Monmouthshire Merlin

THE LLANGIBBY MURDERS. I TiilAL OF GARCIA. SENTENCE OF DEATH. On Wednesday morning, the Assizes for the fourcoun- ties, Monmouth, Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester, • were commenced at the Shire-ball, Gloucester, before Lord Justice Brain well. His lordship took his seat at ten o'clock, when the grand jury (of whom the Hon. R E. S. Pluukett, M. P., was the foreman) was sworn, After delivering his charge, the grand jury were dis- missed, and preparations were made to coramcace the trial of this case, which was remitted from the Mon- mouthshire Summer Assizes, on the ground that the public mind in the county was too excited to ensure the prisoner having a. fair trial. The court was crowded, and a good deal of excitement existed. Joseph Garci.-i, 21, a Spanish sailor, was charged with th.) wilful murder of William Watkins, at Llan- gibby, ou the 16th of July last. Mr Bosanquet and Mr Lawrence (instructed by Messrs E. B. and M. Edwards, of Poutypool) appeared for the prosecution Mr Gough and Mr Maddy (instructed by Mr T. H. Ensor, of Cardiff) appeared on the prisoner's behalf. When the case was called on the priaouer stood up, hanging his head, and appearing very moody and un- c' concerned. He was dressed in his sailor's clothes, aud demeaned himself as though he had little concern in the solemn trial. An interpreter, specially provided j by the Spanish Consul, was close to him, an 1 inter- preted what was necessary in the course of the hear- ing. Mr Bosanquet rose and stated the case for the pro- secution. He said May it please your lordship, gentlemen of the jury, you have heard that the pris oner at the bar stands indicted with the crime of murder-the murder of a man of the name of William Watkins, on the 16th July in this year. The evidence which yon will have to hear in this case will bring be- lore you not merely one single murder, but it will be an inquiry into the circumstances of the murder of a whole family. William Watkins, the cause of whose j death the prisoner is charged with, was a labouring man, living in a cottage close outside a village called Llangibby. The cottage stands on the side of the road between the towns of Csk and Newport, and there William Watkins lived, and bad a wife and three small children, who were the household at the time the murder charged was committed, viz., on the 16th July last. The family consisted of five persous-fattier, mother, and three children, the latter being between ten and live years of age on the 16th of July. I can- not tell you that William Watkina was actually seen alive any hour or minute shortly before the murder, but he was at work that day with a lad named James; and in the evening, about half-past 10, a light was 3een in the upper part of the house, the door being closed, and it is probable that at that time the chil- dren of the family were going to bed; and that is the last thing known of the family previous to the com- mission of the murder. The next moruing, as the boy James was going to his work, he called for Wil- liam Watkins, with whom he was accustomed to work, and when he came to the gate of the cottage he saw William Watkics lying dead in the garden. Instead of going in he went away to call someone. And with- out going into details I may state that this was the condition of things as they were found about the cot- tage early in the morning of Wednesday, the 17th July last. William Watkins lay dead, and had apparently been killed by a stab in the throat, on the short path- way leading from the gate to the cottage door. His wife was found also killed in a similar way, aod lying rather nearer the gate leading into the road. There. were some signs of a struggle inside the garden, and also upon the person of the wife there were some slight indications of her having resisted before the murder was effected. There were cuts upon the haud and the neck and face, whereas upon the person of William Watkins there was a deadly stab, which had penetrated his throat and almost instantly caused death. The cottage was then entered, and it was found tilled with smoke, A man named Day took some tiles off the roof and then found that in the upper room of the house three children had been killed. One of them, I believe, was the eldest girl at home, and 10 years of age. She was underneath the bed, and had been stabbed in the same way as the others, suggesting the idea that she was endeavouring to hide away from her assailant, and was there killed. The cottage was set on fire in two or three places. Marks of tire were seen down- stairs. A box of papers had been set on tire, and the fire was still burning or sinoulderiog in the bedroom. The bed on which the two younger children lay was actually on lire. The bodies of the three children were considerably charred, and it was pretty evident that it was the intention of the murderer to destroy the cottnge, and to destroy the effects of what had taken place inside. This terrible state of things vas discovered, and everybody was on the alert to ascer- tain every possible clue to the person who had com- mitted the crime, and to learn who had been seen in the place shortly before that night. It was then learnt that a Spanish sailor, named Garcia, who is the pri- soner now standing at the bar, was on that morning discharged from Usk County Gaol. The warder of the gaol offered to pay his tare to Newport, and gave him certain property belonging to him. after which he returned into the gaol. He came back, bringing some money to help the prisoner on his way to Newport, but the man had gone off. On the morning of the same day, Tuesday, the 16th of July, the prisoner was seen by the side of the road, near a stile, on the road lead- ing, from Usk to Newport, this stile at which he was seen being a distance of 80 or 100 yards from the murdered man's cottage. It was past the spot where the cottage stood. Therefore, if he was proceeding from Usk to Newport he had passed the cottage, and arriving at that stile he was seen there at 11 o'clock. He was also seen at the same spot about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He was then lying down, and appa- rently asleep. This, you will remember, was at a snot near Watkins's cottage, and in the direction nearest Ne-.port, as if he had passed tue spot. Later in the day, between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, lie called at a house in which Mrs Gwatkin lives, and asked for some water, and the road to New- port. This house where MrsGwatkiu lives is on the further side of the cottage in question from Newport. Then you have the prisoner leaving Usk that morning and coming to the village of Llangibby, and just out- side the cottage of Watkins, and on the road which leads to Caerleon. The house is nearer to Usk, where lie called between seven and eight o'clock in the even. ing, and he was at that time asking his rond to New- port. We have the prisoner, therefore, inquiring for the road which would take him by the same cottage near to which lie had been spending part of the day. From that point we lose sight of the prisoner for a period of 24 hours. Whereas he had been asking his way to Newport, which is a short cut of nine miles only. Every person was on the look-out for a person likely to have committed this crime. He was not seen in the town, and apparently not near Newport, j until midnight of W ednesday, the ljth. Just about 12 at midnight of Wednesday he was seen entering the town oi Newport, and carrying two bundles—one a blue bundle which, I believe, was his own guernsey or smock, and containing two or three articles of his own and another bundle, which will be material for you to remember. It was apparently a white bag, and contained a number of articles which are of great im- portance in this case. Speaking English, he said he wished to go to Cardiff, and was pointed out the way to the statu.n. He went there, and at the station, ■while apparently waiting for the train, he was arrested by a policeman named M'Grath. He had two bundles containing his own and other articles, and a loaf of bread, which was tied with a string. Now, although every person 11 In about that cottage who could have given evidence directly with regard to the commission of this crime was dead, "ther evidence is forthcoming which is most valuable as affording a clue to the perpetrator of this grave offence. Iu the house was a table with two drawers, which had apparently been ransacked, and a number oi things taken therefrom, also a clock which had been hanging in the house, had, apparently been broken to pieces, and part of it was gone. The weights remained, but the works were g^nie. When the prisoner's white bundle was searched it was found that the bag which formed the exterior, was a pillow- case marked with the name of L. Leigh. It Will be proved that it was the property of one of the family, and was in the cottage at the time. Two pairs of trousers and various other articles of cire.-s, a man's dress, and, ome articles of woman s dress, were fo^n 1, and the latter belonged to Mrs. Watkins, the wife of William W atkins, who was also killet, There were also found upon the prisoner the inside parts of a clock, and although it cannot be absolutely shown that these were the works of that particular clock, there is the fact that the works had disappeared, and that these works belonged to a similar clock to that which h::d been hung up in the deceased's house. This is so significant as to be almost enough to identify the article. The loaf of bread corresponded with a baking tin which was found in the house, and had some particular mark ou it. which will be shown to you bv the witnesses. You have, therefore, the prisoner with all these articles, at midnight, on the er 1 11 very day titer this murder wa3 committed. Some of the ar-'icies were of such a nature as it was not v» ry likely that a 3ailor would have, but which it w..ul be proved had been taken from the home of the mur- dered man. The prisoner was wearing two pairs ot trousers at the time that he was apprehended. At the time that he left the gaol on the moruing of Tues- day, he had on one pair of trousers, a Guernsey, a blue smock, ¡¡.nJ an old pair of Blucher boots, which the gaoler gave him just before he left. He also carried < a pair of canvass slippers. The gaoler also hauded to the prisoner some Spanish silver coins, awl some cop- per coins of an ordinary description. When he was arrested, three Spanish coins, together with some gold Spanish coins, of which the gaoler was not aware, were found upon him. It is fair to say that the kuife which was found upon him is supposed not to be the sort of knife with which the wound", upon the deceased could have been inflicted. When he was arrested, another pair of boots was found upon him, which it was suggested were the boots belonging to William Watkins". He had on two pair of trousers, aud his own were undernath, and the lower part was wet. Watkins". He had on two pair of trousers, and his own were undernath, and the lower part was wet. Over the wet trousers was one pair belonging to the deceased, William Watkins. The other pair belong- ing to him was in the prisoner's bundle. The prisoner was still wearing the shirt in which he had left the gaol. That shirt was perfectly clean when he left the gaol, for it is a practice wheu a prisoner is discharged, all his linen is returned to him washed and clean. Wheu arrested, stains, which were undoubted stains of blood, were found on the left shoulder and wrist- bands, and near the elbow, and the sleeves had been washed. They were analysed, and it was clearly proved they were stains of blood. Not only was he found with these stains of blood, but that same linen in the morning was clean, aod without stains upon it. You have then, gentlemen, these facts, as we believe the evidence will prove before you. This terrible murder was committed sometime during the night of July 16, exactly how or why it is impossible for us to say. But it is probable that something of this kind occurred that the mm who committed it came there in the evening, perhaps to beg in an importunate man- ner, (whether he stood at the gate, or the deceased came out and insisted upon his going off the premises, and that he then stabbed Watkins, we cannot say) that the wife, who was found lying by the gate, went out on hearing a scuffle and was killed on the spot that he then went into the house and found the chil- dren there and murdered them, as they would have been witnesses against him of the crime. As to the probable theory regarding the commission of this crime, it is not material whetheritiscorreet. It does not affect the material part of the case as to who com- mitted the crime. If the evidence amounts to what we believe it will, it will prove these facts—the com- mission of this terrible crime on the 16th that this man was about the place, not only during the day, but in the evening shortly before; that he then dis- appeared from the route be had previously taken that he was arrested at midnight on the 17th in pos- session 0; the-,irticles which had been taken from the house and that his clothes were stained with blood, which is proved to have been fresh. We do not account for the whole of his whereabouts during the day. He had one loaf of bread, and therefore he ha 1 victuals with him, which would prevent the necessity for calling at any house during the day. There were the remains of a supper in the deceased's house at the time this terrible occurrence took place, and it may be he took some victuals with him, on which he subsisted during the day without calling at any house. It will be for you to say; if they are proved, what is the in- ference you draw from them. THE EVIDENCE. The following witnesses were examined :— Mr James Bouiton, engineer aud surveyor, examined by Mr. Lawrence He said [ prepared the plans pro- duced. The distances are correctly marked. Mrs. Gwatkins's cottage is on the Usk side of Llangibby, and 1.630 yards from the deceased's cottage. By Mr. Gough The cottage of the- deceased was close by the side of the road. Ann James, examined by Mr. Lawrence T live at Llangibby. On the l&th of July, at 10p.m., I went to a farm, and passed deceased's cottage.. There was a light in the window and the door open.. About 40 minutes after I returned, and the door was then closed and a light upstairs. Frank James, a boy, examined by Mr. Bosanquet 1 worked with William Watkins iu July. I was at work with him on the loth of July. On the morning of the 17th I went to his cottage gate at 6-,30. J saw Mrs. Watkins lying dead by the gate in the garden. I went off to tell some one, and came back with my mother. Mr. John Morgan was then there. Cross-examined I saw William Watkins the second time when I came back. Mary James, mother of Frank, examined by Mr. Lawrence My son came to me on the morning of the 17th, and saw Wm. Watkins and his wife. Cross-examined I did not see any flowers by their side. By the Judge I did not see Watkins's face. The upper part of his body wa6 resting on a ftower bed. John Evans, labourer, examined by Mr. Bosaoquet On the 17th 1 passed the gate of Watkins'3 cottage, and saw his body. His face was covered with flowers, which had been plucked and placed over his face and breast. Cross-examined It is not the custom of that part to place flowers over the face of the dead. John Morgan, farmer, Llangibby, examined by Mr. Lawrence On the morning of the 17th of July t: went to the cottage and saw the bodies of Watkins and his wife. I opened the door and went into the cottage. T looked round the room, and then I went upstairs to find the children. The room was full of smoke. I tried to find the children, but I was obliged to go down to get my breath. Then I went for some water, and threw it where I saw the fire was. Then a man named Day came, and he ran to the furthest room and opeued a window. He also dashed a hole through the roof. We then found the children. Two were in bed, one with its face downward. The third child was partly under the bed. All the children were dead. Cross-examined There was not much blood about the lower room. 1 noticed the bodies of Watkins and his wife. There was blood where he lay, and on the door, and on the gate. I did not see marks of a struggle. I don't know if it is a custom in that part to cover the faces of dead people with flowers. Thomas Dav. innkeeper, at Llangibby About 8 a.m. on the 17th of July I went to the deceased's j ] cottage. I broke a hole in the roof and opened the window, and thereby let the smoke out. 1 saw the three children dead. The bed was on tire. which was smouldering. I removed the bodies to the floor. While I was there Povall came. 1 Sergeant Povall, stationed at Caerleon, examined by Mr. Lttwrence I went to the cottage about 9.30 a.m. on the 17th of July. I found Mrs. Watkins lying in the garden, near the gate. A little further on the body of William Watkins. The flowers were not then on his face. They had been pulled out of the bed. There was a great deal of blood where Mrs. Watkins lay, on the gate, and on the door. I saw foot-prints ou the road from the side opposite the coctage. In one print there was a trace of blood, as of the right foot. It was from Mrs. Watkins's body towards the road. On the ground floor I saw a number of things strewn about. In the corner of the room there had been a fire, and I saw the remains of charred linen. On the left hand side of the upstairs room there was the remains of a tire. A bed had been burnt. The three children were ail laid dead side by side. The tires up and downstairs were all separate. On the table downstairs I saw some fool, three razors, a knife and fork, some cold potatoes, the remains of a cup of tea, and an awl. I noticed two drawers, which had been ransacked. I found a baking tin, which I pro- duce. There is a deut on the side and bottom. There was a pan on the floor, and a kettle and a teanot on the table. On the floor was a frying-pan, in which was one little bit of bacon and some fat. There was a bit of fresh cut bacon on the floor. I found some case knives in the drawer, and a hedge stake. Also tae weights, chain, and pendulum of a clock in the midst of fragments of paper aud other things. (Weights produced). ° Cross-examined The clothes on the deceased were saturated with blood. I saw blood aud water in the house—a good deal under Watkins's body and by that of his wife. There were indications of a severe struggle by the gate. There are not many tramps in Monmouthshire. By the Judge The road is frequented by persons from Usk. It is an agricultural neighbourhood. The iire was out when I got there. The bed was burnt, except a small part of the middle. By Mr. Gough Newport is a large towD. At Usk the Quarter Sessions are held. By Mr. Bosanquet Usk is a town of about 3,000 people. By the Judge There was blood and hair on the stake when I found it. George Whiting, warder at Usk, examined bv Mr. Bosanquet The prisoner was discharged from Usk at 8 a.m. on July l(jth. I told him to wait outside, and 1 would pay his fare to Newport. 1 went back, and on coining out again he was gone. Prisoner had on a ,a.!r boots, a pair of trousers, guernsey, and a cotton shirt. He had a purse, and a number of foreign coins, in a handkerchief he had a pair of old canvas shoe*. I he shirt was quite clean when he left the »aol. The shirt produced is what he had on. The boots pro. duced are not the same as he had on. The stiioc-li, cap., and jacket produced are those he wore when he left. The purse is also the one he had. He had only one pair of trousers. Cross-examined Before the magistrates I had a I doubt about the shirt, but it was net opened out. Now is is opeued out, I have no doubt. 1 was foin" to p y his fare. Is Id. ° Reexamined The trousers produced are not those I he had on when he left the prison. Harriet Bowyer, examined by Mr. L wrmc Ire, side at Llanbaddock. On the morning or the JO h of 1 J iiy I passed a stile near Watkins's cottage, anLt saw the prisoner there. I returned about four p.m., and saw prisoner ui3ide the stile, lying down, lhe stue is 1 about two-and-a-half or three miles from Usk. He 1 seemed to be asleep. j Cross-examined A good many people paeg on that 1 road at all times. 1 Ann Gwatkiu, examined by Mr. Bosanquet: I am the wife of John Gwatkin, aod live at Llangibby. The prisoner came to my house between seven and eight in the evening of the 16th of July. I gave him some water. I showed him the road to Newport. It leads past the deceased's cottage. By the Judge: Watkins's cottage was between my houafandthestilespokenof. Police-constable John Tooze, of the Newport Bo- rough police, examined by Mr. Lawrence On the night of the 17th of July I was on the Marshes-road at live minutes to twelve. I saw the prisoner coming towards Newport. The prisoner did not answer the description I had of him. but 1 followed him. He had a bundle. I followed him to the station, and saw him near a drinking fountain. I afterwards saw Sergeant M'Grath apprehend the prisoner. By the Judge I had a description given me, and I thought the prisoner did not answer the description. He had on a different pair of trousers. Albert Yhnell, a painter at Newport, examined by Mr. Bosanquet I saw the prisoner on the Marshes- road on the night in question, and he made a motion about the train, and 1 showed him the way to the sta- tion, as I thought he wanted to go to Cardiff. John Jones, night foreman at the Great Western Station, Newport, examined by Mr. Lawrence The prisoner came to the station, and had a large bundle and a loaf of bread. The last witness knocked at the door and asked if I!would admit a sailor in who wanted to go to Cardiff. Prisoner asked me what time the train went to Cardiff, and I told him. He then asked me for a drink of water, and I showed him the foun- tain. Police-constable Tooze came up and asked him what countryman he was, and he said he was an Ita- lian. I allowed the prisoner to remain, and Sergeant M'Grath came and apprehended him. The bundles were by his side. Sergeant M'Grath, of the Monmouthshire Consta- ulary I examined the prisoner at a little after mid- night of the 17th of July. The prisoner had on the Doots produced, two pair of trousers—tweed and serge btweed waistcoat, jacket, and hard bowler hatr Also the shirt prodded. (All produced.) He had two bun- dles containing wearing apparel, blacklead pencil, kid ¡. gloves, shirt front, three silk neckties, blacklead brush, and a number of other articles, including the works of a clock. The wearing apparel included articles worn by a man and a. woman. There was also a piece- of calico. A blue slop, cap, and trousers were wet. "She outside pair of trousers which. the prisoner had' on were dry. Witn-ass produced the loaf of bread, and showed the marks, which corresponded with the dents on the baking tin. A pocket knife, pur3e containing several coins, and other things, were produced. The shirt bad several stains on it. Part of the shirt had been washed. I handed the things with stains on to Mr. Thomas, the analyst. Cross-examiued I did not ascertain the value of the coins. Mary Ann Watkins, examined by Mr. Lawrence:- I am the daughter of William Watkins. On the 15th- of July I left home to return to service. I left my father, mother, and two sisters and a brother at home- well.. I know the bag produced it is marked S. Leigh." It came from where I had, last lived. Mrs. Leigh's. T know the cloth jacket. was my mother s. The cot was my father's it was given him by the- Rev-Mr. Salisbury. The stockings produced belonged to a man for whom my mother washed. (She identi- tied nearly all the articles that were produced.) My father had a pair of black kid gloves. There was a clock in the house when I left on the 15th. There wa3 a bread-tin iu the house that is it. Charles Stocks, examined by Mr. Bosanquet I am a shoemaker at Usk. The boots produced were made by me for the deceased William Watkins. He had them from me in Sanuary last. Superintendent Mcintosh, examined by Mr. Law- rence I compared the loaf of bread and the tin, and. the marks corresponded exactly. Robert James Whitehall, watchmaker, Newport, examined by Mr. Bosanquet My attention haB been called to the weights- and parts of a clock produced- They are all parts of the same kind of. clock.; By the Judge There was a chain found in the cot- tage which corresponded with the wheel found on the prisoner. Mary Ann Watkins recalled by the Judge, said her father had such a pair of boots, but she could not speak to those produced. Mr. D. Boulton, surgeon, Usk, examined by Mr. Lawrence: I went to the cottage at 9.45 a.m. on the 17th. William Watkins's body was lying in the gar- den,. dead. He was dressed, except his boots. Hemorr- hage was the cause of death. There was a wound in the neck, 5J> inches-deep. I saw Airs. Watkins s oody. Her death was caused by a wound in the neck. Therg- was, also a wound on the shoulder- A finger was cut. I saw the three children upstairs. The eldest, a girl, aged 10, was wounded in the back, of the neck. She died from hemorrhage.. The boy died from wounds caused by stabs. The youngest was a girl, and she had been stabbed. I made a pout-mortem examination of William Watkins's body. The stomach contained undigested food—bacon, beans. &c. He had evidently had a meal just before he met his death. The feet of two of the children were dislocated by the action of the tire. I examined the prisoner on the 18th. I found several scratches across his face, as from thorns by going through a fence Also, marks on the left hand, about one inch in length. They were not cuts through the skin. In the cottage I noticed a child's i dress, with stains of blood upon it, as though a person had wiped his hands. I saw the prisoner's shirt and calico produced they had blood stains on them. Part of the shirt had the appearance of having been wetted. The wounds could not have been self-inflicted, Cross-examined I should say the scratches had not bled. 1 said I thought the wounds had been, made with a sharper instrument than the knife found on the prisoner. it is not long enough !to have produced a wound five inches deep. By the Judge: There was a bruise on Watkins s 'orehead, which might have causod insensibility. The warder was recalled by the Judge, and he said bhe prisoner had no marks on his face or hands when he left the prison. He had no knife when he left. Catherine Watkins, a daughter of the deceased, living at Glanusk, identified a number of articles which belonged to her father and mother. A pair of stockings produced were her own. They were at home at the time of the murder. Mr. Thomas, analyst, examined by Mr. Bosanquet: A number of articles nroduced were handed to me. Amongst others a shirt and piece of calico. They were stained in different parts with I)-lood-the shirt about the sleeves and wrists. I examined the stains, aud believe them to be blood. This closed the case for the prosecution, and the Court adjourned for luncheon. On the re-assembling of the Court, as there was to be no evidence for the defence, Mr Bosanquet summed up the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Goagh then made a speech for the defence. He said May it please your lordship, gentlemen of the jury, 1 am sure you will agree with me that when we received, through the public press, information of a frightful offence committed, such as that which forms the subject matter for inquiry to-day, there is not a human being who did not wish for the full vengeuce of guilt upon the person who committed that offence. So strong was public feeling, so strong was the sympathy shown by the public for the unhappy persons who were murdered, that when this man was charged, the case was sent for a full and complete inquiry by a jury removed as far as possible from the scene of the murder. I appear on behalf of the prisoner to-day—thanks to the Spanish consul and some other persons-not for one moment to extenuate or offer an excuse for the most diabolical offence but 1 am here to ask you to give the fullest consideration to the few observations which I am about to make on his behalf. There are a number of circumstances which tell most heavily against the unfortunate prisoner at the bar. You will feel it to be his right that if guilt should not be brought home conclusively to him it is for you to say that the prosecution have failed in their endeavour to prove that he is the person upon whom the guilt lies. When crimes are committed you look for one thing, that is motive. If a man murders another why does he do so? Usually one of two things is supposed to have led to the commission of such an offence—first, it is committed either from passion or from anger and, secondly for the sake of gain. Let us deal with the circumstances of the case, and consider whether the prisoner could have been actuated by either of these motives. True, he had been confined in the gaol at Usk for some offence true, he had left Usk, and would have *o pass the house were Watkius lived. Had he any reason for murdering Watkins ? Would he have heat or anger which would have led him to kill Watkins and then his wife ? There is not the slightest proof that he had any spite against them and with regard to the three poor children, there is not the slightest proof i hat hu had any illfeeling with regard to them. Is it that because he was seen on the spot, and was wear- ing some of the articles belonging to the murdered i fam ly, he must have been the man who committed tins fearful atrocity ? Had he any other motive ? Was he in want ? Hodocsnotnppcar to have been in want. At tht! time he was discharged the money which belonged to him was given to hime, and when he was arrested at Newport, certain coins, both English and Spanish, were found upon him. 1 must ask you to look at these coins, and you will see that ;bey placed him in a position above want. I think ;hey found three pieces of gold, a number of pieces of silver, and some copper upon him. The gold appears ;o have escaped the notice @f the authorities in gaol ;hey were snanish pieces, and he managed to conceal them from the officials of the gaol but they were found in his possession when he was apprehended. Does it seem likely that he should break into a house and murder tive people, for the purpose of stealing those miserable articles which are produced to-day? Bear in mind that a number of people travel upon this road between Usk and Newport—people on business, driving or walking, tramps, and many others. What is more reasonable than that the prisoner, when he was observed tobeou the ro id, should be lying down to bask in the freedom which he have been deprived of so long. Undoubtedly he was there—1 don't deny it and one of the strong reasons is that he was seen by everybody there was no concealment by him, he goes to a house and gets a drink of water and is seen persons passing by. There is no concealment what- ever. Do you think that a man oommitting a murder would be seen there, close by the place ? Duo. t you think the intended murderer would hide and do every- thing to keep away from observation ? Hut you have this fact that he went to Mrs Gwatkin's and asked for a drink of water. He bad every opportunity of robbing there, and of using violence if he had wished but there was nothing of the kind. He appears to have acted civilly and soown no violence, and as to I haymakers in the adjoining field, if he were a; deter- mined' assassin, he could have very soon have killed her before they could have heard her screams. And yet the prosecution would have you believe that he has gone to this house of William Watkins aud murdered five persons. Then, it is said, if he did not commit this offence why was he found in possession of these articles, and wearing certain clothes belong- ing to; the deceased family ? I put it to you iu this- way. No statement was made before the magistrates. He is a foreigner ignorant of English customs and English courts of justice. Mr Eusor w&3 present at the time, but no defonce was set up by him it was reserved. The defence I set up to-day-he-is not allowed to make a statement to you -is this, that some person Ilom- mitted that crime the prisoner was close to the spot, that be, just as the boy did in the morning of the following day, went to the gate, and there saw these murdered people. The murderer heard steps approach- ing, and put do>vn the articles which he had got ready for the purple of removing, when the prisoner m>adiy, foolishly, and greedily seized thesa things, and put on a portion of these articles. It may be that in the ex- citement of the moment he lifted the body of William Watkins, and thereby got some stains of blood on his slothes, and being afraid lest he should get into trouble, tried to remove-these stains of blood, and consequently placed himself in the frightful position he now occu- pies. Do you believe that if he had committed the murder and stolen these things he would for one instant have walked along to the railway station at Newport, that he might be found red-handed with these things in his possession ? Do you think that he put oa THe clothes of the murdered man and walked along the road close to the house ? Do you think it is reasonable or likely he would do anything of 11be.kinll? Do you believe that from motives of anger or greed he was led to commit this murder? The circumstsnces^ I know, are very difficult to deal with- I don't ask you to arrive at a conclusion from any feeling you may have against capital punishment; but is there not a doubt? No one saw this done. It was done at an hour no one can tell. Nor can I. The case depends upon circumstantial evidence. The prisoner was. I walking openly, with the clothes and the effects of the deceased family,, and he walked straight into the hands of the police. Is it likely he would, have done so had he been guilty of the offence with which he is charged? Then there is another point. With regard to the knife, Mr. Boulton says, "I don't think the knife found upon the prisoner was sufficiently sharp to cause the injuries inflicted upon Watkins and his family." The only knife found upon the prisoner would have been covered with blood, or some signs of blood, if he had been the person who committed the act. My friend Mr. Bosanquet says, "Where were the boots ?" He had the murdered man's boots on. The Blucher boots were not to be found. When a man gets a better pair he does not care about the old ones, and throws them on one side. Had the prisoner committed the offence, don't you think he would have been deluged with blood, and that almost every part. would have been. wet through? Do you think he could have committed a murder of this kind without showing signs all over his person ? It i3 said there was blood on-the sleeves and other parts. That might have come from hii.ving I aised the dead body, or where the struggle took place. A. strong man and his wife lying murdered, there should be signs of a severe struggle. The only signs are some scratches by his creeping through a hedge. Do you suppose his clothes would not have shown signs greater thau these ? A strong mau and a strong woman would betighting for their lives. It does seem to me very strange indeed that there were not many marks upon him, and such marks as would show he must have engaged in a frightful encounter. Certain articles were found upon him. and there must have been a great many articles in the place that have not been found. His Lordship Is that so ? Mr. Gough Mr. Bosauquet said portions a clock were not found. His ijordahip iNo doubt the whole of the clock ex- cept the weights. Mr. Gough A considerable portion of the clock had been removed. Supposing my theory be correct, here is a. man to whom suspicion attaches because he is a discharged prisoner,carrying effects,and wearing clothes ] of the murdered man, but there is an entire absence of motive. You have him in possession of money, coming straight to the police, and almost courting j observation. And you are asked to. say upon mere suspicion—strong I admit it to be—that he is guilty of the offence with which he is charged. What did he commit this offence for? Nothiug is shown in his possession with which he could have committed this offence. How could he have committed this offeuce? Do bear all these circumstances in mind. Prejudice is strong, feeling is strong. Still there are some facts which speak most strongly. Have you any reasonable doubt? He is entitled to the benefit of that doubt. It is for you to 3ay he is not guilty, however strong the suspicion. I leave him then in your hands, not for one moment to refrain from performing your duty, but that you may weigh the evidence very carefully. My task is over. Your goodness will supply any point I may have omitted. I leave this case in your hands. THE SUMMING UP. The learned Judge then proceeded to sum up. He said Gentlemeu of the juiy, the prisoner is indicted for the murder of the father of this family- The present charge does not include the wife and children. You not only may, but must, look at the circumstances attending their deaths as part of a narrative aut* general circumstances attending the case. There can be no doubt—and the learned counsel need not apolo- gise for the way he has done it—he has not euied that these people were murdered. It canno >e de- nied. The medical gentleman who has oeen called before you, Mr. Bouiton, says it is impossible that the wounds of any of the victims were inflicted by themselves. The stab in the neck was an impossible oue by Watkins himself. In addition to it, the blow on the forehead would have disioled him and made him senseless. I don't see, therefore, that_ you can doubt but that this man was murdered. It you are satisfied of that, are you satisned the prisoner 'is the man who committed, the murder. It is, as the learned counsel has said, for the prosecution to make out the prisoner's guilt If that is left in doubt, you are bound to give him tne beneht of that doubt, aud say he is not guilty. But if it ig pufe beyond all doubt—if as reasonaole men you canuofc hesitate to say he did the deed, you must find him guilty. You are not to consider the consequences. Did the prisoner commit the murder ? it is the law which attaches the consequences. If any juryman finds a verdict which his conscience told h.m was ri"ht because he didn t approve of capital punishment, he wouid commit an offence against sense and aglinst the oath he has taken to find a verdict according to the evidence. Mr. Gough says no one saw the prisoner do it. Yon must bear in mind that although no one saw e deed done, the evidence may be as a rong as lough the eyes of a most intelligent person were fixed upon hiia. We are constantly dealing with circumstantial evidence, which is quite as trust- wottby as the evidence of one's own senses..Now, gentlemen, let us see what evidence there Th ia l raau was murdered. fV. °n (lU(istion is, whether the prisoner 13 i. man- Now, gentlemen, the man was not only murdered, but the property in the cottage was taken away. There can be no doubt about it. It would be idle to suggest a doubt about it. It is not the duty of a judge to suggest doubts where there are none. There is no doubt but the murderer was the thief. It is a rule of good sense, and one upon which juries always act, that when you rind a man in possession of stolen property shortly after the theft has been committed, he is looked upon as the thief. Is it not reasonable it should be so f It may be that when the man murdered these people he packed up those things to be taken away, and that the prisoner suddenly came there, saw the bundle ready, and in so doing got some blood on him. Is it a likely story? Is it in the nature of things a possible one That one murdered this family and prepared to plunder them, and another came by, and instead of doing what any right-miniled man would do, giving an alarm to bring the murderer to justice, avails himself of the oppor- tunity to take away tha things. I am bound to teU You that that is a suggestion made by thieves them- selves when they are charged with an olfence-I am not the man who committed the plunder, I am not the thief. First of all it is certain that this prisoner was in possession of the property stolen. You ought to satisfy your minds that it was so. It seems to me there can be very little difficulty in dealing with the question that this man was in possession of the stolen property. If only one or two articles were found upon him, it might be said there was a mistake but when you come to find a number of articles, every oue of which the father did possess, why, it is the most cogent proof. There is the bag, recognised by the elder girl as having belonged to her previous mistress. There are the boots, identified by the man who made them. He says, [ cannot show there are particular marks, but I know my own make," No doubt the prisoner left the gaol, and had a pair of boots on, but no such boots are found in the place. Then there are the girls' stockiugs and the clock. It is a clock which would have such works as these—such weights as these. There are the tin and the loaf, which corres- pond. In all probability you will think that the evidence of those who saw them at the time when the loaf was new, is worth more than to your eyesight after the loaf has shrunk. Now that all these things were found in the possession of the prisoner, can there he any reasonable doubt that the property stolen from the house was taken on the night that Watkins was murdered ? If then the prisoner is the thief is he not the murderer ? That is the question- you must put to yourselves. To suppose a possibility of being one and not the other is what you will have to con- sider. In all human possibility in your desire to do justice to a fellow-creature you may entertain a doubt. It is entirely for you. 1 think for my own part, after considerable experience, that gentlemen like you will see in almost all cases there are broad general features which it is much better to call the attention of a jury to than to go into detail. Was the man murdered? If so was he not murdered by the prisoner ? Is the prisoner not the thief ? Has he got possession of the property, and not given an explanation of the way in which he same into possession of them ? In the first place, he is seen to be in the immediate neighbourhood at seven or eight o'clock at night. The murder must have been committed about 10 o'clock. The evidence of Mr. Bouiton is that the people had been killed some time. Their bodies were quite cold. It seems to me remarkable that the charred bodies of the children showed the-fire must have Lasted a considerable time. Everything was burnt except the flock bed. It is very remarkable the prisoner was not seen nor heard of till mid-night of the next day.. It is not therefore as though he had walked honestly and fearlessly on the highway to Newport. What became of him mean- while ? We-don't know. You may draw your own conclusion. If he had been seen he might have said "I made no concealment of myself." It is not uujust to suppose that he concealed himself all day on the 17<th. Why did ha do it? Then there is another thing. Blood is found upon his shirt partly washed off. There was none there when he left the gaol. How did that get there ? M innocently, why any attempt to wash it off? Mr. G-ough says he may have seen the bodies lying there, dishonestly stolen the property, and in lifting up the bodies, or in moving by them, got the blood. Is that a very likely story ? It is an argu- ment rather ioconsisteut with another argument. Mr. Gough says, what was his motive ? A man with. all this money would not commit a murder for the sake of the property. Nobody very well knows what motive a man could have who committed this murder, but somebody committed it,, and somebody hud a motive which* induced him to kill these helpless children. It may be that this man applied for a night's lodging, with no intention to murder or rob; that he got a rough answer, if not a refusal, that he attacked the man, and the wife rushed out and got slain. Then it occurred to the murderer that he might have some plunder, and then the children were murdered too. It is said he did not act as if he in- tended to commit murder. very possibly he did not. Mr. Gough says if he had intended to commit murder he would have concealed himself; that is rather a dangerous argument when. he was not seen. the next day. It is vain to speculate upon men's motives. It is inconceivable that there could be an adequate motive in any man's mind for com- mitting this murder, but they were murdered, and if we never found anyone guilty because of inadequate motives, why then many crimes would go unpunished. It may seem to you that what I am saying has a very one sided character about it. If a thing has not got two sides it is not the fault of the judge or the jury. It would be perfectly idle and un- just, and would put an unfair task upon the jury if the judge were to affect a, doubt on matters where no doubt exists. You are the judges of fact in this case. Did this man-murder William Watkins? If you arc satisfied, although no one saw him do it, you ought, you must, pronounce it. That which goes most against i him is this. The cottage was robbed, and the stolen property was found upon the prisoner, and he can give no good account of it. If you are satisfied that the man is the thief and the murderer is the same person, then you must say he is guilty. Now it rest with you to give your independent opinion with regard to the case of this man. If you are satisfied, you must say he is guilty.. This is » matter of very great import- ance to society at large. L- iiie jury men consulted tor two or three minutes* without leaving their box, and after a pause, during, which there was a great hush in Court,. The Foreman said We say he is guilty. Clerk of Arraigns (addressing the prisoner) Joseph Garcia, you stand convicted of wilful aaurder. Wnau have you to say that j udgment to die according to law 3hould not be pronouueed ? The interpreter repeated those wosds, and the^ pri- soner made a reply which was interpreted thus He says he doesn't know anything of it. The learned Judge then assumed the black cap, and Baid Prisoner at the bar, the jury have found you fuilty of murder. My duty is to pass upon you the sentence of the law to that sentence I Dever add words of my own—a determination I have come to after many years' experience. You must draw no conclusions from my silence. The learned Judge then pronounced sentence of execution in the form, omitting the customary words U May the Lord have mercy upon your soul." The sentence was interpreted to the prisoner, who received it in an apparently unmoved condition of mind, and was immediately taken below, passing away from the dock in the same stolid manner that he had exhibited from the day he was apprehended until the time ot his conviction. The crowded Court was then very speedily relieved of a large number of spectators.