Weekly News. — 1892-09-22 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE ALTHORP MYSTERY. PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.  NORTHAMPTON, Tuesday.  The proceedings against Andrew George Macrae, grocer's assistant, who is charged with the murder of Annie Pritchard, were resumed onTuesday at the County Hall, Northampton. Crowds began to assemble in the vicinity of the Court House as early as nine o'clock, public interest having apparently been greatly accelerated by the startling character of the evidence on the first day. Lord Erskine was again chairman of the Bench. Inspector Rogers, of the borough police, now gave a description of the Dichurch Warehouse, Witness found some clothes at a second hand dealer's in College Street, Northampton, and they corresponded with clothing found on the body at Althorp. As a result of this correspondence, prisoner was charged at the County Police Office. The result of a search Of the warehouse was the discovery of the bones already described by the surgeon. Some large knives and a saw also were found on the premises. These articles would be used in the business carried on there. Inspector Webster, of the county police, was examined as to searches made at houses formerly occupied by the prisoner at Birmingham and Balsall Heath. He also deposed to having recovered from various persons articles put in and sworn to yesterday. Robert Morrell, a Northampton dealer in antiquities, proved the purchase of cut glass and Bibles from the accused, who brought the articles from the Dychurch Lane Warehouse. One of the Bibles contained names of the Pritchard family. _ _  Edgar Wright, a workman formerly employed by prisoner's brother, said he conveyed three boxes of luggage for the prisoner from Dychurch warehouse to lodgings in Derby Road about August Bank Holiday, He purchased a bushel of lime at prisoner's request, and took it to the warehouse. On the 22nd of July prisoner, when in the warehouse, told witness he felt bad, he had had a hard bed, and had been sleeping on the "wraps." These things were kept downstairs under the warehouse floor.  John Hall, a wood chopper, who occasionally purchased bacon boxes from Dychurch Lane warehouse, proved that prisoner gave him a quantity on Wednesday in holiday week. A portion of it, and a bag in which it had been brought away, were given up to the police. .  William George Wood, cab proprietor, Northampton, said that on the 26th of July prisoner hired a horse and trap which he said he was going to take to Moulton, a distance of four miles. When prisoner returned, the horse was perspiring very much. The distance from the Mews to Althorp was six miles. Mr. Edward Macrae, prisoner's brother was recalled to prove that three knives brought by Inspector Webster from the Warehouse had been used in his business, and on Mr. Macrae going to the witness's table on which the knives lay, a painful scene took place; the witness unable to control his emmotions bursting into a flood of tears. Lizzie Pritchard, the sister of Annie Pritchard, also giving way to an excess of grief, the incident made a marked impression on all assembled in Court. Supt. Alexander, recalled, said the consignment note put in yesterday was dated 18th March, 1892, and was in these terms " E.R.L. and N.W. Railway Company. Received from A. Anderson, Avon Cottage, Ladypool Road, Birmingham, one box, one sewing machine, Company's risk, addressed Mrs. Anderson, care of Mrs. Thornton, 33, St. John Street, Northampton." Mrs. Burrell sister of the late Mrs. Thornton, of 33, St. John Street, Northampton, deposed that prisoner and Annie Pritchard lived at the address as man and wife.  This was the case for the prosecution; and on prisoner being formally charged, Mr. Becke his solicitor said, he reserves his defence. The Bench then formally committed prisoner to take his trial at the November Assizes for the County on the charge of Murder.