Year: 1871

lie then went TO inquire OF william Cur
ts, who lived near the same place. Here
he was told that his master had called on
Curtis the day before but as Curtis had
not been at home, Mr.. Harrison had left
without seeing him. II being then about
five o'clock in the morning, he retraced his
steps towards Campden. and on the way
back met his young MASTER a' has been
previously related On Reed, Pcarce,
Plastcrcr, and Curtis being examined, they
confirmed everything that Perry had
stated about them to be true. Perry was
then asked by the justice how il was that
he was afraid to go in search OF bis master
at nine in the evening, when he was bold
enough to go there at midnight. To this
he replied that at nine II was dark, but
that ut twelve it was moonlight. lie was
then asked how it was that on returning
home twice, after he had been sent to meet
his master he did not go into the house TO
ask il he had come back. He answered
that he knew his master had not come
home, because there was light in the
window which was never to be seen there
so late when he was at home, Notwith-
standing the plausible manner in which
Perry accounted for the way III which he
had spent the night, it was not thought
advisable to liberate him from custody
until further search had cen made for the
body Of the missing man. He, therefore,
continued in custody for about week,
during which time he was again examined,
but no further Information could be OBJ
tanned


II having been rumored that during his
restraint he told some one who had press
ed him on the subject, that his master had
been killed by . tinker, and THAI he had
said TO ether, that he had been robbed and
murdered by gcntlenan's servant, who
had hidden his corpse in the beanrick at
Campden, further search was made there
but with no result At length, Perry
declared that if he We're again eSsnined
before the Justice, he would disclose n
secret which he would tell TO no one else.
On being again brought before the Justice
who had previously examined him, he con-
fessed that his master had been murder
ed, but he denied having done the deed.
The Justice then told him that if he knew
that his master had been murdered, he
must know by whom the deed had been
done. At last, Perry confessed that he did
know. On being further urged to confess
everything he knew about the matter, he
declared that the murder had been COM
mitted by his own mother and brother.
On hearing this, the justice cautioned him
to consider well what he said, assuring
him at the same time that he feared that
it was Perry himself who was guilty of his
masters murder, and at the same time
told him that he ought to be careful not
to draw more innocent blood on his head
for what he said might cost his mother and
brother their lives. But the prisoner con-
tinued to assert that he spoke nothing but
the truth, the Justice desired him to
declare how and where the deed was done.
He then confessed that both his mother
and brother had tempted him, ever since
he had been in his masters service, TO
steal for them: reminding how poor they
were. and that it was now in his power to
relieve them by simply giving notice when
his master went TO collect the rents for
they would then waylay and rob him. lie
further said, that on the morning OF the
day bis master went TO Charringtcrd, he
went on an Grand into the town, and in
the street met with his brother and that
he then told him hi, master was going to
collect the rents, and that if he way-lald
him, be might obtain the money. He also
said that when his mistress sent hln to
seek his master; he met his brother at the
gate. They then went together little
way, when they parted, but soon after
again met, and then went together until
they came 10 gate that led into Lady
Campden's ground, called the Conygree.
Through this gate, to those who had Key
to open it, was the nearest way to Mr.
IIarrison's house. Perceiving as he thought,
some one pass through the gate into the
master on his way home, for no one could
enter the grounds without possessing, as
his master did, the key to open the gate
But it was then SO dark that they could
not distinguish anything with certainty.
He then advised his brother TO follow his
master into the grounds. and rob him
there while he hin self to give him oppor-
tunity, would wall about the fields for a
time. His brothe consented to this, and
followed his ma ter into the grounds,
After waiting fC.' 3 time, he followed his
brother into the Convgree. There he dis
covered his master lying ON the ground, his
brother being on him, and his mother
standing by.


On being asked by the Justice whether
his master was then dead, Perry replied
that he was not, and that after he had
reached him, he heard HIS master cry: All,
rogues will l,you kill mep When hesawwhat
they were doing, lie asked them not to kill
his master. But his brother only replied


Peace vou fool and then proceeded to
strangle his victim After numbering him.
his brother proceeded to take bag OF
money from his masters pocket, and flung
it to his mother. Then he AMI bis brother
carried the dead body into the garden that
adioined the ground There they consult
ed what should he done with it. At
length, they agreed to throw il into the
great sink behind Wallngton's Mills, that
adioined the garden. His mother and
brother then directed him to 90 UP to the
court next 10 the ECuse, and listen If he
could hear any one abroad, while they
disposed of the body. He also said that
after that he did not return 10 them, but
went through the court-eate that leads
towards the town. There he met with
John Pearce, with whom he went into the
field, and afterwards returned with him to
his masters gate. From thence he pro
ceeded TO the hen-roost, where he lay till
twelve. He then went out, taking with
him his masters hat, band, and comb,
which he had stolen from the body, and
hidden there. After cutting them with
his knife. he laid them down on the high
vav. where they were afterwards found.


In consequence Of his confession Perry $
mother and brother were at once taken
into custody on the charge OF numbering
IL. master The sink into which II was