The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-28 00:00:00

THE MURDER IN LEDBURY.

After the despatch of The Sun report from Led-
bury on Thursday afternoon, the examination of
Dew was continued.
Witness went to bed about half-past 10 o'clock
on the night of the murder. On the following
morninc, he left home about 1 o'clock, and called at
Mr. Badsey's, the baker, in Horse-lane, about 200
yards from the offices. While he was there Powell,
a man who was at work at a house near to Mr.
Masefield's premises, came to him saying" Oh, Mr.
Dew, I am almost afraid to tell you what has hap-
pened; poor Mrs. Baker is murdered." Went to
the spot, and found Jones, with other people, near
to Mrs. Baker's back door. When he (witness) had
got into the lower offices, he smelt fire, but as he
had been told that the premises had been burnt,
and the deceased set on fire, he did not think it
necessary to make a remark. Jones did not seem
more agitated than the rest of the people in the
house. Jones borrowed from him a shilling on the
14th inst., and repaid him in postage stamps in
Mrs. Baker's sitting-room, in the presence of some
police officers, on the 18th inst., the day after the
murder.
[lt should be stated here that in his examination
in chief, Mr. Masefield, sen., said in the third com-
partment in his money drawer he kept the postage
and receipt stamps used in the business of the
office, and that when he examined that drawer

after the murder he found very few there.]
Witness had before purchased postage stamps
from Jones, but not frequently, nor in so large a
number as 12. Witness and Jones had borrowed
money from one another ; Jones borrowing as
much as 20s. from him on one occasion. Had not
heard that Jones Was in debt in the town ; but
should be surprised if he should learn that a sum
of money as large as several pounds had been
found in Jones's possession. Used to lodge in the
same house with Jones, but, objecting to his
smoking, had left. Witness knew that money was
contained in Mr. W. Masefield's drawer in Mr.
Woodward's desk. After Mr. Baker died Jones
helped Mrs. Baker in the making out of the out-
standing accounts, and had been generally on inti-
mate terms with her. He did not, however. know
that they were so intimate as for Jones t• call in of
an evening and drink grog with the deceased. Had,
however, seen him drink a glass of gin and water
in Mrs. Baker's sitting room, when the deceased
had friends with her. Knew that in a drawer in

Mrs. Baker's sitting room some tools were kev

which had belonged to Mr. Baker. Had never
seen the pair of pincers now produced among those

tools.

[A clumsy pair of strong iron pincers were here
shown to the witness. They had evidently been
made by a tyro, or an amateur tool maker, having,
upon them coarse marks of the file used in their
manufacture, and being at the nipping end of a
circular shape, and large enough within the bend
to encircle a man's wrist.]
Jesse Prestege deposed that he was under gar-
dener to Squire Marten. Lodged at Mr. Boycutt's,
at the same house with Jones. Went to bed on the
night of the murder as the clock was striking ten.
Entered Mr. Boycutt's house from the front door,
which was on the latch. His bedroom was near to
one of Mr. Masefield's offices, and could hear per-
sons walking across it, and the noise of talking
when 'conversation was going on there. Took his
breakfast about eight o'clock, at which time Jones
came downstairs thuch earlier than usal. Seeing
Jones down so early, he said in a joke to him—
" There will be a change in the weather from your
being down so early." Jones made no reply, and
did not seem agitated. He had been to work before
breakfast, having got up at five in the morning.
While he was at work after breakfast a man named
Price came to him and asked him how he came to
let that woman get killed who lived next door to
him. He was surprised, and left his work to go
back to his lodgings to learn if this was so. Had
seen Jones with a bunch of keys, and thought that
he
could swear to one of them. Knew nothing of
the keys produced (those picked up by the young
M isefield), but thought that the bunch of keys now
produced by the police sergeant as having been
found upon Jones's person, belonged to Jones, and
were those to which he referred. Jones had had a
latch key for more than a fortnight, and had bor-
rowed money from him. The last sum he lent him
was 2s. 6d., and the date last Friday or Saturday
week. Borrowed 10s. from Jones on Christmas-
eve,naboutjon
es
replied, ?e" d,
"You
you
and repaid him in a week. Jones also bor-
rowed is. on the day before the murder. When he
did so he said, "Jes,,seiehsa, d
have gotyyonun a
want shillingne ,
.lend me one if you like." HeWit-
repl
miead, y
ness lent him the shilling, but when he did so said,
" It is a goodish bit to your pay, how shall you
manage if you have got none now ?" Jones
responded, " Oh, I have got money, but
I don't wish to break into it ; I am not
short." Jones repaid him the 3s. 6d. on Thursday
last, giving him 45., and asking for 6d. Did not
hear Jones come home that night; nor any noise
during the night. Went to sleep 10 minutes after
lying down. Next morning went down Cabbage-
lane to his work, but saw nothing on the ground.
John Burden (one of the jurymen) deposed that
he was a tailor, and had a garden adjoining Mr.
Masefield's property, which was also bounded by
Cabbage-lane. When going down that lane to his
garden he picked up the packet of small silver
coins, before referred to, wrapt in white paper, in
the middle of the way. There were three six-
pences, one halt-franc, 15 fourpenny pieces, and the
rest (to make 7s. 11d.) in threepenny pieces. It
was about a quarter to 8 o'clock when he found it.
Thought that it would not be possible to throw it
from Boycutt's garden without the paper being
bruised. It was opposite to Mr. Plaisted's garden,
which is on a line with Boycutt's.
Jane Adelaide Cole deposed that she superin-
tended the retail business of the Bell Hotel—On
the night before the murder Jones came in between
7 and 8 o'clock and had a glass of ale, as was his
daily custom. He did not remain long ' • but re-
turned just before 10 o'clock, when he had three-
pennyworth of gin-and-water, for which also he
paid, and again left after a stay of a quarter of an

~.
after past 10 when
!Ina.-
a. he (11? I not seem altered in
not t
hhoisurm,
adnnureinng Iltai
wchas
(in
he left. He owed no rc'.oney at the Bell. Saw him
between 8 and 9 o'f!,Lock next is orning. He passed
the door befor phe came in. I said, " Good morn-
ing, Mr. Jones, you are up earlier than usual." He
replied, " I have been to the bu tcher's." He then
asked for half a pint of brans iy. I said, " You
look ill." He said, " Yes ; I have scarcely
had any rest tall night." lie usually looked ill
in the morning. Put the brandy into a soda
water bottle that Jones brought with him. When
Jones left he said, "I shan't see you again to-day ;
I have a hard day's work before Lim." About seven
o'clock in the evening he. called, again, when he
looked worse than in the morning, and seemed
much agitated. He called for three pennyworth of
brandy and sipped it, when a gentleman in the bar
said, " I will have sixpenny worth dashed with cold
water." Jones then said, " I will have brandy and
cold water," and ordered another three pennyworth.
Whiles there Jones asked me if I could lend him a
pint and a half bottle. Replied that I could, such
a one as I had lent him before, a light coloured
bottle. He said, "No ; have you a dark coloured
bottle ?" Replied, "No ; but I will send for one
to Mr. Treherne's, in High-street." The girl re-
turned with the bottle in about ten minutes, Jones
remaining till the bottle was brought. He had it
washed out. Asked if it was clean, and had it
swilled out with gin, as, he said, he wanted it for
a particular purpose. Said he would return the
old one, but not that one. Returned the bottle on
Thursday, and came again some time in the after-
noon of that day with two other persons, one of
whom' was Mr. Pitt's groom. They had three
glasses of cold grog. Jones paid ls. 6d. for it. This
was after he had been examined at the first inquest.
There was a child seven or eight years old in the
room, and he asked her (the child) if she would
give him a pinch of snuff ? The child made no
reply, He added—A' You know you wanted me
to have one the other day. Have you got, your
box with 3,-,fai now ?" Did not see him give her
any. money.
i
Jones came again to the Bell on
Friday night ji .c't
as I was closing, at eleven
o'clock. I said I co-711a not serve him ; but he
said that he wanted MilY a
glass of grog fbr
himself and his friend, a bsciker, He had a bottle
of soda-water and threepenllT
worth of brandy.
He said that he wanted ha....f-a-pint of brandy
to take home with him. He was' served and raid
for it. On Sunday he was again at the Bell, and
had two glasses of beer. On Tuesday he was again 1
l there, and had soda-water and brandy, saying,
"Most likely I shall not see you for some short
time, for they have made inquiry into this matter :
they have accused me of this horrid deed, but I
know--.?' 'Witness did not hear the sentence
finished, but ale servant girl said that the rest of
the sentence was "that lam innocent." Since the
murder, I think lie .`vas paid me l's. 9d. He gene-
rally paid in shillings, but on Friday evening he
produced a five-shilling, piece. He always ap-
peared to have plenty of gold and silver since I
have known him at the Bell, which was first in
February. It was his habit to arfi2k ale and beer
at the Bell in the daytime, and grog or wins aid
water at night, but since the murder he had drank 1
more soda-water and brandy than usual.
William Cadle, sworn, said he was a butcher of
this town. Jones came to his house on the morn-
ing after the murder to buy a joint of veal. He
paid quarterly. His last account was paid on
May the 4th, when his account amounted to £1
14s, 6d. When he paid that account he had a
bank-note in his possession, and he thought also
some gold and silver. Jones made some entries in
his meat-book on Wednesday morning, but did not
seem agitated when he did so. Witness followed
him up to his house, and delivered the meat, pass-
ing by Mr. Masefield's office. There was no altera-
tion in Jones's manner all this time.
Thomas Paine, a carpenter, of the parish of
Westbury, the grandfather of the child spoken of
by the witness Cole, detailed the playful language
used by Jones towards the child, and added that,
although 'he refused to be treated by Jones, yet
that Jones had a pint of beer drawn for him, and
required him•to drink it. i
Joseph Plaisted deposed that he was a plumber
and glazier, living next door to Mr. Boycutt, and
next door but one to Mr. Masefield's offices. The
back premises of all the three buildings were open
the one to the other. Saw nothing o Jones that
morning until Powell, who was working for him,
came to him saying that Mrs. Baker was dead and
on fire. Went into the offices and found Mrs,

Baker, as described. Carried up some water to put
out the fire, which seemed to be coming from the
floor beneath the body. ])id not observe that Jones
carried up the water ; but it was Jones who first
drew their attention to the open drawer, and said
he had no doubt there had been a robbery.
George Tanner, superintendent of police sta-
tioned at Ledbury, deposed that, in making a search
in Mr. Masefield's offices, he found in a drawer
forming part of a chest of drawers, among a num-
ber of tools, a large clasp knife, which had evi-
dently been used by ,a glazier. In the office in
which was young Mr. Masefield's desk he found
the pincers that had been referred to. He had
spoken to two persons, each of whom was of opi-
nion that they had belonged to Mr. Baker. He
also produced the cord with a slip noose in the end,
which was found near to the body, and had blood
upon the noose. He likewise produced a match-
box and two matches, one a wax match, and the
other made of wood. Witness produced another
box of matches, which was found by Mr. William-
son, the detective. Produced likewise an effective
bludgeon, about a foot and a-half in length, having
a natural knob at the end about the size of a man's
double fist, the whole French polished, and
found in Jones's room, locked up in his
box. Also produced a pocketbook found on Jones.
This pocketbook contained entries of Jones's move-
ments in so far as the visiting of publichouses and
the purchasing of spirits were concerned, com-
mencing with the day' before the murder, and
terminating just before his wrest. Previous to
first date mentioned, however, the diurnal entries
were very rare. •
The Coroner here stated to the jury that in the

interim of the adjournment Superintendent Tanner
showed him a letter which, in reply to one he
(Superintendent Tanner) had very properly written
to Inspector Glossop, of the Birmingham detective
force, he had received from that officer. Inspector
Glossop said that Jones had been an inmate of the
Birmingham workhouse, where he became the
father of a child by another inmate. The child had
died, but the mother was still in the Birmingham
workhouse. Inspector Glossop thought that the
woman would be able to afford some information as
to Jones's antecedents, which Inspector Glossop had
reason to believe were not the most respectable.
The same officer also thought that if the artificial
limb which Jones possessed were examined, it
would be found to be of a value incompatible with
the position in life which Jones had recently occu-
pied. The letter was not now at hand, and it was
one more of interest in the magisterial investiga-
tion than in that court, still he had related to them
its substance. _

Frederick Williamson, of the Metropolitan de-
tective force, deposed that he was sent down by the
instructions of the Commissioners of Police. He
produced a box of lucifer matches, which he found
on a table in Jones's bedroom. After Jones was
apprehended, and while Mr. Tanner was away for
one of his men, Jones, when standing in Mr. Boy-
cutt's kitchen, said to him, " I suppose you have
now got the right one." Witness replied, "I need not
remind you, Mr. Jones, that it is my duty as a police
officer to tell you that what you say now may be
taken down in writing and used as evidence against
you." Jones responded, " Then I shall remain
neutral." Jones, it seemed to him, spoke not
jokingly, but seriously. They apprehended Jones
upon a warrant signed by six magistrates.
Superintendent Tanner, again called, deposed
that upon searching Jones, he found in 'his posses-
sion £lO in gold, ss. in silver, lid., a concert-room
token, a counterfeit crown, and 61 postage stamps,
and five penny receipt stamps, with a twopenny,
three-halfpenny, and penny silver coin.
There was no other evidence produced, and
The Coroner then addressed the jury.. He said
that he would now give them his opinion, which,
if they pleased, they might regard as a legal one.
There was not the slightest evidence in the whole
of the testimony that had been brought before them
againstcw was not
a
s n
o any one person directly as having com•
matted the murder. Having told them that, they
would now exercise their own sound discretion. As
coroner, he
tittle repeated,
nflegalhe
evidencemust tell
against
them t therehaanty
one.
The facts of the case seemed to be that Mrs. baker

was murdered bYSOn;o---n;Wijogi;iinto her house
without breaking into it—by some one, moreover,
who seemed to be on friendly terms with her. An
entrance having been effected, the poor woman
seemed to have been knocked down with a bludgeon,
the blow from the bludgeon occasioning the mark
upon the forehead, and the, mark upon the back of
the head arising out of the fall after the blow was
given and insensibility secured. Deceased having
been knocked down, and being insensible, there was
little doubt but she was strangled by the rope that
had been produced. lie could not help thinkinr,
that the bludgeon and the rope were secreted upon
the person of the murderer when he entered the
house. The murder having been effected down
stairs, he (the coroner) was of opinion further that
the corpse was dragged up stairs and set fire to ;
probably before daylight. Afterwards the mur-
derer would seem to have gone out of the
house by the back door, turning the key after
him. The whole of the evidence led to the
conclusion that this was the way in which the
murder was committed. Such a course of procedure