Diss Family History Group

THE PEASENHALL TRAGEDY.

RESUMED HEARING TO-DAY.

THE FINDING OF THE BODY.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.

The trial was resumed at Ipswich to-day of William Gardiner, who is accused of murdering a servant girl, Rose Harsent, at Peasenhall.

James Morris, gamekeeper, stated that at five; o’clock on the morning of June 1st he noticed footprints leading from the prisoner's house to the deceased's residence. There were marks of bars across the soles. —Cross-examined: He did not tell the police till June 6th.

Herbert Stannias, Gardiner's neighbour, stated that on the morning of June 1st he saw the prisoner in his washhouse, where there was a big fire.

Cross-examined: He had seen prisoner light the washhouse fire on Sunday mornings.

Mr. Richards, secretary to the Gardeners’ Employers’ Society, stated that envelopes found in deceased’s box were similar to those used at the works. Cross-examined: Prisoner had represented the firm at the Paris Exhibition, and used these envelopes.

William Harsent next deposed to finding the body. Constable Nunn saw deceased’s nightdress, and the only part about her neck remained. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, and her body and arms were considerably burned. There was a local newspaper under her head, and at the kitchen window a shawl was fastened up. Deceased was covered with blood, and her head rested on the staircase. Witness found a broken medicine bottle on the floor. It bore a label “For Mr. Gardiner’s children.” The bottle smelt of paraffin. In a box by the side of the girl’s bed, which had not been slept in, witness discovered a letter making an appointment for midnight; also some indecent verses.

By a Juryman : The letter commenced “Dear R.,” but was not signed. Witness arrested prisoner on June 3rd, and Gardiner said he was not guilty. Amongst prisoner’s possessions were a pair of canvas shoes with bars. These witness obtained from prisoner’s wife, after receiving a communication from James Morris. He also found a pocket knife. Witness had discovered that a light in deceased’s bedroom could be seen from prisoner’s house. He had also been with the witnesses Skinner and Wright to the chapel. When they were inside he could hear their voices outside. - Cross-examined: Mrs. Gardiner readily gave him all the clothing asked for. The shirts had not been washed. Prisoner’s wife answered all questions which witness put to her. Among the letters found in the girl’s box were two referring to a scandal between deceased and prisoner, and said to have been written by the latter.

Counsel for Gardiner remarked there were other letters too disgraceful to read. It had been admitted by a youth named Frederick Davis that he wrote them, and in the interests of public morality counsel suggested they should not be read out, but copies handed to the jury.

Mr. Justice Grantham assented to this suggestion.

One letter was read out, and it proved to be an effusive love epistle. The writer said he could not sleep at night thinking of the deceased. This letter was unsigned.

Constable Nunn added that there was a pamphlet relating to the conduct of married life. Prisoner told witness that he was at home on the evening of May 31st. At eleven o’clock he went into Mr. Dickenson’s house and remained there till half-past one, and then went home to bed. Prisoner’s wife, when questioned about the medicine bottle, said on one occasion the deceased girl had a bad cold, and she offered her some camphorated oil [23] to take home in the bottle, but whether deceased had it or not Mrs. Gardiner could not say; Gardiner fainted when arrested.

Constable Nunn said he interviewed Mrs. Pepper, next door neighbour to prisoner, but she denied that she told him that during the night of the crime she heard prisoner's wife come downstairs.

Counsel for the prisoner intimated that he should call Mrs. Pepper.

Superintendent Andrews was recalled. He said the average width of the walls of Peasenhall Chapel was one foot.

Police-Superintendent Staunton stated that prisoner denied writing the letters produced, and denied using the kind of envelopes produced. Prisoner’s statements as to his movements on the night of the crime tallied with those made to Constable Nunn.

Cross-examined with reference to his interviews with Mrs. Gardiner, witness said prisoner’s wife stated that she thought she gave a bottle containing camphorated oil to Rose Harsent, but was not certain. When witness first saw prisoner he (witness) was investigating the case as one of suicide. Gardiner did not seem upset.