The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-07-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE CRAVELLY HILL MYSTERY.  ACCUSED BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. At the Aston Police Court, on Tuesday, betore Mr. A. Baker and Major Ash, 'Walter Haylings, a/iss Benjamin Brookes, a private in the Grenadier Guards, was chargsd on his own confession, with the wilful murder of Arthur Matthison, mender, of 51, Dartmouth-street, Birmingham, by throwing him into the reservoir at Aston, on or about the 15th February, 1879. The prisoner who was attired in the full dress tunic of the Grenadier 11uards, is apparently about twenty-six years of age. He is a well made fellow and would perhaps be described by a woman as good looking. He was wearing two medals on Tuesday, and as lie stood up in the dock .it must be confessed he appeared but little like a murderer. He has a good carriage and frank face. He has a rather heavy set jaw and high cheek bones, and these are the only two features which would strike one as the physiognomical indications of anything but a refined and gentle character. He appeared in no wise dejected by the peculiarity of his position ; indeed, he manifested quite a lively interest in the proceedings, and answered and spoke with alacrity and in full toned voice. From the way in which he stated he was not guilty and had no remembrance of ever making the confession, it would seem as though he had it full realization of the seriousness of the crime which he had preferred against himself and had a hearty desire to free himself from his present position. Mr. E. Rowlands magistrates' clerk, read over the charge and asked the prisoner if he were guilty or not.  lsoner : Not guilty. I don't know anything about it.  Superintendent Walker explained that the prisoner gave himself into custody on the 7th of July, and charged himself with throwing a man into the reservoir at Aston in 1379. Prisoner, in his statement, gave some minute details of the affair, and explained that the man whom he threw into the water had a bundle of umbrellas tied to his back. Ha (Mr. Walker) had ascertained that on the 28th of February, 1879, the body of a man namad Arthur Matthison, (dews Duffey, was taken out of the reser.-oir at Aston, with a bundle of umbrellas tied to his back, as described by Haylings. He asked for the prisoner to be remanded until Friday, as it had been impossible to have the whole of the witnesses present that day. Mr. Rowlands: Have you anything to say why the Court should not remand you pending the completion of the enquiries. Prisoner: Yes sir, I was drunk at the time. I was suffering from the effects of drink. I don't remember Making the statement at the time. Superintendent Walker explained that the prisoner was undoubtedly drunk when he first made the confession to the police, but be adhered to the statement the following day when he was sober. Proceeding he said : I have given him every opportunity of making any statement that might tend to prove his innocence, but he declines say anything. He says that at the proper time he will be able to prove his innocence. Mr. Rowlands: Have you anything further to . . . . .  Prisoner : I have not lived in Birmingham since I was fifteen, and then I was only a pony lad. I was in Birmingham in January 1883. Prisoner was accordingly remanded in custody until Friday.