The Weekly Journal. — 1903-09-25 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

ALTON MURDER INQUEST.  DBLIATIC CONFESSION BY THE PIIISONEB.  Great interest centred in the inquest held at Scampston. near Malton, yesterday. on Annie Marshall, who was found dead close to Grange Farm, on Tuesday. Charles Wm. Ashton, who is in custody charged with having caused her death, was present. George Robt. Brewster, farmer, said that the last time lie saw deceased alive was on Sunday afternoon ahcst 5. When she did not return on Monday morning he informed the police, and his son told him that he had heard two shots the previous night in the barley field. Witness searched the field, but could find nothing. He asked Ashton if he had seen deceased, but he said he left her against Mr. Wentworth's gate. That was on IMonday, and the following day about nine 'o'clock Ashton, who was engaged in leading corn, went into the stack-yard, and said to witneccf, 'Here's Annie's hat. Look, I found it in the wheat field in the hedge bottom." P.C. Broughton then came up, and the three went to the field, where accused pointed out a place where he said he found the bat. Subsequently Ashton and the policeman continued the search, and about noon Ashton came to the farm, and said that Annie had been found in the river. She had been shot in the neck. Witness knew that Ashton had a pistol, for he had requested him to purchase some cartridges at Malton. He had not done so. A rusty old revolver was here produced. Dr. A.drams spoke to making a post-mortem examination, and to finding two bullets in the back of the nose, one of which had fractured the skull. Death was due to bullet wounds and suffocation. The body had every appearance of having been violated. On Ashton's right hand were marks corresponding to teeth bites. Sergt. Geo. Waind, of Norton, stated that on Tuesday, while the prisoner was in the cells at Norton, Supt. Johnson sent him to the cell at 10 p.m. to see if prisoner was all right. He found the prisoner very restless. He was shivering and sobbing on the bed. At this point the prisoner began to weep. and continued to do so some time. Witness said he asked Ashton if ho was warm enough. He replied, "Yes. Come and sit down. I want to tell you all." Witness did not sit down, but called Supt. Johnson, and cautioned the prisoner, who went on to say, "Do you think I shlal get over it all right." He proceeded to make the following statement, which was taken down in his presence: -  "First thing, I was coming on the road. I did shoot at the girl. I (don't know what I shot at her for. I took the policeman to the wrong box up my stairs; I dare not take him to my own. My own box is locked up, the revolver is in my jacket pocket, and there is some cartridges in a box in the locket. "I never did intend shooting the girl. Have you seen the girl, superintendent?—(Supt. Johnson: Yes. I have seen her.)—She looked a queer sight. doesn't she? Poor Annie! I wish I had not &Ise ought at her. We were always such goad mates, me and the girl. "I don't know bow it was that night; it seemed to go wrong. Poor lass! I wish I'd never done nought at her. I've never had an hour's sleep since Sunday night. I seem as though I could not rest without her. I took the girl to the river, and where we found her I threw her in. I thought she would go away." While making this statement prisoner was very much distressed, and sobbed loudly. Supt. Johnson bore out this statement. The accused volunteered to give evidence after being cautioned by the Coroner. He said: " I have nothing to say, but what he's said (meaning Waincl). What I told Sergt. Waind is correct." . . .  The Coroner— summed up. and the jury immediately returned a verdict. of "Wilful murder" against Aaliton.