Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1882-03-24 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

THE MURDER IN FINCHLEY WOODS.  ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER.  The murdered man was on Friday morning povitively identifi, d as a person named Hooch Clarke, an inhabitant of the Horough, a companion of thieves, and supposed to be connected with one of the moot desperate gangs of burglars in or near London. As loon as the identification of the body was established, inquiries under the special direction of the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department were rapidly pushed forward, and on Friday afternoon Inspector Dodd and Inspector Fox, with some constables in private clothes, surrounded a house in the Borough, and arrested • man wh goes by various aliases, hut Wirclte real name is John Baker. He is • strong, powerful man, twenty-two years of age, and he gives his trade as that of a carpenter. As soon as the inspectors had secured him they at once charged him with the wilful murder of Burgh Clarke, his companion and confederate in the burglary at St Athena House. He, however, made no resistanee, and he was then at once taken to the station, where the charge was read beer to him. It is said 'hat there is a eery strong chsin of evidence against him, ang probably the discoveries made will bring other extensive burglaries to light The man Clerke has been missing since the time ci! the murder, and that at that time it was known that he and the accused were away in the country min-whereon • "burglary job." The accused man Biker returned to the Mint alone with a quantity of plunder, and stated that Clarke, the deceased, had been captured. Rs clothes were observed to be stained with blood, and he was questioned relative to it, but he replied that he .111 pursued by • mounted patrpl, who overtook him, and that to defend himself he broke a bottle of part wine over his head, and that the stains on his clothee were thase of the wine and the blood of the patrol. Theis clothes he gave • day or to after cards to • man known as Muffin Jack, who on Friday finding that Baker had been t.ken into custody, coefeued to the police that he imitated Baker to remove • quantity of plunder from Finchley Wood to his lodging in the Mint, and informed them of the whereabouts of the clothe, which lie had sold at a rag shop. fir a few pence. These are now in the pesseesion of the p and have distinct blood marks upon therm Inopecior Fox, of the Criminal Investigation Department, has taken charge of them. Another parson in the Mint has given up a pair of boots, which he says were given him by the accused, and which are believed to be • portion of the stolen property. A large number of the articles have been foun I at several pawnbrokers in the district, and there appears very litt'e doubt that the accused is the guilty party. It has also transpired that Baker, the accused, has only recently undergone a term of imprisonment, and that during his incarceration Clarke, the deceased, had been living with his wife. It is thought that Baker's disc orery of this may have roused hie jealousy, end been a mntive for the horrible crime. Baker's wife was also arrested, and charged with being an accessory after the fact.  Tit' weather in the Channel Islands is reported to have been remarkably hot during the last few days, and the mildness is causing • rapid advance in vegetation. Cherry trees are in full blossom, lilac trees bre blooming. gooseberry bushes and strawberry plants are forming fruit. Potatoes are making ripiii progress, and if no frost intervenes, very early and abundant cropa are anticipated.