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Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

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. MEDICAL.

----LEGAL,

GENERAL.

---THE SOUTHEND liiUUDER.

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THE SOUTHEND liiUUDER. FURTHER MAGISTERIAL PRO- CEEDINGS. EXCITING- SCENE IN COURT. James Canlia-m Read, until lately a clerk emplojea at the Royal Albert Docks, who is charged with the murder of Florence Dennis, aged 23, at Frittlewell, near Southend, on June 24, was again brought before the magistrates at Southend Borough Sessions on Monday. There was no sign of diminished interest in the case. Once more the precincts of the court were besieged with people anxious to be pre- sent at the inquiry, and though when the pro- ceedings commenced and the gates were thrown open the portion of the justice-room allotted to the public was already crowded, there was a perfect stampede across the court-yard which separates the police-station from the court. READ IN THE DOCK. The prisoner, who was permitted to be seated in the dock, looked somewhat paler a.nd more anxious than when last before the bench. He was attired in a flannel shirt and the suit of light clothing which, it is said, he purchased while in hiding. A man of medium sta,ture, squarely built, Read, though 39 years of age, has the appearance of a much younger man. His fair hair, closely cropped at the back, clusters in short wavy curls over a well- formed forehead, and his tinely-cut nose, blue eyes, carefully trimmed moustache, and fresh complexion complete an intellectual and. withal, pleasing, type of countenance. Mr: Lamb, solicitor, again prosecuted, on behalf of the Treasury, and Mr. Warburion appeared for the defence. COUNSEL, TAKES OBJECTION. Before further witnesses were called, Mr. Warburton said he wished at once to object to certain evidence that the prosecution intended to produce. The Treasury had served on the prisoner a notice to produce certain evidence, the first being a letter alleged to have been written to prisoner by Florence Dennis about the second week in May. So far as he was instructed the prisoner had not got that letter, and knew nothing of it. What the prosecution sought to do was to allege that such a latter was written and say what the contents of that letter was. Such evidence, he submitted, was inadmis- sible, and he should object to it. Another letter, alleged to be writen by the deceased girl to another, was also asked for. In Para- graph 8 of the notice prisoner was asked to produce the whole of his correspondence from the 15th of November, 1892, to the date of the murder, in order that the prose- cution could find something in it which would make the case against him a lit-le stronger. That, he thought, was most unfair. In Paragraph 9 prisoner was asked to produce a pin revolver, which he took from his brother in December, 1892, and the cart- ridr.;<?" contained in it. This was the first time he (Mr. Warburton) had known a man who was said to be a murderer calmly requested to produce the weapon with which he com- mitted the crime. There were other points, also, on which he should resist the admission of evidence as strongly as he could. The Bench agreed to decide the points as they arose. THE VICTIM'S LAST MOMENTS. Mr. Dowthwaite, umbrella manufacturer, of Pritt-Iewell, who gave evidence last week as to seeing prisoner and the deceased in Prittie- well on the day of the murder, and afterwards identified Read at the police-station, was further examined by Mr. Warburfcon with re- gard to an interview he had with a reporter before the inquest was held.. He denied that he told the reporter that he heard prisoner try- ing to persuade the girl to go across the fields. He told the reporter he did not hear a word that was said by the prisoner. Plans of the spot where the body was found having been prOQucen" WHAT A LABOURER BAW. Richard Golding, a labourer, of Southend, was called. He said lie was in the Golden Lion public-house at Prittlewell on the night of Sunday, June 24, and on leaving, at ten o'clock, he met his wife and daughter. While passing near Gainsborough-avenue, which leads to the spot where the murder was committed, he saw a man come out of the hedge on the Prittlewell side of the road and go at a quick pace in the direction of Leigh. Witness was going in the same direction. A fortnight ago he went to the Southend Police-station ¡;nd picked out the prisoner from among a number of men as the man he had seen on the night of the murder. Cross-examined, witness said he had not been drinking much at the Golden Lion. The night was not very dark, but there were no lights in the road. He had not spoken to Mr. Dowth- waite about this case. The man he saw was dressed in a dark coat and waistcoat, dark hat, and light trousers. He had no overcoat. He was never nearer than fifteen yards to witness, POLICEMAN'S STATEMENT. Police-con stable Daniel said on the morning of Monday, June 25, while on duty in Beufleet, he saw the prisoner walking- along the road coming from the direction of Southend. He asked witness the way to Banfieet. Witness replied, "Tou are in B-sn fleet now who do you want?" Prisoner said, "I want no one here; I want the road to London." Prisoner also said he had come from Southend. Witness told him he bad come a mile or two out of his road by coming to Benfleet, and then directed him on the way to London. It was about a quarter past one in the morning, but there was moonlight and he saw the prisoner's face quite plainly. He afterwards identified him at the police-station. He was yveariijg a dark coat and a dark trousers a.nd was carrying an ordinary walking stick. Cross-examined Before he had identified prÜ;oner witness heard that he had bean arrested in a light suit and had heard the kind of man he was. j MISS KEMPTON IN THE BOX. Miss Kempton was then called, and a buzz of ¡ expectation at once filled the court. Miss Kempt on, who looked very pale and ill, had to be assisted to the witness-box by Sergeant Morden, and when a chair was placed for her she I san1;: into it and, burying her face in her hand- kerchief, cried bitterly. Several women at the back of the court stood up to g-et a better view of the witness, and thus drew upon them- selves the anger of Mr. Lamb, who exclaimed, I "Do sit down, please. Common decency sug- gests that, surely." Meanwhile so greatly dis- tressed had Miss Kempton become that she was conducted, along the bench behind the mag-is trates to a private room, where she was attended I by her friend Mrs. Martin. OTHER EVIDENCE. Mr. Charles Fryer said he wa,s the principal I clerk in the general office at the Royal Albert Docks. Prisoner was a pay clerk in the docks. On Saturday, June the 23rd, Read left the office at one o'clock in the afternoon, and on the following Monday morning he arrived at the office at a quarter-past ten, having called on a fellow clerk who was ill. Cross-examined, witness said the prisoner was generally liked and was regarded as a quiet, peaceable fellow. L James M¡¡,honey, tailor, of Commerciahroad, London, said he was with tho prisoner in the Railway Tavern at about six o'clock on the evening before the murder. Prisoner went away saying he had his wife waiting for him. The Stepney Station on the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway was close to the Rail- way Tavern. Cross-examined Prisoner's home was in that neighbourhood, and Stepney would be the station he would go to in travelling to and from the Albert Docks. Mr. Warburton caused considerable amuse- ment by the manner in which he cross-examined the accurate gentleman," as he called the witness, and the prisoner joined heartily in the witness, and the prisoner joined heartily in the laughter that was thus evoked. A SCENE IN COURT: Miss Kempton, still looking extremely ill, but On t, much more composed, then returned into court, and was again conducted to a seat in the wit- ness-box, accompanied by Alrs. Martin. While the evidence of the previous witness was being- read over Miss Kempton again burst into tears. Mr. Lknib It is too bad of the prisoner to look at this poor woman and upset her like that. (To Miss Kempton): You had better turn your face away. Mr. Warburton disclaimed any desire on the part of the prisoner to upset the witness. Miss Kempton having changed her position so that her baok was turned to the witness, Mr. Lamb stood by the witness-box and proceeded to examine her. Mr. Warburton asked that Mr. Lamb should examine the witness from his proper place. Mr. Lamb If he does not look at her I shall be satisfied, Mr. Warburton It is ridiculous to say that when a witness comes into court the other party should not look at her. A Magistrate We want her to give her evi- dence, and she won't give it properly if he stares at her. Mr. Lamb If he won't do that I will go back. Mr, Warburton The prisoner will not stare at her. The prisoner then changed his position, so that he should not face the witness. MISS KEMPTON'S STORY. Witness then said her name was Beatrice Dina. Kempton. She first met the prisoner at G-loucester-road Railway Station in October, 1892. He said his name was Edgar Benson that he lived at 16, North-road, Poplar, and that he was a commercial traveller. In 1893 he met her twice, and on one occasion brought a gentleman with him, who he said was his friend, Harry Edwards. Witness had since learnt that this gentleman was the witness's brother, Harry Read. From December, 1893, to Feb- ruary, 1894, witness lived with the prisoner at Hallingsbury, where a child was born. They afterwards went to Upper Mitcham. Whilst at Hallingsbury witness saw a revolver in the prisoner's possession. Mr. Lamb And whilst at Hallingsbury did you sell some Red Sea Annuities r-Ye, What became of the money? Did the prisoner have it ?—I asked him to take care of it. Mr. Warburton objected to this evidence, and said it had nothing to do with the charge. He did not intend to cross-examine the witness at any length. Mr. Lamb You ought not to keep the poor girl in the witness-box with such questions. Mr. Lamb submitted that the terms in which prisoner had been living with this girl formed the strongest possible motive for his getting the other girl out of the way. The Bench decided that the evidence was in- admissible. Witness in further examination said while they were at Mitcham prisoner was only away from home on two or three Sundays, including June 24. On these occasions he told her he had been to Canterbury. When he came home on Monday the 25th "of June, he was wearing the brown bat, dark coat and vest, and light trousers produced. On Tuesday, the 26th, he took witness to Croydon, and bought a light suit of clothes, which he wore until the time of his arrest. Mr. Lamb then proposed to put in a certain document and some letters written by the prisoner to witness, but the Bench decided that these were inadmissible. Cross-examined by Mr. Warburton, witness said that during the time prisoner visited her at Mitcham he was always very gentle and kind, and they were very much attached to each other. Was he generous and kind in money matters ? --Yes. As a matter of fact, you were not very happy at home before you left with him ? The witness did not answer, and Mr. War- burton said be would not press that point. FURTHER ADJOURNMENT. The procesnings were then adjourned until Tuesday next and prisoner was ordered to be sent to Chelmsford Gaol.

THE HIRE SYSTEM.

:IT AWED HIM.

A BERLIN TRAGEDY.

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APPEASING THE SPIRITS. !

INGENIOUS LOCAL INVEN. TIONI.

J1,.1l! 1- v- ..... ---,t…

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