HORRIBLE MURDER AT THRANDESTON.
Another of those dreadful crimes which, within the last six or seven months, have rendered the rural district on the borders of Suffolk and Norfolk so unhappily notorious, has been perpetrated in the village of Thrandeston, about 3½ miles from the Mellis Station, and the same distance from Eye. The party charged with this crime is a farmer of the name of John Mickleburgh, who occupies 27 acres of land, his own property, in the parish of Thrandeston, and is the tenant of 16 acres; is also an owner of cottages at Thrandeston and Shelfanger; and has four or five rights of common over Thrandeston Green. He is a married man, 41 years of age, with a wife living, and three daughters, the eldest about 13 years of age, and the youngest about 6. He is said to possess considerable intelligence, but is described in the warrant of remand as “able to read and write imperfectly:” he bears, however, but an indifferent character, his treatment of his wife having been harsh, and his temper bad. The individual who has fallen a victim to his evil passions was a single woman, of Shelfanger, 21 years of age. She was possessed of very considerable personal attractions, and of a lively disposition. She was in Mickleburgh’s service two years ago, as maid of all work, and went away at Michaelmas, but returned a year after. It appears that there has been illicit intercourse between the prisoner and the deceased, more particularly at the period of Prince Albert’s visit to Ipswich, to which place Mrs. Mickleburgh went during the royal visit; but she has for upwards of the last two years been engaged to a young man, named Bootman, a brick maker in the parish. Thrandeston Fair is held on the 31st of July and the 1st of August; and the deceased had obtained leave from her mistress to go to the fair, and to be out till half-past nine. She had been with Bootman on Thursday in a booth in the fair, and both of them drank there with Mickleburgh. From thence she proceeded with Bootman to the Marsh Cottage, on the Green, occupied by a person named Barrett, and used as a temporary place for the sale of beer during the fair. While they were there, the prisoner, prompted, it is supposed, by jealousy at her being in Bootman’s company, purchased a knife at the fair, went to Barrett’s cottage, and in a small room where a large company was assembled, stabbed her, the instrument used being a spring-backed French knife, with a stiletto blade, 6 inches long, which would remain firm in the handle till the spring should be touched. The unhappy girl screamed out and ran into a back room, where she fainted, and was carried upstairs. Mickleburgh was immediately seized, and the knife was taken from him. He expressed no regret at what he had done, but declared that had he “done it to perfection,” he “would have stood a glass of wine,” and that he had intended to commit the deed, and had bought the knife on purpose. He was afterwards taken into custody, and again declared he would have stood a bottle of wine had he finished her: he also swore greatly and used much loose language, describing her as “the Queen of Thrandeston,” and “a magnificent woman,” and boasting of the intercourse he had had with her. He repeatedly expressed regret that he had not stabbed her an inch or two further. Bootman exhibited great distress at what had happened. and the prisoner, observing it, pointed to him, and called him - “a d-----d cowardly rascal.” On Friday morning the prisoner was charged before the Rev. Mr. French with cutting and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and the woman was able to make her deposition against him, after which he was committed for further examination to Ipswich gaol. On his way thither, at Stoke White Horse, a dinner table was laid out and the prisoner seized a knife, and attempted to destroy himself, but was prevented. Since then it is said he has taken no food, and declares his determination to starve himself. as soon as possible after the perpetration of the deed the wounded girl was attended by Mr. Miller, surgeon, of Eye, who rendered all the assistance in his power; and the Rev. Mr. French, the Magistrate, took care that every possible attention should be paid to her, but she died on Friday afternoon, about four o’clock, after great suffering.
On Monday morning, at ten o’clock, a jury was assembled at the cottage where the crime was committed, before Chas. Gross, Gent, Coroner. Mr. Palmer, the barrister, attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the prisoner, being engaged by Mr. Brooke, solicitor, of Diss. The Jury, having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, but on the door being opened the effluvium from the corpse up-stairs was most offensive, and the room being small it was almost impossible to bear it. At the suggestion of the foreman, the proceedings were adjourned to the farm house of Mr. Saunders, near by, who had kindly offered a large and convenient room for the purpose. The following evidence was given, but the prisoner was not present, having been left at Eye, to answer the charge before the magistrates.
William Bootman: I live at Thrandeston, and am a brickmaker, aged 21. Last Thursday evening, between 7 and 8 o’clock, I was in company with Mary Baker, at Barrett’s house. I had previously been with her in Eastoo’s booth in the fair. For about three-quarters of an hour we drank together there with Mickleburgh, and from thence we went down to Barrett’s. The room was very crowded; and whilst I was seated by the side of Mary Baker I heard her shriek out and say, “I’m dead - I'm dead!” and immediately after I saw Mickleburgh near her with a knife in his hand. I was afterwards so flurried that I cannot remember what took place, beyond that I assisted to carry her up-stairs and to place her on a bed.
John Trench, labourer at Diss Heywood: I was at Thrandeston fair last Thursday evening. About seven o’clock I was in Eastoo’s booth. I saw Mickleburgh there, and left the booth in company with him till he parted from me and went into the fair. I went on to Barrett’s, and saw Bootman and Mary Baker sitting together. I had not been there more than twenty minutes before I heard Mary Baker shriek out. I then saw Mickleburgh standing with an open knife in his hand, just opposite to her. I got up, and took hold of his arms, and held them behind him. Barrett came in, and took the knife from him as I was holding him. I kept hold of his collar, and he sat down by my side, while Barrett went for the police officer. I said to him, “Mr. Mickleburgh, whatever did you mean by doing this?” He replied, “I meant to do it; I went and bought the knife on purpose.” He said this more than once. I kept him in charge till the police officer took him from me.
John Sillett: I live at Mellis, and am a railway labourer. I was at Barrett’s on Thursday evening. After I had been there about a quarter of an hour I saw Mickleburgh walk across the room, with an open knife in his hand, in the direction of where Mary Baker was sitting. I immediately after heard Mary Baker call out, “l am dead! I am dead!” I then saw French catch hold of Mickleburgh.
Mr. Walter William Miller: I am a surgeon at Eye. Yesterday I made a post mortem examination of the body of Mary Baker. I found a punctured wound about half-an-inch long, and between 4 and 5 inches in depth, entering the left cavity of the chest between the 8th and 9th ribs, and extending downwards and inwards through the diaphragm and spleen into the mesentery. A great quantity of blood effused into the cavity of the body, and between the folds of the mesentery. Neither the heart nor lungs were wounded. The wound was the cause of death.
John Sillett, police officer: Mary Baker died on Friday, the 1st of August, about half-past four in the afternoon. I was present when she died; and so was the Rev. Mr. French.
This was all the evidence at the inquest, and the Coroner in summing it up to the Jury, said it was his duty to tell them that there could be no doubt their verdict must be one of Wilful Murder against Mickleburgh.
The Jury, after about a quarter of an hour’s deliberation, returned a verdict to that effect.
After the proceedings at the inquest, Mickleburgh was brought up before the Rev. Thos. Lee French and the Rev. Dr. Day, at the Town Hall, Eye, which was extremely crowded, much excitement as to the case appearing to prevail. He is a man of forbidding countenance, and looks like a mechanic rather than a farmer. He appeared very dejected, and dropped down on the floor upon the call to stand up and answer the charge being made. During the hearing of the case, however, he appeared to take little notice of what was passing. The proceedings commenced with the reading of the depositions on the charge of stabbing, as taken, on Friday, at Barrett’s cottage, which were the same in substance as those at the Coroner’s Inquest, with the following additional evidence: -
Mary Baker (the deceased) sworn: I am a single woman, and have been living as servant to Mr. John Mickleburgh, at Thrandeston. Yesterday evening I was at this house in company with my sister and Wm. Bootman. At about eight o’clock Mickleburgh came in. Master said, “Ah, mor, I see you.” Master then passed me, and went into the backhouse, an adjoining room. He was not gone two minutes before he came back again. He came up to me, but I did not feel him till he drew back and said, “Ah, mor, you have had it now.” I saw the knife in his hand when he drew back. I then went into the backhouse and fainted there. I was sitting by the side of Wm. Bootman when I was stabbed. When I came to my senses I was lying in a bed in a room upstairs. I do charge John Mickleburgh with having stabbed me with intent to kill and murder me.
Charles Barrell deposed to going into the room on hearing a shrieking, and seizing the prisoner, when they fell, the prisoner under, and he took the knife from him, and went for police constable Sillett to whom he gave the knife.
The charge of wilful murder was next gone into, and the whole of the evidence above detailed was repeated, with the following additions: -
Clara French, wife of John French : I reside at Diss, and am sister to the deceased. In the afternoon I went to Eastoo’s Booth, between four and five, with Wm. Bootman, and my sister. We met John Mickleburgh close by the door, and he went into the booth with us. We drank together, and we had some brandy and water, and afterwards Mickleburgh got some wine. I heard Mickleburgh while there ask Mary Baker what time she was to go home; she said half-past nine. He afterwards told me to tell her to get home by nine, for he wanted to see her in the meadow. Wm. Bootman, I, and my sister, then went out and left Mickleburgh there. About an hour afterwards (about six o’clock) I again went into the booth alone, to ask my husband to come out. Mr. Mickleburgh and my husband were then in the booth. I told my husband to come out, and I went out and stayed outside for him. He and Mickleburgh came out together - they walked side by side, and I was a little way before. Just as we came to the entrance of the fair Mickleburgh left my husband, and said to me, “Mor, I’ll be revenged.” I did not know what he meant. He then went into the fair. I and my husband went to Mr. Barrett’s. I had been there about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, when I saw Mickleburgh draw his hand away from my sister’s side. I did not see him come in, or approach her. I saw an open knife in his hand. I had previously heard my sister shriek out, and say she was dead. I went up to her, and then became helpless, and fainted away.
By the Rev. Mr. French: I was not aware of any improper intimacy between Mickleburgh and my sister, though we often questioned her on the subject, but she denied it. At Mr. Eastoo’s booth I did not notice that Mickleburgh was at all annoyed. He did not say much then to my sister. I thought but little of the remark about revenge, as I did not understand what he meant.
Bootman recalled : Mickleburgh has never told Mary Baker in my presence that if I went with her he would do for her.
John Sillett police officer, at Wortham: I was at Thrandeston fair on Thursday. About eight o’clock I received information from Barrett that a young woman had been stabbed at his house, and he gave me a knife which I now produce. On reaching the house I found Mary Baker lying on a bed in a fainting state. I found up the surgeon, and then went to the prisoner who appeared to be intoxicated, and very much excited, from liquor, I believe. He continued in the custody of constable Baker, but I remained with him a short time, during which he said, “I wish my arm had been a little stronger, and I would have given her four inches more of it: I hope she will die.” He also used an expression implying improper connection with her, and said that if she would go along with another party he would give her cold steel, and would be revenged.
Wm. Sayer, licensed hawker, sworn: I was at Thrandeston fair, on Thursday last I had a knife like that produced, at my stall. I had only one. I bought it at Lewis Capperina’s, at Norwich. I believe the knife produced to be the same. I sold the knife between 7 and 8 o’clock on Thursday evening to a man, but I did not notice who ne was. He appeared in a hurry - he asked me for a spring-backed knife. He gave me 2s. for the knife, which was what I asked for it and left directly after paying me. This kind of knives I think are used for killing sheep. I have sold a good many of them.
Elizabeth Drench confirmed the evidence of other witnesses as to the stabbing of the deceased; assisted to take her up-stairs, and to take off her clothes; waited on her till she died on Friday afternoon; don’t consider she knew she was dying, for she told me in the morning that she had thought all along she should get through it. She made no statement after the last change came on.
To Mr. Palmer: There was very little blood on the shift.
The shawl, dress, stays, &c., worn by the prisoner were produced by Sillett. They were cut through, the holes being such as would be made by a knife of the kind produced. The point of the knife appeared a little turned.
John Baker, police-constable, of Mellis: I received information about a few minutes before 8, that a young woman had been stabbed at Barrett’s. When I got there I found the prisoner sitting by the side of John French. I told him he was charged with stabbing a young woman, and took him into custody. He said, “You may take me and do what you please with me - I have done what I intended to do, and I hope I have done it effectually.” He directly afterwards said “I wish my arm had been a little stronger, and I would have given her 3 or 4 inches more of it” (This was followed by a very gross allusion.) I believe he was tipsy at the time. When Sillett came up he repeated the wish. I had charge of him that night at the station-house at Eye. During the night he told me he wanted Mary Baker to be with him at the fair, and that he went to a stall and purchased the knife, and gave 2s. for it. That he afterwards returned to Charles Barrett’s, and when he went into the house, Mary Baker said, “Oh! master, here am I;” and he replied, “Ah! mor, I see you, and you sha’nt be long before you have this piece of steel ; that he afterwards went across into the backhouse, and opened the knife, and that when it was open it was like a dagger; he further said, “If I haven’t killed her now, I hope she will die; if she don’t come to my proposals, I have got the best brace of pistols the world can produce.” He said that he slept with her the previous Wednesday night when his wife went to Diss. About 6 o’clock on Friday morning last his wife came to see him at the station-house. She talked to him, and I heard him say to her – “You never suspected me before; now you know all about it; if you had died a year or two ago this would not have occurred.” That day I took him before the magistrates, and he was remanded for further examination. When I took him first into custody on Thursday night I searched him, and found on him the knife I now produce; he said it was not long enough to do it with and that was not the knife he did it with.
The Magistrates decided on committing the prisoner on the charge of Wilful Murder.
