Diss Family History Group

SUFFOLK VILLAGE MURDER.

ACCUSED IN COURT.

REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

At Saxmundham Police Court on Thursday the hearing was resumed on the charge against William Gardiner, carpenter, of murdering Rose Anne Harsent. domestic servant, at Peasenhall. Prisoner, a man of about 40 years of age, was calm and collected while in the dock. - Mr. E. P. Ridley (Ipswich) prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury, and in opening the case stated that for some months the prisoner and the deceased girl were guilty of immoral relations. On the evening of May 30 a letter was posted at Peasenhall to the deceased stating, “I’ll try and see you to-night at 12 o’clock at your place if you put a light in your window at ten o’clock for about ten minutes. Don’t have a light in your window at twelve o’clock, as I’ll come round at the back.” The evidence would show that the prisoner was standing outside his door about ten o’clock in such a position as he could see the light.

Continuing, Mr. Ridley detailed the theoretical story of the crime advanced by the prosecution. Prisoner was unable to leave his house at midnight on account of a severe storm, and was in the company of his wife and a neighbour until 1.30 a.m. on June 1, when be retired with his wife. As soon as he had an opportunity, accused crept from his house with a medicine bottle in his hand filled with paraffin, and a knife in his pocket. The girl met him in the kitchen; prisoner attacked her probably from behind; there was a struggle; and then he cut the girl’s throat twice. Smashing the paraffin bottle, prisoner then poured its contents over the body, and, after igniting the paraffin, left the house. The bottle which had contained the oil was an important factor, because on it was a label which bore the words, “Mrs. Gardiner’s children.” A knife found in prisoner’s possession bore traces of mammalian blood.

A gamekeeper named Morris spoke to tracing foot marks from prisoner’s house to Providence House, where the girl Harsent was in service, early on the morning of the crime; and Harry Harsent, brother of the deceased, spoke to having taken letters from prisoner to his sister.

The prisoner was remanded for a week.