Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-09
Coleman's Case.
VIE events which led to this cele-
brated trial took place in Ken
uington in 11+9 South London in

THE events which led to this cele-
brated trial took place in Ken
nington III 17f9. South London in
the eighteenth century was not dense
~ populated as il is today, although in
some parts there existed narrow squalid
courts where people lived together III
horrible conditions.
Remington had not been entirely alb
sorbed into the city and retained some
of its suburban features, winding lanes,
swampy sections traversed by sluggish
streams and open sewers, and its dreary
common, Remington common. the scene
of the death agonies of many criminals
and many unfortunate victims of rel
gious and political injustice and preju-
dice. The common is today pleasant
park and Remington is a labyrinth of
commonplace streets crowded with lodg-
ing houses.
In the Remington of 1149 there took
place one summer night genuinely
English merrymaking, bean feast. The
party ended at late hour amid shrill
laughter. rough jests and noisy fare
wells one of the merrymakers Sarah
Green. set out alone toward her home
Early the following morning several
vorkmen were passing through lane
near Newingtou Church 1t was a gray
misty morning. and the men suddenly
found themselves close upon dark form
that lay III the roadway. IL proved 10 ne
that of an unconscious woman She was
young but a wretched. tawdry creature
with "A coarse, hardened face. They re-
vived her with some difficulty. and she
opened bleared suffering eyes and moan
ed a few broken sentences
She was Sarah Green: she had Met three
men on her way home and had gone TO
drink with them at the King Head, they
wore aprons like brewers men. No woros
were needed to tell the rest of her story.
The results of a brutal assault were only
700 evident and the poor woman was
near death She was taken hurfledIy 70
Inc hospital Then Ne workmen repaired
10 the public house for the enjoyapie
purpose of telling their story with the ac-
commandment of a glass OF ale
Here they Immediately became the cen
ter OF interest Surrounded by crowd
Of idlers. the attention OF all focused OH
them THEY rapidly attained an ire
sponsihle state of mind. partly as a re
suit OF drink chiefly or account of the
intoxicatlon of their sudden Importance
With each retelliug the story grew III
detail and yIyidness, and then the discus
sion turned To IHg pttptIFtttoi VI ZIG
crline Richard Coleman was an EN-
ploye of Berry's brewhouse in the neigh
bcrhood As a result OF Sarah Green 5
story, suspicion fell ou him.
Don't hc wear a brewers apron.
'He works at Berry 5 Greenhouse" "one
of them called t'other Coleman eN-
claimed different voices
by noon the gossipins heads OF Ken
nington We're bobbing aud the gossiping
tongues warging. On all sides one heard;
sarah Green" dying brewer 8
apron"-..C'olemau'' Kingston assizes.
The women in the doorways and the men
al the public houses were discussing the
crime The farmers driving in from Sur
rey stopped their wagons TO hear the
news and comment on il. Nearly all
agreed that Coleman must be the Grim
inal.
This suspicion was Increased by an In
cIdcnt that occurred the following night
at the Kings Head. \ large assembly
was drinking and noisily voicinS opinions
OF the crime and Colemans guilt when a
newcomer entered and a dead silence fell
The man typical lower-ciasS Eng
lishman. rudy. hard-handed and coarse
featured. His appearance Indicated hard
working responsibility
While lie was drinking one Of the
crowd advanced toward him aud with Sn
extremely insolent air inquired If he was
acquainted with Remington lane. Cole
man replied that he was.
''And what them" he asked.
Know Sarah Greeu2' sncered the
other. Coleman flushed and rose quickly
Yes what Of that he demanded
Brewers aprons shouted a drunken
voice from the crowd.
Wasn't YOU one of the parties in that
affair." pursued the ques;iouer
Thoroughly enragea. Coleman hurled
his glass at him. crying out: If l was
You dog what them After a violen,
quarrel Coleman left the inn, but the
sentence he left behind him was reported