The Haslingden Gazette. — 1913-12-27 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

SUMNER PUTS BLAME ON UNKNOWN MAN.  REVOLVER THREAT.  It was with the expression of a hunted man that George Sumner appeared on Monday irtorningix the dock at the Liverpool Police Court.  The casual observer might certainly have been misled by the attitude of unconcern which he assumed, but a closer gaze demonstrated how much the great nine days' chase had affected him. The public interest in his appearance was enormous. Long before the court opened a. big crowd of people assembled in Delo-street at the entrance to the police buildings eager to catch a glimpse of' the man who for so many days defied arreet. A buzz of conversation ceased as Sumner was brought up. It has been pointed out previously that the man's real name is George Ball, and it was under this description that he was changed with the wilful murder, with Samuel Angels Eltoft, of Catherine Christine Bradfield, on December 10. Sumner .took his place smartly, the centre of attention. Momentarily he appeared to be nervous, but at once he regained confidence, and listened' with keen interest to the statement made by .Mr. H. S. Duder on behalf of the police. Sumner presented a very untidy appearane4;), his neck being destitute of collar or tie, and his clothes shabby. He had abandoned the pink shade on his right eye, and his spectacles were miteing. During the proceedings he held his green cap i* front of hint.  Mr. Duder made a sensational statement.  The prisoner, he said, was charged, in the name of George Ball with being concerned along with a man, named Eltoft (who is in custody) with the murder of Miss Bradfield on Deoember 10. The accused wa.s arrested late on Saturday night, and when charged, early on Sunday morning, he made the following statement to Chief-Insypector Duckworth:—  I am not guilty. A chap with a ..brown moustache threatened me if I did not do as he asked me to. He got a marlinspike, pointed a revolver at me, then struck Miss Bradfield on the head as she was about to turn the gas off, and left me in the, dark. I had to take all risks myself. I then told Eltbft we would have to clear. He said it looked rather black against us, so we suggested to put the body away together. I did no* tell you the chap gave two or three blows with the marlinspike. He said, "I'll clear out of this and leave you to it." He snatched her satchel, and the watch fell out. He went then. We will go back now to 'when we auggested taking the body away. We tied the body any way, the quickest way we could, and put it in a. sack, the first sack that came to us, and placed. her in a handcart and took it away, We took it along the lock &Ade and put it in the canal, we thinking we were dear. Everything looked black against us, and we thought that was the best thing we could do. We looked the shop up then, and went. on our way home That's all we done.  The etatemect was read. over by Chief Inspector Duelsworth, and the prisoner added, "I have the keys of the shop. Mr. Bradfield knows that." • Mr. Duder said after evidence of arrest had been given he proposed to aik for a remand: for eight days. Chief Inspector Dpekworth thew stepped ink) the witness-box.  Mr. Duder: Were you present early on Sunday morning when the amused was charged with the murder of Misv Bradfield?—l was.  Did he, in reply to that charge, after you had cautioned him, make the statement I kart read?— Yes.  _ The Stipendiary (to prisoner): You are remanded for eight days. The prisoner, who was not legally represented, turned round and quick-13- &mended, the titeps. The whole proceedings were over in three minutes.  On Monday afternoon, the amused mism was removed from the police buildings tic) Walton Gaol, where he will remain until he is brought before the court again on Tuesday next: