Weekly News. — 1890-11-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE BOLTON MURDER. STARTLING CONFESSION BY TUE PRISONER.  At the adjourned inquest on Tuesday on the body of Miss Holt, of Belmont. the schoolmistress who was recently murdered near Bolton, the following confession by the prisoner was read :—" C. P. 0., Bolton. Nov., 1890, —Statement of Thomas Macdonald in the cells at the County Police Station, Bolton, 6.45 p In." Then commences prisoner's statement, written front his own dictation, as under —"On: the 10th November, 1890, at eight o'clock in the morning, I started from home to go near Belmont to see the manager. On my way, at the spot that has been mentioned, I overtook the deceased. As soon as I overtook her I got hold of her shoulder, asked her what she had been telling lies about roe for. I told her that she had set it about that I followed her a tew weeks ago for the purpose of doing her some harm. She told me to let go of her shoulder. I told her I would not do so until she retracted what she had said. She jerked her shoulder away out of my hand, shut her umbrella, took hold of the small end of it, and struck me with the handle across the brow. I become enraged, threw her down, and caused those wounds in her head, through being in a violent passion. I then cat her throat—(sensation in court)—dragged her across the footpath down the ravine in which she was found. I made the marks in her neck after making the wounds in her throat,•to destroy all evidence against me. When I took her in the hollow I got the fern fronds and oak lessee, but before that I tore and cut open her clothes to see if her heart beat. I found it did not. Then I covered her with fern fronds and oak leaves. The reason the clothes were so disarranged was not caused, as people think, in trying to outrage the girl, as I could easily have done it without if I had so winked; but I did not wish to do so. I did net search for her purse or any other article she may have had. After covering her I did not go the same way back as I came, but went over the rails a few yards from the body, went through the dough and returned home along the wall side until I got into Longworth Road. A great many people think this girl was simply got hold of for the purpose of outraging her, but I can swear on my dying oath such is not the case. The witnesses have told a great many lies—especially the milkman as to meeting me in ,a Min places. If I had been seen at Longworth Hall at half-past eight, I should certainly have been found on the same morning as Jones came by at • quarter to nine, and that would have been the time at which the murder would have been committed had I been Glen at Longworth Hall at half-past eight. As regards the spot where the murder wan committed, it was about three yards from the edge of the trail, close to the footpath. A quarter-past eight in the morning would be the very latest at which this horrible crime wee committed."—The Witnese : That is all, except the prisoner's signature. The reading of the confession naturally created a profound sensation in court. The witness added that the statement wan signed in his presence and that of Police Constables Bruce and Berry.—The Coroner to the prisoner Have you any questions to ask ?—Prisoner : No.—The coroner then summed up, and the jury found • verdict of " Wilful Imurder " against Macdonald.