of 12 and 1, Dun-
ning, the constable, called me to the stairs to listen to
Sergeant Parsons and his sister quarrelling. They were
up stairs and the door closed. I could not hear one
word distinctly that they spoke. Dunning seated to me,
whilst standing at the stairs, that " Sergeant Parsons'
sister had said, You know you are guilty of it." That
Sergeant Parsons made answer directly, "In this
affair? " His sister then said, " Yes, and many
more." Sergeant Parsons then called her an oppro-
brious epithet and burst out crying►. That is the report
Dunning made to me. lam certain every word I stated
is correct.

By the CORONER—I heard a noise as if some one was
crying when I was at the bottom of the stairs. I could
not tell if it was a man or woman crying.
Dunning was recalled, and said he had no recollection
of making use of the word " guilty,"
CORONER—Why, you repeated to me, word for word,
in the yard of this house, that which Corvin has now
stated. I was very particular in questioning you, and
the statement made by Corvin is exactly the report you
made to me.

Sergeant Pearson was next called, and declared that
Dunning said to him that Parsons' sister had said to him,
"You know that you are guilty."
Julia Parsons, the sister of Sergeant Parsons, was
hero called in and sworn —She said—l recollect being at
the Dagenham station on the night of the 27th of
August. I was with my brother up stairs on that night.
His wife was away from him, at her father's, at Barking-
side. We had a few words on that night concerning
our own family. I don't know how long we were quar-
relling, but should say half an hour.
CORONER—DO you happen to recollect what you said
to him during the quarrel? Witness—l said very little
to him. During the time we were quarrelling there
was no allusion made to the death of Clarke. My brother
was making allusion to his brothers not writing to him
ever since he has been under arrest. Ido not remember
what I said to him, but I was in a passion. Ido not re-
collect saying anything about the murder of Clarke. I
did not say that he knew he was guilty of it.
• CORONER—WiII you undertake to swear that you did
not say so? Witness—Yes, I will. Ido not remember
having said anything like that. lie called mo some
names I cannot mention, and at the end of the quarrel
he cried. All I accused him of was concerning our own
family.
CORONER—Do you recollect his asking you, when you
accused him of several things, " Do you mean this
affair ?" 'Witness—l do not recollt ct his saying so. I
would swear he did not say so. I admit I was in a great
passion at the time, and may not recollect all that was
said between us.

By the CORONER—I will swear that I know no more
about the matter than I have already stated. T haVerio.
reason to believe the statement I have previously made
about my brother being at home on the night of the
murder is untrue.

Edward Langley examined—l am a sergeant of the
detective police force. I came to Dagenham on the 16th
of last month. I recollect going to the spot where
Clarke was murdered in company with sergeant Par-
sons, on the 18th, two days after I came here. On my
return I picked up this handkerchief (now produced) in
a meadow adjoining the field where the murder took
place. On attempting to pig( it up it stuck to the grass,
and I then found that it was clotted with blood as it is now.
The handkerchief was here produced to the jury. It
is of silk, having a blue ground, with a figured orange,
'yellow, and crimson border, very old, and much torn.
There was a great quantity of blood-stains upon it.
The CORONER directed that the handkerchief should
be left at Dagenham station where it could be identified.
That might in all probability lead to some discovery as
to the owner.

[Mr. Rawlings here expressed his wish, on the part of
Parsons, that Inspector Richardson should be examined
as to certain words alleged to have fallen from Sergeant
Parsons, whilst sitting at a public-house at Romford, by
a witness named Clements.]
Mr. Inspector Richardson was then sworn—He said,
on Wednesday, the Bth of July, I was at Romford, with
Sergeant Pearson, who was in front of me walking, and
we went into a public-house with Clements. When
there, I asked Clements what his name was? and told
him to sit down. He turned round and sat down upon
the form, and in doing so Clements gave a very heavy
sigh. Sergeant Parsons was sitting a little to his right
reading the newspaper. I told Clements that I had heard
he had received a heavy blow in the neck. He said,
" No." I asked him to show me, and he took off his
handkerchief. I then observed just under his ear an old
abscess. I examined his chest all the way down, and I
then let him go.
Mr. Rawlings—Will you ask the witness whether he
heard anything drop from Parsons on that occasion?
CORONER—The most important thing is whether
Clements got into the room before Inspector Richardson.
Inspector Richardson—When I arrived Parsons was
reading the newspaper, and Pearson and Clements were
in the room.

Mr. Rawlings wished to know if the inspector heard
Parsons say anything, as stated by Clements ? The
reason he wished to have this question answered, was
the fact that he believed he could show that Sergeant
Parsons was never left alone in the company of Cle-
ments. It had gone forth to the world that Parsons and
Clements were alone when the alleged observation
(" Al), poor fellow ! 1 wish I had not done it, now,' )
was made.

Inspector Richardson, in answer to the Coroner, said,
he certainly saw Parsons in the thoughtful position de-
scribed by Clements, but he did not hear him make the
statement alleged to have been heard by Clements.
Thomas Pearson—l am a pollee sergeant, 32 K. On
the Bth of July I went to the Lion public-house at Rom-
ford with the man Clements. I first entered the room,
and Clements followed me. I found Sergeant Parsons
there, sitting on the left-hand side of the room, reading
the newspaper. I remained in the room, I think, about
three or four minutes, and then left and went to the bar.
I was not absent I should say more than half a minute.
I returned to the room, and myself and Inspector Rich-
ardson then examined Clements, and I remained there
until Clements went away. Parsons was reading the
paper the greater portion of the time, but I heard nothing
fall from him during the time I was there.
By the CORONER—When I left the room, Inspector
Richardson was standing at the door of the room with
the door-handle in his hand. Parsons and Clements
were, at the time I left them, sitting close together, with
Clements on the left hand side of Parsons.

The CORONER here inquired of Mr. Rawlings if he
desired any more witnesses to be examined, or if Par.
sons desired to make any statement to the jury.
Mr. Rawlings replied in the negative.
By direction of the Coroner, Kimpton, Farns, Hick-
ton, Butfoy, and the other constables placed under the
surveillance of the police, were here sent for from the
Dagenham police-station. On their arrival,
Kimpton was first called, and said, in answer to the
CORONER. that he had nothing further to state, and that
the last evidence he gave was true.
Fares was similarly questioned, as were also Hickton
and Butfoy, and they also said their last evidence was
true, and they had nothing further to add.
There being no further evidence,
The CORONER proceeded at some length to address
the jury. He observed that the charge which they had
so long had in hand could only be viewed as a murder of
a very atrocious and mysterious character. He had no
doubt they were aware that it was their duty not to
allow their minds to be swayed by ar.y reports they
might have either heard or read concerning this lamenta-
ble occurrence, but to be guided solely by the evidence
adduced before them. They would bear in mind the
circumstances of the case. The unfortunate young
man George Clarke was but 20 years of age. He had
only been in the police about six months, and had come
".o Dagenham about six weeks before hi sdeatb, in coa-
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