The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-11-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDERS IN  STAFFORDSHIRE.  On Monday the inquest was resumed at Arley, in South Staffordshire, on the remains of an infant child that had been found in a pit shaft in a coppice in that parish adjoining the Royal Forest of Wyre, under circumstances already reported in the papers. The coroner, Mr. Phillips, of Wolverhampton, was accompanied by Mr. Baker, the government inspector of mines for the district. The coroner and the mines inspector went to the coppice, which was about I!, mile from the place of the inquest, and made an examination of the pit shaft as far as was possible, and also of the surrounding locality. The mines inspector pronounced a decided opinion that the shaft was that of an old colliery, and that there had been other pits worked in the same locality many years ago. After Mr. Thomas Holyoake, surgeon, of Rinver, had deposed that the remains of the infant that had been found were wrapped first in calico garments, with blood upon them, then in a guano bag, weighted with a brick, the inquest was adjourned for six months, to allow time for the police to make further inquiries. The Coroner, approving the decision to which the jury had come, said that there was "very. very strong suspicion indeed, that the fool crime of murder had been committed,' and, therefore, the jury ought to make , every inquiry into the matter in their power. The jury Were then sworn to investigate the circumaatances attending the firding of certain other remains discovered in the same pit. Police-Sergeant Baldwin, stationed at Enville, depoem.' that he was searching in the pit after the remains of the infant were discovered on the 7th inst., and found certain bones tied together with a cord. Afterwards he found other bones. He handed them to Mr. Holyoake, surgeon, on the 10th Mat Had made every inquiry in the neighbourhood, and could not hear of any child having been lost. Mr. Holyoake deposed that certain hones were those of a child aged about six years, and that the other bones were those of a child aged four or five. Of the elder the bones were two thigh and two shin bones, the arm bones complete, and some foot bone.. The cord was round the bones of the foot and shin, and round two of the bones of the arm, so that the child would be tied hand and foot. The size of the coil of the rope would correspond with the size of the arm and leg of a child of the age of six with flesh upon it. The bones of the younger chid were one thigh, one shin, one splint, and one radius. These all were brought to him with some bones also of some animals. The children's bones might have been in the pit perhaps ten years. He had found no fractures on any of the bones. The Coroner said that the rope being round the bones was as strong evidence as the jury could have, in the decayed state of the remains, that there had been foul play in respect certainly of one of the children, and he should recommend them to adopt the same course in these cases as in the case of the infant He did not think the jury would be doing their duty unless every opportunity were afforded the police of thoroughly investigating the matter. It was then resolved that this second inquest also he adjourned till that day six months. Mr Woodward, in reply to the coroner, said he had no doubt that the rope having been embedded in clay and leaves would have preserved it from decay throughout ten years, especially if it had been tarred, which seemed now to have been the case.