The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-12-17 00:00:00

THE LATE MULtDER AT ST. HELENS

The adjourned inquest, on view of the body of the late Mr.
Henry Grayson, was held at St. Helens on Tuesday, before
John Heyes, Esq., coroner. Mr. Wiliam Storey, superin-
tendent of the county police, said that having received in-
formation of the murder, he went to the deceased's house on
the morning of the fatal occurrence, and gave directions for
the apprehension of the Woodses, the Jacques, and the
Lutases, who have been taken since. Serjeant Brandwood
told witness he had captured a man of the name of Meadow-
croft, who had marks of blood upon his trowsers, which ap-
peared to have been scraped with a knife. Meadowcroft had
a knife in his possession, which had the appearance of blood
on the blade, and which he stated was moss. I told him the
marks were not moss ; and he made no reply. Jacques had
had some drink, and was very dirty, as if he had not been in
bed all night. Meadowcroft was drunk. I passed them on
to St. Helens, and took them up in my gig between the de-
ceased's house and Denton's-green. As I passed Denton's-
green, I pointed out the spot where deceased was murdered.
They said, "Is it?" I had them locked up separately.
When I tit st took Jacques into the gig, he said, " I will tell
you something." I said, " Well, what is it ?" He said, " I
shan't tell you until we get to St. Helens." When he got
to St. Helens, he said, " I shan't tell you anything now."
Prior to going to Rainford, I examined the marks of a foot
which I saw near the spot where the body was found. I af-
terwards compared them with the prisoner Woods's shoe,
There appeared to be marks of a scuffie,—a regular ring was
made round the body. About six or seven yards from this,
I observed the footmarks, which I believe corresponded with
Woods's shoes. There were several large nails in the soles.
After Charles and Robert Woods had been apprehended, I
took their shoes up. The left foot shoe of Robert Woods
corresponded with the impression. They had been brought
to the police-station about twelve o'clock. Robert was
brought first, and Charles afterwards. When I first saw the
shoe, I at once thought it corresponded with the footmark.
The' pocket-handkerchief of the deceased was found near the
footmark. When I compared the shoe with the footmark, I
first noticed the mark of the three nails in the centre of the
heel, and one makes an impression by the side of the other.
I found they were exectiv alike. Since that day I have ap-
prehended Molyneux and William Jacques. The handker-
chief now produced by me was left at the station-house, by
Thomas Lightfoot. The stick I produce was found by me in
the ditch, near where the deceased was found lying. There
is now a little human hair on the stick ; it had more when I
found it. A knife was found on Meadowcroft, which appears
to have been used for scraping mud. On searching Meadow-
croft, I found one shilling and eightpence, and a tobacco-box.
Christopher Blades sworn : 1 keep the Gerrard Arms, at
Denton's-green. On Saturday, the 4th instant, several per-
sons were drinking at my house in the evening. One of
them was Mr. John Marsh. Between twelve and one o'clock
I accompanied him on his way home. On the road we saw
two men ; one of them was a tall man, who wore a light
barragau jacket and trowsers, and a' cap ; the other was a
short roan, in dark clothes. Marsh remarked to me, that he
did tut like their appearance, and requested me to go a little
further with him, which I did. When I left him I returned
home. I saw the men go in the direction of my door, but,
on inquiry. I found they had not been there. They must
have gone in the direction of the Seven Stars. It was one
o'clock when I got to bed.
James Ranson sworn : I live at Eccleston, and keep the
Seven Stars public-house in Gracious-street. On Saturday
night, the 4th instant, about ten minutes to eleven o'clock,
Isaac Jaques, Thomas Molyneux, who had a fiddle, and
Robert Woods, came to my house. They had not anything
to drink that I know of, and they appeared to me to be sober.
I know Meadowcroft, but he was not with them. John
Parr had been in my house, and I understand they afterwards
went to his house. I did not see Thomas Woods that night.
It was a club night, but they had nothing to do with it.
They left about twelve o'clock. They had neither stick nor
gun with them.
Ann Eccleston sworn : I left the Seven Stars on Saturday
night, the 4th instant, about twelve o'clock. I saw Robert
Woods, Isaac Jaques, and a man named Molyneux there. I
left them there at twelve o'clock. They had nothing to -
drink. Molyneux wanted to play the fiddle, but he was not
permitted.
Henry Colquitt sworn.—l live near the Seven Stars. On
Sunday morning week, some persons, whom I did not see,
broke my door open. I slept at my father-in-law's. A young
man who courts my wife's sister fetched me to see them
fight another man. I went to my father-in-law's. They had
some ale in a bottle, and we drank until it was all gone.
We came out at about five minutes past one o'clock. A
man fastened on me by the collar, and said, " Will you see
fair play ?" I said " N es." This was before I had the ale.
After I had seen fair play, and had the ale, I went home.
I found three men there. One was asleep on the dresser.
It was before daylight. It was between five and six o'clock.
One of them said that if I did not get out of the house,
he would make me. They asked if I had any money. I
said I had threepence, and would give it to them. They
were not open at the Seven Stars. They then left the house.
I had been drinking. brandy on Saturday, at the Seven
Stars, and ale afterwards, and I was very drunk. One of
the men played the fiddle, and we danced, and I don't
know what. I went with them. We first went to Arnold's
beer-shop. There were two men there. After the bell rang
for church the•landlord would not fill us any more drink,
and told us to go out of the house one at a time. I then went
home. It was not my house, but Parr's, that the men or-
dered me out of. Jacques said to me there, " Will you
forgive me for breaking your door open?" I said yes, and
he then told me how he came to break it open. They had
broken into the house to get something to eat. The men's
names are Woods, Jacques, and Molyneux. When I was in
Arnold's house, Jacques said he had, on the previous night.
peeped iu over the window-shutter of Blade's house, and
seen Marsh and some other men there. I had
.previously
seen the men at the Seven Stars. I know that my house
was broken open, as I have had to put another lock upon it.
Jacques had a stick with him, about as long as the stick
produced, (that found near the body.) 1 beard of the mur-
der in my own house. I did not at first know who it was.
It was my wife who mentioned it.
This witness, who had been out of the way for a couple of
days, was brought before the jury in a very advanced state
of intoxication. The coroner did not reduce his evidence to
writing in consequence, and the courtlwas further adjourned
until to-morrow.
Mary Colquitt, the wife of the last witness, was afterwards
examined. Her evidence went to corroborate the chief
points spoken of by her husband.
Sir John Gerard, Bart., on returning from a hunt with his
stag-hounds, called at the Town-hall to make inquiries as to
the progress of the coroner's inquiry, and a messenger from
Knowsley-hall was in waiting some time to convey the result
of it to the noble resident of that place. The Earl of Derby
has laudably intimated his desire to give £5O, in addition to
the reward of £lOO, which is already offered by the govern-
ment and the deceased's relatives, for the discovery of the
murderer.

ST.HELEN'S, WEDNESDAY MoRNING.—The prisoners were
again brought up before Samuel Taylor and Charles Orrell,
Esqrs., the magistrates, to-day. The additional evidence
taken by the coroner since their last meeting was read over,
and Colquitt, who gave evidence at the inquest while in a state
of intoxication, was re-examined, and corroborated in every
particular what he then deposed. He affirmed more confi-
dently that the stick he saw in Jacque's possession the night
before the murder is the same as that found near the place of
the murder by Mr. Storey, with human hair upon it.
The magistrates, after a long deliberation, concluded upon
discharging three of the prisoners—namely, Charles Woods,
Thos. Meadowcroft, and Win. Jacques, on entering into
their own recognizanees to appear again when called upon.
The other three—viz., Isaac Jacques, Robert Woods, and
Thos. Molyneux, were remanded until Tuesday afternoon,
to await the decision of the jury on the inquest.
There were several other parties whom the jury thought it
expedient to have examined; but not being present, they de-
cided upon an adjournment until Thursday afternoon at half-
past one o'clock, then intending positively to close the
inquiry.
The Coroner adjourned the inquest until Thursday.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.
ST. HELEN'S, THURSDAY AFTERNOON.—Mary Colquitt
again examined.—She went to the Seven Stars about eleven
o'clock for her husband, and there saw Isaac Jacques, Robt.
Woods, and Thomas Molyneux, also in the house. She
stayed there until twelve o'clock, and left those men there.
She went to say further, that she saw Jacques strike the table
with something, but saw no stick.
William Colquitt was also again examined, and said, the
stick found near the place of the murder was very like the
one Isaac Jacque had on Saturday night, at the Seven Stars
public-house. It was cut in the same manner at the end.
lie left the three prisoners—isaac Jacques, Woods, and
Molyneux, in the Seven Stars, at twelve o'clock. After re-
capitulating the substance of the evidence as detailed above,
he said it was about seven o'clock when he and the prisoners
went to Arnold's beer shop. Arnold had just got up, and
was dressing. They had some ale. The prisoners paid for
none of the drink. They stayed until the bell began to ring
for church. Arnold asked them whether they had been any
where else than Ranson's the night before, and Jacque said
they had been to Blades's, at Denton's Green, but did not
enter in, and looking over the window-shutter, he saw who
were in, mentioning John Marsh, John Tasker, and some
others. There was some paper produced after this was
mentioned, which Jacque said be had found on coming back
from the Green, on the side of the road, wrapped up in a rag.
The rag was of a dark colour, the same as a pocket, and had
the appearance of a purse. It was the size of a small money
bag;:about as large as a man's hand, and had no string to it.
It was jagged at the top edge, as if it were roved. They stuck
the rag and paper in the fire altogether. The paper was
printed, and figures written upon it. Arnold read it.
The coroner produced two tickets From the Red Lion
weighing machine, where the deceased had been the day be-
fore, and weighed some potatoes, the tickets of which
it was supposed he must have had in his possession when
murdered, and witness was asked whether papers he saw
were like them ?
Witness replied, that one of the papers was given to him,
and it was like one of them.
Re-examination continued.—l heard Arnold read them,
and " potatoes " were mentioned. I believe the name
" Grayson " was mentioned. They gave me one ticket,
which they said was dated the day before (Saturday), and it
was the only one of any use. Arnold said I might perhaps
get a quart of ale for giving it to Grayson. I put it in my
pocket—the side pocket, I think. It remained there, I be-
lieve, until last night, when I think 1 used it in the neces-
sary. I have looked for it to-day, but cannot find it. The
other papers and the rag were burnt, I think, by Arnold. I
had not at that time heard of Grayson 's death. I have heard
since how he was injured, and that his pocket wrtS cut out.
The rag which was burnt at Arnold's was not a bag, but like
a bag. The prisoner Molyneux was in our house afterwards
that morning. While the prisoners were talking about being
at Denton's Green, one of them called prisoner Molyneux a
dirty d—l for sleeping on the midden, and be replied that it
was not on a midden, but on some litter on the back-side of
a midden.
which ad
Mr. Storey here said he had examined the
h placthe and
found a number of potatoe-tops lying,p.
pearance of a man having lain upon them ; but it had rained
a great deal since the night of the murder, so that the marks
of a person having lain there were but feeble.
William Arnold, beerseller, Eccleston, said—l remember
Jacques,Woods, Molyneux and Colquitt coming to my house
on Sunday morning. They had some drink. They remained
there until the church bell rung. No one ever produced me
any paper to read. I never saw any in possession of auk of
them, and neither a bag nor rag. I did not hear them men-
tion about being at Rawson's. They did not say they had
been at Denton's Green. They did not say they had peeped
over the window. The three men who were discharged yes-
terday called at my house last night, but I had no conversation
with them. None of their friends have had any conversation
with me.
This evidence being contradictory to Colquitt's, he was

again called in, when some questions were put to Arnold by
him, and repeated contradictions of the statement he previ-
ously made ensued.

Previous to any witnesses being called in, the Coroner in-
quired of Mr. Storey whether he was aware of a prevailing
report which was current in Rainford, that a person named
Edward Stopforth, a farmer, had been in St. Helen's on the
night of the murder, having a deal of money in his posses-
sion—say some hundreds of pounds, which he had received
that day in Liverpool. He understood that Mr. Stopforth
had slept in St. Helen's that night, and it was possible that
he might have been boasting in some place of the amount of
money he had on him, and the parties who murdered Mr.
Grayson might have heard of this, and waylaid him, but
mistook the unfortunate deceased for Mr. Stopforth.
Mr. Higginson, the landlord of the Fleece Inn, at whose
house it was discovered that Mr. Stopforth had stayed all
night, informed the Coroner that Mr. S. tirst went to his
house at about three o'clock in the afternoon. He was then
rather intoxicated, and, after having some dinner, he went
out for there or four hours, but where he went he (Mr. H.)
did not know.

Received last night at twelve o'clock by express.

John Fore, a lodger at the Seven Stars, was called to state
whether he saw Jacques with a stick, and whether at that
house on the night before the murder, but he could not
speak to it.
John Sasher said, he went to the Gerard's Arms at about
eight o'clock in the evening, along with John Littler. John
Marsh was there. Thos. Brown came there in about an hoar
after. Witness left thereat about a quarter before one o'clock.
He sat in the kitchen from ten o'clock until he left. John
Marsh and he sat in front of the fire, and opposite the win-
dow. Saw a man standing near the house when he left.
John Parr, the perso❑ in whose house the prisoner was
found by Colquitt, on returning home this morning, subse-
quent to the murder, was next examined, but the statement
he made was, that Jacques, Wood, and Molyneux went to
his house between eleven and twelve o'clock. He (Parr)
went to bed about two o'clock and left them there. He also
found them in the house when he got up next morning. He
supposed they had been there all night.
Mr. A. T. Woods stated, that a day or two ago he had
met Parr in Eccicston, when that person commenced a con-
versation with him, in which he stated that Jacques having
been an apprentice with him, he was rather inclined to think
well of him, and having come to his house sometime in the
morning, he came down stairs and let him and his compa-
nion in.

This being directly contradictory to what Parr had deposed
upon oath, his evidence was discredited.
Ellen Richardson said, I remember reading one of the
bills, announcing a reward for the discovery of the parties
who committed the murder, to Colquitt on Tuesday. After
I read it, he asked me if I would tell if I knew, and I replied
" Yes." He asked me if the man who did it would be par-
doned if he confessed; but I told him not the actual party
who struck the blow. He said something lay heavy on his
mind, but it had nothing to do with that. He was tipsey.
John Manchester and his wife, who reside in Eccleston,
were called, but their evidence was not material.

Henry Colquitt was recalled.—He exhibited his pocket,
and described that 'which he had supposed to be a rag in
Jacques' possession in Arnold's, and the bottom part of his
pocket. He showed that it was just such a piece as had
been cut off the deceased's pocket. The deceased's trousers
were produced, and witness said the jagged edge of the bag,
or rag, he saw corresponded with that on the residue of the
pocket.
Mr. Storey said there was another fact he should mention,
namely, that between the place were the body and the stick
were found a few finger marks were plainly perceptible & sonic
drops of blood upon them. From that it might be surmised
that the first blow was struck there, and the murder had not
been actually committed when the body was found.
This closed the evidence. _ _

The Jury asked for a few minutes' deliberation, and after
about twenty minutes had elapsed, they intimated that they
had come to a decision.

The Coroner then said the jury had, during the few mi-
nutes they had been left alone, come to a decision as to their
verdict, and he called upon the foreman to pronounce it.
Mr. Sharp (the foreman) said, the verdict they had con-
cluded upon was one of " Wilful Murder" against Isaac
Jacques, Robert Woods, and Thomas Molyneux. The jury
wished him to state that they altogether disregarded the evi-
dence of Arnold, the beer-seller, Parr, and his daughter..

The prisoners were then brought into the room, and the
Coroner in addressing them said :—The jury, after a long
and patient investigation, had. found them guilty of the mur-
der of the late Henry Grayson. The evidence affected Jaques
more rarticularly than the others, but there were in evidence
conversations which had passed in the presence and hearing
of the other prisoners, and which they did not deny. By
their conversation they were implicated in the murder, and
therefore it was the jury had also included them in their
verdict.

The Coroner then read over the whole of the evidence
taken, and whilst reading that of Colquitt, which so mate-
rially affects them. Jacques exclaimed, " Oh, he must be lu-
natic, gentlemen."
The prisoners all denied any participation in the crime,
but were committed, under the Coroner's warrant, to take
their trial at the next assizes. _

The inquest only terminated last night at nine o'clock,
and the excitement on the subject was so great, that the room
was crowded throughout the whole afternoon.