Diss Family History Group

Who did kill Rose Harsent?

The tragic event, happening over 120 years ago, will probably always remain an unsolved murder case. The evidence, although mainly circumstantial, could point towards William Gardiner being the perpetrator. In a modern-day courtroom, without using state of the art forensics, surely the case would never have come to court.

There appeared to be others who could be regarded as suspects. Rose possibly had a colourful side to her moral character and maybe had others who would wish her harm, either calculated or in passion, and, who was the father of her unborn child? Did the police ever seriously look at others as possible suspects?

One thing is certain, from looking at all the newspaper articles from all around the country, this case had engendered wide-ranging interest. Would this have been given nationwide news coverage if it happened today?

The uniqueness of this case also gave it a high profile in the realms of the law and the lawyers involved were later elevated to higher things, ending up as two of the most important judges in the High Court in London.

So, who did kill Rose Harsent? – This is a question we will almost definitely never know the definitive answer to. It has been a thoroughly enthralling but tragic tale, a relic from our wonderful but disturbing past.