The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1871-07-22 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

THE ELTHAM MURDER.  The trial of Edmund Walter Pook for the murder of Maria Clousen at Eltham, was resumed on Saturday at the Central Criminal Court. After some further evidence had been given, counsel addressed the jury. The Lord Chief Justice then proceeded to sum up the case, and said that it was necessary for the jury to watch with great care the evidence in order to see whether the circumstances were consistent with the guilt or inno cence of the prisoner. They had a simple and straightforward duty to perform, and to see whether the evidence was sufficient to make out the charge. The position of the case was this—the prisoner was consigned to gaol, and although he had access to his legal advisers, he was not permitted to give evidence on his own behalf. And in the position in which he was placed, if the jury entertained any doubt as to his guilt, he was entitled by law to an acquittal. He mentioned it because in one instance, upon an important point—viz., the purchase of the hammer, distinct evidence of identity was given which had since been admitted to be false. On both sides it had been stated that a hammer was purchased on the 22nd of April, and a witness came forward to prove that the prisoner was the m in who purchased it ; but it now appeared clearly manifest that it was the boy Elliott. There was another witness who, if he was speaking falsely, must be doing so intentionally. Then came this question, how did it happen that in a case of this description there should be any false witnesses He could and did not suppose that any of those who were conducting the prosecution :could lend themselves to nnythin_: of tue kind ; but there were various ramifications, and there was a feeling on the part of seine people that it was desiraZl^ rt--;; -ler themselves acceptable to others. With respect to the evidence of the two witnesses he had mentioned, his lordship said that it should be carefully scrutinised, and if it were found that they had spoken falsely, in his judgment they ought to be prosecuted. A more cruel, wicked, and cold-blooded murder had never been committed in the annals of crime, and it was the duty of the Government to lay before the jury not only the circumstances consistent with the guilt of the accused, but also every circumstance which might be consistent with his innocence. If that were not done, the judge aud the jury would hem a false position; ahu if, under such circumstances, a man were wrongly convicted, those having the conduct of the case weld then be guilty of actual murder. al . could not impress too Strongly upon the police that the prisoner should have every i•, tamale', as to the bets which had 1. • spired. us Lordship. after '^mning the eololfuet ef the police. - •  condemning the ...eoluct ~f the police, in i;ccping back th i'frl,,i wide!, wm, found, and in falsi the primmer not only that peep: ,il,l tL,t lit, had corresponded with the deceased, but that they had in their possession one of his letters, then dwelt upon the entire absence of evidence as to motive. His lordship afterwards read over the chief points in the evidence. The Lord Chief Justice having concluded, the jury retired, and, after an absence of 20 minutes they returned into court and delivered a verdict of" Not Guilty." The verdict of the jury was received with loud applause, which was immediately suppressed. . _ .  The excitement increased in Newgate-street towards night, and about eight o'clock hundreds of persons were anxiously awaiting the decision. Betting was openly going on in the street. When the verdict was announced outside there was loud cheering.