The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-13
Great Trials of History.
TRIAL OF THE srAuNToNs.

II is close to forty years since the
land was being followed with marked
attention throughout the English
speaking world as ono OF the most re-
inarkable murder trials that had been
held previously or since then. II was
only by mere chance that the discovery
was made that the death OF Mrs Har-
riet stanton had not been regular
but that there Was a tragedy back OF
( lS'', an Inquiry WAS made at "A shop
III Forbes Road, Pcngc. as TO III.
place where death could be regis
tered 1t was stated that the de-
ceased was a lady from Cudhnm. I'm
Kent. There was in the shop al thu
time gentleman bearing the historic
became interested. as hc had sister
in-law in that location who he and
his wife had heard was n victim OF Sc
rious maltrcatment
GasahianCa took II upon himself to
look into the matter, and the reveia-
lions that followed led To the post
animation OF the body. harriet he
fore her marriage TO Louis stanton,
had been Harriet Richardson. She had
loft 10 her by VII close to $1,000. Tho
marriage took place on Juno To- 1875.
n: there had been no settlement. Louis
stanton became possessed Of all the
property to which his wife WAS then
or might at any future time become
entitled.
illITlctS NQtner visited her daugn-
ter three weeks after the wedding. and
was then Informed never to do SO
again. and II was tho last time she
SAW Harriet alive Rumors reached
hcr that the husband was paying at
tention TO ono Alice Rhodes and sadly
neglecting his wife
y LOUIS d9uis y, Stanntcn had a married
after their child was born il was 10
Patrick that he sent his wife and child
TO board From the 23d Of October,
lSIf TO tho l1tl of Aur'l 1877 OF
stanton disappeared from the outer
world The nature OF the treatment to
these sad months was strongly disputed
at the trial: hut It Is certain that she
was Kept IN duress, and forbidden to
20 outside OF the door Of the house. At
any rate. the unfortunate infant Of tho
Louis Stauntons died OF the treatment
FINALLY, when Harriet became so
no longer speak. she was placed In a
room at PcnEe, where she died on April
l3. On the 18th the coroner imp0nelod
jury in order that a posi-mortcm
might be held. 1t developed that there
were no traces OF poison or any evil
dence OF violence. but the complete alb
ton OF the body drove Professor ROdg-
crs TO the conclusion that death was
due to starvation and neglect.
Tho result OF the coroncrs inquest
was that on Saturday, May 10, the
jury rendered II verdict Of w!lful muir
der against the Siauntons and Alice
Rhodes. The contradictions between
their evidently concerted narrative and
the cumulative testimony OF a crowd of
independent witnesses were over
wheiming.
The prisoners were taken to Maid
stone stone ja!i and on Monday. May -; they
nronleY The hearing s"S Of G thu cases @s
was held ut various times between that
date and june -. and on the latter
date the quartet were committed to
the ensuing Kent asslzes on the charge
OF murder.
The Kent nsslzes were held At Maid
stone. but so bitter was the public that
the court did not believe the prisoners
would get fair trial there. so It was
removed to the Genital Criminal Court.
mystery. Sir Henry Hawkins. the
l.ord Chief Justice. sat In Judgment
each OF the prisoners was separately
represented. The trial was postponed
several times. but was finally begun
on September 10. 1877.
The issue before the Jury was cx-
20 find out whether Harriet Stnunton
had met her death through the culpablo
misconduct of the prisoners. and. if so.
whether such misconduct amounted To-
murder or manslaughtcr. ii the de-
ceased was kept without food or other
wise neglected with the design of caus-
ing her death, those who abettcd tho
guilty design would be guilty of muir
der.
The examination and cross examina-
ton Of the witnesses lasted five days
and when the. jury retired they were
only out an hour and half when
they brought in verdict of guilty
against all four persons. but recon-
monded the two women TO mercy Tho
judge pronounced death upon all four
persons. but the public had changed
their temper when the two women were
to meet their death. and long petitions
were circuiate4 TO save them. Finally.
on the 18th of October. the death
penalty was RENTED. and n fortnight
later the sentence of the three Staun-
TONS was committed to penal servitude
70" life.
Alice Rhodes received n FREQ pardon,
and was INN ediately released. Patrick
Staunton died in prison, his wife was
released after Il few years. and Louis
Stanton. after serving n considerably
longer term. Mystery VIII always brood
over tho Pcnge case.
The Roanoke Times and the World
News are still engaged In deciding why