DFHG Peasenhall Murder

Peasenhall sign
A Very Edwardian Murder
Sir Ernest Wild, William Gardiner’s defence counsel

Ernest Wild [18] was born on 1st January 1869 in Norwich and attended the Norwich School, going on to Jesus College, Oxford, qualifying as a barrister in 1893, becoming a King’s Counsel in 1912. He was a member of Parliament for West Ham (1918-1922) and was knighted “for public services” in the June 1918 King’s Birthday Honours. He died on 13th September, 1934, at the age of 65.

Defence counsel for Gardiner at both trials was Ernest Wild. Perhaps this case of the murder of Rose Harsent enhanced Ernest Wild’s reputation and led him to the high level within the Courts that he achieved. It appears that these trials were of such high profile and importance that they were noted as one of his finest achievements and was referred to in an article following his death.

Sir Ernest Wild. c.1920

The Western Daily Press, 14th September 1934

SIR ERNEST WILD DEAD.

Famous Murder Trial Recalled.

Sir Ernest Wild, Recorder of London, who died, yesterday, at his home in Kensington, first achieved fame at the Bar by his forensic eloquence and skill in the Peasenhall murder trial, nearly 32 years ago.

A man named William Gardiner, foreman to a firm of carpenters in that Suffolk village, and a prominent member of the local chapel, twice stood his trial at Ipswich Assize for the murder of a pretty young serving-maid named Rose Harsent.

Rose was expecting to become a mother. During a violent thunderstorm the cottage of an old couple by whom she was employed caught fire and was partly destroyed. Rose was found dead in the cottage with throat, cut and with wounds in her head.

Some of the villagers held the view that her murderer set fire to the cottage to hide his crime; others that lightning was responsible.

Gardiner, a married man with a family, was defended by a young barrister little known outside his native town of Norwich. He was Mr (afterwards Sir) Ernest Wild, and was pitted against an older and more experienced “learned friend," Sir Henry (then Mr) H. F. Dickens, who conducted the prosecution.

At the first trial, before Mr Justice Grantham, the jury disagreed. Two months later, Gardiner stood his second trial. Before Mr Justice Lawrence, when again the jury disagreed.

Gardiner was spared a third trial by the Crown entering, “Nolle prosequi," [19] and he was acquitted.

Later the leading counsel in the case were brother judges at the Old Bailey. One, Sir Ernest Wild, as Recorder, and the other, Sir Henry Dickens, who died a few months ago, as Common Serjeant. [20]

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[18] More information : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Wild_(politician)
[19] Nolle prosequi : directly translates to “not to wish to prosecute - a legal notice or entry of record that the prosecutor or plaintiff has decided to abandon the prosecution or lawsuit
[20] The Common Serjeant of London is the second most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court after the Recorder of London, acting as deputy to that office, and sitting as a judge in the trial of criminal offences.

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