The Democratic advocate., 1907-01-18
Selett Story.
C0ltessing A Murder Never Committed
BY LAWRENCE LESLIE.

One of the most singular cases in the
whole range of criminal jurisprudence is
that of the arrest, confession, and execu.
tion of John Perry, his mother and broth
er, several years ago, for the murder of a
man, who, it afterward appeared, was not
| murdered at all, or even assaulted. The
circumstances of the remarkable case are
as follows
At the time of which | write, man
named William Harrison, was in the em
ploy of Lady Campden, of Worcestershire,
England, in the capacity of steward. He
was nearly seventy years of age, had long
been in her employ, and was esteemed a
most competent and faithful servant On
Thursday, the sixteenth day of August,
he started from home, intending to walk
to Charringford, distance of only two
miles, for the purpose of collecting some
rents due his mistress. He did not return
at the usual hour in the evening and his
family became alarmed At eight O clock
he was still absent, and servant, named
John Perry, was sent in search of him.
The family spent the night in great ankle
ty, as no tidings were received of either
Mr. Harrison or the man Perry, and with
the first dawn of the day Edward, the
steward son, started for Charringford in
quest of tidings of his parent.
On the way he met Perry, who was re-
turning with the report of his failure to
gain any news of the missing man. Now
thoroughly alarmed, the two hastened to
the village of Ebrington, where they learn
ed that Mr. Harrison had been there on
the previous afternoon, but had left there
for home. Inquiries were made at several
other places, but without discovering any
thing, and they finally started to return.
On the way they met gentleman, who
informed them that hat, headband and
comb had been picked up in the highway
by woman who was then at work in his
fields.
Mr.. H. and the servant started imme-
diately to investigate it, and the articles
were recognized as having belonged to the
elder Mr. Harrison. On one of the arti-
cles were unmistakable evidences of blood,
and on going to the spot where they were
picked up, they discovered traces Of a
scuffie, and trail leading into the fields,
as if body had been drawn along the
ground. At the first hedge the trail was
lost and was not again discovered.
With such evidences as they had col
lected, they returned to Campden and re-
ported the tragedy. There was, of course,
great excitement, for Mr.. Harrison was
widely known and respected, and large
number of people soon assembled to devise
means for discovering the assassin. The
servant, John Perry, who, it will be re-
membered, was first sent in search of the
missing man, was closely questioned, and
his replies were by no means satisfactory
He had been dispatched in search of Mr..
Harrison at eight O clock on the previous
evening, and was not seen again until the
next morning, when he was met by young
Mr.. Harrison, who was looking for them
beth.
At length suspicion became so strong
that Perry was brought before magistrate
and closely interrogated as to his where
abouts, on that fatal night.
The account he gave was that when his
mistress sent him out in the evening he
went down Campden Field toward Char
ringford. On his way he met man,
named William Reed, spoke to him and
told him his errand.
1t was then quite late, and Reed dis
suaded Perry from going any farther, and
being somewhat afraid he returned. Being
ashamed to go into the house and tell his
mistress or the servants of his faithlessness,
he crawled into henhouse, and slept until
near morning. With the first dawn Of
day he arose, and proceeded to search fol
his missing master. On the way he met
a man, named Plasterer, from whom he
learned that Mr. Fl had called on hin
the previous day, and collected twenty
three pounds, since which he had not beer
seen. He also called upon William Cur.
tbs, and found that Mr.. Harrison had col
lected the rent of Mr. Curtis. With this
information he started to return, when he
met his young master as previously related
Reed, Plaster and Curtis were each
examined and fully corroborated Perry
statement. The justice then asked hin
why, after having wasted the night, he
should 60 out to search for his missing
master without knowing whether he hae
returned in the meantime? He answered
that he knew he had not returned fol
there was light burning in his room
which was never to be seen there at 81
late an hour when he was in.
Although his answers were plausible
they were not satisfactory, and the accused
was still kept in custody, and occasionally
cross ss-examined by the officers of justice
The gossips were busy, meanwhile, ant
rumors flew thick and fast. Among othe
reports was one that Perry had said that ht
knew that his master was murdered by I
tinker, and another that he had confessed
that he saw him killed and robbed by {
gentleman servant, and described wher'
his body was secreted, but a careful search
failed to discover it.
The clergy, the officers of justice ant
many of his relatives then waited upol
Perry, and earnestly exhorted him to maxi
full confession, suggesting freer for
giveness of Heaven for confessed fault
and likewise holding out the hope of NOR
lenient treatment from the officers of tn
law. These exhortations were not withou
their effect, and he sent word to the mag
istrate that he had concluded to make
full confession, and desired to be agail
examined. He was accordingly again in
terrogated, and confessed that he knew
that his master had been murdered, bu
denied having had any hand in it himself
nor could he tell who had committed tn
deed. This was not satisfactory, the mag
istrate insisting that if he knew his maste
was murdered, he must know, also, VIII
committed the crime.
| All.,. Dorr,, non foccod that he did know