The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16
A WELSH MURDER CASE.

Sarah Hughes
Jones lived on small farm two miles from
the town Of Dolgclly, in North Wales. Thu
deceased woman, who was thirty-seven years n
age. ana very strengthening been accustomed
TO work in the lclds-wus last socn alive on ihe
night of Juno 4. at n place called tho Ship Mil.
going in the direction OF her own home lt.
tic further along tho road towards Brothdir.
whore she livcd were paths leading up to Para
farm, the prisoners residence. Six weeks later.
on July 10. u weaver. employed in the factory
near Dolgclly. found part OF a woman's body ID
the little river Arran, which runs close 10 ma
town. Higher up the stream he found black
cloth jacket and striped red and Whit nntti.
coats. thorough search was ut oncr insti.
tutcd. and discovered logs. arms. feet and
hands were found at different spots In the river,
over a space OF half milo. These remains
were subsequently identified ns those Of tid
missing woman. Early that morning the acc
cused had bocn seen with a rod and line alpa.
rently fishing. but dipping the end OF the rod
into the river. at the very place where later ia
the day the woman's head and one OF her fcet
were found The prosecution maintained tha(
he must have been trying then to dislodgc eomS
Of the pieces of the body.
When tho police were searching the prsons
er's house ho said TO the inspector in Welsh,
You noed not trouble yourself any more. [
am DESTROYS OF telling you that did it, Thd
inspector, having first cautioned him as to tina
importance OF his avowal. asked him " De- vof
mean to tell me that II was you who killed Sarah
Hughes ?" to which the young man answered.
do | did 1t. and nobody else. That il thS
truth. and nothing but tho truth" he theu
went with the officers to n small patch 81 ground
known IA the garden. which was covered with
newly cut branches. The accused said. Ilors
xthtnu InI.r th. mol, -.
spot the ground had evidently been disturbed
and there piece OF flesh was picked uu-s
piece of hand which fitted in with part ul th(
remains found in the river. The loose earth,
| which seemed bloody. was removed. and q
grave about seven feet long. three feet deep
and two feet broad was disclosed. One of ns
officers pulled up two buttons in this gardea
precisely similar to the buttons on the Jacket
taken from the river
On the trial two surgeons who had mnd, tho
| post-mortem examination of the remains in
| July last testified that tho woman's death had
been caused by fracture Of the skull l,v,n Of
the bones OF the skull being broken. ard that Ia
their opinion the fracture was produced tyy
blow from very heavy blunt instrument, The
| body was cut up some time after death but thoI
could no. say exactly how long. hedge hoos
was found lying on bench in front Of The
| prisoners house and the handle OF this hc,lg(
hook was picked up near the gray. in tnt
garden.
The only witnesses called for the ,loisnct
wore rs to character. AMI they all spoke of tho
accused rs n kind. well-disposcd and wols
conducted young man. The counsel for tho
| prisoner. Mr. Swetenham was obliged to ado
NIT that the woman had been killed 10y his
client. but he asked the jury to bring IN a YER.
dict of mansaughter. Tho deceased had nd
been immaculate. She had had two hgiti.
mnte children and was at the time OF her death,
| although unmarried. again 10 become mother.
His counsel said that 1t was not suggested thai
there had been in fact any intimacy between the
prisoner and deceased; but his theory was
that she went TO tho prisoners house thai
| night for the purpose Of extorting money from
| him. under threats OF bringing charges aga, nst
| him. She knew that he young man Of
timid disposition recently married whose
| future happiness she could blast with q word.
| His theory was that the prisoner upon her stilI
| insisting on presenting herself before h. yuuna
wife. in spite Of his cntrcatics. took uia Stone
| and dashed It at her head. inlicting N, E,uI
| injury.
| The charge Of the JuGge-Mr Justice Mabisty
| Of the Queens Bench was faiI and H. pastiL
| He told the Jury that. regardless oi conse.
| quenccs. they should come TO the cons ii, r,tiou
1
| pressed at all by the sad. narrowing ,loL.Ia
d1e' the death OF the woman; and that theJ
| should take the evidence as to the Character Of
| the prisoner in conjunction with the other .vi-
doncc and then whenever there was g. doubt,
| give the prisoner the benefit OF tina doubt.
There was no douht-hc instructed tu,m-tn4t
the fact OF the prisoner being. according To tho
evidence Of many Witnesses. a human MAI a
kind and peaceable man. would have a t-orn.a
upon what must have occurred when The de-
ccased met with her death.
The Jury. after an absence Of hall az hour,
| found the prisoner guilty Of murder A, hd
was unable-in common with mos; OF d., Wit
ncsscs-to speak En-lish. the intcrpfDrr IN.
| formed him what tho verdict of the iIry was.
| and sentence Ol death was pronounced.
The peculiar circumstances Of the casc al.
| tractcd general attention in Wales and nurh
| sympathy was express for the young farmer.
! Tho Welsh newspapers advocated h.. oaueo.
and petition signed by ton thousand lorsona
| In favor Of a res itc or con,mutati, 70. On tho
! ground ol absence 81 reconciliation Oh hls parts
was presented 10 the Home Secretary Nj.
| Cross. however. dc''.n 4 10 interfere. aud thu
man was executed on Friday. No.. No. al
| polgclly. in NJ rionctlshirc. His conduit alton
his conviction had boon most cxnuu larry. hd
walked firmly 10 tn etfod. praying ,scntys
and died without struggle. OWup o. thd
strong feeling il, tli' n"i.hb,rhood IN 'ator Of
a -. pit. the Nlcrn Aal To obtain r,,la ni,rd
/ from Chester and cart the materials f. tIr eai-
| lows to Dolgrily with his own horses.
Had it not boon for the admissions o.. Il, ~
the u.. as Il o the po'ire ln~uoctor o. not
prD bal, that 'ouNl fion could hqV. 700 oh.
tanned against him; and had he no..,0. u, M
body Of h,a N tim olt.. killing her. o., ,.rAt
would haNe been on" Oh mansiausht'l