The Express. — 1863-08-08 (London, England)

THE ABDUCTION AND CHILD MURDER AT ISLINGTON.  THE VERDICT.  Yesterday afternoon Dr. Lankester, coroner for Central Middlesex, resumed and concluded, at the Florence Tavern, Florence-street, Upper-street, Islington, the in. quiry respecting the death of Elizabeth Anne Hunter, aged nearly eight years, who was decoyed away and murdered on the night of Sunday, the 30th March, 1862. The Coroner addressed the jury, and said—You will recollect, gentlemen, that at the last sitting of the court • great number of witnesses were examined, but there was nothing at that time which seemed to enable you to retain a verdict of • direct kind, and we accordingly adjourned for a fortnight to see if any evidence would be forthcoming that would connect Clarke, who was accused of the murder, with the crime of which be was charged. lie WAS since brought up before the police-court, and the government, after careful consideration of all the information obtainable, decided to abandon that charge against him. It is still open to you to see whether there is enough of evidence to enable you to send him for trial before another tribunaL With regard to the other offences with which he is now charged you have nothing to do except in so far as they show the character of the man and the consequent probability or otherwise of his being guilty in the present case. It is certainly • strong ground of suspicion against him, that he should twice have taken little girls into the same greenhouse, and that be should have placed • handkerchief over the face of oue of them, for lit was no doubt in that way Elizabeth Hunter met her death. She was taken into the greershouu for the purpose of an indecent assault most probably without any intention of committing • murder, and in the attempt tomtit% her cries ahe was unintentioully deprived of life. The incident of the rings which came to light on the last occasion would seem to furnish a reason for keeping the owe against Clark open. That evidence, which, but for the sudden death of the boy who bought the rings, might have been moat material, came to light unexpectedly. If the jury think it probable that a further adjournment might produce other evidence. the court could be adjourned, not sine die, but from time to time. There is the evidence of the boy who was in Roe's employ when the head was foundlast December, and which it ass thought might bed use ; but that boy ts in Canada, and even his mother is unable to state in what pert of that country he is living. You will bear in mind, that Clarke, whatever course you decide upon, will still be within reach of 'the police and the criminal worts. You will consult now as to whether there is enough of evidence against Clarke to enable you to return • verdict against Lim, or whether you will adjourn for further evidence ; or, lastly, whether you will now return an open verdict.  By the requeet of the jury the evidence of Mrs. Jeanie, the landlady of Clarke, was read over. It was to the effect that Clarke was locked out of the house by Roe's orders ou the night of March 30, that be endeavoured to get is about half-put it, and that be was refused admittance, and that the next morning he said he had slept overnight in the greenhouse. The evidence of Mary Leigh, the witneen foe Clarke, was else reed. It was to the effect that she called at Mrs. Clarke's house on the sight in quesi ion about 11 o'clock, and that Clarke opeced the door for her. The court was then cleared, and after half an hour's deliberation the jury returned the following verdict :—"That on the 6th day of July the said Elizabeth Acne Hunter was found dead, and her remains in as advanced state of decay, in norsery•grouod, in William- street. New North-rued. Islington, and the jurors say that the said Elizabeth Atm Hooter mom by her death by violent meths the nature of which there is no evidence to show, and the said jurors farthersay that the said Elizabeth Anne Hooter was maliciously moidered by some person or persons unknown." The proceedings then terminated.  DINTRUCTION or •