The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-21 00:00:00

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FAMILY AT BRIGHTON.

-♦

()UTRAGE UPON A 31INISTEE8
DAUGHTER.

VS PAPER

k\-fAz
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On Sunday this retired village, w_ is Aunts
in the midst of the Downs, or plain, 14 miles from.
Devizes, 15 from Salisbury, and 12 from Andover,
Hungerford, and Marlborough respectively, was the
scene of a most frightful tragedy. The whole parish
is the property of Sir F. Dugdale Astley, who is at
'present non-resident; and the manor-hOuse is .let.
with the shooting, &c.' to Mr. C. J. Monk, chan-
cellor of the diocess of Glocester, and only son., of
the late Bishop. It appears that there are two
keepers' lodges, the first distant about half a mile
from the manor-house and from any other dwelling,
the second about half a mile off from the first. They
are both embosomed in the woods, and remote from
all usual thoroughfares. Early on Saturday last
Mr. John Hill, the head gamekeeper, occupying the
first lodge, left home for a few days' visit into Wor-
cestersrdre, and, in consequence of the solitude of
the situation, Esther Stocker, the wife of the under-
keeper, came up from the furthest ledge tosleepk.
that night with Mrs. Hill, in her hu4baud's ab-
sence. Mrs. Stocker returned to her own lodge at
eight o'clock on Sunday morning, and alMut
a.m. her husband, John Stocker, walked mver
to Hill's and saw • Ann • Hill seated in a
chair in the back kitclin, reading a newspaper, out
of which she comthunicated some particulars to him
through the window, which was open. 'She also
mentioned her intention of going to church in the
afternoon, the service being at 3 p.m. This made
it Stocker's duty to attend to the reared birds dur-
ing, her absence, and accordingly he went home to
dinner, returning about 2 30 p.m. It would seem
that Ann Hill, immediately after Stocker left, went
up to a boiling-house, about' 200 yards in the rear
of her lodge, and adjoining the kennels, in which
were several dogs, to prepare some food for them.
Oa Stocker's return he had to pass the boiling-
house, and observing the door open, which was
unusual, he looked in, and saw the unfortunate
woman lying on the ground in a pool of blood, with
her throat frightfully cut from ear to ear, already
dead and stiffening. Stocker then hastened to the
manor-house to acquaint his master with the sad
occurrence' and by 4 p.m. Mr. Carter, surgeon, of
Pewsev, Dr. Bartlett, the rector of the parish, and
the police, were on the spot. At first it was-thought
that the act was 'suicidal, but a more minute inves-
tigation shwa ed that the unfortunate woman had
been first garotted with a small rope, the livid rings
of which were traceable in three circles round the
neck and under the chin, as also a punctured
wound, apparently made in cutting the cord away,
in the side of the neck, and that afterwards the
throat was cut by a strong decided stroke, inflicted
probably from-behind, from left to right. Neither
cord nor cutting instrument has been found. On
examining the house, the window in the rear and
the door in front were found open, the key being in
the lock inside; the key' of the back door, which
was locked, with other keys, were found in the
pocket of the deceased. The drawers in the bed
room had been partially ransacked, and letters and
other articles scattered about the floor. Only one
room'was in any way disturbed. It is observable
that a shepherd, tending his flock at no great dis-
tance off, did not hear any of the dogs bark. An
inquest will be held, and the .unfortunate husband
has been summoned home, when the' extent of the
supposed robbery will be investigated. The police
are using every exertion.

SUSPECTED POISONIN6 °FA WHOLE

The neighbourhood of Richmond-buildings was
thrown into a great state of excitement on Sunday
evening, by a rumour that a whole family, named
Mitchell, had been poisoned. Superintendent
Crowhnrst, with Inspector Reeves and two or three
of their men, were soon on the premises, where they
found Mr. Sewell, surgeon, of the Grand-parade,
who had been previonsiy called in ; and it appears
that Mrs. Mitchell and her six children were all
suffering great pain, and exhibiting all the symp-
toms of having partaken of something of a poisonous
nature ; and, in answer to questions put to her, she
said they had eaten nothing but a beefsteak pie for
dinner, a portion of which was left, and which,
with some flour from.which it had been made, was
immediately taken possession of by the police, for it
was asserted that the pie was made for the husband
to take to his work, that he was present while it
was made, but after it was baked he refused to take
it, and said he preferred some bacon, which his
wife procured, reserving the pie for her and the
children's dinners. Suspicion, therefore, rested
upon the man for some time; but from an in-
vestigation of the case, it appears that
Mitchell, who formerly worked at the rail-
way station, and is now employed at the War-
ren Farm Well, is a most affectionate husband
and father, and that the pie was made during
his absence. He left home very early on Satur-
day morning and returned late, and his wife had
purchased the flour and meat, and made and
baked the pie in the meantime. The first he heard
of the pie was on Saturday night. when he asked for
a piece for supper, but his wife said it would be a
pity to cut it then, as it was made for his dinner
next day; and therefore the pie was not touched.
On looking at it—his work necessitating him to be
away for two days—he said he thought it would
not carry him over forty-eight hours, and he would
rather have a piece of baton, and it was under those
circumstances the bacon was cooked for him, and
the p'e kept for the family's Sunday dinner, and
there is not the slightest ground for the suspicion
hinted at.
Under the care and attention of Mr. Sewell, the
children and their mother were gradually brought
round, and before they were left on the Sunday
night, they were considered out of danger, but still
suffering slightly from the symptoms which had
manifested themselves ; and from the inquiries which
the police had made, and the appearance of the chil-
dren on Monday, Mr. White, the chief officer, did not
deem it his duty to take further notice of the mat-
ter, being convinced in his own mind, from his ex-
perience of a previous similar case, that the illness
was caused solely by the eating of the cold pie;
that the gelatinous portion of it had become sour
and rank, and disagreed with those who partook of

it.
. Mr. Sewell, however, attended the heah of
magistrates on Monday and made a statement, and
after a private consultation the Bench thought Mr.
White had better see the town clerk, and the result
is that an analysis is to be made:

On Saturday, the Halifax magistrates resumed
an investigation into a charge of criminal assault
preferred by Miss Marples, daughter of an Inde-
pendent minister, against Joseph Bairstow, archi-
tect, Queenshead.
The accused is a smart looking young man ; Miss
Marples is under sixteen, of a modest and girlish
appearance. The felony was alleged to have been
committed on Friday night, the 9th instant.
Mr. Blanshard appeared for the prosecutrix ; and
Mr. Wheelhouse for the prisoner, who had been out
on bail from the preceding Tuesday, in, the sum of
£2OO.

On Friday, the 9th inst , Mr. Marples had occa-
sion for additional accommodation in his house, as
he was visited.by a minister from a distance, and it
was arranged that the prosecutrix should sleep for
a few nights at the house of Mr. Holgate, a friend
of her fathei's about half a mile distant. Miss
Marples was detained by domestic duties from,
leaving home for Mr. Ifoigate's until about eleven
o'clock. On her way she had to pass through
Queenshead. One-half of the way was lighted
with lamp., and the other not. There are houses,
struggling or connected, nearly all the way. She
had gone some distance on the road, when she was
accosted by two young men, one of whom soon left
her, and the prisoner followed her, and got hold of her
'round the waist. She pushed him away, and told
him to go about his business. He left her, and
then (she affirms) she proceeded on her way with
all speed. When nearQueenshead Church, however,
he seized her again, put his arm round her waist,
and pulled her down a lane into some fields, and
there, after a good deal of struggling,
and calling
for help on her part, the prisoner committed the
grave offence with which he was charged.
endeavoured to go home, but he would not let her,She
and eventually she arrived at Mr. Holgate's about
twelve o'clock. Here she told Mrs. Mary Ann
Holgate, with whom she slept, what had taken
oi next day told another
place, and begged her to informher mother, Mrs.
Marples. Miss Holgate
sister, but the information did not come to Mr.
Marples' ears until the Monday night, when he im-
mediately took steps and had the prisoner appre-
hended. It should be added, that the prisoner
went to Mr. Holgate's (who is a relative of his) on
the Saturday night, while Miss M. arples was there,
and behaved himself in such an irregular manner
that he had to be ordered out of the house. The
prisoner was taken into custody on the Tuesday
morning. He then denied that he knew Miss
AlarPies'or that he had ever exchanged a word
with her, much less committed the outrage. When
before the Bench, the defence assumed a rather
different complexion. It was then attempted to be
shown that the prisoner was seen that evening
Npvraolskeicnugtrtihxr.oumghosgt uoefehnishead arm in arm with the
as to the identity of
thesyowiuntngelsasdeys were uncertain
uncertain
Carrie, surgeon,
secution, he having examined the prosecutrix last
Thornton, was called for the pro.
.
Friday, and his opinion was that the crime had
been fully committed. Th
0 Bench committed the
prisoner for trial at the York Assizes. He was
admitted to bail in the sum of £4OO.