The Telegram. — 1901-03-05 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE SOUTH-WESTERN TRAIN  TRAGEDY. SENTENCE OF DEATH.  At the Central Criminal Court on Tnuraday, before Mr. Justice Phillia:Lore, George Henry Hill, alio" Parker, aged 23, describe,' as a croon:. wan indicted for the wilful murder of Mr Widiam Pearson, a gentleman fanner, of Witichenter, by shooting him with a revolver while travelling on the South-Western Rit,l.vay on January 13th. He Wan indicted for further attempting to murder Mrs. Rhoda King. The accused, who appeared to feel his position keenly, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr. Muir and Mr. Arthur Gill prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury ; Mr. Percival Clarke defended, at the request of the Court ; Mr. Canceller and Mr. Ricketts watched the ease on behalf of the South-Western Railway Company. •. !till, in opening, maid the accused noel alera several 000181" liq admitted that his War the .II which committed the crime. Mr. Gill mutated the circumstance, which have already been fully reported, ant then called evidence. PolicreConmtable Fuller deposed to arresting prisoner at sonic gas works at Vauxhall, in close proximity to the station. He said: "I .641 I had killed that woman, then I should have got away. I shot hint (rleces,ed) to get my own back. The woman put her face againmt the trigger of the pistol, and it went eft " The pritot,er did not appear to have been drinking. Inspector Collies, Metropolitan Police, said when charged with the murder, prisoner asked fee writing materials, sayicg that he desired to make a full confession of the crime. Witness produced the prtsoner'a written statement, which was in the form of • letter directed to his father.  Medical testimony haying been given with reso the fatal injury sustained by Mr. Pearson, death being the result of a bullet wound in the head. _ _ _  Mis. Rowlands, a married woman, residing at Portsmouth, deposoll to the movements of the prisoner between January 12th to the leith, during which time she was in his company. She said lie took her to theatres and rondo halls at Portsmouth, and that afterwards they went together to Southampton. She did not see him again after ',snug lion at Eaitletah Junction 09 the lay of the tragedy. She identified the letter (produced) from the prisoner. The letter, which was read, sent to the witness after the pnioner's arrest, contained the passage, "I am truly sorry and repentant that in an evil moment I should have teen carried as Iv to commit the crime—thet of murder, of which I stand convicted. God help ine, iny days are numbered. I shall be hanged, but I will not shrink from it."  In eross-ertmination, wanes, said the prisoner had been drinking heavily for some day@ prior to the murder.  P.C. Birt produced the letter which the prisoner gent to Mr.. Pearson, the widow of the murdered than, in which he expreased the itresieSt contrition for the crime and asked for her forgiveerrs. _  Dr. Dorin, who, with Dr. Simpson, conducted the post mortoot, said the prisoner was exerpti.mally cool 4nd collected when he saw him at the Police-station, and did not appear to he suffering from the et! ee's nf excessive drinking. . .  Mr. Clarke, in defence, ensued -that there was eo adequate motive for the crime, and that at the time, prisoner was in such a condition of mind that be was bot responsible for his actions.  The jury, after delitterating fir 15 minutes, found the prisoner guilty of wilful murder, sod sentence of death wee palmed. Parker Made no remark,