Diss Family History Group

THE SUFFOLK TRAGEDY.

A SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.

JUDGE REBUKES A WITNESS.

A sensational incident occurred at the close of the sitting of the Court at Ipswich Assizes on Friday in the trial of William Gardiner, foreman carpenter and superintendent of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School , at Sibton. indicted for the murder of Rose Anne Harsent, a domestic servant at the village of Peasenhall on Sunday, June 1.

Frederick James Stevenson, Home Office Analyst, had stated that the prisoner’s knife had been recently sharpened and there was blood on the blade.

Frederick James Davis, a young shop assistant, of Peasenhall, the writer of the objectionable letters to deceased, was called. He said he slept with his brother on the night of the crime, and went to bed about 10 o’clock.

Mr. Wild (for the defence): Will you swear you aren’t the father of this girl’s child?

Witness: I am sure l am not?

Witness, further cross-examined, said he was now living in London. He gave Rose Harsent these letters fourteen month ago. He also lent her certain books, partly at her request. He simply regarded his relations with Rose Harsent as a sporting flirtation. He was thoroughly ashamed of himself and was sorry for the young woman. He had bad feet at that time, but he did not wear barred shoes.

STRONG WORDS FROM THE BENCH.

Mr. Wild: Deceased led you astray?

Witness: That is about the truth of it.

As Davis was about to leave the witness-box his Lordship said he hoped he was sorry for the abominable conduct he had been guilty of. It was a disgrace to humanity.

Mr. Guerin, handwriting expert, deposed to his examination of the letter making the midnight appointment and his comparison with letters from prisoner. Many of the letters corresponded. He conscientiously believed that all the handwriting was the same. In cross-examination, he admitted many of the letters were dissimilar. This closed the case for the prosecution, and the Court adjourned. The defence will be commenced this morning.