The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1894-07-28 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE SOUTHEND MURDER..  suenrrgnam, =norm At Southend Folios-murk on Monday, before a full Benoh of Magistrates, James Canham Read, 39, until lately employed as cashier at the Royal Albert Docks, London, was brought up on remand, charged with the wilful murder of Miss Florence Dennis, aged 23 years, a single woman, late of Shakespeare.road, Herne-hill, London, whose body was found in a brook at Prittlewell, near Southend, on the 24th of June.—Mr. Lamb (the prosecuting solicitor) handed the Magietratee, for their guidance, plan, of the localities, and prooeeded to open the case. He said inquiries were still proceeding, and while he had put in evidence everything he possibly could he would be quite fair to the prisoner, although facts in his possession would amply justify the prisoner', committal. He then proceeded to give a history of Read's antecedents, and narrated the circumstances under which he became acquainted with the deoeased. Detective-inspector Raker repeated the evidence given on the previous Monday, and added that, when arrested, prisoner said, "There is a lady here passing as my wife. She does not know who I am. Under the bed witness found £35 in silver wrapped in cloth. In a looked box he found a large number of letters (produced) signed " Edgar."—Mr. Warburton (for the defence) protested that some of the exhibits had nothing to do with the case. —Mr. Lamb said they were necessary to prove prisoner's character. —The evidence was allowed—Continuing, the witness said that on the way to the station priaoner said, "This about Southend is all 'rot.' I was considering whether I should attend the inquest and offer to be examined." Turning to his brother Harry he said, "What do you think of the little milkmaid now? Isn't she a little —1" At Read's house in Jamaica-street witness found a demo marriage oertificates in black. Crossexamined: On the day following the murder it was discovered that Read bed taken £159 from the Dooks.—Dr. Avery Clough Waters deposed to being called to Springfield, Prittlewell, where he saw the body of the deceased. In front of the lett ear 111•11 a circular bullet wound, from which blood was issuing. The skull was fractured. Witness found the small bullet (produced) embedded in the brain. Ile injuries to the head were the cause of death 20 hours before witness saw the body.—Frederick Rush, Southend, stated that on the 25th ultimo he was walking from Coleman's Farm to Prittiewell, when he found a glove on the igrass, and noticed signs of a struggle. He looked n the brook and discovered the body of the deoeued. John Chandler Baptist, stated that he knew the spot in question, and walked there twine on the day after the murder. Ile also notioed a glove in Brookfield, and that the grass and bashes bad been much trampled clown.—P.e. Harden deposed that in consequence of receiving information from Rush he went to the brook, and subsequently removed the body. Witness, oontinuing, said he searched for a revolver, but failed to find one. He went in search of the _assailant the same day. Witness  had sinoe reoeived a box and 40 oariaidges (pro. duoed) marked " Eley, No. 7" from Mrs. Florence Sally, prisoner's sister. They oontained bullets flimilar to the one in deceased's brain. When arrested prisoner said, "Mrs. Ayriss knows more about this than I do. She will tell you where the revolver is." In cross-examination witness said prisoner's words were not "You had better ask Mrs. Aries about the revolver."—Rober6 Dowthwhite, umbrella manager, Prittlewell, stated that on the night of the murder he was in Solentyneslane, going towards Prittiewell, when prisoner and demand walked past him arm-in-arm. Witness added that on Friday, the 13th inst., he twioe picked prisoner out from seven men as the one he had seen with the deceased on the night of the murder.—After further evidence the case was adjourned for • week.