The Northern Guardian. — 1898-06-06 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

LATEST NEWS.  (BY TELEGRAPH THIS DAY  ST. NEOTS TRAGEDY.  HORSFORD'S TRIAL.  JUDGE HAWKINS SUMS UP. PRISONER SENTENCED TO DEATH.  The trial of Walter Horeford, farmer, of Spald- ' wick, charged with murdering his cousin, Annie Holmes, at St. Neotsa on January 7th, was resumed at Huntingdon to-day. Crowds assembled outside the Court, the interio: of which was pecked. Mr Justice Hawkins. in commencing the sum. ep, said they had assembled in the Presence of Almighty Pod and, in obedience of oaths they had made to Him, to fulfil one of the most solemn bgations which could be imposed on them. The jury had to determize whether priscner AILS guilty of wilful murder, and he, to the best of his poor ability, had to assist them to come to an Itcnest and just conclusion. Having explained thc law if murder, he said deceased's husband died fourteen Tears ago, and with her slender means shc had brought up her children respectably. There could be no doubt that the baby was illefeitimatitt. but there was no evidence who was the father. He was rained to hear counsel instructed by prisoner cross examine the poor motherless child with a view tocreate an impression that her =ether was a person of shameless character. That deceased had made an unfortunate mistake in yielding to the solicitation of some man was no ground fur saying she was a worthless woman. Because persons were good eneugh to send the poor widow money, it should not be said it was heccuse she had granted forbidden favours. Coming to the evider.ce he described the agonising torture which deceeased suffered before death brought her relief, and said that unmistakably death was due to stryninino. He paid a tribute to the kindness and charity of Miss Horsford and Miss Busby, and said there was nothing in their conduct at deceased's house of which anyone could complain. There was no gceund for the suggestion that documents were placed under the body after death by some evil disposed person. At the inquest prisoner told an untruth in order to avert sus. eicion.. A vital point in this case was the handwriting on the packets of poison. He pointed out similarities elf this writing with the admitted h:uidwriting of the prisoner, and left the jury to deal with them in light of evidence of an expert and of those familiar -with prisoner's handwriting. Then there was nothing ; te show what prisoner did with the strychnine that was undoubtedly in his possession. The fact that the prisoner's wife knew about Annie Holmes after the inquest was not proof that she knew at the time of deceased's death. As to a Bill now befcrc Parliament to enable prisoners to give evidenceron oath without the prosecution havina power to cross examine, he thought for many reasons it would be a fatal step to take. The motive suggested in this cat° had many erceedents. After a short interval the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. Prisoner, on being called upon, said: A 1 that I tare to say is that I tin an innocent man. The Judge, in paving sentence of death, said he lead no hesitation in saying he thoroughly agreed with the view the jury had taken, and he should take no bead of the prisoner's asseveration. in his judgment, prisoner had been guilty of a base, cried, and treacherous murder. He had put to a cruel death a poor victim who merely wanted him to do her justice, and be had not given exnreesion to one sinaie word of sorrow. He wondered prisoner's hard heart even had net moved hint to do her that justiae. His time on earth was short. He should spend it in prayer and penitence and imploring God's great merry. Prisoner, who was extremely pale, left the dock without assistance.