The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-08 00:00:00

THE ANDOVER MURDER.

After our report of the examination of Thomas
Alexander Banks, accused of the murder of Mr.
William Parsons, was despatched on Monday Mr.
Poland cross-examined the witness John William
Young, who further deposed as follows :—The pri-
soner turned down Millway drove • it would lead
to his cottage. /Any one going to 'Banks's cottages
could come out again in the Weyhill-road, but they
must get over a hedge ; there is no road there.
The land on -which the new buildings are was
formerly Banks's; some of it, I believe, is his now.
When I left the Railway tavern I drove round
Bishop's-court-lane by the station and back to the
tavern. I went into the tavern, and stopped there
until about 10 minutes to 11, when I drove home
downthe Weyhilr-road. I saw Banks and his wife
about 11 'o'clock at my house, after my arrival home.
I do not know if they had anything to drink.
They remained there about half-an-hour, when
they left. Banks sometimes gets up early and takes
his dog out for a run. I have known him to do so
on several occasions. •
Re-examined by Mr. Poulden—l did not see
Banks at the Railway Tavern when I returned
there through the station yard. I was absent
about a quarter of an hour. I have never seen the
prisoner out in the morning. I only know it by
his telling me he had been out.
John Preedy, jun.—l live with my father in the
Weyhill-road. Hawkins's-buildings are close to
my father's garden wall. On Monday, November
22, I left Andover at 25 minutes to 10. I passed
Clacey's, house ; there is a cloclt there, and it was
a quarter to 10 by that clock. Mr. Davis and a
lad named Williams went with me. When we got
to my father's gate Mr. Davis and Williams re-
mained talking. I saw a man standing by the pier
of the wall, near Hawkin's-buildings ; there is a
slight bend in the wall, and we were sitting within
the bend. I saw the man first at Mr. Hawkins's
gate, and when he got to the pier he stood still ;
he could see us ; he did not do anything, bat stood
quite still. We remained there about three minutes.
Mr. Davis and myself went in and Mr. Williams
went running down the road. Mr. Davis's back
was towards the man at the pier. There is an
elder tree against the pier where the man was
standing, and we left him there when we went in.
It was not light enough for me to see who the man
was, the shade of the elder tree prevented that.
Cross-examined by Mr. Poland=4 was in the
road, and not in the curve of the wall, when Mr.
Williams and Mr. Davis were talking. It would
take me about seven minutes to walk from Clacey's
to my father's house.
John Williams—l was in company with the last
witness and Mr. Davis on the evening of the 22d
of November last. I did not observe the time by
Clacey's clock, but it was about 20 minutes to 10
when we lea the town. Last witness took no part
in the conversation. They went into Mr. Preedy's,
and I ran down the road.
John Smith—l occupy Little Park-farm, about
two miles from Andover, beyond the Railway
Tavern. On Monday night, November 22d, I left
the Star Hotel at Andover to return home •, the
clock struck 10 when I was a little on the Andover
side of the Railway Tavern. On going
past Clacey's house I met a young man
running towards Andover; he had a parcel under
his arm, which I thought was books. After pas-
sing I went from 80 to 100 yards, when I met
Thomas Banks, the prisoner. He was walking on
the footpath. There was a woman with him. I
know prisoner very well, and he has always spoken
L to me when we met. He did not speak to me that
night, and when he passed he turned away: from
me apparently to evade me. The spot where I met
him was on the Andover side of Mr. Footner's en-
trance to his house, and the clock struck 10 about
three minutes afterwards._ _ _• _

Cross-examined by Mr. Poland—l am positive as
'to the identity of the prisoner. I noticed the moon
that night, but do not know in what direction it
was when I was going up the Weyhill-road. I
went past thq railway-bridge and crossed the fields
home. I frequently meet Banks, and generally
speak. I will not swear that he has passed me on
several occasions without speaking, but my belief
is that he has not. I was in the road, and prisoner
was on the footpath. I have no doubt it was a
woman I met with the prisoner.
Charles Keele—l work at Waterloo foundry, and
on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 23, I was pro-
ceeding there to my work at about half-past five
o'clock in the morning. I met the prisoner near
Mrs. Cross's corner. I said, " Good morning." He
had a dog with him. He asked me which way I
was-going, and I said, " Up the Salisbury-road
and he said he would go too. We went on until
we got through the turnpike gate, when I saw my
partner on before. We overtook him, and all
walked on together until we came to the gate
leading to Mr. Footner's lawn in front of his house.
Banks then lifted his dog over the gate, nearly
opposite the field where the body was found. The
dog came out of the field about 70 or 80 yards fur-
ther up the road, and prisoner called him in to the
side of him, when we proceeded along the road
until we got just past the Millway drove, when we
parted. Prisoner went across Mr. Woolfe's field,
where I told him I saw a hare on the previous
Friday.
Cross-examined by Mr. Poland—lt was a beau-
tiful morning. When first I met the prisoner he
said he .was going to take his dor, for a run.
Nothing was said about the hare until we passed
Mr. Lamb's cottages. I told him so in consequence
of seeing a hare there on the Friday previous.
George Hammond—l work at Mr. Tasker's foun-
dry, but reside in Andover. On the morning of
23d Nov. I was going to my work, when the pri-
soner and ,the last witness overtook me. The
prisoner had a dog with him, which he put over.w ae
gate into a field belonging to Mr. Footner.
went along a short distance, when the dog came
out into the road again. Banks then called
dthedog
to him, and we proceeded along theroadtatn passed_
the field where the murder was coma mt d
then passed on and he sent the dog o Mer._L eed°
ham's field. We proceeded until just beyon. d Mill-
way drove, when he wished. us good morning, and
right hand side, and we
went into a field on the
went to our work.
Cross-examined by Mr. Poland—Before the dog
was lifted over the gate Keele said he could show
him where there was a hare.
Mr. Poulden here informed the Bench that at
present he should not offer any further eyidenee.