The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1867-11-01 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDERS IN STAFFORDSHIRE. On Monday the inquest was resumed at Arley, in South Staffordshire, on the remains of an infant child that had been found in a pit shaft in a coppice in that parish adjoining the Roj al Forest of Wyre. The coroner was Mr. W. H. Phillips, of Wolverhampton, and he was accompanied by Mr. Baker, the Government inspector of mines for the district. The coroner and the mines inspector went to the coppice, which was about a mile and a half from the place of the inquest, and made an examination of the pit shaft as far as was possible, and also of the surrounding locality. The mines inspector pronounced a decided opinion that the shaft was that of an old colliery, and that there had been other pits worked in the same locality many years ago. After Mr. Thomas Holyoake, surgeon, of Kinver, had deposed that the remains of the .infant that had been found were wrapped first in calico garments, with blood upon them, then in a guano bag, weighted with a brick, the inquest was adjourned for six months, to allow time for the police to make further Inquiries. The coroner, approving the decision to which the jury had come, said that there was "very, very strong suspicion indeed, that the foul crime of murder had been committed," and, therefore, the jury ought to make every inquiry into the matter in their power. The jury were then sworn to investigate the circumstances attending the finding of certain other remains discovered in the same pit. Police-Sergeant Baldwin, stationed at Enville, deposed that he was searching in the pit after the remains of the infant were discovered on the 7th inst., and found certain bones tied together with a cord. Afterwards he found other bones. He handed them to Mr. Holyoake, surgeon, on the 10th inst. Had made every inquiry in the neighbourhood, and could not hear of any child having been lost. Mr. Holyoake deposed that certain belies were those of a child aged about six years, and that the other bones were those of a child aged four or five. Of the elder the bones were two thigh and two shin bones, the arm bones complete, and some foothones. The cord was round the bones of the foot and shin, and round two of the bones of the arm, no that the child would be tied hand and foot. The size of the coil of the rope would correspond with the size of the arm and leg of a child of the age of six with flesh upon it. The bones of the younger child were one thigh, one shin, one splint, and one radian. These all were brought to him with some bones also of some animals. The children's bones might have been in the pit perhaps ten years. He had found no fractures on any of the hones. The coroner said that the rope being round the bones was as strong evidence 89 the jury could have, in the decayed state of the remains, that there had been foul play in respect certainly of one of the children, and he should recommend them to adopt the same course in these oases as in the case of the infant. He did not think the jury would be doing their duty unless every opportunity were afforded the police of thoroughly investigating the matter. It was then resalved that this second inquest also should be adjourned till that day six months. Mr. Woodward, in reply to the coroner, said he had no doubt that the rope having been embedded in clay and leaves would have preserved ;it from decay throughout 10 years, especially if it had been tarred, which seemed now to have been the case.  A