, 1879-03-15
CIRCUMSTANTIAL PROOF,

How an Innocent Nun Was Sentenced to
DEATH for Murder.
The recently executed English burgInr and
murderer, Chares Peace confessed after Ills
conviction TINT he wRs the real murderer OF Po-
l!rcman Coek, near Manchester, in 1870 fur
which crime William Habron was found guilty,
and only escaped the enllows BY a Communication
OF his SENTENCE TO imprisonment for life. Peace
gaye dcta!led statement OF the circumstances
which did nut agrcc In some particulars with
the report Of the officers and others who were
witnesses ut the trial OF IIabron. 1t is quite
evident, however, that when a man Is shot out
Of doors at night, and the pc1pesrator nlnkcs n
sudden flight. there Is SO much excitement as to
confuse one's recollection Ut minor incidents.
Al any rate, the British Government has placed
e1nlhct!co III Pcace's story, and has released
IAbron. SuppoGEnE Peace to have tUt1 thr
TRUTH tlc e..se Is ai1 interesting Illustration OF
tle incDncluslveucss Of even strong ciTumstan.
tal evidence.
Tl'ere were two brothers bv the name Of Hab.
lam tihc latter the condemned mani bad been
complained Of BY Constable Cock fur lrunkcn-
nets anl atsorlerty contillct. Witlnm waa
tlncd. He auu his brothers were heard to
threaten, previous to thu tri1l. that .hes would
shoot Cock II la gave them any trouble. On
the fatal .'light. u few weeks !nter, Cock was
verY appschcnsye before going Of, duty. nppar-
entity lhvslls ,premanlttons Of coming disaster.
AL IllSulHIlL liz n1u NUH3LallN uHflNu
Hcauland we're over the grounds Of a Mr.
Grutsix, about quarter of mi'u from the
Ilahrons' residence. They saw three men. the
thir.l Ut whom 1hcy did not know. but proved
lowed him nn.! vent toward Mr. dratr,x's touEe,
toward WHICH lsc had seen tue 1lMn disappear,
unll examined the place, hut could sea no Traces
of thu ,Ila. lie Thought from the sudden dis
!ng hnu,c. lie turned back, a,,d as hc was tusu-
Illg. he saw sasll uf,d heard report.
alui. almost simultaneously, 1t was followed
BY anot!'cE flush and q rcpurt. The oiliecr
as quickly IS ono ceuIA pull t1'e trigger q
revolver. Hc heurt Cock ecrranl, "My tlad! |
nul sl.ot," al.l ran up TO lin nnh fund him
lying on the footpatE. lie askcd whit was tho
matter, but Couk could make 10 reply, ns he lay
wr,hInE, IN tlm ground. Hcaul,tid hcar.i y
1nan exc.aIH,. "llcres another policeman" n,Hi
then hu heard footsteps r.innins AMY. Cock
expired MI hour nftrrwaru from W0unt In The
breast, having bcen unable to make any state
tnent. ....
Thu !labrons, who lived a quarter Of
milo of, wero arrested. As tl'u officers aI>-
pruacl.eu tho cottage light waa seen In
Knocked al the door tho light was TX
tsHgulshcd. Tho police broke into the euttag,,
nll,l lound the three brothers IN bed. MIR. Bent
ordered them to Eot Ut nrd dress, and or.!erci
worn .lIat night. When tbs dressing WA c.,ll,-
petcd without one word bayitlE bctn sail as
to why tle hrrust was made, Nj, Bent satl, ~
tlarGu ynM with if.e murder Of pollcc.COnstahlo
Cuek.' Two OF tue brothers tnaAn no fop!y,
hut fsank llahrnn s1ttl, ~ WAS ~ hetl Ut The
time" When daylight appeared 1t disclosed y
number oF fnottnask ut tlr p!acc, oHe OF wt,cl,
was very pceultar lH bpots Of illG llaorons were
sent for unl Il was tannd bsYull tl1e shadow ol
doubt tlat onu of those footnlarks n'ust !lave
tcell made by ihe boots " the prisoner W!siasn
llubtln Thu butic. which had killed Cock was
found 70 bc an ordInary revolver bullet, at,l!
the l'ollct at onco SGT out IN strlct search Tor
firearms, but ,ey were never able to ilnu any.
some. percussion eaps @ Wsre 10 thc poekcts ol
QUO Of telu brothers, but this Yaa accounted lor