The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1891-06-25 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE TRAGEDY AT LEEDS.  On Monday the adjourned inquest respecting the death of Barbara Waterhouse (5), whose body was found mutilated opposite the Town Hall, Leeds, on the night of the 16th, was resumed before Mr. Malcolm, borough coroner. Six witnesses had to be examined as to the dealings the two prisoners, Walter and Ann Turner, mother and son, had in carrying the body from Horsforth to Leeds. Evidence was given showing that the male prisoner was at the Black Bull Inn on the day the girl disappeared, but that there was nothing unusual about him, as he was accustomed to go to the house, where he did not remain long. Further evidence was also given as to the prisoners having been seen on the road with the tin box, which one of the witnesses identified.—lnspector Sowerby stated that on Friday evening, the 12th inst., Mrs. Turner called at the Town Hall, and told him that on the Monday previous she went into her cualhouee and found a bundle wrapped in a shawl, and she described the manner in which they had removed the body in a box, and left it near the Municipal Buildings, where it was subsequently found by the police. From what she said he went with her to the Midland station, and he pointed out the tin box on No. 2 platform. On the way back to the Town Hall she volunteered some information as to having taken the box to the house of a Mr. Joy, in the town, and shortly afterwards she gave them the name of Thos. Joy, 1, Crown Street. Instead of coming back direct to the hall they went round Centeuery Street, under the pretence that it would be quieter, and not cause her so much excitement. When she got a few yards from the gate where the bundle was found by the police she stopped and said, " That's the gate. My son rolled the bundle out of the box there, and I walked on to the street end, he afterwards joining me." They then went to the detective office and examined the box, which was fastened with a piece of string run through the two holes in the box. He found that the box smelt very strongly of chloride of lime. On the 13th he charged Mrs. Turner with being an accessory after the fact of the murder on or about the 6th June. After being cautioned in the usual manner, she replied," There is no doubt it was done on Saturday. I have no hesitation in saying so, though I know no more about it than any of you. —.Detective-sergeant Mackenzie was next called and gave similar evidence.—Policesergeant Poyser, of the West Rifling Constabulary, stationed at Horeforth, said on the 6th Met. he received information of the deceased being missing, and instituted enquiries. On June 12th he called at the house of the prisoners. Having knocked two or three times without receiving any answer, he opened the door. He shouted, " Who lives here but received no answer. In a short time the male prisoner, who was very white and trembling violently, came downstairs. Witness asked who lived there excepting himself. and he said no one beyond his mother. vv went out, anti 11441 a CUlmllltatloll With Police-constable Croskerry. In a few minutes witness went into the house and found prisoner upstairs, sitting on the bedside in a room, with a newspaper in his hand, which contained an account of the disappearance of the little girl. He asked him where he was on Saturday and Wednesday last. He replied he hadu't been out of the holm since Friday. IVituess then said "I charge you with the wilful murder of Barbara Whitham Waterhotie,‘, of llorsforth, on or about Saturday last." lie replied, "What grounds have you for charging me with it ? " Witness said, "So much that I shall apprehend you on suspicion, end take you down to Leeds to the superintendent's office." He then sail, • You'll have to prove it." Mr. E. Warp, surgeon, was recalled, and in reply to Mr. Willey, prisoner's selb itor, said there was no absolute proof of the ellild having been outraged. All the wounds might have been caused by one instrunteut. The Corou T smiltituMi up, and the jury, after an absence of nineteen iniuutes,returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" agaiust Walter Turner, and they found the mother an accessory after the fact.