The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-16
THE DENHAM MURDER.

inc DENnAm MUhUEh.
Late English papers contain full accounts
OF the fearful tragedy perpetrated at the vii
LACE of Denham, mile and half from Tx
bridge, on the 21st of May, Within a short
distance of the beautiful country seat known
as Denham Court there stands al isolated
cottage, which was occupied by smith and
engineer named Emanuel Marshall who had
a wife and three daughters, aged respective
ly four, seven, and nine. Marshall's mother
and his wifes sister-in-law also lived with
them in the cottage. Marshall was known
rs an Industrious, and steady man, which far
report would seem to be borne out by the
fact of his keeping his mother and sster-in-
law. All appeared TO have gone well with
the occupants Of the cottage and nothing
more than usual was observed until the 22d
ult. 1t was then observed that the shutters
had not been seen open nor any OF the family
about. The next day also the shutters re-
manned closed, but il was concluded that
Marshall and his family were out on Holt
day and no further notice was taken of the
matter by the neighbors al that time About
ten O'Clock at night, however, a young wo-
man from a neighboring town went to the
cottage with a new dress and some lining for
Mrs. Marshall'S sister, whose wedding was
arranged for the next day. Receiving no
answer TO her summons. the young woman
made inquiries, and on it becoming known
what was her crrand, 4 policeman came and
forced the door Of Marshalls cottage, and
then a most horrible discovery was made
Thc cottage itself presented the appearance
of a sIaughter-houSc. Marshall with his
smiths dress ON, but without his shoes, was
found with his head battered to pieces. His
wit" Charlotte and her sister-in- law were
lEng III the front room, partly on each other
with their heads beaten in. MarShall's
mother and his three young children were
lying in their night-clothes in pool of blood,
All their heads being battered in. A more
CHASTITY spectacle has never been beheld.
The whole family We're murdered, and,
from all that can be OWNED, We're murdered
by one man Two watches were missing.
One has been traced and found pawned at a
pawnbroker in UXbridge, for few shilings
OF the other there is vet no trace The de-
Srription OF the man who pawned this watch
IS somewhat vague, for little notice was tax
cn of him. even the identity of the watch it.
self is almost doubtful; but the brother of the
murdered man is positive rs to the watch
having his brothers watchguard. With this
Slight clue and slight description of the man
who pawncd, other traces were soon found
by the police. They asccrtained that man
answering somewhat to the description of a
or three days previously. and had slept at a
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lodging house in the same room with another
man to whom he was unknown. This man
at once came forward and gave the police
every aid in the way of description which he
could about his temporary but unknown
companion. The most damning fact of all
which he states is that the supposed murder
er was absent all Saturday night, so late that
he did not know the time that he returned,
beng asleep but on the Sunday he noticed
that he had new and different clothes to those
he Wore the day previous. In the house
where the murdered family were found was
discovered Il loose heap of things, consisting
OF an ora worn coat waiSSttce29;aat; and tG,
yis All stained with blood A coat. waist
coat hat, trousers, and other articles of mems
wearing apparel are missing from the cottage
Whoever did the murder took the clothes and
LEFT his own behind.
The cottage stands a little back from the
road, and is almost seventy yards distant from
any other house. Adjoining it is little
forge where Marshall worked as an engineer
and smith ina small way. The man was COM
tortably off, sober, and industrious, working
early and late. Beside the forge his multi
ated body was found, and near it was bar
of iron or poker, bent, broken, and stained
with blood end HAIR. Here we get some clue
to the time Of the murder, Marshall was a
very early riser and very early to bed. Al
this time of the year he used, it Is said, tc
get mp between 3 and in the morning to let
his horse out to Craze. The body when
found in the forge, had a clean shirt and
stockings on it, evidently the beginning OF
the Sunday dress of Il small mechanic.
Mrs. Marshall's body was found at tho
bottom of the stairs in the cottage. Hel
gown was partly off her, just as she mos
probably had hurriedly thrown it on to know
the meaning of cries and struggling in the
forge. BY her side, and partially across her
lay in her night dress the body of the sister
m-law, who was to have been married two
days after. Both had their skulls completely
shattered by the blows Of sledge hammer
From this it would seem that Mrs. Marshal
first heard the noise of the butchery in the
forge and, throwing her dress around her
called to her sister-in-law and woke her, anC
then rushed down stairs and met the muir
derer at the foot, who slew them at once
and apparently without trouble for there
was no sign of any struggle or disorder
The heads We're beaten in with several blows
and they lay at the foot of the stairs in a boo
Of blood. The three children, little Girls
aged three, six, and nine, were eyidentl,
murdered as they rushed down stairs q,
hearing the cries. The bodies of two were
it is stated, found almost under the fre-plact
in the kitchen.
Wednesday the supposed murderer was ar
rested and the next day was examined. H
is apparently a man Of AZ or 43 years of age
and was dressed in clothes which had bee
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