The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1880-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CHILD OKEFORD. MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY A BOY.  Hayward Lodge, situated close to the well known Hayward-bridge, on the road from Shillingstone to Child Okeford, was the scene of a somewhat strange event on Friday evening last, Mrs. Harvey, who resides there, but is at the pres mt time away from home, had left the house in charge of a woman named Sarah Tizard, between 30 and 40 years of age, and an old man named Walt r Ames, who worked in the garden; with them was a boy named Charles Edmunds, aged 14, wh assisted the housekeeper. Some time ago the latter missed s me money, and the boy Edmunds, who belongs to Child Okeford, was accused of taking it, and was threatened his father would be informed of it. It appears he paid a part back if not the whole. On Friday everything went on well during the day, and the three sat down to tea about five o'clock apparently on the best of terms with each other. After tea Ames and the boy went into Okeford to make purchases. The boy returned about half-past six with some things. Before he entered the house a quantity of gravel was thrown at the windows, and on entering the housekeeper asked him if he thought he was going to frighten her. He made no reply, but soon after asked her for a needle and thread, as he wanted to mend his slippers. He then went out, and, on returning, brought in a short iron crowbar, known as a " jemmy " and then locked the door. She asked him what he was going to do with it, and he replied he was going t put the slipper on it to mend it. At this time the housekeeper was sitting down mending clothes, but observing something in the boy's look which startled her, she rose from her seat, and whilst in the act of doing so he felled her with the iron bar, and thus obtaiaing complete mastery over her, he beat her about the head in a dreadful manner, inflicting ten or twelve wound on her head and person. He then appears to have dragged her into the passage, and endeavoured to make her promise she would not say it was he who had beaten her, but that a man had broken into the house to rob and nearly murdered her. To get rid of her assailant she replied "All right." Edmunds then left her and went into the village and told the gardener the same tale, which his appearance, he being covered with blood, seemed to substantiate. The boy also said in the encounter his arm was broken. Ames sent him to the policeman's house, but the constable was not at home, he however, told the same tale to the policeman's wife. A doctor was sent for, but meanwhile Mrs. Tizard, though feartuny triured, managed to crawl to the front of the mansion, ana Jas. who collect the letters on his way from Child Okez.,r.l to the Postoffice at Shillingstone, happened to come up, ...id she told him the facts of the case. Assistance was once procured, and the poor woman, who was covered with blood and in a most deplorable state, fainted away and was carried to bed. The boy was soon after apprehended and taken to the Sturminster lockup. The doors and walls of the kitchen in which the affray took place were bespattered with blood, as was also the passage. The housekeeper was in a critical condition until a late hour on Friday night. She was attended by Mr. Curme, of Child Okeford, who had to cut off the whole of her hair, and to bind her head with strapping. Hopes are entertained she may recover if erysipelas does not ensue, but she lies in a precarious state. The boy, who was generally quiet and attentive to his duties, must have taken the key of the tool-house from the back kitchen, unlocked the door, and, after taking the iron bar out, relocked the door and, put the key in the place where it was kept. He was brought before Captain Hanham at Sturminster. Newton on Saturday and remanded until Monday, when the housekeeper not being well enough to appear, he was remanded again for eight days. Supt. Grant stated the woman, though not out of danger, was somewhat better.