Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1891-09-12 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE MURDER OF A GIRL NEAR HUDDERSFIELD.  STATEMENT ET THE ACCUSED.  James Stockwell, 32, was on Monday brought before the Huddersfield borongh magistrates, chsrged with the wilful murder of Catherine Dennis at Linthwaite. Upon the magistrates' clerk charging prisoner with the offence, the man, amid considerable sensation, pleaded guilty. The chief constable then stated that the facts were so well known that he 'wed not repeat them. All he had to ask was that the prisoner should be handed over to the county authorities. The mayor, who was presiding, then ordered the prisoner to be given over to the custody of Superintendent Pickard, and the prisoner was taken across the road to the West Riding Police-station, and there brought before two magistrates and remanded for eight days. Superintetl:len!t_Piqard stated that tbe  prisoneihad hen searched for during day and night for the whole 17 days he had been away, and was only apprehended that morning. The prisoner eaid he had no objection to offer to a remand, and he was then ordered to be removed to Wakefield. He appeared weak and ill, and NOB assisted into court by two officers.  The following details are given by a correspondent as to the circumstances of the prisoner's arrest. It is currently reported that Stockwell, tired of being hunted down, went to his mother's house some time during Sunday night, and that at a few minutes put eight on Monday morning Mrs. Stockwell went to the home of Poliee•constable Hiram Taylor, stationed at Paddock, a suburb of Huddersfield, and informed him that her son was at her house awaiting arrest. The officer at once proceeded to the place and took the man into custody. Stockwell made no resistance, and was quietly taken to the borough police-station. The prisoner states that he had not tasted ordinary food for the Fiast six days. Bread and butter end coffee were supplied to him at once, and he partook of them ravenously. His mother had promised the police that if he came borne she would give information to the nearest police-officer, and she did no. A telegram from Huddersfield nays: "The man Stockwell asserts that since the crime was discovered he has never been more than two or three miles away from Linthwaite, and that on most of the 17 days he has been in the neighbourhood. He hen been somewhat communicative, and says that on one occasion, when hiding in a hay-stack, he heard the policemen talking about him and laying their , , plann for his arrest. According to his statement, he I lived principally on wild herbs. He admits that , when some workmen at Meltham surrounded Hanley Wood he was there. but his thorough knowledge of the locality enabled him to clods them There in no doubt that he had an awful time since the murder. I and that he was glad to be arrested. Stockwell says that he gladly devoured some beans he (Mind in his mothers garden this (Monday) morning, they being ! the first solid food he bai had since committing the deed. His mother was shocked this morning to find her eon in the house, and is now entirely prostrated. Sim besought him to tell the whole truth, and he assured her that he would do no."  I, Toe improved lamp-post is padded about the height that. follow wants to rest his back, and is becoming popular. .