The Sun. — 1851-03-15 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS MURDER.  PmcsiouTFi, Mancn 11.—Considerable excitement has prevailed in the neighbourhood of Brixton, a small village about six miles east of P 1) mouth, in consequence of a rumour having gone abroad that a boy, who was found on Friday hanging to a tree in an orchard, hack been murdered by the son of his master, a respectable farmer named Henry Rowe. The name of the deceased was John Bunker. The coroner of the district, Mr. Bore, has, instituted an inquiry. The suspicious circumstances connected with the case will be gathered from the following portion of the evidence adduced at the irquest:— Thomas Froude, a police-constable of Ply mpton St. Mary, said that on Tuesday last he received information that there was a charge against William Rowe, the son of Henry, that he had been guilty of a nameless crime on a mare, and on Saturday he received such further information as led to the apprehension of the man on the double charge of having committed a brutal crime, find with being the murderer of John Bunker. The prisoner denied all knowledge of the acts with which he was charged, and said that the boy had fetched the rope that was found round his neck Irons the house with his own hand. Witness sew the deceased on a bed in the house of prisoner's father. There were marks of coagulated blood on the back of the right band and the left. There was a scratch on the left temple, and blood coming from the nose and mouth. That around the mouth was of a fresher appearance than the rest. Witness afterwards went to the orchard where the deceased was found, and he there 'discovered footmarks that corresponded with the boots taken from the prisoner's feet. Witness obtained the clothes worn by the prisoner on the slay the deceased was found. They consisted of a coat, waistcoat, breeches, leggings, and a handkerchief. There were marks of blood on the handkerchief and coat. Some of them appeared tolhe fresh spots. There were also in the waistcoat pocket five bullets. The prisoner said he used the bullets to kill rabbits, as a matter of fancy., [The clothes were produced, and the spots of blood pointed out to the jury.] William Good said he was in Mr. Scoble's field at Chippleham at about six o'clock on Friday morning last. He knew the pond orchard-gate, which was about a quarter or half a mile distant from the place at which he stood.. While there he heard a cry proceeding from the direction of the wood, which nearly adjoins the orchard. It was a loud screech, as if some one were being ill-used. Witness thought it appeared as if a man were strangling a youngster with his hands. Witness saw the two young Scobles going in the direction of the cry; one was on horseback, the other on foot. It was shortly after nine o'clock. Richard Scoble corroborated the evidence of the preceding witness. James Ellis had had a conversation With deceased on Wednesday as to the nameless crime that had been laid to the prisoner's charge. Deceased, said there was no doubt about the truth of it, and that he had been offered money not to say what he knew concerning it. Thomas Barber saw the deceased hanging in the orchard, as he passed along the road. He took the body from the tree and put it on the ground: The jury, after consulting together for two hours, brought in a verdict that "Deceased died from strangulation, and that he was wilfully murdered by some party or parties unknown." The prisoner will undergo an examination before the magistrates at Ridgway on Friday, on the charge of having committed an unnatural crime.