Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-11
A REMARKABLE CRIME.

red SO strangely more than two centuries
ago, and, after the lapse Of eight years,
was proved to have been murdered, had
been land-steward to several gentlemen
in Cambridgeshire, England, and had
saved a considerable sum ofmoney. In
1854 ho set out for London, whittier he
had previously sent bis wife and, ac-
C0rding to the custom of the period, he
Travelled on horse, sleeping at night at
inns on the road. He never reached
London, and he was never again seen
by any one who knew him.
Various rumors concerning him tloated
about for some time after his disappear.
ancc. 1t was at first said that he had
gone to Amsterdam, aud his wife sent
to that city 20 make inquiries for him,
but ascertained that he bad not been
there. Some time afterward she heard
that he was at Cork, and caused diligent
inquiries to be made, not only in the city
and county of Cork, but throughout the
province of Munster, bat without learn
ing any tidings Of him. After cons'd'
cradle interval she heard that he had
been seen in the Island OF Barbados,
and there, also, she caused inquiries to
be made, but with no better success In
this manner eight years passed away
without learning anything having
transpired to throw the faintest light
upon the mystery in which the fate of
the unfortunate man was involved.
In the beginning Of 1862 a high wind
blew down the fence between an orchard
in the rear of the white Horse" inn,
at Chelmsford, AMI an adjoining inca.
dow; and the landlord, whose name
was Turner, resolved to replace the
fence with 4 brick wall. Ia digging
out the earth for the purpose, a human
skun was found having hole on the
left side about the size of q crown. Upon
digging deeper, the remainder of the
skeleton of male adult was found,
doubled up, as il tho Body had been
hastily thrown into tAe grave dug for
its concealment. An inquest was held
upon the remains and the surgical evi.
dcnce showing that the fracture of the
skull had been the cause of death, the
Jury rendered verdict of wiltul murder
against some person or persons un-
known.
The landlord of the inu couceiving his
reputation to be tonched by the discov
cry, applied to the justices for warrants
against a man named Sewell who had
formerly kept the inn, and his wife: and
these persons were taken into custody,
but denied all knowledge of the affair.
No evidence being adduced, they were
liberated on their own recognizancs to
appear at the next assizes, and Turner
was bound 10 prosecute. 1t Is said that
Sewell showed visible signs of a
troubled mind, and that on becoming
seriously i'll shortly afterward, be sever
al times expressed desire to see some
of the chief inhabitants of the town, as
he could not die without relieving his
mind of something that was on it: bat
that his wife would not allow. About a
fortnight before the asszes he died, and
it was rumorel about town that bis
wife had poisoned him,
As no evidence could be adduccd to
crim;nate the ex-hostess, her trial was
postponed until the next assizes. when
the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Orlando
Bridgman, finding that no clear account
ofthe person murdered could be obtained
nor any evidence, either positive or Cir.
cumstantial, as to VINO were the perpe,
traitors of the crime, ordered an adver.
tisemeut to be inserted 10 the newspa'
Ders, which, after setting forth that the
bones of an unknown person, supposed
TO have been robbed and murdered, hat
been dug up in back yard at Chelms
ford, concluded Us follows: "WhOevel
can give notice Of any person missing
let them give notice to Mr.. Talcott, cor
oner, in Feering; or to the constable O
Chelmsford; or to Mr.. Roper, bookseller
over against ST. Dunstan's church, il
Fleet street"
The sister of Kdderminster's widow
was one day reading newspaper to ner
when her eyes rested on this advertise
ment, and she immediately exclaimed
Sister, here i, news of your missin;
husband The time mentioned in he
announcement as the period during
which the remains were supposed t
have been buried agreeing with thl
time which had elapsed siace Walter
Kiddermnster had disappeared, it seem
cd extremely probable that tie bone