Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1913-01-11 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

KIMERWORTH DOUBLE MURDER.  Showman's zbourer in Dock.  Remanded for a Week.  A further remand for one week was granted at the Rotherham Borough Police Court, on Tuesday morning, when Walter Sykes. 24 years of age. a showman's labourer, of no F fixed abode, was am n placed in the dock, on a tare of havi murdered Amy Nicholson. aged 111 years, a d Iritne!ii Alice Nicholson, !aged oevea years. at Kimberworth Park, near IRotherliam, on the night of November lath. , The magistrates were Alderman George IClark (in the chair), and Mr. W. Haatings.  , Sykes seemed to have a brighter appearance than at the previous hearing a week ago. Before the ease was cal!ed he occupied a seat along with the other male prisoners, at the back of the dock. He occasionally glanced sidesways, and appeared to take an interest iR the proceedings. When hie name was called he stepped out of the seat, and walked with a stooping gait to the dock. His clerk trousers were "out" at one of the knees, sad it was evident that his brown coat had been worn a good deal. He had a blue muffler round his neck. Ordinarily he wears only a dark moustache, but while he has to^.n in custody the hair on his , face had been allowed to grow. '•  .-.--The proceedings histed-a little more than ten minutes. _ .  —Th7Cil;i Constable (Mr. E. Weatherhogg) said:— _  'l7l7be facts of this case have been brought to the notice of the l'ublic Prosecutor, and I am instructed by him to apply for a further adjournment for seven days. The inquiries are not yet completed. Ho requires fully another week to complete the investigations.  Chief Luspector Altoft entered the witness box and was examined by the Assistant Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. George Clews). The Assistant Magistrates' Clerk: At six o'clock on the night of December 2ath did you accompany the Chief Constable to the West Riding °dice, Nlemboro'?-1 did, sir. And did you there find the prisoner being detained on a charge of murdering two children, Amy Nicholson and Frances Alice Nicholson f—Yes.  Did you hear the Chief Constable say anything to the prisoner?— yes. Ho said, "This is a very serious matter"  the prisoner make any reply to that P— "Yes. He said, "1 will toll you no more lies about it. 1 will speak the truth. 1 did murder them."  Did the prisoner make auy further voluntary st.ltement el. sir. To the Chet Ceustable?—Yes, sir.  Was that statemeut taken down in writing and signed by the prisoner P—lt was, sir. You then cautioned the prisoner and charged him with wilfully murdering Amy Nicholson, aged 10, and krances Alice Nicholson, aged seven, at Kimbervorth Park, between 7-30 p.m. on 11th November, and 7-65 a.m. on November 16th, llaki—les. Did he replyi—No, sir. rho Assis•aat rates' Clerk : On that you ask for • remand P The Chief Constable: I ask for this case to be adjourned for seven days. The Chairman: inere wiil be a remand for seven days. the statement to the Chief Constable which is alleged to have been made by the prisoner at Nlexboro' Ponce Office was as followe: "My name is Walter Sykes. lam 24, and at present of no fixed place of anode. I have no regular employment. I worked for ldr. tiedney, a showman, from October of this year up to December. I was oat all night on the night of the murder. l'he mtlider was done with a penknife. I have said nothing to anyone about it before this (Sunday) afternoon. I told the Inspector I had murdered the two children at Rotherham, and that I did it with a penknife. I don't know the time I murdered the children, but it was dark. I have nothing more  to say, only a hat I told the Inspecto;." The police are endeavouring to find a pocket knife with which the children's throats are alleged to have been cut. It is said that the prisoner disposed of a knife about a month ago outside a lodging-house in Sheffield road, Rotherham. Any information which will enable them to recover this weapon will be welconied by the police authorities.