Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1890-09-27 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE WEST HAM MURDER.  A man giving the name of -William Turner, of Hutton, Essex, surrendered on ",unday evening to the police at Allerston, near Pickering (Yorkshire), and stated that he had been concerned in the West Ham murder. He was taken to Pickering, where he related the circumstanCel of the tragedy to the police. He said his father resided at 7, Morris-place, BrentThe prisoner was brought before Mr. Baker, at the Pickering Court House, next afternoon. lie is a short man, of dark complexion, with black bushy whiskers and moustache. He appeared very nervous and trembled constantly during the charge. Police-constable Simpson deposed that the prisoner came to him at illerston on Sunday, and said he wished to give himself up for committing a murder at West Ham, London, about last Christmas. Witness brought him to Pickering and reported the case to the superintendent. Superintendent Spence said that the accused made a statement to him which he took down in writing. He trembled so much that he could not sign it last night, although he endeavoured to do so in the presence of Dr. Comber. The statement had been read over to the defendant this morning, and he signed it. This statement was as follows . Just before last Christmas I had been at the back of some houses at West Ham. I met a girl who said her name was Jeffreys. I persuaded her to go with me to a house, and I promised her some pictures. We got into the house through a window at the back, I think it was the second house from where she lived, but she didn't live in that row. It was an empty house we got into. She started to scream, and said she would tell her father. I then struck her with my list in the stomach, and she dropped from my arm on to the ground." The prisoner having mentioned the further assault which he committed, proceeded : "I put her into the cupboard and her basket with her, and left the cupboard door ajar. I then left the house by the window. I met her father; he asked me ill had seen • young girl. I said no. It was between the two lights. I then went back to my lodgings. I believe they call it East-street. It is a common-lodging house, right at the bottom—a very small house—and I left the next morning, crossing the water to Woolwich, then to Mill House, Deptford. I remained two or three days or a week, and then left for Wandsworth, then to Chelsea Infirmary; from there to West Kensington Infirmary. When in Kensington I read an account inthe newspapers, and SZW a picture of her in a newspaper. I remained about Notting-hill. I got my living by buying bottler, rags, cc. I gave myself up for the murder of a young woman called Jefireys. They will know about it. It has pressed very much on my mind during the last day or two. I went into a wood this morning and tried to hang myself .—(Signed), TIMNFR," Dr. Thornton Comber deposed that he examined the prisoner on Sunday night and found him to be delirious. Ile thought he had delirium tremens. He had hallucinations. Witness saw him again that morning, when he was in a similar condition. He believed the man had not had drink on Sunday, but he admitted having had more drink than food during the last week. TIMIS% when asked if he had any statement to make in court, replied, "1 don't know." He was re inanded to Northallerton Gaol for a week.