The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-26 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT POLSTEAD.

POLSTEAD, FRIDAY.—On Wednesday Corder was sem',
under the custody of Lea, of Lambeth-street, and a country
constable, named Ayres, by the Defiance coach, to Col-
chester. During their journey the prisoner conducted him-
self with such levity as to disgust every person on the roof
of the coach, much more those acquainted with the nature
of the offence with which he was charged. At nine
o'clock the prisoner arrived at the George Inn, Colchester.
The news of his apprehension had some way preceded him,
and immense crowds were collected before the inn. Lea
conducted his prisoner to the room appropriated to the
coach passengers, intending that he should remain
there until he could place him in a situation of greater
security ; but the crowd was so great, and their anxiety
to gain a sight of the prisoner so intense, that the offi-
cers deemed it absolutely necessary to remove the prisoner
to a place of security, and requested Mr. Smith, the land-
, lord of the George, to procure a private secure room. This
I was done instantly, and some common but necessary It--
I freshments having been supplied to the prisoner, Lea left
him in the custody of Ayres, while he proceeded to the
gaol of the town, a corporate one by the bye, and yclept
" the Castle." There he saw the Governor, Mr. Smith,
to whom he stated the business. Mr. Smith inquired
whether he bad a warrant for his commitment to that spe-
cific gaol, and, on learning he had not, he refused to re-
ceive him. It was finally arranged that the prisoner
should remain at the Inn for the night. He was secured
by one hand to the bed-post, acrd by the other to the wrist
of his bedfellow, the constable. Before retiring to rest,
he wrote a letter to his mother, of which the following is
a verbatim copy
" Colchester, George Inn, Wednesday Night,
_ _ Eleven o'Clock.

" Dear Mother—_l scarcely dare presume to address you.
having a full knowledge of the shame, disgrace, and I may
truly add, a stain for ever cast upon nay friend:, family, and
late formed connexions. I have but few minute; to write,
and being unfortunately labouring under this serious
charge, I have to solicit that you will receive Mr. Moote,
on Friday morning, with whom may probably be my in-
jured, lawful, and I must do her jnstice to say, worthy and
affectionate wife. I have always experienced from every
branch of their family the kindest treatment hope and
trust ►the same will be returned from you the short time
they continue in this part of the country, which I am sorry
to have to state is to hear the event of this dreadful catas-
trophe. lam happy to hear you are tolerably well consi-
dering the circumstances. I may, perhaFs, be allowed an
interview with you in a day or two, but that is very un-
certain. Must beg to subscribe myself your affectionate
son, " W. CORDER."

The last paragraph had been altered by partial erasute.
Including the blotted part, it ran thus :—" Must beg to
subscribe tnyself your unfortunately, though unworthy, son,
" W. CORDER."

The letter was addressed as follows on the outside :
" Mrs. Corder, Polstead by Stoke, favoured by Mr.
Satchpool."
Among those who saw him was the Rev. Mr. Sea-
man, a clergyman, resident near Colchester, who was ac-
quainted with his family. The Rev. Gentleman begged
him to unbosom himself, but the prisoner made no answer,
and confined himself to a general acknowledgement of the
obligations he was under to the Rev. Divine for his kind
intentions.

The conduct of the prisoner was far different on Thurs-
day from what it was on the previous day. At times
he paced about the room, scarcely speaking for an hour
together, and his head downcast. Once or twice in the
course of the day he exclaimed, while pacing the room,
in a half suppressed voice, " Oh ! if I could but be as
free from sin as my beloved wife is."
About nine o'clock on Thursday evening Mr. Taylor,
the Chief Clerk in the Banking-house of Messrs. Alexan-
der and Co., of Manningtree, and Mr. Dale, of the White
Hart Inn, which is opposite to the Banking-house, arrived
in Colchester, and had an interview with the prisoner,
who they both instantly declared to be the person who had
obtained 931. from the Bank upon a cheque, which it is
alleged was forged. On entering the room where the pri-
soner was, Mr. Taylor, advancing to him with a cheque
in his hand, said, "Pay me the money ; the 901. odd you
obtained on this cheque." The prisoner appeared dumb-
founded, and held down his head. Mr. Taylor again ad-
dressing him said, " Why don't you look me in the face ;
hold up your head like a moo," The prisoner made no
reply, but kept his head down for full two minutes, when
he threw himself into a chair, and covered his face with his
hands. Messrs. Taylor and Dale then retired.
At half-past eleven o'clock en Thursday night the pri-
soner was removed, well secured, and attended by Lea and
Ayres, in a poet-chaise, to the Cock Inn, at Polsteud.
In the accounts which have appeared of the circum-
stances which led to the discovery of the body of nail
Marten, there are some slight inaccuracies. The prisoner,
who is the son of a widow lady, rented an estate of 400
acres in the neighbour hood, had formed an intimacy with
the deceased, who was the daughter of a common labourer.
The re.snit was the birth of a child, which subsequently
died. The parents of the girl, as well as herself, had im-
portuned the prisoner to marry her, and at last he pro-
fessed his willingness so to do. On the 18th of May he
agreed to meet her at the Red Barn, belonging to his mo-
ther, which is situate on the brow of a hill, and is distant
fifty hards from any house. He, in the presence of her
mother, requested she might dress herself in male attire,
for the purpose of avoiding notice, and said he would fol-
low with a gig, and take her to Ipswich, where the mar-
riage ceremony was to be performed. It would appear she
was in the act of changing her dress when the foul deed
was perpetrated, for the coat worn by her and the hat,
and her own bonnet, were found lying beneath her, and
her remains were completely dressed in her proper attire,
with the exception of her gown. Neither the gown nor
the trowsers have been discovered.