The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1879-03-14 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE WHALLEY RANGE MURDER. LETTER FROM JOHN HARBOR..  A Central News telegram says:—As the Home Secretary does not seem disposed to comply with the petiti.:in for a commission of inquiry into the Whaltey Range murder, a further petition, praying for Ilabrou's immediate release, on grounds which are set forth at some length, is being signed in Manchester and Salford. The first 14 signatures are those of Roman Catholi, priests, holding office in the neighbout hood or attached to the Bishop's Seminar,. A number of magiitrates and other public mod are also to be invited to sign the petition. The following communication from John Habron, a brother of the convict William Habron, is published:—The last statement I have seen in the papers is quite true. The day before the murder of Cook, Frank and I CEVIIO home from the county police-court, and we went into Mr. Deakin's yard and commenced our work. William was there. That was about icrir in the afternoon, and we worked till about eight o'clock at night. We were  _ getting lettuces and raspberries, and there were several showers of rain, which made our boots Blotchy and dirty. After finishing the work I went out to Mr. John Gresty's. where my other brother, Thomas, was emplos ed. I lett William and Frank behind me in the house. A man, who was in the employ of Mr. Gresty, said he would go for my brother William to keep company with him. While this man went for him, I and John went touts Lloyd's Hotel. In a few minutes we were followed by this young man and William. We had some refreshments, and returned in about a quarter of an hour, and went to sleep. About one o'clock, as I think, I and my brother were aroused from a sleep by superintendent Bent and several other constables, which astonished us, not knowing what was the cause. As soon as he (Bent) came in he told us to get out of bed. He then made a search through the house, and afterwards said, "Each man put on the c•othes that he wore yesterday." We did not get a chance of doing so. We had to put on whatever clothes the police showed us. They would not allow us to pick out our own clothes; and the clothes that William put on were not those he had been wearing the day before, although he had worn them previously. After making a search through the house, Mr. Bent said, "You three men, listeu to what! say; lam about to charge you with the wilful murder of Constable Cock." We all replied we knew nothing at all about it; we had been in our beds, and we knew nothing about it. I did not know Cock's name then. If they had said the Chorltou policeman I should have known whom they meant. But then we did not know who the policeman was, orwhere he was killed, and to my best opinion none of us knew his name, although he brought a case against us. Mr. Bent swore that before charging us with the murder that I, John Hebron, put up my hands, and said I was in bed at the time. I say positively from my heart and soul that neither I nor any of us °ice put op our hands or uttered the words. I also wish to mention the boots. The boots were dirty undoubtiAlly. No doubt they might well be dirty among soil (and knock. ing the roots of lettuces against his boots) and owing to the previous evening having been so showery. From four o'clock in the afternoon until the arrest was made, Wil him was not a quarter of an hour out of my sight. I would also speak about the boot prints. I wish to ask was the boot print made before Mr. Beet C3TUO on the grounds, Cr when the impression was made was there a Christian's foot in the Loot? That is one thing which cannot fit in my mind, as I thoroughly and ,positively say the print was never made by 'William. There was also other evidence given which I say was untrue, that is regarding the threats. I never said I would shoot the man. I said I would get him shifted; from shifted they swore shooting. Could I have explained myself at the time the evidence was given I would have declared the truth. In regard to Willcock, he said first it was opposite Lloyd's Hotel I uttered the words; secondly, in Mr. Deakin's premises. A man who gives such evidence should get no credit.