The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-12 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.

It was stated a short time ago, that the skeleton
of a human being had been discovered buried in a
stack-yard, at 'Wheatley, in Yorkshire. The bones
or this skeleton were almost- in a fossil state, so as
to lead to an inference that the belly had been
buried at least 100 years; but the cicionstance of
a of membrane in the skull being still per-
fect , proved that the body could not have. bees
many years under ground, and a suspicion was im-
mediately entertained that the skeleton was the re-
mains of a Mr. Wood, a farmer, who had suddenly-
disappeared in 1822. This opinion seemed to gain
strength from the circumstance of the skull exhibit-
ing tr- peculiar formation of teeth similar to that
which 'Mr. 'Wood had exhibited when living. In
consequence of this di-covery, an inquest was held
a few days ago, at which the following evidence
was given :

William Moremft—l reside at Sprot borough, and
am butcher. I recollect the 22d of January, from
the circumstance of IVood being missing that night.
I was commF home front Armthorpe to Doncaster
about n;ne :lock that night. At the point lead-
ing out of Armthorpe-la.,c to the Hatfield-road, I
missed my dog, and turned round to whiztle for
I leaned against the first post, and feeling drowsy,
fell asleep whilst waiting for the dog. On turning
round to come home, I saw a man standing before
me. I said, ".Halloo !" but he never spoke, and I
then said to him, " What do you want ?" Still
he never spoke, and I said, " Do you want me ?"
He then 'said he was craving charity on the
road. I said to him, " Craving charity on the
road at this time of night; 'why, there are the
nine o'clock chimes going !" He said, " I
have two companions at Doncaster, and we
have not any thing to get refreshments with."
I asked him if he would let me go past him, but he
did not give way, so I did. He said three or four
times, " Are you frightened ?" When I gave way,
he gave way too, continuing -to face me, and he again
said, " Are not you frightened ?" I told him I was
not. At that time my dog came up, and ran between
my legs. He turned round and howled. The man
again said, " you, are you frightened ?" I
gave back, thinking I heard some one coming across
the road from the other side. I turned my head, and
observed two men coming up. I said, " You rascal,
there's your two companions you said were at Don-
caster." I then lashed at him, knocked him down
into the hedge, and jumped over it. '1 he men
followed me over the hedge, and I made fur a hay-
stack which was standing in the field at the time;
but, thinking they might come there too, I ran down
the close, and lay down under the hedge. Shortly
after two men went past cse, and said, "
him, he's gone." The other then passed me. One
of the men was rather taller than myself. One man
was taller than the others, but not particularly tall—
he did not appear to be six feet in height.

Child's evidence, given on a former occasion, was
here read over. In this he charged three individuals,
whose names he mentioned, (one of whom be said
stood six feet,) and a person whom he did not know,
but whose dress he described, with meeting near his
house at different times, under suspicious circum-
stances.

Sir W. B. COOKE said that this was a suspicious
circumstance, three men having been seen lurking
about. It had often been stated that there were three
and this circumstance. confirmed the number. Child
had stated that there were three.

Mrs. Hudson—On the night in question, about
twelve o'clock, I saw three men, two of them with
spades, awl one with a pick-axe. They appeared as
if coming from Printing-otlice-street, and went up
Wood-street, towards tile Horse-fair. They had
light short smock frocks on. They were of middle
stature. ; I mentioned the circumstance to ray
husband, and said I was afraid there was going to be
some evil deed.
Child was then examined—He stated that the
23d January, 1522, was the first time he made any
remark on the occasion. On that day, between eight
and nine o'clock, four men met between Ellis's door
and mine. They mat there again between twelve
and one. I could not tell what they said. They
seemed pensive and sad in their minds, and came
three days together twice a day. The men were
Ellis, Hodgson, and Bailey, and there was another
man I did not know, but whose dress I described.
1 heard at the time of Wood being missing. This
man (Ellis) went and got drunk at Maudsou's, the
Leopard, and he told a man that he knew who killed-
hint. There are live or six living witnesses who
heard him. A man ran out and told his wife, and
they fetched him out when lie was going to tell all
the concern. I was in bed when he came home.
could hear him, and as he came out he began praying
I never heard such weighty words prayed; but his
wife was stopping his mouth while he was
speaking. My wife said, " What is he talking
about ?" She then said, " I believe about Joseph
Wood, arid praying to God to forgive him." I could
hear her stopping his mouth with a handkerchief or
her hand. After sonic time I heard him say," Lord
f .ve me." He said to his wife, "My lass, th.ai
knows what I have done." I never heard him go a
poaching after that. When he got drunk again, he
began on the same occasion as before. So, then
you see after these things that I heard all came into
my head, and I asked him one day to his face if he
killed Wood, and if he had buried him, to show me,
and I would take him up. I said, "If von dare
not take him up, show me, and I will." He never
spoke, nut went into the house. A day or two
after I asked him again, but he gave no answer. I
asked him three times. Since that time he has
turned Methodist preacher, and because I talked
about it, he sent me ,‘ ord he would prosecute me,
bur I sent him word he co.dit not. As to Joseph
Redd'' .r, I r.'!Yer had a.,y ilang to do w h lritn, lie
sent •tv: Nord I should tw hariLd lower than Joseph

Woou. Child was here rein nded that on his torncer
examination he had stated that he only knew three
of those men ; but he said in explanation of that cir-
cumstance, " I gave a description of the fourth man
before, but have now found him out to be Redding,.
I'll venture my life that Ellis knows whether these
ate the bones of Wood, as well as I know my way
home when I go out here."
Mrs. Wood was then called, and stated that the
teeth of Wood stuck out, and that she had observed,
when he laughed, that his head inclined to the
left side.
Ellis, in consequence of what had been stated by
Child, was sent for, ar►d next examined. Mr. Fisher
stated to him the reason of his being sent for—that
Child had accused him of meeting along with Joseph
Hodgson, John Bailey, and Josepl; Redding, on the
morning of the murder.
Ellis—Hodgson and I lived neighbours, and as
for Bailey he was quite a boy. I never had any
correspondence at all with him. As to the other
man, I never kept his company. I never kept
company with any person that I knew did any thing
wrong.
Mr. Fisher—Child says you were talking at that
time, and also on Thursday and Friday. Ellis—
Then he knows more than I do. If any persons
came to me, they would come to my own house. It
would be strange for me to consult with any person
out of doors.

Mr. Fisher—Do you know if you were out that
night ? Ellis---I was out of my own house, but with
Wilcox at his house, playing at cards. I was there
from six or seven o'clock till twelve or one. Joseph
Taylor (now in London) was there; John Newton
was also there, and Wilcox's wife, but she is dead.
I don't recollect any others.
Mr. Fisher—lt is said you made some confession
at the Leopard. Ellis—l was so far iii liquor that
I cannot say what was said concerning it.
Child—You said you would bet a guinea to a
penny that you knew who killed him, and you could
tind him. There are witnesses who can prove this.
Ellis—Then they ought to be produced.
Child—What did you say when I asked what you
had done with Wood ? I said to you, there is a re-
ward of MI. offered, and if you will tell Ane
give you half. When 1 said this you went away as

silent as- :. boulder-stone at dead of night. It is
seven years since I asked that, and I have repeated
it at different times. I tell you to your face, that
you know whether this is Wood or not.

Ellis—You never did say so to me.
Child—You know whether this is Wood or not.

Ellis—You are a bad old man—a vile old Mar;.
Ellis was asked his reason for blaming Musgrave;
he replied, he suFposed he was drunk and Jet his
tongue run.

Sir W. B. COOKE said Ellis had mentioned tFe
name of hig keeper at various times.

Mr. Fisher—bfd you ever mention his name but
when you were drunk ? Ellis—Not that I know of ;
I have not been (hunk th,se five years.
Child—Because you dare not. You would tvll
if you did get &till.
Joseph Redding, who bad also been sent for in
consequence of the assertions of Child, was told by
Mr. Fisher what Child had stated respecting his
meeting with Ells and the other two men.
Redding said he never spoke a dozen words to
Ellis before he went to build some houses; he never
ent poaching in his life; he did not know any thing
about it. Child—,You was one.

edding denied it, and declared he never said
CL,ild would be buried deeper than Wood.
Some altercation took place between Redding
and Child, when the latter was ordered to withdraw.

Ellis, on leaving the room, declared that what had
been stated by Child arose from ill-will, in conse-
quence of his threatening to complain of Child's
keeping a disorderly house. Redding said Child
ought to be made an example of for injuring his
character, but was assured that he need not be afraid
of his character being injured by any thing which
Child might say.
After some further conversation, the inquest was
adjourned to the 20th inst. at ten o'clock in the
morning.