The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-08 00:00:00

FOLKESTONE, THURSDAY NIGHT.
The adjourned investigation into the deaths of Maria
and Caroline Back, the two unfortunate victims in
the late tragedy sear Dover, was held this morning at
10 o'clock, at the Royal Oak Inn, in the parish of
Hougham, Kent, by Mr. T. T. Delassaux, coroner for
the county, and a highly respectable jury, composed of
the principal farmers and inhabitants of the district.
The excitement caused by the perpetration of this foul
tragedy, instead of being abated, would appear to have
been rather on the increase, for during the whole of the
day the inquest room was crowded ; and not only that,
but the place whore tee murders were committed, known
as Steddy Hole, in the parish of Capeble-Ferne was
visited by a large number of people from the immediate
neighbourhood, as was also the barn of Burrill's Cottage,
to which the bodies were removed on their discovery.
The parents of the deceased were present, and sp-
eared much affected.
Thomas Gurling, carpenter, of Folkestone, was the first
witness called. After some objection to take the oath,
stating that he did not believe in a Supreme Being, and
was of no religion, he said on Sunday morning, about
eight o'clock, he left Folkestone with a friend, and pro-
ceeded nearly as far as Dover, and returned as far as
the Steddy Hole, when he sat down on a cliff reading
for about half an hour. He was trying to find a path
down to the beach when be saw the two females. He
did not take them to be women at first, but on going
closer to the nearest fie ffiend tifiej-Weie human beings.
The first one he came to was Maria, the youngest,
whose clothes were disordered. He looked at her face
and dress, and found she was saturated in blood about
the chest. He called assistance, and then he went to
the other female, who was also dead. The blood was
on her clothes and her fingers were cut.
By the Coroner—They were lying about 15 yards from
each other when he saw them. The bodies were re-
moved whilst he went to inform the superintendent of
police, and when be next saw them they were at the cot-
tage. When he discovered them they were both dead.
He saw they were both wounded about the chest. Had
not met anybody but a young man, evidently a visitor,
going towards Dover, before he discovered the dead bo-
dies in Steddy Hole. Did not see the wounds on their
chest, but saw blood on the front part of the dress of
each.
Mrs. Back, the mother, was recalled, and said she did
not see the soldier Redanies and the deceased girls at
breakfast, but she heard them talking ; and before they
went away R,edanies called out " Good morning." They
left at five o'clock. The deceased were her daughters.
John Back deposed that he was a labourer, of Dover.
Had known Dedea Redanies seven or eight months, and
were well acquainted. Redanies went to his house at
8 o'clock on Saturday night, and left at half past 9, and
did not return again till about a quarter to 3 in the morn-
ing. The deceased were going to Folkestone, and Re-
danies proposed that they should accompany him to
Shorncliffe camp. Witness asked him if he would come
and take breakfast before he started with the girls. It
was proposed to have breakfast at 3 o'clock, bat he came
shortly before 3 o'clock. Witness breakfasted with
Redaniep and the two girls. Redanies and the girls left
for his master's quarters shortly after 3. There was
no quarrelling between them, but they all seemed merry.
Redanies said he had no doubt Mr. Smith would have a
breakfast ready for them when they got to the encamp-
ment.
By the Coroner—He had since seen Redanies at the
Canterbury Hospital. That was yesterday (Wednesday).
He was then in bed asleep, and his person covered with
a sheet. excepting his face. He (witness) knew how his
daughters were dressed.
Mr. Clement (superintendent of the Canterbury po-
lice) then, by the direction of the coroner, produced
two black mantles, or visites; which he said he teok off
the prisoner.
The father said (pointing them out) " That belonged
to Caroline and that to Maria."
Witness resumed—Did not see any knife about Re-
denies on the Saturday or Sunday. Never saw him wish
a knife. Redanies was not keeping company with Caro-
line. Neither of the girls ever walked with him before.
When Redanies brought his officer's clothes to witness's
house to be washed he might have joked them.
By the Jury—Psedanies came unexpected on the Sa-
turday evening. If be had not called, the girls were
going by the train to Folkestone at 6.15. Maria was
going with Caroline, as the latter had not been well.
Mr. Wm. Bateman, of Folkestone, said he was a sur-
geon in practice. About 9 o'clock on Sunday morning
last ho received a message from Mr. Superintendent
Steers to see the dead females. He went and found
them lying in an outbuilding adjoining a cottage at
Capel-le-Ferne. He had them removed into a room.
Examined the body of Maria Back (the youngest) first.
He found the dress of the degeased but little disordered.
She had on her gloves and bonnet, and the front of her
dress was buttoned close up to her neck. That part of
her dress was saturated with blood. He found holes in
her dress, on removing which he saw four incised wounds
in the chest, each about half an inch iu length, and pene-
trating deeply into the chest. There were two wounds
on each side of the chest, between the second and fourth
ribs, and from the direction of the wounds he was clearly
of opinion that the arch of the aorta was wounded, and
that death proceeded therefrom almoi-t instantly.
George Frier, constable of Thannington, near Kent,
produced a knife about four inches long in the blade and
three quarters wide, which he said he got from the ,01.
dier Redanies when he apprehended him on Monday af-
ternoon, about two o'clock, between Canterbury and
Chatham, under the able direction of Mr. Wm. Walker,
superintendent of the home division, Kent County Con
stabulary, who had surrounded Effin Wood with his
men.
The Coroner—Might the wounds you found have been
inflicted with that knife ! •
Mr. Bateman—Exactly.
Mr. Baseman then said he examined the body of Caro-
line Back. He found three wounds of the same sort on
the chest. One of them had passed through the carti-
lage, another through the sternum, or chest bone, and
the third was on the left breast, but had not entered the
chest. They were all stabs. There was also a stab on the
left hand. Both of their chests were filled with blood.
They had not bled much externally. The bodies were
quite warm when he saw them, and on turning them
over the blood a ushed out of the wounds.
George Frier, the constable, deposed that on Monday
last, from information received from Mr. Superintendent
Walker, he proceeded along the Ashford turnpike road,
near the viaduct, where' fie saw a soldier, who itnrnedi-
attdy drew his hand from his heart, and threw the knife
(produced) down to the ground. He then ran up and
caught bold of him, as did also another man. Witness
could not then see that he was bleeding. He unbuttoned
a strap which was round his body, and to which was
attached a handkerchief containing some bread and to-
bacco, He then took one of the capes (produced by
Superintendent Clements) from the back of the soldier.
Another female cloak remained on his back. The wit-
ness and the other man laid him down on the grass and
sent for Dr. Bond, who advised his removal to Canter.
bury Hospital, where he (witness) had watched him in
the daytime since. Luring the night he was watched
by another constable. There were three wounds in his
left breast.
By the Coroner—There were a great many persons
round the soldier, whose name was Dedea Redanies.
By the Jury—Did not see the soldier stab himself.
Mr. John Clements, superintendent of the Canterbury
(city) police, said that from information he received on
Monday afternoon he proceeded along the Ashford-road
from Canterbusy, and saw Redanies lying on the grass
surrounded by about a dozen men, and Dr. Bond was
dressing some wounds on his chest, and from which blood
was flowing. By Dr. Bond's direction he was removed
to Canterbury Hospital. When at the hospital he took
the two capes produced from him. One of the capes had
three cots in it covered with fresh blood, and correspond-
ing with the wounds on the body of Dedea Redanies.
Witness left Redanies at the Kent and Canterbury Hos-
pital in charge of a constable. •
George Marsh, ostler at the Royal Oak public-house,
deposed that abut five o'clock on Sunday morning last
he was sitting on a bank near the turnpike road leading
from Dover to Folkestone, when he saw two young
women walking arm-in-arm with a soldier, who was
rather a short man, and appeared to be a foreigner. He
asked witness what was the time, to which he answered
" Five." They then went on towards Folkestone, talk-
ing, and laughing. The place where the dead bodies
were found was about one mile from where he was sit-
ting. He saw the bodies about ten o'clock on the same
day at the outhouse of the cottage. He had not the least
doubt that they were the same as the two he saw with
the soldier. Did not know the soldier.
By the Coroner—He noticed one of the girls had on
light boots. Could not say whether they bad on cloaks.
By the Foreman—He saw them walking along the
'tad about 100 yards. They appeared the same as when
they passed him.
Mrs. Elizabeth Atwood, the wife of a tradesman at
Lower Hardres, stated that on Monday last a soldier, a
foreigner, went to the shop and asked her if she knew
Irish. He asked it witness sold paper and envelopes, and
she told him she did, and he purchased two sheets of
paper, two envelopes, a bottle of ink, and a pen. He
then asked if witness would let him write a letter, and
she acquiesced. He sat down and wrote two letters, and
put them in the envelopes, and went to the post-office.
Mr. Superintendent Walker, Kent County Constabu
lary, produced two letters which Redanies placed at the
post-office, about 200 yards from the shop of Mrs. At-
wood. They were written in German, and were volumi-
nous; the one addressed to Miss Caroline Back, 3, Al-
bion-place Dover, and the other to " Herr W. Schmid,
leitnant of 4 eompagnie, 2 regiment, 2 Wallets, Britian
Swiss Legion, Kamp, Folkestone, next Dover."
Mrs. Atwood identified the paper and envelope as
those she sold to the soldier. She went to Canterbury
Hospital next day; and there she saw Redanies, whom
she identified as the soldier she served with the paper.
He then asked for a third envelope, in which he put a
duplicate (produced) for a watch pledged on the 22,1 of
Jury, for 155., at Folkestone, in the name of Dedea Re-
denies. When Redanies was at her shop he had on the
two capes, one over the other.
The Jury then adjourned for refreshments. On their re-
assembling, the following additional evidence was taken :
Mr. Wm. Walker. superintendent of the home divi-
sion, Kent County Constabulary, was sworn (after an
interval of an hour and a half, while an interpreter trans-
lated,the German letters written by Redanies from Do.
ver). He said that from information received he went to
the post-office at Lower Hardree, and there had two
letters (produced) handed to him.
Herr Henri Fuhr, interpreter, of the Ship Hotel,
Dover, was then sworn to interpret the letters produced
by Superintendent Walker.
The interpretation, as taken, closely corresponded with
a previous one, which was examined by Dr. Rhotsch, of
St. Augustine's College, and ran thus : • - • .
"Dearest Mother Back,—On the first line; r pray to

forgive me the awful accident to my unlucky Dedea Re-
danies which I committed upon my very dear Caroline
and Mary Ann Back yesterday morning at five o'clock.
Scarcely I am able to write by heartbreak for my ever
memorable Caroline and Mary Ann. The cause of my
deed is-1. As I heard that Caroline is not in the
family-way as I first believed. 2. Because Caroline
intends to go to Woolwich. 3. Because I cannot stay
with my very dear Caroline it made my heart so scat-
tered that I put into my mind at last that Caroline
rather may die from my hands than to allow Caroline's
love being bestowed upon others. However, I did
not intend to murder also Mary Ann, her sister, but
not having other opportunity, and as she was in my
way, I could not do otherwise, I must stab her too.
Dear Mother Back—Saturday evening, when I came, I
had not, at least, any intention to commit this awful
act ; but as I learned that nay dear Caroline gave me
back my likeness, and as she told me she would leave,
I did not know any other way in my heart-break than
that leading to the cutler's, where I bought a poniard,
which divided the hearty lovers. Arm by arm I brought
both my dearest souls in the world over to the unlucky
place near the road before Folkestone, and requested
them to sit down, but the grass being wet they refused
to do so, and I directed then Caroline to go forward, and
I went behind Mary Ann, into whose heart I ran the
dagger. With a dull cry she dropped down. With a
most broken heart I rushed then after Caroline, lifting
the poniard in my hand towards her. ' Dear Dedea,'
cried she, with a halfesiead voice, and fell down with
weeping eyes. Then I rushed over her, and gave her the
last kisses as an everlasting remembrance. I could not
live a more dreadful- hour-in my life than that was,
and my broken heart could not tell where my senses
were gone, and I took both the black shawls of Mary
Ann and my dear Caroline as a mourning suit for me,
leaving the awful spot with weeping eyes and a broken
heart. Never shall I forget my dear Caroline and Mary
Ann, and the poniard will be covered with the blood of
Mary Ann and Caroline with me until it be put in my
own breast, and I shall see again my dear Mary Ann
and Caroline in the eternal life. Farewell, and be care-
less about the blissfully deceased angels of God, and
forgive the unhappy, ever-weeping.
" August 3, 1856." " DEDICA REDANIES."
The other was addressed to his lieutenant, and ran
thus :
"Dearest Mr. Lieutenant Schmid,—With weeping
eyes I entreat you to pardon me, the unhappy
Dedea, and I inform you in a few words that I did
not intend to squander your watch, but to give it
only as a pledge to sister Caroline, where you will
receive back your watch from Mary Back, if you
will be so good as to go to Dover yourself, and
reclaim it at the here-mentioned address, ' Miss Maria
Back, 5, Albion-place, Dover;' I also enclose the pawn
ticket for Dr. Baumgarten. and inform you that I have
not yet got the watch. Unfortunately I cannot enclose
you the money which I spent from ( ). I sect a let-
ter to the mother of Caroline, but it is in German, and I
request you to take an early opportunity to go to Dover
and translate the letter for her. Dear Mr. Lieutenant
Schmid, keep the portrait and locket of hair attached to
it, as an eternal remembrance of that fearful Sunday
when both the girls, who were very never-to-be-forgotten
sadness and joy (here the sentence breaks off abruptly).
Dear Mr. Lieutenant Schmid, I thank you for every
good thing I experienced with you, and pardon the un-
happy Dedea Redanies, who am ready any minute be-
fore my being arrested to kill myself with the same dag-
ger with which I murdered my only joy. With the re-
quest that you will translate the other letter to Mrs.
Back, which I send her w t i your cWa (the word follow-
ing is illegible), gratefully, "DEDEA REBANIES.
"A thousand compliments to you with tears, dear
Schmid."
The Coroner then summed up in an able speech, re-
marking on the evidence given, and pointing oat the le-
gal bearings of the case. He said he never heard of a
more horrible and diabolical murder in the county, and
lit was a fortunate circumstance that the heinous crime
had been so clearly brought home to the vile wretch,
who had only too well carried out his premeditated plans;
and although the assassin had made an attempt on his
own life when he found that he was surrounded by the
officers of justice, yet no doubt, from what he had heard,
he would recover and be in a fit state to take his trial.
The jury, after afe w moments' conversation, returned
a unanimous verdict of wilful murder against Dedea Re-
danies in both cases.
The coroner having made out his warrant for the
committal of the accused the proceedings terminated.
From inquiries made it would appear that the mur-
derer, not withstanding the fearful nature of his wounds,
is progressing favourably under the skilful treatmest of
the medical authorities of the Kent and Canterbury
Hospital, and it is expected that unless a relapse takes
place he will be taken before the magistrates in the be-
ginning of next week.
The bodies of the unfortunate victims were removed
from Burvill's cottage early on Thursday morning, to
the parent's residence in-Daver,-from whence they will
be interred to-morrow (Friday).