The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-12 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT
HAMPSTEAD.

TRIAL OF HOCKER.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.

The examination of James Hocker (continued from our
Afternoon Edition of yesterday)—He said he had got
rather more than he expected. When he took off his coat,
I saw that the sleeve of his shirt was torn. He said that
he had been with Sarah Cox and her brother, and had
got it torn in romping. I never knew who. Sarah Cox
was. The next morning he came over to breakfast, and
gave his father a sovereign, his mother one also, and
paid me a half-sovereign he had owed me for four or
five months. I had lent it to him as he was out of em-
ployment. He had been out altogether for seven months.
On the Saturday night Mr. Watson was in our house,
and we had some conversation about the murder. Mr.
Watson said it was an awful thing; and I said I heard
some people talking about it outside. My brother said
we had met to enjoy ourselves, and that was a gloomy
subject to talk upon. On Sunday, after coming from chapel,
my brother asked me to stay in a littlelonger. Idid so. On
the same night I read an account of the murder at a
friend's house, and saw that a letter, addressed James
Cooper, Hampstead, was ft.und in the pocket of the
deceased. I had seen my brother address letters to De-
larue by the name of Cooper. On the succeeding morning,
I woke my brother, and asked him if he knew who was

murdered at Hampstead ? He said, no ; and I told him
it was poor Delarue He was much agitated, and said
poor Delarue! I then went to my father's, and returned
to Victoria-terrace almost immediately, whtn I observed
that my brother had been crying. Afterwards, when in
my father's house, my father said he thought it was his
duty to go to see the body. He said he would go. Soon
after my mother came in, and said, that the body had
been owned by the brother. My brother then said he
should not be required, and would not go to see the body.
My brother showed me a watch. I had been told long
before that he had sold or pledged a watch for Delarue.
He gave me to understand that he had redeemed a watch
which had been pledged, and I thought the one he
showed me was the watch. The watch I ee here is the
one ha slanwed me. I recollect the officer Scotney coming
into our room. My brother let him in. Scotney asked
me if J had a watch. I said no ; and then he asked
my brother if he had one. He looked confused,
and attempted to reply. I interposed, and my brother
then went to the pillow and gave Scotney the watch.
He also brought him a watch case, and brought forward
three duplicates, one for a watch, one for a ring, and one
for a chain. I was surprised at seeing the duplicate for the
watch, but my brother said the watch he showed me
only came there on Friday morning. I did not
see the watch in the course of Friday. I be-
lieve my brother was on intimate terms with
Delarue, sometimes seeing each other two or three times
a day fit; four days in the week. I recollect that my
brother brought home some three or four pounds, and
said that Delarue lent it to him. My brother was a
schoolmaster, and could write very well. I don't know
that this note is in my brother's handwriting, but it may
be. He could write two or three hands.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—I saw Delarue for the
first time about four months ago just at dusk. I have heard
my brother address him as Mr. Cooper. My father and
mother were aware that my brother had got money frtz.-
Delarue. lam not aware that my brother had seen Mr.
Delarue on the morning of the 21st. He said that he had
not seen him. I knew that Mr. Delarue was anxious to get
my brother a situation. I always understood that my brother
was very much attached to him. I was working at home
with my father as a shoemaker until past eight o'clock. I
think that about twelve months ago my brother
was paying attentions to a young lady at Hampstead.
lam not aware that she was introduced to Delarue. His
intimacy with her ceased about the month of June. I never
knew her myself. I did not at any time press my brother
for money. I would have been contented to have let it re-
main till he got a situation. lam not aware that Delarue
was in the habit of keeping a school. I did not observe any
marks upon my brother's dress or person on his return on
Saturday morning. There was a light in the room. My
brother is twenty-two years old in May. lam his younger
brother.

Cross-examined by Mr. CHABIBERS—i cannot say how
long it was before the 21st of February that Delarue gave
my brother the ring for' which the pawnbroker's duplicate
has been produced

Thomas Hocker examined by Mr. BoDicrx.--I am the
father of the prisoner. The prisoner boarded at my house
in Charles-street. He was at home from four till about
half-past, and when he went out he had on a hat and mac-
intosh. He said that he was going to get some money that
he had previously told us off. He said that he had re-
ceived a note from Mrs. Edwards, stating that she would be
ready to accede to his request for a loan on Sunday night,
and he went on the Friday instead. (The prisoner's clothes
were p. oduced.) These are the clothes he had on on the
Friday night. The ring I now see I found among the
cuttings of leather, and it was given up to the police.
I remember on the Saturday, after the Friday, seeing the
prisoner's shirt. It was torn, and he accounted for it by say-
mg he had been frolicking the night before. I did not know
Delarue. I knew that he went by the name of Cooper, and
when I spoke to my son about it, he said that he went by that
name merely because he was eccentric.
William Watson—l am landlord of the house, No. 17,
Charles-street. On the night of the 22d of February 1 was
in company with the prisoner and his father, in the latter's
house, when I said, "This is a shocking murder at Hamp-
stead, and no one knows who did it." The father said, " A
murder at Hampstead? what a shocking thing." The
father then asked how it was done, and I told him
that suspicion attached to three soldiers, who were seen in
that neighbourhood. The father said, oh ! the cold-blooded
rascals. The prisoner said, don't let us talk about that, it's
a gloomy subject. Just then, the brother James came in and
said that everybody was talking of a gentleman murdered at
Hampstead, and a love letter was found in his pocket. The pri-
soner said, don't let's talk any more about that; I'll sing you a
song ; then they sung la song. They afterwards sunghias
duet; but before they did so, the prisoner showed
shirt and coat, which was torn on the left arm.
e said, he
had been romping with a parcel of girls. I firstheard of the
murder on Monday night at 7 o'clock. I gave information
to Scotney on Monday evening.
Edward Scotney, examined by Mr. Bonius7l am a ser-
geant in the T division, and in consequence of information I
received from Watson, I went to No. ll,Victoria-terrace. I
got there about ten o'clock in the morning. A person came
stotdhe,s; door, and I asked if Thomas Hocker lived there? He
said 3 e I'm the person. I said I suppose you have heard
of the murder of Mr. Delarue at Hampstead? He
said I have. And I said then I believe you were very
intimate with him. He said yea; and I then informed
him that I was a sergeant of police, and that I took
him into custody on suspicion of the murder. I then went
up to his room. Ills brother was there, and he desired him
to get up and dress. I told him I meant to search for a
watch which I believed belonged to Mr. Delarue. He said,
"You may." Ilis brother said, "Tell the policeman the
truth, Tom, he does not believe yon." The prisoner then
went to the pillow and gave me the watch out. He said he
had got it on Friday morning to pledge for him. He pro-
duced three other tickets for property which he said belonged
to Delarue.,

Francis Partridge examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I am an
inspector of the A division. I went on the 25th of February
with Scotney to apprehend the prisoner. I found In the
prisoner's room a pair of trousers between the sacking of the
bed, and a coat. I went on the succeeding day and made a
further search. I found a shirt wristband, with a portion of the
sleeve attached to it There were marks of blood upon it.
I got a pair of trousers and waistcoat at 17, Charles. street,
Portland-town, where prisoner lived. There were marks of blood
upon the waistcoat and on the left sleeve of the coat. I
found also bottles containing certain kinds of writing fluid
and note-paper in the room at the father's house. I also
found wafers marked with the letter F. I see that the
wafer on this note is a duplicate of those found in the father's
house. The note-paper also corresponds with that found by
me. I received a sovereign and a half from the prisoner's
father.

Inspector Shackell, of thq Detective Police, produced the
mackintosh found in the father's house. In consequence of
certain information, I searched the prisoner's lodgings along
with Inspector Haynes,
.and got, from the parents of the
Prisonira shirt and pair ofstickbp; all Stained with blood.

I also found in the room the bill rof the wa cod and
1
identified as that belonging to Delarue.
Inspector Haynes, of the Detective Po •; went with
another officer and searched the room, sviiere he found a
coat button. He afterwards went to the Ilotis6 of Correction
and ordered the prisoner to take off his coat. Ile found the
sleeve stained with blood, and the left-hand pocket
bloody, as if the hand had been thrust into it. Ha:compared SS '4-14
the button found in thefield, as also that found in the room
with certain buttons torn off his coat, and they agreed. He
also examined the prisoner's trousers and drawers, and dis-
covered that the left knee of either was stained with blood.
The prisoner had no wound on any part of his person.
Cross-examined by Mr. CnaexsoN—The buttons are of a
very common character, and may be met with every day.
Daniel Delarue examined by Mr. Bonnue—l live at 55,
Whittlebury-street, Euston-square—l lived with my bro-
ther. I have been at the inquest, and saw his body there.
The watch produced was the property of my brother. It
had a gold chain, which he wore round his neck. I also
know the ring, which I observed him wear on the Sunday I
last saw him.
Susan Kitchener, servant at the house, 55, Whittlebury-
street—l saw Mr. Delarue on Friday, he 21st February.
He said he was going out, and would return in an hour and
a half. He told me to keep his fire in. I know he had a
watch, and I saw it on him about nine o'clock in the morn-
ing. I saw the gold chain hanging from the pocket as late
as two o'clock. I should not know the watch. It was a
silver one.
James Euston, police-constable in the D divison—l was in
the cell with the prisoner, and he said, without my asking,
that he wished to see the waiter of the Swiss Cottage. I
tokl him he could see the gaoler. He did see him ; and, after
he was gone, the prisoner said that he had gone to the Swiss
Cottage a quarter of an hour after the murder, that he called
for a glass of rum and water, and paid for it. He said also,
" There, that Baldock did not know me ; I was five-and-
twenty minutes in the field." That was just before the first
examination.
Sarah Ann Cox, examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I knew
Hocker on the 21st February. I had known him seven
months. I did not see him on that night at all, nor for a
month before. I did not see him romping with any girl in
my company.
Eleanor Edwards—l reside at 6, Bath-place. I have
known the prisoner forabout ten weeks. He never made ap-
plication to me for a loan of money. I had no disposition to
lend him any.
BY Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—I did not know any members
of his family.
James Fell, Chief Clerk at Marylebone Police-court, pro-
duced the examinations taken at that court, and the few
words said by the prisoner at the close of each examination.
The letter signed " Caroline" was also put in and read.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Ceauiesos'then said that his Learned Brother, Mr.
Ballantine, and himself had attended for the defence, at the
request of the Sheriffs of London, but as the prisoner him-
self had expressed a wish to address a few words to the gen-
tlemen of the jury, he trusted their Lordships would allow
him to do so.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE had no objection, and informed
the prisoner that if he wished five minutes leizure before
making his defence, he was at liberty to retire for that time.
The prisoner said, " Thank yon, my Lord, I should like
just five minutes ;" and so saying he turned away and stepped
lightly down stairs into the passage that communicates be-
tween the prison and the dock. On his re- appearance he
maintained the same unconcerned and flighty manner that
had marked his conduct up to this point throughout the whole
of the trial. He advanced to the centre of the dock, holding
in his hands three or four sheets of manuscript. He then
folded his arms and stood for nearly a minute perfectly cool
and impassable, as if waiting for silence to be restored. He
leant over the dock and consulted for a moment with some
person in the Court, and again drew himself up with the
greatest possible calmness and composure. Another interval
of about a minute of painful suspense ensued whilst he stood
turning over his papers. He appeared as perfectly col-
lected as any one of the witnesses who had appeared
against him, and it was observable, from the steadiness with
which he-held the papers, that not a nerve trembled. In a
clear, though a somewhat mincing, and evidently in a very
laboured tone, he then addressed the jury in the following
terms, reading from the manuscript "
I beg to read to your Lordships and to the gentlemen of
the jury two statements that I have furnished to my counsel
through the medium of my solicitor. I have very carefully
perused the depositions against me, and I find nothing in
them to the truth of which'—;
[At this point the prisoner hesitated, as if unable to read
the manuscript. He repeated, "And Ifind nothing in them."
He again stopped and gave utterance to a subdued but impa-
tient expression, as if annoyed at himself for not being able
to read more readily. After another lapse of nearly a minute
he recommenced.]
" I have very carefully perused the depositions against me,
and I see nothing in them of a serious and weighty nature
to the truth of which I object. I wish to communicate to you
all I have to say as calmly and dispassionately as possible,
and to that end I shall not attempt the least apology or de-
fence. I will state to you every circumstance connected with
the depositions, leaving it for you to say whether they are
consequential or not. The two grand questions are—how came
my clothes to be saturated with blood ; and, how did I com e
into possession of the property of the deceased? The former
I can answer satisfactorily to my own conscience; but no-
thing on earth shall cause me to divulge it, at least on this
side of my trial. It were an easy matter for me to fabricate
—to make a lie; but I will not do it; and to prove to you •
that I am so far conscientious, I have amongst some pri-
vate letters here, which I have had conveyed to me since I
came hither, one in which a desire is expressed to account
for the manner in which my clothes were so besmeared; and
the person in his devotedness to tee offers to forswear him-
self; but I would rather have this mysterious part of the
affair remain as it is, by leaving it in the hands of my counsel.
I know while doing so I endanger my own safety, but I have
urgent reasons for doing so. If this gloomy affair terminate
adversely, I die a martyr; if otherwise, by my taking a de-
fensive course, I live a traitor. This sounds paradoxical, pro-
bably, to your ears, but such is the fact, of which I excuse
and pardon your disbelief until it be further evidenced to
you. I will therefore quit this part of the subject with this
remark : after such a painful and ignominious exposure of
everything connected with my present and former circum
stances, together with every vile and contumelious insult
and misrepresentation, I can have no desire to survive the
issue, be It ever so favourable to my Innocence. I ant
ruined inevitably and irrevocably, and I am too much the
Englishman to fear death, whatever form it may assume.
But more to the matter. The deceased, Delarue, had
frequently offered his services to me in the way of pecuniary
assistance. (I ought, perhaps, to have told you that I had
known the deceased for nearly two years.) . It was
about six months after our acquaintance that he made
the first friendly overture of the kind, and it
was something like two months following that I ac-
cepted it. He at that time gave rue 41. 10s., which
was the whole of - the contents of his purse, accompa-
nied by the words, ' Hocker, never see me again if you
once venture to return me this trifle; I am no friend of
yours in your estimation if you view it as a loan merely.'
Last August I kept away from him for a month or five
weeks, on account of the shabby condition of my apparel.
He took it unconfiding on my part that I did not acquaint
him with my embarrassed circumstances, and lie then good-
heartedly insisted on my turning to the best advantage 51.,
which he threw at me, wishing he could punish' me in
the same way right on for a whole day. Such was the
nature of our
_intimacy. I have had property belonging to
deceased of considerable value. A large telescope—l should
say worth 71. or 51.—also a smaller one, and an opera 61ass,
microscope, &c.—all of which he lent me at different times,
and which I believe are to be found at his apartments now.
My parents, and several others, remember to have seen them.
The deceased also entrusted me with a silver watch, a silver
watchguard, and part of a diamond ring. The part which
containedthe diamond only remained. I had to dispose of
them for 31. 17s. The deceased was anxious to make up a
certain sum of money by a given time, and I understood the
request as a delicate wish for me to pledge the articles for
him. I got them pawned at a Mr. Richardson's, Henry-
street, Portland-town, for the required amount. The de-
ceased gave me the duplicates, which I handed over to
the officers when they searched my apartment. How I came
with the watch and ring which the brother of deceased
identified was in-the following way :—ln our engagements of
late deceased had often been half an hour behindhand. His
watch, for some time past, had performed irregularly. He
frequently struck it with his walking-cane, in a momentary
ill-humour, which accounts for the seconds pointer being
gone. He gave it to me to be cleaned and repaired for
him, at the same time producing his ring, which had
always been too large for his little finger, to be lessened,
and for the brilliant to be reset, which it needed, in
consequence of an attempt to prove its genuineness,
which he effected by removing the brilliant from its setting,
and striking it with a hammer, having first placed it on
a stone for that purpose. He had used all his influence
towards putting me into a comfortable situation, but had
failed until the morning of the day on which he was mur-
dered. I forgot to state that it was on this morning that de-
ceased gave the watch and ring to me. On that morning he
saluted me in a pleasant air, and said he brought me good
news he hoped. He then led me to think I should be a little
better to do in a few days, but that he would acquaint me
with more anon. He provided me at the same time with
(what indeed I had for some time expected) 121. in gold.
The deceased had so often lent me money that I was ashamed
to mention his name again to my parents; I, therefore, forged
a falsehood, and represented Mrs. Edwards as the donor. I
was in possession of the money in the morning, and that ac-
pinaretnhtso
ethvaentinlgm. might
hcohavnetsitiobr
by
seven o'clock in the evening of the Friday I went to the Swiss
mcyalling positivelyo n Mar. assuring
Int:dneg-a my
Tavern, and called for rum and water. I stayed there nearly
three quarters of an hour. There was another
man—
apparently a gentleman—in the room during the whole of
the time, to whom I read portions of the day's newspaper.
A candle was on the table, close by me, while 1 was reading.
It was a bitterly cold night, and the fire was burning cheer-
fully. I stood in the front of it for some time.' Had my,
clothes at that time been disordered or bloody, the gentle-
man or the waiter must have seen it. The waiter remarked
at the inquest, after failing to identify me, that the person
who ordered the rum and water had white hands ; he meant,
at least, that they were not bloody. If I went anywhere to e 4",
wash them, why suffer my clothes to remain as they were,
and have the temerity to enter a lighted public-house so near
the spot? But it is not my place to write in this manner.
I will proceed further. After I left tlae tavern I directed my
path across the fields, in a line with the spot where the deed
was committed, for it lay in my way to the Hampstead-
road, whither I was going. As I approached Haverstock-
field, whistling a merry tune, a policeman ran out from the
hedge, and accosted me with the words ' Young gentleman,
sad work here; here's a dead man.' I immediately scaled
the fence with him, and asked him if he was sure the
man was dead ? The policeman (Baldock) said, ' There
was no doubt of it.' I felt the pulse of the deceased.
It was still. He remarked that the deceased was a
young man. It was an awful spectacle, and we both
wept. I felt quite sick and chilly, and told the policeman r
should shortly take some brandy. I proposed to him to do
the same. 1 continued with him and the deceased, without
offering to withdraw, for forty minutes. I told Baldock that
some months back I had_ been in the habit of crossing'

illes—adiaCeni field from Hampstead several times in a
week at a late hour in the evening, and that I usually
carried a pocket stiletto as a life-preserver, which I showed
him, asking him whether the possession of such an instru-
ment were illegal or not. He said he thought not. He re-
marked that the blade was very bright. Baldock asked the
time of the night. I looked at the watch which has since
been produced, and told him. Sergeant Fletcher and some
four or live other policemen then arrived with a stretcher,
Almost all of them addressed me on seeing me on the spot
with Baldock. I accompanied the policemen, four of whom
carried the corpse. I asked one of them if it were necessary
for me still to .attend them ; he said, if I could give no in-
formation, it would be useless. I had made an appointment
to be in Portlaud-place:that evening. 1 found that I had al-
ready exceeded my time through remaing so long with
Baldock. I left them with the corpse when I had got as far
as Church-row, Hampstead, and hastened towards my desti-
nation."
[This appeared to be the conclusion of the first statement,
and the prisoner took up another paper. After a momentarypause, he proceeded
" I wish to explain to you as nearly as my feelings will
suffer use, the nature of my present trial, and to show you,
that to attempt an extrication out of my
.misery, by a full
disclosure of everything collected with Ow bad afalr, WQIII4