THE ODDINGLEY 3Itrenkes.—The trial of the persons charged with these
murders commenced on Thursday, at Worcester. The facts disclosed
at the Coroner's inquest must be fresh in our readers' memories : we shall merely mention, that the Rev. Mr. Parker was murdered on the 24th June 1806; that Hemmings was suspected, or rather known to be the murderer ; that he was of another parish, and uninfluenced by any of those feelings of
enmity that prevailed between Mr. P. and his parishioners ; that he was eagerly sought after, but in vain; and that no hint of his fate was received
until the discovery of the skeleton, supposed to be his, in the barn at Nether- wood, in January last. There were three bills found—one charging Thomas Clewes, George Bankes, and John Barnet as accessories before the fact to the Murder of Mr. Parker ; one charging Clewes as accessory after the fact in the same murder ; and a third charging Clewes as principal in the murder of Hemmings. There was also an indictment, founded on the Coroner's inquest, against Clewes and Bankes, as principals in the murder of Hemmings, and Barnet as accessory. To this indictment only, all three pleaded "not guilty ;" an objection being taken to the others. It was ar- ranged that Clewes should be tried for the murder in the first instance ; and the other prisoners were removed. The evidence was precisely the same as was given at the inquest ; but we must mention with praise the singularly lucid testimony of Mr. Pierrepoint, the surgeon—medical men are not always good witnesses. The identity of the skeleton was clearly proved by the widow of the murdered felon. Some opposition was made to the admis- sibility of Clewes's confession ; but it was overruled. In the confession he admitted that he was present at the murder, but took no part in it. The Judge (Mr. J. Littledale) left it to the Jury to say whether, in the absence of other evidence to convict Clewes with the death of Hemmings, they could, from his confession that he was an accessory, convict him as principal. The Jury, on this charge, returned a verdict of "not guilty." There being no
principal convicted, the other prisoners could not by law be tried as acces- sories; and they were accordingly directed to be discharged. The impres- sion of the Court and public seemed to be, that Clewes had really declared the true state of the case.
At the Worcester Assizes, on Wednesday, Michael Toll, aged twenty- nine, was tried for the murder of Ann Cook, by beating her with a stick and throwing her down a coal-pit. He was found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged on Friday next.
Seven men were tried at Limerick on Saturday, for having, on the 18th of December last, entered the house of two brothers of the name of Doyle, and cut out their tongues. Three of the prisoners were found guilty.
Previous page
