Widnes Examiner. — 1893-11-11 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

HELENS MAN.  At the Warrington Borough Court on Monday, before Mr. F. Monks (chairman), Alderman Harrison, Messrs. William Pierpoint, J. W. Hayward, and S. Wright, a man giving the name of Henry Littler was charged on his oven confession with drowning a man unknown at Shrewsbury, on February last. The man, Constable (Mr. S. Hunt) said that the prisoner walked into the police station on Saturday night and told Inspector Spinks that he wished to make a statement as there was something lying heavily upon his mind. In the presence of Inspector Spinks and Sergeant Chantler, he made the following statement ; " Police Station, Warrington, Nov. 4th, 1893 : Henry Littler, aged 36 years, skin cleaner, saith ; I wish to give myself up for having drowned a man (an oldish chap) in the canal near the Shrewsbury Workhouse, one Monday afternoon about nine months ago (about February last). We were going along the canal embankment, and we had a few hasty words, and he (the deceased man) called me a rotten b— and struck me in the face, and ' I threw him into the canal and walked away towards 1 the Workhouse, but I was too soon to get admitted, and I remained about for a few hours until the Workhouse opened for casuals. I slept that night in the casual ward there, and the body of the deceased man was taken out of the canal and taken into the Workbousethe same evening. I left the Workhouse the following morning. I have been indifferent towns working since, but I have not had any peace of mind since the above occurrence took place, and lam wishful to have the the matter inquired into. lam a native of St. Helens. (Signed). Henry Littler." Mr. Hunt said be had written to the Chief Constable of Shrewsbury, and had received the following letters in reply ;—" Chief Constable's Office, Shrewsbury. Re Henry Littler—Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the 4th inst., and the statement of the above respecting he having drowned a man about Feb. last. An old man was found drowned in the river Severn, near the Workhouse, about that time. The place where it occurred is outside the borough, therefore I have banded your letter and his statement over to the county police.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant, Henry Blackwell, Chief Constable." The following letter was received from the county police:—" County Constabulary Office, Shrewsbury, sth November, 1893. Re Henry Littler—Sir, lam directed by the Chief Constable to acknowledge the receipt of of your letter of the 4th inst. to the Shrewsbury borough , police, and to inform you that on the the 23rd July last the body of a man (unknown) was found in the river Severn between Shrewsbury and Atcham (in county) which body was same date removed to Atcham Work- ' house. From inquiries made I find that a tramp giving the name of Henry Littler did stay in this Workhouse same nipht. I. may state that we are not aware of any man haying been found drowned in February, and the one I have already mentioned is the only body that has been removed to the Workhouse. We had no reason at the time to suspect that a murder had beefs committed, but the Chief Constable would be glad if you would kindly get Littler remanded for a few days, and in the meantime every inquiry shall be made made, and you shall hear further.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, S. Challoner, Chief Constable." Under the circumstances, Mr. Hunt applied for a remand until Friday. The prisoner was asked what he had to say, when to the surprise of the court, he said that ho had never committed a murder, and that he was tired of knocking about when he made the statement. Mr. Hunt said that the prisoner was quite sober when he made the above statement, and sometime after, when ho was brought before (Mr. Hunt) he persisted in his statement. He would now have to answer the charge. Ihe magistrates granted the remand.  The prisoner Littler was again brought before the magistrates yesterday morning. The Clerk (Mr. White) read a letter from the Shrewsbury County police stating that every enquiry bad been made by the police, but they had been unable to get any evidence agaiLst the prisoner, and asked that he might be discharged'. Mr. Hunt asked the magistrates to discharge the prisoner. Alderman Harrison the presiding magistrate said ho was sorry it was not in their power to give the prisoner three months hard labour, for making a confession of murder, when he knew perfectly well there was nothing in it. The prisoner made no reply, and was discharged,