The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-04 00:00:00

LATE MURDER AT HAMPSTEAD

ADJOURNED CORONER'S INQUEST.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The prisoners had no questions to ask this witness, and the
jury were, at their own request, permitted to retire for ten
minutes.
After the jurymen had re-assembled, the father, wno ap-
peared very much afflicted, was brought in. The prisoner's
fortitude again forsook him, and a second time during the pro-
ceedings he wept unrestrainedly.
Thos. Hecker, of Charles-street, Portland-town, sworn—l
am a ladies' shoemaker. I never saw Delarue, but have
heard his name mentioned by my son Thomas perhaps fifty
times. I had a misgiving of the person who had caused the
murder when my son told me that he had taken a
watch out of pledge. He told me so on Saturday evening, while
we were walking from our house to Marylebone-lane. I saw the
watch again on Sunday, when he said he had taken it out of
pledge. I was present when my son came to get a pair of
boots on the morning when he was taken into custody. (The
trousers and waistcoat were shown to the witness.) To tee
best of my belief these are my son's. This ring I found on
Friday last, and gave to the officers. I found it amongst
the cuttings of the leather for burning. I was taking a hand-
ful to burn, when I found the ring amongst them. The cut-
tings were rolled together on the floor beneath one of the
windows. I had never seen the ring before. I never had
heard of the ring before. Thomas left his home at half-
past six or a quarter to seven o'clock on the Friday
week. He had dined and taken tea at home, with
his mother, myself, and brother. We took tea about
four, and after that he was occupied in reading and a con-
versation with us. Ido not recollect that he took anything
with him. It must have been fully half-past six when he
left. .lames was working until twenty minutes after eight
that night, then he changed his clothes and washed himself
before he left the house. That would take him twenty
minutes longer. The brothers hardly ever went together.
Thomas was in the habit of using a very large stick which
he said he had lost three weeks ago. He had brought
it from Sheffield some two years before that time.
My son had no watch or ring before last week. He had not
worn a ring before I found that among the cnttingi. He,
represented to me for some time back that some kind friend
was going to lend him some money, and he told me that he
had received a note from Mrs. Edwards, stating that she
would lend him some money on Sunday night, but he said
he should go on Friday night, and he hoped he should get it.
I said she must be a great friend to lend a stranger
ten pounds. I never knew Mrs. Edwards before this
affair. Before he went out he said that if he were
successful in getting the money, he would return
home earlier. I saw him again on Saturday morning at ten
o'clock. That was his usual hour of corning to breakfast.
He seemed, as visual, eheerful, and after he came into the
room he pulled money out of his pocket. I understood he
had got 12 guineas, and I congratulated him, and said, " I
hope you'll be careful with it." On that night, going tem
Marvlebone-lane, he said he had got a watch out of pledge;
I said, better keep your money in your pockets, or it will
slip through your fingers.
The CORONER—Who can state as to the hour James left
the house ?
Witness—Two persons who are here. I recollect the time
Watson was there, and he told us of the murder, and dwelt
on it some time. My son, Thomas, said, " Don't talk more
about that. It's a gloomy subject." He showed his shirt
sleeve to Watson and us, but I saw no blood. Thomas was
very intimate with Delarue, but I never saw him in my life.
—(The letters so often mentioned were exhibited
to Witness.) I know writing ' greatly like this
(then bursting into tears)—l believe it to be my son Tho-
mas's writing. I never saw letters addressed to
" James Cooper, Esq , Hampstead-road." Mrs. Watson was
at home nearly the whole of the Friday evening. I have
heard my sou call Delarue Cooper, and afterwards he has
told me that his name was Delarue, and not Cooper. I ex-
pressed my suspicion that any respectable man should deny
his name, or use another; and he accounted for it by saying
he was somewhat eccentric. I believe my son was acquainted
with him for three years.
The CORONER—You say he never visited you himself ?
Witness (emphatically)—He never did.
The CORONER to prisoner—ls there any question you wish
me to ask your father? The prisoner—Everything my father
has said is quite true. I have nothing to add.
Richard Greenfield said he was a waiter, at the Swiss
Cottage, and on the evening of the murder a person came
in about half-past seven o'clock, and called for a glass of
rum and water. I have looked at the prisoner, but he is not
the person.
Mary Ffrench, 31, Princes-street, Portman-market. My
husband is driver of an omnibus. Ido not know Thomas
Henry Hockey. 1 only know his brother James. He was
in my shop (a cigar shop) about nine o'clock. He said
then that he had come from his work. He
said on Sunday evening when he came again that
from the letters found on the murdered man, it must be De-
larue, but he would not tell his brother that evening, for fear
it should disturb hire, " as poor Tom's feelings would be so
hurt." He said further, he knew it was him, by the identical
D on hie linen, and by his going by the name of Cooper. The
next night, after Thomas was taken into custody, he slept at
my house. He did not tell me to deny to the police that he
had slept there.
Abraham Austin—Lodges with last witness. I saw James
locket' last Friday week, about nine o'clock, in Mrs.
Ffrench's ; then he went out with her daughter, and I again
saw him about ten o'clock. I saw him going along Elm-
bank on his way home. He was there again on Sunday
from about eleven to one o'clock, and was set to read the
paper. He read about the police and about the murder,_ and'
when he read that the linen was marked " D," and that a
letter was found addressed " Cooper," he said, " I should not
wonder it' this was Delarue," and that he was a particular
friend of his brother's. The conversation then broke off. I
saw him again that evening, but we did not mention the
name of Delarue or Cooper.
Charlotte Ffrench—l saw James Hocker on Friday even-,
ing at nine, and he remained till nearly eleven. I showed
biro the paper on Sunday, and he said about the person mar- '
dered that he thought it was Delarue, but he would apt telt-
kis brother Tom.
Philip Stevens, police-constable, 200 S said, that a data, 1
anent was made by James Hecker on the way to the stae,l
Um- house in Salisbury-street, Portman-market. Inspector
Grey was behind. James Hocker said, "My brother saute
borne to No. 11, Victoria -terrace, on Friday-night (the
21st ult.) I don't know exactly what time he name
home. I was in bed, and he said, James, I have
been having a bit of a lark, I have been to see
Sarah Cocks. I've been very successful, and obtained the
money from the person that promised me the loan of some,"
and he mentioned Mrs. Edwards, Bath-place, New-
road, and he showed me ten or eleven sovereigns.
He asked if I thought they would take the evidence
of a father, mother, or brother. I said I dial not know
whether they would take the evidence of them. He said,
"I'm sorry, I don't think lie can bring any one else to show '
when he left his house." I took James Hocker into custody
in Marylebone Theatre.
Police-sergeant Sootney was called in, and repeated the
evidence given by him on the former occasion.
Daniel Delarue identified the watch and ring as his late
brother's property. He was not aware why he should be
called Cooper, or Curteis.
The brother, James Hecker, was discharged from custody,
and then examined as a witness.—The prisoner is my
brother, and I sleep at 11, Victoria-terrace, but have my meals
at 17, Charles-street. I took tea at home on Friday evening,
and my brother then handed me a slate, on which was written,
" Jem, I received a note from Mrs. Edward., this morning,
stating that ten sovereigns will be at my disposal this eve-
ning,"
and he then added that he would be at home in toler-
able time. He left not later than seven. It was quite dark.
I did not see that he took any stick with him. He came
home between two and three o'clock, and the noise
he made on coming into the room awoke me. He
said, " Well, Jem, I've been successful ; I've got the
money that Iso long expected." He then took off his coat
and waistcoat, end chewed me the right sleeve of his shirt,
And said, " I've been skylarking, Jem, as you see; I've
had the sleeve of my shirt torn off." I said, " How
comes that about ?" He said, " I've been to Sarah
Cocks." a young girl he heard him speak of
before. I forgot to say that he showed me some
money, and said, " Hero are twelve sovereigns, that's two
more than I expected." I rose in the morning and went off,
and he came over to Charles .street, and began to dispose of
his money by giving father some and mother some. He was
in their debt, as he had been out of work. That day
passed over without any allusion to Mr. Delarue. At
night Mr. Watson was invited up ; we were all in high
spirits at the idea of having so kind a friend, who had enabled
us to liquidate a few debts. Mr. Watson's statement is per-
fectly correct, with this trifling difference, that I said also,
"that murder was a gloomy subject, and ont of place
then." I saw, when going to bed, the watch that has been
identified as the property of Delarue. He said, " You
see it's going." He seine time v•,-o pledged a watch for Mr.
Delarue for 31. and I thought that was it. I real in
the newspapers on Sunday of the murder, and then thought
it was Delarue. I could not sleep that night, for I was so
excited, and my brother said to me " What's the matter,"
but I did not tell him then. At four in the morning I told
him, and he said " Who is it ?" I told him I thought
it was Delarue, and he turned very pale, and said I
must get up, but you must get me a pair of old boots. I
went over to Charles-street, and when I returned I could see
that he had been crying, as I was myself. We then went
over to Charles-street, and my mother said the body has
been owned by his brother. Thomas then said,
there wonld be no utility in his going to sec
the body, as he could give no clue to the murderers.
The witness then verified the constable Scotney's evidence as
to the proceedings in taking the prisoner into custody. (The
letters were shown to the witness, and he said that it might
be the handwriting of his brother, but it was not his usual
style of writing.) I have heard him speak of "Caroline,"'
and say the poor devil, meaning Delarue, was embarrassed.
I know of no one going with him on Friday night to Mrs.
Edwards's. Ido not know the Cocks, or where they live.
My brother often met Delarue at the corner of Henry-street, 1
Portland-town, usually of a morning. About seven month t'
ago lie gave my brother 5/. I heard from my brother that
Delarue had been robbed of a gold watch-chain and am
sovereigns
..
The prisoner had nothing to ask of witness.
James Hocker'3 examination continued—My brother and
Delarue's usual place of meeting was on the side of Primrose -
Hill, just opposite to Henry-street. He first became ac-
quainted with time deceased by meeting him there.
George Leveridge, in the service of Mr. Windglose, news-
vendor, High-street, Portland-town—On Friday night, at
or about half-past seven, he was at the bar of the Swiss
Cottage, and saw the prisoner come in, seemingly much
agitated, and ask for the parlour. He (Leveridge) then left
the house.
The CORONER then addressed the jury. He said—
Gentlemen of the jury, there are no more witnesses to
be examined, and, I think, indeed, that no more wit-
nesses are necessary. You have heard the depositions
taken in the first stages of this invest read over, and
the evidence given to day must be so fresh in your
memories, that I need not detain you, after 'having al- '
ready devoted so many hours to this inquiry. The body
1
of are man has been identified. 'rho period when the
cries of murder were heard is depo,ed to by the witness
Hilton as at a quarter after seven. The body was found 1
at twenty minutes to eight, and found exactly in the 1
place where the cries were discovered proceeding from,
in the west-corner of the Haverstock-field, and near Bel-
zize-lanc. The surgeon's evidence is also t coil clus 've
Mr. Perry says that the injuries on the head are sufficient
to.
to account fur his death. You, yourselves, saw
what
frightful wounds were upon the seelp, reaching clown
the bone, and you may imagine the violence done to the '
brain by the blows that were given. With reference, there-
fore, to the cause of death there could be no doubt what-
ever. Then with reference to the suspicions attaching
to a party or parties, you heard inn detail the reasons
which induced me to take James Hocker into custody.
gueldnri however, the evidence has been of a very strong
.iik; isitstsietarltibOards Thomas Hocker, butil Ivcel ohneciatt.pi me
"---. }ego through i. You_
,‘
- f '..-", -trri ratilfirth. gand to the clothes,
,the adrawers, tthe
(I):%''''''',7 --a-tYrii44l,::iut"" ...;,4 .
p shirt. You have been told of the
; I ' '---;4eitiing_atleep t wristband, but it must he con,felseed
''...,;41.0ii'1a. asl p ieeilijattempt at secrecy. Nut one oi these ,
0 .*rttlecwerel kept secret, with the very apparent exLep 1