The Sun. — 1859-03-02 (London, England)

CROWN COURT. TIIE ANDOVER MURDER. (Before Mr. Baron Watson.) At the opening .of the Lent Assizes this day, his lordship, in charging the grand jury, complimented them on their numerous attendance. He said he could not congratulate them on the state of the calendar, as on the present occasion there were 71 prisoners for trial, and many of them were charged with very serious offences. There was a serious charge of murder committed at Andover. Two persons, Thomas Alexander Banks, and Emma Banks, his wife, were indicted for the wilful murder of William Parsons, a linendraper, on the night of the 22d November. The deceased left his home at nine, and was not seen again by his household ; next morning his body was found in a field in such a state as to leave no doubt of a most brutal murder having been committed. An ash stick, six feet long, was lying near, the evident instrument with which the deed was perpetrated. The deceased's watch and money were perfectly safe in his pockets. Between half-past 9 and 20 minutes to 10, several persons heard cries of " Murder" and the sound of blows coming from the fields, about a quarter of a mile from the town, and from this it was considered clear the murder was committed between half-past nine and a quarter to ten. The prisoners were not arrested till some days after the murder. The important question for the jury was whether sufficient evidence of suspicion existed against them. At nine o'clock the female prisoner was passed on the road walking, and when asked to get up and ride in a friend's vehicle, she refused. The party in the vehicle went on to the Railway Tavern, and there finds the male prisoner, who shortly leaves, saying he should be back in a quarter of an hour. At ten o'clock both prisoners are seen walking together back towards the town. The question arose where were the prisoners from about a quarter past nine till ten, they not having been seen during that interval, and the possibility existing of their having been at the scene of the murder, only a quarter of a mile off. The evidence against the prisoners was entirely circumstantial, but when there was a complete train of circumstances, that evidence was perhaps the best. It seemed that the female prisoner took a dress from the deceased's shop on the 21st October, but it did not clearly appear whether the act was looked upon as a theft or not. The husband had seen deceased about the affair, and they had been heard having warm words. There was a suggestion of a familiarity between the woman and the deceased, but nothing in the depositions went to that extent so as to prove it. 11l will appeared to be created through tie taking of the dress. If the evidence was not conclusive the jury had better ignore the bill, as if they found upon weak testimony, avid the prisoners were acquitted, they could not thereafter be charged again if better evidence came to light. After some further remarks the grand jury were dismissed. In the Andover murder case upwards of 40 witnesses are subpoenaed for the prosecution. Mr. Slade, Q.C., and Mr. Poulden are retained for the Crown ; Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and Mr. Coleridge defend the prisoners. The, case excites immense interest.