The Sun. — 1859-04-20 (London, England)

THE SUPPOSED MURDER AT RAMSGATE.  RAMSGATE, TUESDAY.  Some very important additional particulars connecting the presence of the deceased with the spot where the hatchet and boots were found, and where, it is believed, his hand was mutilated and chopped off, have just been brought to light. It will be seen that this statement forms a connecting link with the facts that have been previously published, and assists materially in accounting for the time of the deceased up to within a very short period of his death. Sarah Packer, of 2, Zion-row, Ramsgate, states that on Sunday evening, the 10th inst., between eight and half-past she was in company with a young man near the shoot in the cliff, on the sands, when she saw a man sitting alone on the rock at the water's edge. It was between Augusta Stairs and the East Cliff Lodge. She remarked to the young man with whom she was walking, " Perhaps he wants assistance : you had better go across to him." The young man answered, " Oh, perhaps he is only washing his feet." Shortly after this the man moved, but she cannot say positively in which direction.  The statement of the girl Packer, although it may not be received as strictly legal evidence, proves that a man like the deceased was at that spot, and alone, shortly before the time it is supposed the deed was perpetrated. The time also corresponds with information furnished by a young woman named Maxted, who speaks positively to seeing the deceased on the East•parade, at a quarter-past 8 o'clock. From this point he must have gone down to Augusta Stairs and along the rocks to the place pointed out by Packer, and here, no doubt, the hand was severed, if not the fatal stab inflicted.  It was mentioned on Monday, that a German Bible had been picked up, which it was believed the deceased had thrown from the omnibus whilst travelling between Dover and Deal, on Friday. A bundle of pieces of cloth has been also found near the same spot, and they correspond exactly with the cloth of the coat and trousers worn by the deceased, and would appear to have been kept by him for the purpose of repairing his clothing as occasion might require. Yesterday, the coroner (Mr. R. J. Emmerson) inspected the spot on the sands where the body was discovered, and it was elicited from a number of seafaring men present that it might have floated to the place where it was found, although deprived of life, some fifty or sixty yards farther out, towards the edge of the rocks. The public mind is still unsettled as to whether it is a case of murder or suicide, and demands further investigation. Accordingly police-constable Hogben, of the harbour force, is prosecuting further inquiries at Margate with reference to this man's movements, and also as to what transpired while the deceased was .at Brazier's house with the girl Nines. These parties will be produced at the adjourned inquiry before the coroner tomorrow (Wednesday) ; and the girl Lucas will also be present, to see if she can identify either of them as being the persons she saw pass the deceased near the wall of Sir Moses Montefiore shortly after seven on Sunday evening. This is necessary, as rumours have been afloat that the deceased had been dogged about by them and subsequently murdered. The result of the inquiry is looked forward to with a good deal of interest.  [