Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-07-26

ing of the GCh of September Che
evening If the murder) he would
run down to GOltOn to see her.
'Perhaps,' he added, mySt eriOusly,
1T will be the last time we shall
see each other
"He and his promised visit to
GOrtOn that evening and indeed,
had been seen by two or three of
the villages with Miss Dicey in the
Grove. n warrant was issued for
Turner's arrest but when the
police went to his lodgings at
Barchester next morning to take
him into custody 1t was found that
he had left for Liverpool en- route
for Canada. Tnis Of course, in.
creased the suspicion. y telegram
TO the authorities at Liverpool Sc
cured his apprehension that even.
ing on board one of the outward
bound transatlantic steamships.
He was brought back TO B Tch es.
ter. and after the usual magis
terial Investigation was held for
trial at the ensuing winter assizes.
81 was retained for the defense.
The evidence against him though
altogether circumstantial, was very
strong.
the ticket collector at GOrton
railway station swore that Turner
returned to B irchester by the $50
train from GOrtOn-half an hour
after the time of the murder;
while the girls father stated
that his daughter had promised
that, although she was unaltera
bly, attached to Turner, she would
not marry him without her parents
blessing.
"In this latter development of
the case was to be- found, in the
view of the Crown, the mOtiye OF
the murder. Turner had convinced
himself that the parents would
never consent to union between
hlm-a pennlless young man with
no prospect of betterlng his world
iy cOudltlOn-and their daughter;
aud that conclusion prompted him
to commit the crime.
"The defense was that Turner,
finding the parents of Miss Dicey
were utterly opposed to the mar.
riage and that the young lady
would not marry him without the
consent of her parents, had decided
to 60 out to some relatives In
Canada, determined to make his
fortune in a few years, then return
to England, aud win the consent
of the girls parents TO their union.
"On the eve of his departure for
the new world he went down to
GOrton to bid Miss Dicey goodby,
and, after two hours in her com
pany he returned from GjrtOn by
the s 30 train to Barchester, and
at 6 o'clock the next morning lett
the latter town for Liverpool en-
route to Canada.
"You Will notice that on the
most important point, as to the
train by which he returned from
GortOn, there was an absolute
contraditlou of his statement th at
he travelled by the $50 train in
tue evidence of the ticket collector
who was positive that the $50 was
the train. 1t happened that both
trans ran from GOrton to Barches-
ter without stopping at any OF the
intermediate stations. aud that the
tickets we're consequently collected
at Gorton. The prisoner stated be
had taken a third class return
ticket from Bdrchester to GOrton.
therefore, inquired whether the
return halt of The ticket had been
collected on tue s 80 train or the
0 80 tram; but here, again, was
discontinue. for the halves Of
several return tickets issued that
day between Birchester and Cor
ton had been collected Oh both
trains, and Turner's could not be
identified.
The revolver from which the
shots were fired did not help the
prisoner III any way. 1t had been
bought some months previously at
an establishment in BIrchester,
but the shopman could not identify
the purchaser. Was it possible
that Miss Dlcey had any other
sultors for her hand, and did her
parents urge any particular person
on her acceptancei OF this | could
learn nothing.
"ThOse Inquiries were made by
me while | was making myself
acquainted with the facts of the
case before the assizes. Tue entire
case against the prisoner had been
laid by the Grown before the mag.
istrates at the preliminary investl.
CATION. Tue same witnesses were