The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-08 00:00:00

THE aIYSTERIOUS MURDER AT MID-
DLETON, NORFOLK.

This inquiry was resumed on Wednesday morn-
ing at the Crown Hotel, Middleton, before Mr.
Wilkin, coroner, and a jury. Since the last meets
isg, a fortnight ago, a considerable amount of cir-
cumstantial evidence has been produced, raising the
gravest suspicions as tie the mode by which the de-
, ceased, John Bell, came to his end ; and it will be
seen from the observations of the coroner that there
e
is every reason to belieere the efforts both of the
coroner and jury will be crowned with success. .
Wright
is but fair to state that Mr. Wilkin and Mr.
the bailiff of the county court, have beeet mostper-
severing in their efforts to arrive at a solution of
this mystery, The following evidenceav was adduced :
Reynolds Mrs. Elizabeth said--I
a I live at Denver,
and in 1849 I wets housekeeper to Thomas Butters,
of Wormegay. I. know John Moyce Butters, and I
recollect Mr. Jebel Bell being lost in Nov., 1849.
John M. Butters told me soon after Mr. Bell was
lost that he shook bands with him in Lynn on the
Tuesday he wasloft, and he had half a quartem
loaf under his arm. I shook hands with Mr. But-
ten this morning, bed I shook nothing else with
him.
After some prevaricat.;-.0.11 the witness said—l be-
lieve he (Butters) told me, it was six o'clock in the
evening when he shook hineds with Mr. Bell. At
the time he told me he was cool and collected. I
am sure he told me this within a month after Mr.
Bell was lost—within a day or two after. He told
me this at Wormegay. Ido not recollect anybody
• being at our house the night Mr, Bell was lost. I
never heard that John M. Butteets was afraid to
sleep alone after that time.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hold.gate said—el am the wife of
William Holdga te. I knew the late Mr. Bell. On
Tuesday the 13th November, 1849, he came to my
shop about half-past 4 o'clock in theafternoon. He
stayed about 5 minutes. He bought a loaf of bread
from me, and paid for it in copper. At that time my
shop was in Windsor-place, and about 400 yards
from the bridge on the London-road. At that time
he was living with his niece in Tower-street, Lynn.
Mrs. Thomasina Clarke said—l am the wife of
William Clarke, bricklayer, of Lynn. I knew the
late Mr. Bell by sight. I saw him on Tuesday the
13th of November, 1849, a little after 5 o'clock,
between the Renters'-chapel and the bridge on the
London-road. He had a handkerchief and what I
judged was a loaf of bread in his hand. He was
going the direct road from Windsor-place to Tower-
sheet. I never saw him again. He was then
going in the direction of Tower-street.
John Moyce Butters said—Did you see Mr. Bell
at Lynn on Tuesday the 13th November, 1849, with
a loaf of bread under his arm V—No, Sir.
Did you tell Mrs. Reynolds, your brother's house-
keeper, you saw him at that time with a loaf of
bresadeurider h s arm?—No, that is not true.
. Mrs. Reynolds was here confronted with the wit-
. ruses. The question having been repeated the same
answer was given by the witness.
Examination continued—l have not sent anybody
over to Mrs. Reynolds. I have seen a person named
Rockwood, but I did not give him any directions
what to say to Mrs. Reynolds. I did not say on the
last occasion that Panton was at my father's house
at Tottenhill the night Mr. Bell was lost. I can-
not swear one way or the other whether he was or
was not there that night. I cannot say whether
Mr. Spome was there, he might be or he might not.
I heard Panton examined ou the last occasion, but
I can't say whether he said he went to Lynn on
that day alone, and that he left my father's house
between 8 and 9 o'clock at night.
Thomas Spome said—l live at Wormegay, and
knew the late Mr. Bell. He came to my house some
two or three weeks prior to his being missed. He
came hem Shouldham to my house ; that was on
the Monday. I saw him the next day for the last
time, and dined with him at Tottenhill, at Mr.
Butters's house. I perfectly well recollect the
Tuesday he was lost, because I bad a strong invita-
tion to stop and take tea with a friend at Fincham,
which I declined to do, on account of urgent pri-
vate business. I returned from Fincham to
Shouhlhamthorpe-mill. When I got there I found
my pony and gig there, which I did not expect.
The consequence was that instead of riding my
horse, upon which I came to Fincham, I got into
my gig and went to Butters's I ouse at Totten-
., bill. That was about sor 6 o'clock. I saw Mrs.
Penton there. To the beet of my recollection I
never saw Mr. Panton there. If I had not seen
the published evidence I could conscientiously say
I believe he (Panton) was not there. On the
Thursday after this poor man was lost I should
not think it likely I was at Shonldhamthorps-mill.
I should not think I was, for it was Fast-day.
I might have been there, but I do not
remember it. Mrs. Panton has said is me
that I and her uncle Butters had murdered Mr.
Bell. She also said we had buried him in Tot:ca-
bin churchyard. I remember she said the; on a
Sunday morning, but I cannot tell you the date.
There was no joke in it ; she said it seriously. I
never heard her say that at Mr. B Al's death she
would claim 22 acres of land. Ido not know that
Panton and his wife had been urging him to let
them have the land. I know th .t old Mr. Bell
never intended that Panton should have the land
or to lend him a farthing of money. I have heard
old Mr. Bell say that he would not trust Mr. Pane
ton sixpence. I might have been with John Howell
at Mr. Capewhee at the Eyre Arms Inn, but I do not
remember it. There might have been a conversation
there about the death of Mr. Bell in which I took
part. I have often said that Mrs. Penton charged
me and Butters with the murder of Mr. Bell. As
to Tottenhill churchyard, I have to say that at the
time Mr. Bell was lost I was keeping the National
School at Wormegay, and Mr. Ambrose Thompson,
of Tottenhill, came to me one day, and said, " You
and the old miller (Butters) murdered old Bell
and buried him in Tottenhdl churchyard."
I said, "Do you believe it 1 " He said, " No."
Thompson said, " Let's go and see if there is any
ground fresh broke up." I said, " Pho I nonsense."
I went with him. We were there two hours, but
could not find any ground fresh broke up, and then
he was satisfied. Ido not know that at the time old
Bell was lost, Butters owed him 100/. Bell never
complained to me of Butters in money transactions.
I know where Thos. Panton lives. I never had a
misunderstanding with him as to what his wife said
of me. He has two gardens to his house. In 1836
Panton's premises were burnt down, and then he
rebuilt his house. At the time of the fire he got his
water from an adjoining pit. In 1849 there were two
gardens, which he made himself.
Thomas Butters—l live at Tottenhill, and am a
farmer. rkuew the late Mr. Bell. I saw him on a
Tuesday, three or four days after Michaelmas, 1849.
He was going to Lynn. He had been at my house
and bad some victuals. I recollect his being lest ; 'lt
was Downham fair day. I was ill at that time. I
noie,`which I aid
owed Bell 1001. on a promissory
to the oil blind man (Bell's brotaer).' I alsopoc-
cupied 22 acres of land under old Bell, which he
had bought from my brother. Mrs. Panton was
my brother's daughter. I never recollect her
making any claim to the land in question. I saw
old Bell in August, 1849 ; he came to my house.
He did not bring me any money. He came in re-
ference to an unsettled account between us. When
Mr. Bell came he said, " You have improved the
land, and I will give you 251. off your rent," which
he did. The rent was 36/. a-year. Mr. Bell
agreed to throw me off 251. from my year's rent for
1849. On the 6th of July, 1849, old Mr. Bell did
not put 251. into my hands. Old Mr. Bell's
brother did not say iu my pre,ence that his brother
said he had banded me 251. in money. The paper
was written by me to throw off a part of the rent.
ciaa Mr. Bell at that time was not feeble or childish
—not more than Initial. Mr. Johnson, a surgeon,
read the paper over to him, haa
nor write. Old Mr. 3he could neither read
the land
me that Panton
said he would like to have land, but he (Mr.
Bell) said he would never take from me.
Panton's house is about a. quarter aofway a
tmillio andfrom
I mine. At the time Mr. Bell was lost Panton
in gardens
ar
were on intimate terms.? Panton has w
—one at the back of the housa in an out of
place. I do not remember Penton plantinegway any
trees there. Mrs. Panton's saying that I and Nair. :
Spome bad put old Mr. Bell out of the way did not
alter my feeling towards Panton and her. Mr.
Spome was at my house the night Bell was missed.
I do notiecollect any body being then! besides Mrs.
Panton. Ido not recollect what time sly: left. I re-
paid the 1001 to Mr. Partr dge, the sol Otor, fin
the 15th Oct , I should say, 1850. (The note was
produced. It bears dice in 1843.) Joseph B 11, the
blind brother, never told me that his brother weer
to Gurney's bank and got 401., and thlt he to k
251. of it to me; he never told me anything of the
sort. 0:d John Bell never had words with me
about that 251. • Joseph Bell, the brother, never
said to me that he knew his brother so well that lie
was sure nobody but one of the Butters or Panton
tould have taken him our of Lynn. I knew a man
named Merrycoek, who used to live at Tottenhill.
I thir( he was living there at the time Mr.
Bell was lost. Ido not know where he is now. I
was told be was living at Marshland. 1 do. not
know whether he was in Panton's service.
Wm. N. Butters said—l am a miller, and reside
at Tottenhill. I knew the late Mr. Bell. I cannot
say when I last saw him alive. I recolleetbis being
missed. At that time I was living at Tottenhill, a
short distance from Pantou's. Id° not know the
name of the servant who was living with Panton at
that time. I first heard Mr. Bell was missed the
day after. I had not seen him for some little time
previous to that event. 1 do not recollect being at
the Temperance Hotel, Lynn, when a person brought