Year: 1870

From the Irish Times, May 2S-Evening.l


The inquest upon the bodies OF the seven victims
before Mr.. Charsley, Coroner for the district


Mr.. John 5. Ferris surgeon, said:-On Mondav
night, at halfpast seven O'Clock, was called to see
the bodies at Marshalls cottage; saw Mrs. Marshall
lying on the floor with her face towards the WALL il
was smeared with blood; Mary Ann Marshall
was lying with her feet on her mother and her face
the other way; In the back Kitchen the body OF
the grandmother lying with her arm around the
youngest child who was dead by her side; both
were the bodies Of Mary and Theresa, one upon the
top Of the oher went out into the foundry, and by
the side OF the forge f0dnd the body Of Emanuel
Marshall, covered with sack; he was lying on his
face with his hands stretched out IN 'front.' one leg
.N over tn the 9th other and no shoes on; on removing
the sack saw two large wounds at the back Of his
head, and turning him over l found his face
smashed in; on Tuesday mace a post mortem ex-
animation OF the bodies; on Marshall's / found
bruise on the left nand and the right hand was
graZed; there were four wounds On the face; the up
per and lower jaws were broken; the head aud
shoulders were covered with blood and ashes; there
were five wounds the scalp; the base Of tile skull
was fractured Ia such complete manner that IL
were probably made with the poker, and those on
the face by the axe or by the sledge hammer; upon
wound on any part Of the body on the right side Of
the head there eusion Of blood; the face was
unlnJured; on removing the scalp several pieces Of
four, IN fact the whole right SIDE of the skull
was smashed down to the spine; the injuries
were probably produced by one blow of the sledge
hammer; on Mary Marshall aged eight there were
no bruises or fractures OF the body or limbs but on
the head there was semi-crcuar wound five
inches long, which almost completely cut Off the
right ear; there was small wound on the right side
OF the head ana others the back; three Of these
starred" cut on the back OF the head
couldn't have been made with any instru.
men ment yet found; there was wound on the right
side OF the face and both jaws were brOken the base
OF the skull was fractured and the brain was visi.
oie on Gertrude. aged four, there were likewise no
bruises or wounds on the body all the bones the
left side OF the head were 'stove nn and fractured
in all directions, the temple bone alone being intact
the blow % was probably given with !he sledge ham
free from bruises the body, with the exception OF
Craze on the right knee; she had triangular
was wound three inches long, and behind 1t
another OF the same length, and third behind the
ear; her skull was fractured right across the base;
a wound an inch and half Ii in i"'' length
over the lett eye, and the teeth from
a wound an inch and quarter long down the part
ing Of the hair and wound Of three inches long
the right side Of the head, were sharply cut, as If
done with the edge OF an axe; there was 10 large
starred fracture at the right side Of the SKULL which
was fractured IN such complete manner across
pulled in half Charlotte Marshall, the wife, had a
jagged wound over The right ear, another three
inches long at the back OF the head another Of the
same length In the middle OF the head, fourth on
the left side OF the back OF the head and the base OF
the skull was completely fractured; the injuries
were inflicted by sledge hammer or the back OF an
axe.


Mr. George Macnamara who assisted at the post
naorte'n examination, corro5oTated this evidence.


Charles Coombes, the man who gave information
to the police which led to the arrest OF the prisoner
In the public house at Reading, was called and ex-
amlned. He added to his evidence given be
fore the magistrates that the prisoner had
stayed at the same lodging house with himself
about ten weeks ago; he then called himself John
Jenkins. Recurring to the Saturday OF the murder,
the witness said that he was speaking TO the pris
oner at half-past five O'Clock on saturday evening;
ne tnen had no money, but he said he should have
some before long.


DANIEL Love, warder Of Reading Jail, Identified
tne oid Jacket and boots found in the bedroom Of
MARSHALL house AS having been given by him 10 .