The Sun. — 1846-09-16 (London, England)

THE DAGENHAM MURDER.  DAGENHAM, MONDAY EVENING.—This afternoon, at two o'clock, Mr. C. C. Lewis, Coroner for the southern division of Essex, and the jury empannelled to investigate the circumstances attending the atrocious and mysterious murder of the police-constable George Clark, on the night of the 29th of June last, re-assembled for the fifth time, pursuant to adjournment, at the Cross Keys Inn, facing Dagenham Church, further to prosecute their investigation. The intense degree of interest manifested on former occasions was but small in comparison to that which appeared to prevail yesterday, no doubt arising from the extraordinary position in which the police have been placed, and the supposition, which has been gaining ground since the last sitting of that jury, that Sergeant Parsons, who has ever since been under the surveillance of the detective police, would be brought before the coroner in custody charged with the murder. Long before the hour appointed for holding the inquest the jury-room was crowded by several county magistrates, gentry, and most respectable inhabitants of Dagenham and the surrounding villages. Mr. Superintendent Pearce, of the F division, was again in attendance, with Mr. Superintendent Macquard, of the K division, to watch the proceedicgs on the part of the Police Commissioners, and Mr. B. W. Rawlings, solicitor, of Romford, attended for Sergeant Parsons. On the CORONER taking his seat, he said he regretted to observe that he had received a medical certificate, announcing the inability of one of the panel to attend, on account of illness, and that being the case, he felt it necessary to adjourn the inquiry again. It was true that there were still sufficient to form a competent jury, but having begun with fourteen jurymen, he considered, in a caseso important as the present, he would not be doing his duty to proceed with a smaller number. Mr. Rawlings said, OR the part of Sergeant Parsons, he had to submit to the Coroner, if possible, the necessity of proceeding at once with the inquiry. The position of Sergeant Parsons was one of great hardship. Ever since the last sitting of the inquest, now nearly five weeks, Parsons had been subjected night and day to the close surveillance of the police. Why, or by whose orders, Sergeant Parsons had been placed in this position he was at a loss to conjecture. The sergeant was prepared fully to meet any charge against him in connexion with the murder, and that being the case, without any charge being preferred, it was extremely hard that he should be continued as it were in custody for any longer period. The CORONER said, the fact was that Sergeant Parsons had only himself to blame for the unpleasant position in which he was placed. He had brought all upon himself by his conduct, and therefore had no right to complain. Supposing him to be innocent of any participation in the murder, it was quite clear that there was another charge which he would be called upon to answer. Therefore, what took place there could not affect the sergeant, so far as his being under surveillance was concerned.  Mr. Rawlings said Sergeant Parsons was perfectly ready to answer any charge brought against him, and he (Mr. Rawlings) was prepared with witnesses to dis. prove all the statements of the police-constables on the last occasion.  The CORONER remprked, that if Sergeant Parsons was prepared now to offer an explanation, he ought to have been prepared to do so previously, and thus have saved the time of the jury. Even if they were to proceed, circumstances had transpired (two or three witnesses, who must be examined, being in the country) to render a further adjournment indispensable. Mr. Rawlings considered it unfair to assume that Sergeant Parsons had any explanation to offer. He had been almost in custody ever since the jury had last assembled, and that circumstance had tender to create a strong prejudice in the public mind against him. His being continued still under the surveillance of the police would only tend to increase that prejudice. The CORONER said, if any prejudice had arisen against Parsons, he could not complain, as it was his own act And deed.  After some discussion with the jury, the inquiry was again adjourned. The sergeant (Parsons) was not in attendance, but he is so closely watched that he is not allowed to go to sleep but in company of one of the police. The most profound secrecy is preserved by the police authorities as to circumstances which have transpired since the last adjournment of the inquest, but in addition to the bloodstained handkerchief found in the field adjoining that where the murder was perpetrated, other articles have been discovered likely to throw a light on this cruel and mysterious murder.