the way. Measures, a constable, was sent for, and took Cook into custody. Measures shortly after went away, leaving Cook in charge of witness. He returned in about half an hour, and he and Cook, Carnell, and witness, went to the house of Cook's father. The father was not at home, but they saw the mother and sister, who said he was gone down to his son's shop, having heard a report of its being on fire. The father and another of his sons, named Job, came up shortly after, and Measures explained to them what had taken place, and asked if they would be responsible for James Cook's appearance in the morning. They said they would, and James Cook was set at large. They then separated, and witness went home. On the following morning witness again saw the flesh, but neither he, nor several other persons who found it, could tell what it was. By one of the Aldermen.-The next day he went to Alderman Rawson's, and by that gentleman's directions the flesh was examined by Messrs. Denton, Macauley, and Stallard, and its kind ascertained. An inquiry was then made for Cook, but he could not be found, and, on going to his father, he was told by him that he had gone away in the night, he did not know where. On searching Cook's shop, a large hammer, a hatchet, and a saw were found. Witness had been acquainted with Cook about six weeks, and knew him to be in respectable business. About 8 o'clock on the night of the alarm, witness was in Nokes's yard, playing at bowls, when Cook came in and joined the party. He observed nothing particular in his manner.

Mr. John Nokes, of the Flying Horse, a licensed dealer under the VOL. LXXIV.

new act, deposed, that, about ten o'clock, or a few minutes after ten o'clock, he went to open his door, to let out Carnell, Timson, and Sampson, when he saw, through the window of Cook's shop, a great blaze, such as made him believe that the room was on fire. He gave an alarm, and the door was burst open by Timson. On his going up stairs, he found the fire out, and the piece of flesh lying on the floor. The bricks all around the fireplace were red hot. There were several sheets of pasteboard placed over the window. The party returned to his house, and he sent for Cook, who shortly after came, and, in answer to a question, said, he had bought the flesh, which was that of a horse, for a dog he expected from the country, but the dog not coming, he made a fire to burn the flesh. Witness told him he was very near setting the premises on fire, to which he replied, "Well, there is nothing the matter; the fire is out, so let's lock the door, and go." Witness said, he was not satisfied, and sent for Measures, who came, and took Cook into custody. Previously to this, and about six o'clock the same evening, he saw Cook looking over the wall into the bowlingground. He offered Cook a glass of ale, which he at first declined, saying, he was unwell, but afterwards drank it. Shortly after he came into the bowling-green, and played there till about nine o'clock, when he went into witness's house, and sat down on a bench close by witness, and took out a long brown silk purse, with two slides, and took a sovereign out of it, and asked for change. Witness put his finger on it, when he said, "Stop, I think I can find half a sovereign." He took out the purse, T

and putting his finger up one end, appeared to be turning over a large quantity of coin, and at last brought out half a sovereign, for which witness gave him change, and he shortly after left. On taking the purse out, Cook let the end containing the money fall on the table, and it gave a sound like the fall of a heavy weight of metal. The pasteboards inside Cook's shop were fastened, some of them by strings from the top of the window, and others placed upright from the sill so as to meet these. They appeared to be intended to prevent the light of the fire being seen with

out.

Charles Wilkinson, aged 14, examined. He lives with his mother in King-street, but during the day worked for Cook. He was on "liking" as an apprentice, and had been so three quarters of a year. Witness went to the shop on the Wednesday morning about seven o'clock. Cook was not then there, but witness found the key left as usual in a spout, and let himself in. Cook came about eight o'clock, and witness then went to his breakfast, and returned about nine, and continued working with his master till near ten o'clock, when a gentleman came up the stairs into the shop, and, addressing Cook, said, "Good morning, Mr. Cook." Cook replied, "Good morning, sir." The gentleman took out a pocket-book, and asked where Mrs. Johnson lived. Cook replied, "in Albion street," and immediately after turned round to witness, and said, "Joey, you may go home till I fetch you." Witness accordingly went away. The gentleman was dressed entirely in black, had a red face, gray whiskers, and was rather tall. His master had never

ven him a holiday before, but he

had promised him the week before that he would give him one about that time, as he said he was going out of town. They had plenty of work at the time, more than they could do. Witness never went near the premises after the holiday was given him until fetched by Measures. His master had in a 100 weight of coals on the previous Saturday. Cook's brother, Michael, was in the habit of calling every Saturday. He lives at Queenbo rough. (This place is five miles distant from Leicester.) On the preceding Saturday Cook accompanied his brother back to Queenborough; they went in a gig belonging to Michael Cook. Witness observed, that immediately on the gentleman's entering, his master turned very pale; and, on getting home, he told his mother that he thought the gentleman had come to ask for money, as his master turned pale instantly on seeing him. One day, the week before, he purchased three pennyworth of laudanum for his master. The same week his master brought a hatchet to the shop, and had it ground on a stone they had there. He said he bought it to chop sticks with. They never used sticks, either in the trade or to light the fire with; for the latter purpose they used the cuttings of the milled boards and of paper.

Dent, a constable, produced the following articles which had been found in Cook's shop:-A snuffbox, an eye-glass, a gold watchkey, a small rule, a pocket-knife, and a pencil-case marked P. He also produced the leggings of a pair of black trousers, and other fragments of cloth, much stained with blood; also a saw, a hatchet, three iron bars, and two hammers. One of these hammers had a head

weighing 14lbs., was round at one end, and of a long wedge-like form on the other. It was fitted to a wooden handle, only six inches long.

George Cooke.-Lives at Loughborough, and assists his father, who drives the Express coach between that place and Manchester. On Friday morning, about half past five o'clock, on entering the Black Horse yard, he saw a person talking to one of the stable-keepWitness learnt from the stable-keeper that he had been there some time; that he came in tired, and with dirty shoes, but had wiped his shoes with hay, and also oiled them, and then rested himself in the hay. He had on a blue coat with lappels, brown trousers, a black stock, and over them a blue and white silk neckerchief not hemmed. He had largish whiskers, coming down nearly to his chin, and a rather long face. Witness entered into conversation with him, and, after some time, he produced a shirt pin, saying, "See what I found yesterday, I have no occasion for it, and don't mind selling it." He then pulled his neckkerchief aside to show he had a brooch. Witness finally bought it of him for 2s. They stopped talking for some time, and the man pulled out a gold watch, with curb chain, and two gold seals and a key, and said, "See what my father has purchased for me; he gave forty guineas for them, and I would not take as much back for them again." He afterwards asked witness, if he could change a 10l. or a 5l. note of the Bank of England for him, and at the same time pulled out a long green silk purse, and from a roll of paper at one end took out and opened one note of each of

these values. Witness observed, that at the other end of the purse there was gold of some sort, but how much he could not say.

Mr. W. Mancell, bookseller, of Claremont-place, Pentonville, examined.-Mr. John Paas, of 44, High Holborn, married his sister. Mr. Paas left London about two months back. Mr. Paas was an engraver's tool maker, and was in the habit of making long commercial journies. The snuff-box, the pencil-case, and the shirt-pin produced he can swear were the property of Mr. John Paas. The shirt pin he can swear to most positively, as it was one of five made as mourning memorials of Mr.George Mancell, who died in August, 1818. Mr. Paas had one given him, and was in the habit of wearing it.

Mr. Dixon, also a relation of Mr. Paas, identified the snuff-box, the pir, and some other articles, as having been the property of that gentleman.

Mr. R. Tibbut, a bookseller in the Haymarket, Leicester, was acquainted with Mr. Paas. On Wednesday morning, about half-past nine o'clock, Mr. Paas called on him, and made inquiries about the solvency of several tradesmen in the town, and, among others, about Cook. about Cook. Witness told him he knew nothing about him, and asked if he had any account against him? Mr. Paas said he had, and asked where he lived, and witness told him. Mr. Paas then gave witness a small account he had against him, and said he should go round among the trade, and call in again. He then went away, and called again about two o'clock. Witness, after settling his account, asked him if he had done his business to his satisfaction; and he replied, "Pretty well; but Cook

has not settled with me and has asked me to call again in the evening." After this conversation, Mr. Paas left.

Mr. William Hester, landlord of the Stag and Pheasant Inn, said, that he saw Mr. Paas for the last time about six o'clock on the evening of Wednesday. He left the inn, saying, "Now I will go and finish my business." He went in the direction of Cook's shop.

A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Cook.

He was traced to Liverpool, and arrested on the morning of the 5th of June, as he was making off in a boat near the Black Rock. The officers succeeded in running it ashore. Cook leaped overboard, and attempted to drown himself. When they secured him, he took out a bottle, and tried to swallow something from it; but it was knocked out of his hand. They found on him 44 sovereigns, and a half guinea, and 7s. 5d., (but no notes), a silver watch, a gold chain and seals, and a brooch. He was conveyed to Leicester; and, when brought before the magistrates there, spoke nearly as follows:-" I am innocent of wilful murder, and my conscience is not burdened in the manner that you gentlemen seem to suppose. Mr. Paas called on me in the morning, but what morning I cannot exactly say, my agitation of mind has been so great ever since. I paid him a bill of 12s. There were two bills due. The other was for a larger sum. Mr. Paas wrote settled on the 12s. bill, and I told him I would strive to pay part of the other, if he called again in the evening. Mr. Paas did call in the evening; but I was not able to give him any thing. He was angry and I was angry, and disagreeable words took place,

and a scuffle ensued, and in this manner I was brought to this shameful and disgraceful end." The prisoner had previously told the constables, that, during the scuffle, Mr. Paas had thrown the great hammer at his head, and that it struck his shoulder, and that in the heat of the moment he snatched up the press pin (a strong iron bar) and hit him with it on the back of the neck, and he fell dead instantly.

On Friday morning the prisoner was visited in his cell by Mr. Burbidge the town clerk. Mr. Burbidge asked him how he felt himself? The prisoner replied that he was more comfortable in mind than he had been since the commission of the crime, and that he knew he must suffer for it; but he believed in a just God, and hoped for his mercy. Mr. Burbidge asked him whether he was then willing to tell what he had done with the trunk of the body. The prisoner replied, "I know I shall suffer, and as there is a just God, I burnt the whole of it. It is the truth. I am sure to suffer, and it is no use telling stories. I have entirely destroyed the body, but how I did it I can hardly tell. It was all burnt." Mr. Burbidge asked when he burnt it. He replied, in the course of the Wednesday night. Mr. Burbidge then asked how he did it, and he replied that he cut it up into fragments, and so placed them on the fire. Mr. Burbidge told him that he had been informed by surgeons that it would be impossible for him to destroy the lungs by an ordinary fire. The prisoner, in a composed but melancholy tone, replied, "Ah, Sir, they never tried the experiment!" Mr. Burbidge next observed that he was given to under

stand that it was impossible to destroy the intestines by fire without their causing a stench that would be smelt all round the neighbourhood. The prisoner, in answer, said, "I know nothing about that, Sir; it was a very stormy night, and a great deal of rain fell; perhaps these may account for it." Mr. Burbidge asked how he could explain the circumstance of no remains of the bones of the skull or trunk being found? The prisoner replied that they were all burnt so that he could crush them with his foot easily. He added, placing the fingers of his right hand upon the palm of the left, "I could smash them thus." Mr. Burbidge asked how he could think of such a horrible mode of disposing of the body? The prisoner answered, "What was I to do with it, Sir? The dreadful deed had been com..mitted, I must get rid of the body some way, and I had no other mode of disposing of it." Mr. Burbidge observed to him, that if he cut up the body as he had stated, a great flow of blood must have taken place, and yet there were very few marks of blood on the floor-how did he account for that? In answer the prisoner said he had first strewn the floor thickly with hay and straw, which he afterwards collected together and burnt.

Mr. Burbidge afterwards asked him why, after disposing of the greater part of the body gradually, and when what remained was not likely to be identified, he made up the huge fire on Thursday, which he might be sure would be observed by the neighbours? The prisoner said his state of mind then was such that he hardly knew what he did, and that he did not care

whether he was apprehended or not.

He was brought to trial on the 8th of August; having in the mean time been converted into a saint, and become an object of warmly cherished interest to the religious sisterhood. After the officer had got through about two counts of the indictment, the prisoner, whose mind appeared to be wholly abstracted from what was passing around him, drew forth a small, neatly bound volume of religious exercises, from his left hand waistcoat pocket, and very deliberately commenced reading it, which he continued to do until the officer had finished reading the indictment. When asked the usual question-"How say you, are you guilty, or not guilty, of this murder?"-He replied in a subdued but firm voice-Guilty.

Judge.-Prisoner, are you aware of the consequence of what you are doing? Do you plead guilty advisedly?

Prisoner.-I do, my lord.

"Pri

The learned judge paused for a few minutes, and then said, soner, I ask you again, do you still persist in your plea?"

Prisoner.-I do.