to say that the Court should not pass judgment according to law, held down his head and made no reply.

The learned judge then, after a most solemn address to the prisoner, passed upon him the sentence of death. The prisoner was perfectly unmoved. The trial occupied three days. (See Chronicle, p. 42.)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL

COURT. April 11.

(Before Mr. Justice Coleridge and Mr. Justice Coleman.)

THE HAMPSTEAD MURDER. Thomas Henry Hocker, aged 22, was indicted for the wilful murder of James Delarue, in the parish of St. John, Hampstead, on the 21st of February.

Mr. Bodkin and Mr. M. Chambers conducted the prosecution. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ballantine defended the prisoner.

Mr. Bodkin stated the case on behalf of the Crown, calling upon the jury to discharge from their mind all prepossessions that might have been created by the statements with which the newspapers had been full, and of which they must have heard so much in common with the rest of the community, and to form their judgment upon what should transpire in Court upon the trial, and upon nothing else. The learned counsel then proceeded to lay before the Court an outline of the case as contained in the following abridged evidence, calling their particular attention to such inferences as might be made from it; and in particular to range circum

stance of the prisoner's return to the body of his victim, actuated by some of those inexplicable motives which so frequently influence the conduct of persons guilty of great crimes. There was, however, one point to which he must call their attention, and which, he believed, had created a very considerable sensation. He believed there was no money or property of any value found upon the person of the deceased at the time it was found, but there had been found in the coat-pocket a letter of a most extraordinary character, which it was his duty to lay before them, because he should prove it beyond doubt to be in the handwriting of the prisoner at the bar. One witness, who knew his handwriting, would speak positively to it, though his brother had some doubt upon the subject; but the jury would have very little doubt left them, because, in addition to the belief of the witness, there was the further evidence that there had been found in the lodgings of the prisoner the same coloured ink as that in which the letter was written-blue ink-as well as some paper of the same size and quality, besides a quantity of medallion seals with the letter "F" upon them, the same as the one by which the letter had been originally secured. The letter was addressed to "James Cooper, Hampstead Road," and he (Mr. Bodkin) might here stop to say that it would be shown the prisoner had been in the habit of corresponding with the deceased Mr. Delarue by the name of Mr. Cooper, and that he was in the habit of so addressing letters intended for the deceased. The letter was in these terms:

"My dearest James,-I have so often resigned myself to your will and embrace, that I find myself in the situation which makes it necessary for me to leave home shortly. I would rather die than doubt either your love or your honour; yet do not, oh do not be ashamed to own me. If you cannot at present give me the title of wife, conceal me from the cruel finger of scorn. Heaven has been my witness that I have loved you but too dearly. Let me be happy in the conviction that you will one day restore me to your arms for ever. Ease my suspense by meeting me to-morrow at the place where, alas! you have always made me happy. Yet not so, if you will put one smile of hope and comfort on my countenance. You can render me for ever light-hearted and happy, or for ever heart-broken and conscience-stricken. Oh, that a bended knee might procure me the former lot!

The address on the envelope containing this note was,"By Miss F. "James Cooper, Esq.,

"Hampstead Road."

He (Mr. Bodkin) should lay that letter (as it was) in evidence before the jury, for it formed no part of his duty to enter into any speculation as to what had been the object or motive which actuated the writer. He could only say, that no such person as Caroline had been made out or discovered. He made no comment on this letter, but left the jury to draw any inference or satisfactory hypothesis from it they

could.

The following witnesses were then called on behalf of the Crown:

Edward Hilton, examined.I am a baker, living at West End, Hampstead. I was delivering bread on Haverstock Ter

race at ten minutes after seven o'clock on the night of Friday, the 21st of February. I got out of my cart, and heard cries of "murder coming across the fields from the dead wall at Belsize Lane. I afterwards saw the spot where the body was found, and the cries of "murder" seemed to come from that spot. I heard the cries six or eight times. The cries from the beginning to the end might have been heard for four minutes. I went into the field and cried "Halloo, halloo," several times, but I heard no answer. I then told the policeman what I had heard, and afterwards drove away.

John Baldock, police-constable 304 S, examined.-I saw Mr. Hilton at ten minutes past seven o'clock on Friday, the 21st of February. In consequence of what he told me I walked over the Haverstock field, but I saw nothing. I then went down the narrow passage leading to Belsize Lane, and I afterwards turned back by the "George public-house. I met Sergeant Fletcher, and with him turned back to the dead wall round Belsize House, and we found the dead body. The body was afterwards taken to the station. The deceased was lying on his back, with his great coat and body coat open. I found a glove and hat lying on the ground, near the body. I also found a pocket-handkerchief. The body was quite dead, but warm. The

injuries were all on the head, and I saw a pool of blood where the body was lying. I searched the body afterwards. There was no watch on the deceased, and he had no money. I found a letter in the pocket of his coat, which I gave into the custody of Inspector Grey. After the body was discovered Fletcher went for the stretcher, and I was left alone with the body. In about a quarter of an hour a man came up and joined me, while the sergeant was away. The person who joined me came from the direction of the Avenue Road. There are two paths by which persons might come towards Hampstead. My My attention was called to the person by his singing. The prisoner came up, and said, Halloo, policeman." I said, "I have a serious case here." He said, "What is that, policeman?" I said, "I think it is a person who has cut his throat.' He said, "It is a nasty job, policeman," and he stooped down and felt the deceased's pulse, to ascertain if there was life left. He did not kneel down, but stooped. He then told me that he had been in the habit of travelling that way from town some years, and had never met with anything, though he had always property about him. He said his parents had told him he should not walk that way at night. He said I had a cold job, and he offered me some brandy. I said, I had rather not, if you please." He said it was very cold, and I would be the better of something to drink, and I at last took a shilling from him. When the stretcher came there was a light brought, and the lamp was turned upon the body. The man then was standing there.

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When the body was taken on the stretcher, the man followed as far as Belsize Lane. He had on a dark coat or macintosh, and was a young man, about five feet eight inches in height.

By Mr. Justice Coleridge.The man was muffled up with something over his face. Î think it was the collar of his macintosh, or a handkerchief.

Cross-examined.-I knew the hour from having seen the clock at the "George public-house a few minutes before. The man who joined me went up to the body, and took hold of the hand. The man said, he would stay with me till the stretcher came, as I was left alone. He said, that he felt rather queer at the sight. He did not shed tears. He said he felt very much shocked at seeing such a sight. He remained with me till the stretcher came. It might be a quarter of an hour till then.

Thomas Fletcher, 24 S, corroborated the statement of Baldock, with the addition of his finding a stick, which was produced, lying near the body.

James Gray, an inspector of police, stationed at Hampstead at the time the murder occurred, deposed to the same facts, and stated that he had thoroughly searched the field that night but without finding anything, and produced a letter which was handed to him by Mr. Perry, the surgeon, who received it from Baldock, the police-constable, when the latter was searching the body after it had been brought to the "Yorkshire Grey" public-house. the following morning, between six and seven o'clock, he went again to the spot where the body had been found, together with

On

police-constable Thomas, and he produced the button of a coat found and delivered by him to me on that spot. He knew the brother of the deceased, Daniel Delarue, and showed him the body of the deceased on the Monday previous to the inquest, and by him it was identified.

William Satterthwaite.-I live in Heath Street, Hampstead. On the night of Friday, the 21st of February, I went with the police to the field where the body of the deceased was lying. I ran forward in advance of the police, who were bringing the stretcher from the station-house. I found the policeman Baldock, and another person, standing with the body.

Mr. Chambers.-Should you know that person again, if you were to see him? Witness.I should, certainly.

Mr. Chambers.-Turn round, and state if you see him here today.

Witness, after looking towards the dock, pointed to the prisoner, and said, That is the man. There were several other persons came up with the stretcher besides the police. The prisoner was standing at the feet of the deceased, who lay upon the ground. I said to the prisoner, Is he quite dead?" The prisoner replied, "He is quite dead. -I have felt his pulse, and it has ceased beating." I then asked him if he was not frightened. The prisoner answered, "I was getting over the style when the policeman put his hand upon my shoulder, and said, Here is a man lying dead,' and I staggered back, and said to the policeman, What, what?'" The prisoner added, that the constable was very

much agitated. The corpse was then put on to the stretcher, and we all proceeded along the field in the direction of the stationhouse. As we were going along, I said to a young man who was near me, and in the prisoner's hearing, "Do you know who the deceased puts me in mind of?” The young man asked, "Who?" and I replied, George Ward." The young man said, "I thought so myself, but it is not him." The prisoner said, "Who is George Ward?" I replied, that he was a boot and shoemaker, and very like the deceased in his dress. The prisoner then said,

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It is not him; he is quite a gentleman; he has a beautiful white hand, and his dress is that of a gentleman." Before I had made the observation about the deceased being like George Ward, I had seen the face of the deceas ed by the light which was thrown upon it by the lantern of one of the policemen, before the corpse was placed upon the stretcher. This gave me a clear view of the deceased's face. The prisoner was standing at the feet at the time the light was thrown on, and he must have seen the face as clearly as I did. had every opportunity of doing so. As we were going along, I said to the prisoner, "I beg pardon, sir, but what caused you to come such a lonesome way?" The prisoner said, "If you must know, I was coming from St. John's Wood to Hampstead, it was the nighest way.' He said also, that he had very important business at Hampstead, and ought to have been there by eight o'clock, but under these circumstances he could not help it. When we arrived at the gate leading into Belsize Lane, I took a

He

lantern from one of the policemen. In Belsize Lane the prisoner asked me to give him a light. I could not open the lantern, and the prisoner showed me the way. I then held open the lantern for him to light his cigar, and during that time the light was full on his face. After that I lost sight of him, and I went away home.

Cross-examined.-Baldock was present when the conversation took place between me and the prisoner, but he could not have heard it. I never conversed with the prisoner before that night, and the conversation only occupied the time it took us to walk fifty or sixty yards. He seemed disposed to be very communicative. I believe the inquest was held on the body on the Wednesday after the murder, but I did not attend it, though my house is not more than 150 yards from where it was held. I did not attend any of the examinations before the magistrates. On the 27th of March I was taken to Newgate by Inspector Gray to see the prisoner. The prisoner was not alone, but among ten or eleven others, when I saw him in Newgate. I recognised him immediately.

Mr. Richard Rogers Perry.-I am a surgeon, residing at Hampstead, and handed to Inspector Gray the letter produced, which was found in my presence in the deceased's great coat pocket. I examined the body of the de. ceased. I found a large wound, about four inches long, in the upper and back part of the head, on the left side. There was a smaller wound in the front of it. There was a bruise on the left, and a wound over the right eye, from which the blood was oozing.

This was all I discovered at that time. By the coroner's order I examined the body afterwards, and after the head had been shaved, I discovered two or three scalp wounds, but the skull was not fractured. On examining the inside of the head, I found a good deal of blood effused, which corresponded with the injuries I had observed on the outside; the chief wound in the scalp was about four inches and a half long, into which three or four fingers could be introduced.

Mr. Bodkin.-To what, in your judgment, is the death to be attributed? Witness.-To concussion of the brain, in consequence of the external violence to the head.

Mr. Bodkin.-Could you, from the examination of the injuries, after the head was shaved, form any opinion as to how they were inflicted? Witness.-I should imagine by some heavy instrument-a large stick, a life-preserver, or any heavy instrument of a blunt kind. The wounds I observed must have undoubtedly proceeded from more blows than

one.

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Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson. -The brain did not present any diseased or unhealthy appearances, but that is by no means uncommon in cases of concussion. I saw sufficient cause to attribute the death to concussion of the brain from the appearance of repeated blows, which must have been inflicted with very considerable violence.

Mr. Clarkson.- Should you think they were inflicted with a metal instrument—a hammer, for instance? Witness.-No; that is not at all likely. A poker might have done it, or a club, or a heavy knotted stick.