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OR, THE

A FULL AND CORRECT HISTORY OF THE

MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF the Rev. Mr. PARKER, Of Oddinyhy, near Droitwicli, on Midsummer- D ay , 1806 ;

AND THE SUBSEQUENT DISCOVKRY OF THE

imtx.

IN JANUARY, 1830 ; WITH

THE WHOLE OF THE CORONER'S INQUEST,

TO THE VERDICT OF THE JURY,

AND

THE CONFESSION IN FULL OF THOMAS CLEWES.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY COWIE AND STRANGE, PilTEENOSTEIl ROW ;

rURKESS, WvUlDOUR STREET, SOHO;

AND SOLD BY ALL VENDERS OF PEIUODICALS.

.. ' PRI C E T WO PENCE.

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THE MURDERED MURDERER.

A DISCOVERY was made in the neighbourhood of Worcester, about the middle of January, 1830, which has excited a strong sensation, and given rise to much conjecture. The Rev. Mr. Parker, of Oddingley, near Droitvvich, was murdered on Mid- summer-Day, 1806. About five o'clock in the afternoon of that day two persons were walking near Od- dingley, and heard the report of a gun, and a few minutes after the cry of *' Murder!'' They hastened to the spot, where they found a man putting something into a bag, who, on being spoken to, dropped the bag, and ran off. Near the spot they discovered, lying on the ground, the body of the Rev, Mr. Parker, who had been shot, and his clothes set on fire by the wadding of the gun. One of them ran after the man, but on coming close to him he turned round and threatened to shoot him, upon which he gave up the pursuit, and the villain escaped. On examination of the body, it was found that, besides being shot, Mr. Parker had been beaten about the head, and part of a broken gun was found in the bag. On the following day an inquest was held on the body, and a verdict returned of *' Wilful Murder by some person or persons unknown." The des- cription given of the person seen near the body, and the immediate disappeaPance of a person named Richard Heming.. a carpenter and wheelwright of Droitwich, left little (ioubt that he was the murderer, and liie count V magistrates offered a re- ward of fifty guineas for his appre- hension ; and government offered a

reward of one hundred guineas' or the conviction of the murderer, ? d a free pardon for any accompl :e who should make the discovery and give evidence. The murderer, h( ./- ever, was never discovered, and 11 traces of Heming were lost ;^an( i report soon after prevailed that - had gone to America. An opini a, however, was entertained by soi t^ for years after, that he had b( a made away with, and buried uiu r a clover-rick, in the farm-yard i Captain Evans, which was put to ther immediately after the mure ' was committed, and remained \ disturbed for ten years. To expl, ' the origin of this opinion, it is nee sary to state, that at the time of t murder it was believed that '^ Parker, who had lived upon ve bad terms with some of his pari; ioners, had been murdered from n fives of revenge, and that Hemi i had been employed to perpetrate 1 - dreadful deed. In the lapse of yej the subject comparatively died awf but, contrary to all expectation, af' a lapse of upwards of three-ar: twenty years, the body of the mi derer has been discovered, and n - der circumstances which leave doubt that the punishment follow the crime with hot pursuit ; a that, by the retributive justice Providence, the murderer, still ree ing with the blood of his victim, n: his fate from a murderer's hand — pr bably from the hand of his tempt{ On the 23 st of January, a carpent( named Charles Burton, was ot ployed by Mr. Wattison, a farm* who occupies a frirm at Netherwoo in the parish of Oddiiigley, whi'

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

at the time of ihv murder was oc- cupied by a farmer named Thomas Clewes, to take down a barn, and found buried in one of the corners, the skeleton of a man who had evidently been buried in his clothes, which were all decayed but the shoes, which were tolerably entire ; on one side of the skeleton lay a carpenter's rule, which Burton, who was Heming's brother-in-law, knew had belonged to him. The skeleton was also in length the ex- act height of Heming ; the skull was fractured into more than twenty pieces. The motive for this second murder it is at present difficult to conjecture — possibly he might have required a greater reward for the deed of blood, than his diabolic em- ployer was willing to give ; or per- haps the tempter, urged by his guilty fears, committed another murder as the means of concealing the first. Burton, on satisfying himself that the body was that of his brother-in- law, Heming, covered it up and gave iuformation to the coroner and a magistrate. The skeleton was, by order of the coroner, immediately removed to Worcester, when an in- quest was held at the Talbot Inn, on Tuesday,Jan.l9, 1830. The first wit- ness was Charles Burton, who de- posed to his having found the body buried under the barn floor, and his conviction that it was the body of Richard Heming, who was sus- pected of having shot Mr. Parker. The shoes found on the skeleton are the size of Heming's ; and he be- lieved them to be his. In June, 1806, and for six years after, Netiierwood farm (to which the barn belongs) was occupied by Mr.Thomas Clewes; the barn has been in the same state for the last thirty years; did not know whether Fleming ever worked for Clewes, or for any person in the parish, except the late Captain Evans.

Mr. Pierpoint, surgeon, said he

measured the body in the' ground ; it was five feet three inches in length; the bones of the skull were beaten into a great many pieces, and the injury must have taken place before the body was placed there. On ex- amining the skull carefully, witness thought from appearence that it was fractured while the person was liv- ing, or immediately after death ; the shoes were at the lower part of the trunk, and contained the bones of the feet, showing that the person had been buried with his shoes on ; the bones of the left arm were ex- tended under the head, and the hand under the sknll ; the right arm ex- tended across the ribs ; the hole seemed not dug wide enough to throw the body on the back, being about fourteen or fifteen inches wide. Witness also found a carpenter^s rule, with some remains of the rule- pocket, close by the right thigh-bone; a portion of the waistband of cordu- roy breeches, and some portions of a waistcoat and waistcoat-pocket; lying close to which were a knife, a small whetstone, a sixpence (one of the old plain pieces, with F. W. stamped on it), and three halfpence, of the date of 1799 ; it is impossible to say how long the body has been deposited, certainly many years ; the injuries which the skull presents were quite sufficient to produce in- stantaneous death ; no person could have inflicted such injuries on him- self 5 impossible to have been done by a pistol-ball, or by one blow ; witness could not exactly say the age ; the bones were not those of an old man, nor a very young one ; probably between 30 and 50 : the body must have been placed 'th^re when the flesh was entire, and must have remained undisturbed; there were no remains of a hat.

Elizabeth Newbury, widow,stated, that in June, 1806, she was the wife of Richard Heming :" she saw him last on Midsummer Day, IbOo; he

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

left the house about half-past five in the morning; when he got up, he said it was late, and asked her where his dark blue coat was, as he was going to do a dirty job for Captain Evans, of Oddingley Church Farm ; she asked what dirty job ; and he replied, ** to pull some poles out of a pool ;'* he had a rule which he car- ried with him ; she firmly believed the rule found with the skeleton was his ; the height of her husband was exactly one inch below the standard of the militia (5ft. 4in.) ; he had a mouthful of good teeth. [The pieces of the skull, with the t eeth in perfect preservation, were here produced.] The witness was greatly affected, and said she believed the teeth to have been those of her husband ; she also believed the shoes on the skele- ton to have been his ; he also carried about him a pocket-knife, similar to the one found ; she always thought that those who had employed her husband to murder Mr. Parker, had murdered him afterwards ; T.CIewes, of Netherwood Farm, came to her husband several times during the three months preceding the murder ; no one else was in the habit of coming- after him, and, when he stayed out late, he generally said he was drink- ing with Clewes ; she never knevv that her husband had ever spoken to Mr. Parker, or had [any ill will to- wards him.

" Henry Wattison stated, that in July, 1816, he succeeded Mr. Clewes, in Netherwood Farm. He has been in the habit of going into the barn night and morning since, and thinks a grave could not have been dug there without his knowledge.

John Lench, butcher, stated, that in the afternoon of June 24, 1806, he was going along a lane in Od- dingley, in company with a person named Giles, since dead ; he heard the report of a gun, two or three stone-throws from Mr. Barnetl's house, and then heard some one cry

" O Lord ! O Lord !" They ran to the place, and saw a man, and asked him what he had been doing ? he replied, nothing, and ran away ; witness's companion ran after him.

The evidence given by Giles on the former inquest was here read.

George Day stated that he was servant of Mr. Parker at the time he was shot ; he used to collect tithes of milk and eggs ; some of his parishioners were at variance with him on account of tithes.

Thomas Barber, a shoemaker, stated, that one day, a short time before Mr. Parker's death, he was in witness's shop, when Mr. Clewes came in, and Mr. Parker immedi- ately went out. Clewes then began to use foul language respecting Mr. Parker, and said, '* There's fifty pounds for any man that will shoot the parson." He has heard Clewes curse the parson, meaning Mr. Par- ker.

William Chillingworth stated, that he worked for Captain Evans, as a reaper, in the summer Mr. Parker was murdered. Captain Evans's house was searched after the murder for Heming ; witness never said that he concealed He- ming under the straw in Captain Evans's barn ; he found a saw and adze in the barn, which he believed to belong to Heming, and gave them to Captain Evans ; he never said that Captain Evans dared not send him to goal, for he could say two words that would hang the cap- tain.

Susan Surman lived with Mr. John Barnett the year that Mr. Parker was shot ; used to fetch up the cows, and often met Mr. Parker in his field ; witness met Mr. Parker a short time before he was killed ; she heard the gun fired, and was but a few yards from him at the lime; she was frightened, and rar after the cows ; she heard a cry C' murder, and saw men running to-

THE MURDERED xMFRDERER.

5

wards Mr. Parker, and ran with them. A week or two before the murder, Heming used to meet her every morning and evening, but would not tell her his namie, or where he lived ; he used to Walk backwa:rds and forwards, as if wait- ing for some one, and had worn 'a path in the grass in Mr. Barnett's field ; Mr. Parker's glebe field was on the other side of the hedge ; she never saw Mr. Parker in his field while Heming was waiting for him, and did not seie Heming the evening Mr. Parker was shot ; Heming used to inquire if Mr. Clewes ever came to Mr. Barnett's. On the morning of the day on which Mr. Parker was shot, she saw Clewes near the end of Mr, Bar- nett's stable, on the Droitwich road ; he said to some person with him, he should be very glad to hear of a dead parson in the parish when he came home from Brorasgrove fair ; she never heard the Barnetts speak about the parson ; Mrs. Perkins, the evening of the murder, brought a horse, bridled and saddled, for Mr. Barnett's servant to go after Hem- ing, but Mr. Barnett refused to let him go ; three young men ofiered to go with him, but would not go without him, as they did not know Heming.

At seven o'clock, the inquest was adjourned. Mr. Clewes and Messrs. Burnett were in attendance, and bound over to appear^on Friday.- — Captain Evans died some years ago at the age of ninety.

SecondDay— Friday, Jail. 22,1830.

The coroner and jury assembled shortly after nine o'clock, and the examination of witnesses was im- mediately entered upon. The first called was —

Joseph Colley, who deposed as follows: — I live at Hinlip, and am a labourer. My house is near Od-

dingley. I lived there in June, 1806, and T recollect the murder of Mr. Parker, whom I knew very well, as well as all who lived in the parish. About a fortnight before he was killed, I was" working for Mr. Pool, making hurdles. Whilst at work, Mr. Parker came to me several times, and once said, " Joe, I won- der what that Heming is always skulking about my glebe and in the lanes for, with something in a bag under his arm like a gun." I said, '* Why, sir, he wants to shoot you." Mr. Parker replied, "Do you think he does, Joe ?" I've seen Heming and Clewes drinking together at the Red Lion, Droitwich, two or three times before the murder of Mr. Parker ; it might be about a fortnight or three weeks before. Clewes was treating and urging Heming to drink, and said, "Here's to the death of the Buonaparte of Oddingley !" I knew that Mr. Parker was meant, but his (Mr. Parker's) name was not mentioned. This was the last time I saw Clewes and Heming together. Heming was a bad one. Heming said he had a nasty job to do at Oddingley, but it was then too late to go about it. It was then half-past five. Hem- ing addressed the last observation to all present — Clewes, as well as Mis. Cook, the landlady. I said nothing during the conversation. I knew there were then, and had been for some time, disputes between Mr. Parker, and Clewes, and other pa- rishioners, respecting the tithes. I never heard, upon either occasion of meeting Heming and Clewes at thei Ked Lion, the latter say any- thing 'about Mr. Parker by name. When I saw Heming lurking about tl)e lanes at Oddingley, he had al- ways something in a bag like a gun. The conversation I had with Mr. Parker, about Heming, was after I had seen Clewes and Heming to

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

gether at the public-house. I am seventy-seven years of age tins Christmas.

William Rogers. — I live at Dod- derhill, and am a labourer. In June, 1806, I lived at Hinlip. I recollect Mr. Parker's murder. The Sunday after the murder, I heard Henry Halbert say that he' saw Heming at Captain Evans's house the night the murder was committed ; he said it was after the murder. Halbert was then about twelve years of age, but he is now dead. He (Halbert) did not say any one else was there. I (witness) said nothing about what Halbert said.

William Sraith.~In June, 1806, I lived with Mr. Thomas Clewes, of Netherwood Farm, Oddingley, as cowman, and helped to thrash and do the general work. I recollect, on Midsummer-day, 1806, my mas- ter telling me the parson of Odding- ley was shot. John Clewes was pre- sent at the time. Thomas Clewes told us both of the murder ; he did not say who told him of it. He seemed alarmed, and said he was sorry ; he seemed so to witness : *' he was cut." I saw Thomas Clewes this morning, in this house. I spoke to him, and he said he did not recollect me. Mothing else pass- ed between us.

John Collins. — Lives at Bradley Green. In June, 1806, I lived with Mr. Thomas Clewes, at the Nether- wood Farm, Oddingley. I well remember the murder of Mr. Par- ker. I was informed of it the same evening, whilst I was returning from Haddington Mill. When I got home, about nine o'clock at night, it being then dusk, I found the house shut up, and all closed, The brew- house was shut up, and curtains all drawn. My master, Thomas Clewes, seemed much confused and cut up, as if he had lost a friend. My mas- ter said very little to me. He com- plained of my being so long away

about the grist. Nothing was said by either of us about Mr. Parker's murder. I had my supper and went to bed. The other servants were a-bed. John Clewes slept with Har- ding, and I slept with Smith. There were two beds in the room. I was then about sixteen years of age. John Clewes was gone to bed. There was ^nothing, as I recollect, said about the murder by any of us in the night. I have not seen anything of Thomas Clewes for a long time before to-day. He asked me this morning whether I did not live with him at the time the parson was shot. I knew Heming, and have seen him at Clewes's ; he was there on the Sunday morning before the murder ; it was betwf,^ii breakfast-time and church-time. I saw Heming the first time that morning and Thomas Clewes in a foot-path leading into the inside of the Trench Wood, talk- ing together. I was then in search of sheep. When they saw me they did not appear surprised. When I went toward them they walked away : neither had any thing with them. I never before saw them together near that wood. It might be twelve be- fore they came home ; it was about three parts of an hour from the time I saw them near the wood. I do not know whether Clewes occupied the wood or not. Heming stayed but a short time ; heard nothing of what passed between them^ further than Clewes said at parting, '* Good morn- ing, Heming." Heming had been at Clewes's, backwards and forwards, a fortnight or three weeks before, Heming, to the best of my.remem- brance, did not work for Thomas Clewes. I never had any conver- sation with the Clewes's about Hem- ing and the murder of Mr. Parker. I thought at the time of the murder, Heming had been hired to do the murder. I thought also, from having seen Heming and Clewes, my mas- ter, together, on the previous Sui -

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

day, as I have described, that Tho- mas Clewes knew something of the murder, and that is the reason I said nothing about it.

Edward Stephens, of Crowle, aged 74. — I was once examined before on an inquest held on the body of the Rev. Mr. Parker, who was murdered ot Oddingley. On the 24th of June, 1806, Pardoe, the clerk of Odding- ley, asked me to come with him to Worcester, for company, as he was going to have some bills printed about the murder. On our way, Perdoe said to me he had heard of many heavy threatenings from Mr. Thomas Clewes respecting the par- son's murder, and he said he dare not say any thing about it, as Clewes owed him near twenty pounds, for in case Clewes was took up and hanged, he] should lose his money. Pardoe has been dead about twelve months. The Coroner read the deposition *f John Pardoe, taken July 1, 1S06. It was to this effect:— I worked for Thomas Clewes, of Od- diigley, farmer, at the time of {Mr. Pa-ker's murder. I have heard Cap- lain Evans, Mr. Barnett, and Mr. Cleves, abuse Mr. Parker, and use word', from which I should suppose Mr. Pirker might be in danger from them, or somebody employed by them ; m the last Sunday month, I was tal ing to Mr. Parker, and I said to lim that I was surprised he was not afraid to go out at night, for fear ht should be knocked on the head ; Mr.Parker said he was not.

THiRDDAY.Thursday,Jan.28,1830.

Mrs. Parkf, widow of the Rev. George Parke, deposed that on the Friday before the murder of her husband, after relating to her some abusive langua^ used towards him by Captain Evaij, her husband said, ** I will swear m^ life against them all — for I now n^ what it is they want, unless it is ly life." By the

expression " them," witness under- stood him to mean Captain Evans, Barnett, and Clewes. About a month before the murder, she and her hus- band were disturbed in the night, by something like gravel thrown against the window, but they did no look out ; the same thing occurred again tive or six nights after. Wit- ness never had any conversation with Captain Evans, Barnett, or Clewes after the murder ; she never heard them threaten her husband : she thinks Heming was employed to murder her husband, and that the gravel was thrown at the window to bring him to the window and then shoot him.

John Perkins, of Sale Green, Crowle. — About three quarters of a year before the 1st of July, 1806, 1 was in Captain Evans's parlour, at the Oddingley Church Farm. Cap- tain Evans, speaking of Mr. Parker, and the tithes of Oddingley, said, Mr. Parker was a very bad man, and there was nobody in the parish excepting me (witness) that agreed

with him, and he said " D nhira,

he is a very bad man, and there is no more harm in shooting him than a mad dog." I was at the Easter meeting of 1806, at the parish church, to pass the overseer's accounts. Mr, Parker, Mr. John Barnett, Mr. Tho- mas Clewes, Mr. Jones, Mr. Hur- cott, the prime paymasters of the parish, were there. Mr. Parker disputed a charge in the overseer's accounts for a dinner at the Plough, Tibberton, in the previous year. Some angry words passed, in which the subject of tithes was mentioned by Barnett, Evans, and Clewes. Bar- nett, Evans, Clewes, and Marshall, then went to the Plough to dine. I went, against my inclination, to the dinner, at the request of Mr. Parker, as did also Mr. Hurcott. There were present at the dinner, John and Thomas Clewes, Captain Evans, George and Henry Banks, Mr. Hur-

8

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

cott, John and Willmm Barnett, Mr. Jones, Mr. Marshall, and wit- ness. Captain Evans in the chair. After several toasts had heen drunk, I was called upon to name a gentle- man ; I declined it. Captain Evans then gave the health of Mr. Parker left handed, and all drank it but poor Hurcott and me. A confusion took place on our refusal to drink it. Mr. Henry Bankes said I was a Jacobin. I said upon this, *' Gentle- men, Mr. Parker is as good as any of you." I reproached Captain Evans, as a . magistrate, for break- ing the peace, and said I was no Jacobin, and offered to jfight the best man of them. Captain Evans said, ** D — n you, you ought to be turned out of the room, for not drinking thetoast.'' I knew Richard Heming. About four weeks before the murder I saw him in Barnett's grounds. , Mr. Parker asked me the reason of his being there, and showed me the footmarks he had made in the grass. I have seen Clewes and Heming drinking together at Proitwich about six months before the murder (it might be less), and drank with them. I saw Clewes pay for a quart of drink Heming and Clewes had. I saw Mr. /John Bar- jiett the evening of the murder with the Rev. R. Pyndar. - The, jury now rose for the purpose of a short adjournment. Previously, however, to their being joined by the Coroner and Mr. Bass, the fore- man, the latter made a deposition before the Rev. Robert Clifton, a county magistrate, to the effect that he, William Bass, was foreman of the Coroner's Jury then sitting at the Talbot Inn, to inquire into the supposed murder of the late Richard Heming, of Droitwich ; and: that in the course of such inquiry, such evidence had been adduced as in- duced him to believe that Thomas Clewes, of Oddingley, farmer, had a ** guilty knowledge of such -mur-

der/' and that the purposes of pub- lic justice, he verily believed, would be furthered by the commitment to prison of;the said Thomas Clewes for furtlier examination.

Mr. Bass having sworn to the above, Clewes was ordered to be brought into the room, and he was made acquainted with the contents of the deposition, and the purposes of it. He betrayed not the slightest agitation or alarm ; he protested him- self entirely innocent of being privy to Heming's death, and, when told that he was about to be sent to pri- son, he said he should go there with- out the least fear as to the result. A warrant for his committal for fur- ther examination, was then placed in the hands of two constables, who immediately proceeded with him to the county gaol.

FourthDay. Tuesday,Feb. 2,1830

On the meeting of the jury, it wjs announced that Clewes had madt^a confession of the circumstances of the murder, in which he chargesse- veral persons with having beenpar- ticipators. Clewes was accordhgly produced, and after being wirned that all he said might be used as evidence against him, he vohntarily delivered the following stftement, which is given as nearly aspossible in his own words :—

Mr. Parker, Jie said, w.« shot on Bromsgrove fair-day. Hcould not exactly state the year. Cn the mor- row morning, about se^^n o'clock, George Banks came o him and •said,— " We have go^ Heming at our house, and I dort know what to do with him. Wji you let him come, down here T He (Clewes) replie.d„ *' I won't ^ve him here, nor will I have anyhing to do with him." Banksthen^vent away. He said Heming wa4"*'king down in the meadows. Hf (Clewes) went to Oddingley aboii' J 1 o'clock in the

/

THE MURDERED MTJUDERER.

9

day to Mr. Jones, who is since dead. As he went along the road-side by Captain Evans's house, the captain called to him. He was in the gar- den by the road-side. He followed him (Clewes) into the field, and said, *' I have had Heming at our house this morning, and something mnst be done ; he is lurking down by your house. 1 ordered him to get into your building in the day-time, or at the edge of night, that I or my family might not see him, and some- thing must be done with him. I shall come down to your house at nigiit, and bring somebody with me. •We must give the poor devil some money;, or do something with him, and send him off. Will you get up and come to the barn— it won't de- tain you a minute." He (Clewes) refused, and said he did not like to come. The captain replied, " It will make no odds to you ; you need not be afraid to come. Just come out 'at 11 o'clock, it will make no differ- ence to you; for, if you do not come, I shall be afraid of the dogs.'^ He (Clewes) went out at the appointed hour at the back door, and down to the barn as the clock struck eleven. He found there the captain, Joseph Taylor^ and he thought George Banks; he believed it to be him; he was in a smock frock. They all went into the barn. As soon as the -captain entered, he called out, not very loud, " Hallo, Heming, where ■be'est?" Heming said, "Yes, sir." The captain and Taylor then stepped on the mound, which was about as high as a man's knee. The captain produced a lantern. He (Clewes) and George Banks were on the threshing-floor at the time. The captain said, " Get up, Heming, I have got some meat for you." Hem- ing was covered up with straw, — He partly rose up, as if he had been lying on his back, and, as he rose, Taylor,, with a blood-stick, hit him .somewhere about the head two or

three times. He f Clewes), on see- ing this, said, ** This is bad work ; if I had known, you should not have had me here.'' The captain said, '' Now, he has got enough." Banks and he (Clewes) were then standing on the floor. Taylor and the captain then came off the mound. The former said, '* What is to be done with him now ?" The captain said, *' D — n his body, we must not take him out of doors ; it might happen somebody may see us. It was not very dark. Taylor went up and fetched an old spade. It was not one of his (Clewes'). The captain said to Taylor, "We'll soon put him safe." Taylor then searched round the opposite bay of the barn, and found a place where the dogs and rats had scratched holes. He did not throw out many spadesful of mould ; he cleared the side of the wall. He then said to the captain, who lighted him, " That will do for him." The captain and Taylor then got up the mound, and pulled Heming down to the front. The captain then said to Taylor, "Catch hold of him." They dragged him across the floor into the hole Taylor had dug in the opposite bay, and soon covered it up. He (Clewes) could not tell which way Heming was laid, as he never stepped off the floor into the bay. (At this part of the narrativeClewes said," I thought I should have died where I stood''). He then went on to say, that the captain, addressing Taylor, said, " Well done, boy! I will give you another glass or two of brandy :*' and then, turning to him (Clewes), said, " I will give you anything; d — n your body, don't you split I" They then parted, and the captain darkened his lantern. Taylor, the captain, and Banks, went towards Oddingley. He (Clewes) went to bed. The whole occupied altogether not half an hour. No clothes were taken off Heming; there was no time for that. He saw no blood :

10

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

Heming neither moaned nor groaned after he was struck. The next day he (Clewes) went toPershore Fair. George Banks came to him in the fair, in the afternoon, about four or five o'clock, and called him up the entrance of the Plough, and said, *' Here's some money for you, which Heming was to have had.'' Mr. J. Barnett was with Banks. Both of them gave him money : it was in two parcels ready wrapped up. Banks said, " Be sure you never split." He did not count the money at the time. It amounted in all to £26 or d£27, all in notes ; there was ne sil- ver. Both Banks and Barnett said it was intended for Heming, to en- able him to get off. He was at the captain's a few days after. The captain sent for him, by one of his (Clewes's) children, a little boy, about seven years old. The cap- tain said, '* There is £5 at any time if you keep your peace." He (Clewes) never received any money from him afterwards. Miss Catharine Banks came into the room the same day, and, taking him by the coat with both hands, went down on her knees, and begged and prayed he would neversaya word, as she was fearful the captain had done bad things, and she was afraid if he (Clewes) spoke, some of them would be hanged. He promised he would never say anything. The captain had a sale about three years after. This sale he (Clewes) attended. The captain said to him, '* Do you want any- thing? if you do, I will make you a present of a trifle.'' He purchased a black mare [at the sale, for £22. On the evening of the sale, Mr. Handy asked him to settle for the m^re, when the Captain said to Mr. Handy, there is a settlement between him and me, and I will settle it." The captain never asked for the money. In nine or ten days after Heming was knocked on the head, the cap-

tain wanted him to put some soil on the barn inwhich Heming was buried. In consequence, a good many loads were hauled to the barn-door, and some was thrown over each bay, and in the other barn as well. After- wards the captain asked him if it was done, and being told it was, he said he was very glad of it. No more was said about |it afterwards. Mr. J. Barnett lent him £100 after- wards, part of which is still owing. He gave a bond or note for it,which would have been paid if Barnett had applied in due time to Mr. Waterson. He was sure the trans- action was after the murder of Hem- ing. A little time after the murder, Taylor was put in gaol for what Roe had said. The captain and Miss Banks were much afraid, for fear he would tell. The captain and Mr. Barnett were had up. The captain asked him (Clewes) to be bound by an oath, which he, the captain, being a magistrate, would administer. He refused to take it. George Banks did not speak when in the barn. He (Clewes) fully thinks it was him. He had a smock frock on, and he (Clewes) never saw him in one before.

The above having been taken down in writing, and read over to him, Clewes signed it, at the same time protesting his innocence of being the actual murderer of Hem- ing.

After the confession had been ta- ken, the coroner ordered Mr. James Barnett to be kept in custody, and John Barnett was sent for, and in- formed that in consequence of infor- mationwhich had been laid before the jury, it was deemed necessary, for the furtherance of justice, that he should be committed to prison, to await the result of the present in- quiry. On being asked if he had any thing to say, he replied, *'No, sir, I have nothing to state."

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

11

Fifth Day.— Thursday ,Feb.4, 1830.

On the re-assembling of the jury, the following witnesses were ex- amined : —

Elizabeth Jones' was servant to Captain Evans at the time of Mr. Parker's murder. She had seen Heming at the house several times. He was there on the morning of the murder, and had some drink, after which he went away. She never saw him afterwards. She first heard of the murder of Mr. Parker on her return from milking the cows in the evening. The captain had the cows milked in ^the adjoining parish of Tibberton, because the parson should not get ihe tithe. Clewes and Bar- nett used to come to the captain's house, but not together. Some time before the murder, she, while search- ing for eggs, found a gun in a bag concealed in a hay-rick. She took it'to the house. The captain [and Mr. Banks desired her to keep it till it was owned. It was not loaded. A week after, Heming called and claimed it He said he hid it there because it rained. She gave him the gun, and never saw it after- wards, nor did the captain or Banks make any inquiry about it. On her return from milking, none of Captain Evans's people had gone in pursuit of the murderer. The cap- tain offered money for the appre- hension of Heming. This was some days afterwards. Never heard the captain or Banks say they expected to find him from the reward offered. Knew nothing of Heming being in the house the day after the murder. She did not carry any provisions to him. There was noj room in the house '^locked up, or to which she had not'access. She can take upon herself to say Heming was not in the house on the night of the mur- der, or the following day. People might come to the honse, and she not see them. There was no female servant besides herself. The house

was searched for Heming. Two constables stood at the front and two at the back-door, while the search was being made. This was some time after the murder, — as much as a week. She and Banks were at work at the time at the clo- ver-rick. She told Banks what she thought the men had come for. The house was never searched but that once ; can't say where Captain Evans was at the time. Knew Tay- lor ; he was a farrier at Droitwicb. Does not recollect seeing him at the captain's about the time of the mur- der. The clover was mowed on the day of the murder. N ever took any victuals up into the garret, and there left them. Pershore Fair is on the 26th of June ; Captain Evans did not go there that year ; she men- tioned the circumstance of finding the gun, and Heming claiming it, to many persons. Does not recollect old Taylor being brought to the house late at night, and the captain giving him brandy. Some time during the summer, when the par- son was shot, Captain Evans wanted her to drink d n to the par- son. Sthe refused doing so ; this was in the parlour ; Mrs. Banks and Miss Banks were present. Captain Evans was very much ofl'ended with her because she would not ; h6 never offered to put an oath of se- cresy to her. She did not know of his doing'jso to any one. Captain Evans used to go to Droitwich every Friday. Heming never wore a smockfrock, except when he had dirty work to do, and then he bor- rowed one. Captain Evans wall always speaking ill of Mr. Parker, because he would not set him the tithes. Has seen Heming in liquor at the captain's house. Langford and Light lived with the captain when she did.

Thomas Lloyd, labourer. — Lived in the employ of Mr. Parker. Never heard Mr. Batnett threaten Mr. Par-

12

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

ker ; but had seen him kick him. — They fell out about the tithes, and Mr. Barnettsaid, '* D — n your blood, take that/^ and kicked him. Has heard Barnett curse him at other times. Captain Evans and Mr. Banks frequently d — d the parson, in witness's hearing. Barnett was tried at the assizes for the assault.

Richard Page is a publican at Od- dingley. He saw Heming on the night of the murder. He had a pint of ale, and paid for it. He fhad a long blue coat hanging on his arm, and seemed in a great hurryj and much confused. About twenty mi- nutes after he left, the parson's man came, and said his master had just been shot. He never saw Heming afterwards,

Henry Elvins. — Lived with Cap- tain Evans, but never heard him say any thing against the parson. Has since worked for Mr. Barnett.

John Clewes, the elder, examined (This witness is brother to the Tho- mas Clewes who made|J^the confes- sion.) Is a farmer, and"lives at Wel- land ; in June, 1806, he was living at Netherwood with his brother, (Thomas Clewes) as carter. His brother dined at home the day Mr. Parker was shot. Witness heard of the murder about six or seven in the evenicg. Some men who were rid- ing past his brother's house shouted out that the parson had been shot ; does not know who they were ; did not go in pursuit of tlie murderer, as he did not think the report was true. His brother was out at the time, but whether on horseback or no he could not say ; he went out about the middle of the day ; he came home to supper, and then said, in hearing of Smith and Collins, that the parson was shot. Does not think he mentioned any person by name as the supposed murderer ; will not swear positively whether he did or not. Witness's brother did not say that it was a good thing ; he did not

request witness to go in pursrat o; the murderer; witness did not ask permission to go ; he never gave ii a thought. He learnt that nighi that the man who was supposed tc have done it had gone clean away ; believes his brother told him so.- — Will not swear that Heming's name was not mentioned ; can't tell who his brother said fhad informed him of the parson being shot. Went to bed after having his supper. He should wish to take a murderer at any time, but did not go in pursuit on this occasion. Did not know Heming, to the best of his know- ledge ; to the best of his knowledge, he had not seen him at his brother's the previous Sunday ; he might be there, and he not see him. Witness sometimes went to church, although his brother did not wish any of his servants to go there. Does not re- collect Mr. G. Banks coming to his brother's the following morning: believes he went to bed before his brother that night : he was at plough the following day. Does not know whether his brother was atOddingley on the morning of the 25th of June. He knew nothing about where<|his brother went. Did not know when his brother went to bed on the night of the 25th. Witness went to bed at nine o'clock, and never rose after- wards till the following morning. Will swear he was not in the barn that night. On the 20th of 'June his brother went to Pershore Fair. Neither! saw nor heard any one about the barn on the night of the 25th. There was a good house- dog on the premises. Witness did hear it bark in the night. His bro- ther did not tell him what he went to Pershore Fair about. lie neither took stock to sell, nor brought any back. Never heard his brother say anything of what had become of Heming. Witness thought he had gone out of the country. Kecollects some marl being put in the barn

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

13

about the time of Mr. Parker's death, but whether before or after, he'could not say. Swears that he did not , know that his brother, Captain I Evans, and Mr.G. Banks, were sust- pected of having driven^Heming to the murder of Mr. Parker. His brother never told him about it. Never heard of his brother having oft'ered a sum of money to have the parson shot ; can't say whether he ever heard his brother say that it would be no harm to shoot the par- sou ; he very likely might have heard him say so, but the observa- tion was not addressed to witness. His ; brother was in the habit of going to Mr. Barnett's and Mr. Evans's. 'Witness was not at the dinner at the Plough, the Lady-day before Mr. Parker's death; does not recollect hearing his brother say what toast was drunk there ; does not know whether the dog was tied up on the night of the 25th ; it was not usual to tie him up. Did not see his brother count any money on his return from Pershore Fair. Witness can positively swear . he knew nothing of how Heming lost his life, nor had the least reason in the world for supposing that he was buried in his brother's barn.

Jesse Candell, of Oddingley, de- posed that the parson was buried in the chancel of the church ; Banks was present, and looked into the grave and laughed: he[ said some- thing, but what, witness did not hear. He seemed glad the parson was dead.

John Clewes,jun. examined. — Is the son of Thomas Clewes, and is thirty years old. Remembers the death of Mr. Parker ; he was then about six years old ; heard of the Miurder the same evening ; he was, at the time, in the rick-yard ; his uncle John was not with liim ; heard nothing further that night ; his father did not say anything to him about it that night ; does not recollect see-

ing Captain Evans the next day, and his sending a message by wit- ness, saying he wanted to see wit- ness's father j he might have sent such a message, and witness have forgotten it. At the time of Mr. Parker's death, he did not sleep in in the same room as his father ; has heard his father say he knew no- thing of either of the murders ; wit- ness used to go to church, both be- fore and after the murder.

Mr. William Barnett examined — Was living at Oddingley in 1806, with his brother, Mr. J. Barnett. Heard of Mr. Parker's being shot on his return from Bronisgrove Fair on the evening of the 24th of June, about eight o'clock. Did not Sx^e Thomas Clewes at the fair. Was first told of it by the boy who took care of his horse. He did not tell him who w^as the person supposed to have shot the parson. Thinks he heard, the same evening, that it was supposed to be Heming, but he can't say who told him. He never spoke to Heming,nor should he have known him if he had seen him. Did not go in pursuit, as he heard other persons had gone, and he thought it would be of no use. Had no conversation with his brother that evening about the murder. He was constable at the time. Can't say whether he or his brother went to bed first. They slept in the same bed. Did not hear his brother say he had been up to Captain Evans that evening. Can't say whether his brother was at home or not when he returned. The spot where the parson was shot was dis- tant about a quarter of a mile from witness's brother's house. Although it was so near, and although the deceased was his rector, lie can't say he had any communication tiie same evening with his brother on the sub- ject. Captain Evans never came to this house, to witness's knowledge ; but G.Banks came sometimes. Never heard any conversation between

14

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

his broth*»r and Mr. Banks, respect- ing the clergyman. Recollects the meeting at the Plough at Tibberton. Thinks he was present. Does not recollect the health of the parson being drunk left-handed. Will not swear it was not so drunk in his pre- sence. There was a squabble in the evening. Perkins, J. Barnett, Hur- cott, Marshall, Banks, and Thomas Clewes, were present ; can't say whether Captain Evans was there ; the captain was a leading man among them. Will not swear he did not see his brother and Mr. G. Banks together, the day after the murder. His brother slept at home on the evening of the 2.5th of June, to the best of his belief. Was not at Per- shore Fair on the 26th of June, neither was his brother there, to his recollection. Has heard very little of the confession made by Clewes ; has not seen the account of it in the Worcester Journal. He understood that Clewes had charged Banks and Evans with being concerned in the business. Had not heard that Clewes had stated that witness's brother was at Pershore Fair on the 26!h of June. The farm was then the property of his mother, for her life. Witness went for the coroner to hold the in- quest; he thought that was his duty. Knew Thomas Clewes; he lived at Netherwood farm in 1806; never lent him any money, nor did witness's brother, to the best of his knowledge. Does not know of a certainty that his brollier now holds a bond of Clewes for 100/. Clewes has worked for witness and his brother since he left Netherwood. He never had any particular conversation with him about the murder of Mr. Parker. They did not treat him more kindly than the other men. Tiiey only era- ployed him occRsionally ; tliey era- ployed him l.'ist Michaelmas. Will swear he never heard of any sum of money being offered for the murder of Mr. Parker. Knows the ilaven

public-house, in the Droitwich road; will swear he was never in the inside of the house in the whole course of his life; swears he never drank

d n to the parson there. Does

not recollect the Rev. Mr. Cookers preaching at Oddingley Church, shortly after the death of Mr.-Parker, from the text, " Thou snalt do no murder.'' There was some law con- cern between his brother and the parson, about an assault. His bro- ther was beat. The bag and gun found near the spot where Mr.Parker was murdered, were afterwards in witness's possession, he being con- stable at the time ; does not know what marks were on the gun ; will swear he did not alter them ; can't tell who made their bags at the time. Believes his mother's initials, E. B., were on the sacks.

(The gun and sack were here pro- duced ; the gun was broken ; there appeared to have been initials on the sack ; but they were obliterated.)

Witness believes the gun and sack to be the same. Does not re- collect being told by a servant-girl that a man was in the habit of lurk- ing about their fields. Does not re- collect Mr. Parker's objecting to charges in the parish accounts for dinners. He was not overseer as well as constable that year.

The witness was here strictly ex- amined as to whether he had seen or heard read the whole or any part of the circumstantial account^ of Clewes's confession, published in the Worcester Journal of the preceding evening. He swore he had not read or heard any part of it ; he did not know it was published last rsight; he left Worcester for Oddingley last night, and never returned till eleven o'clock that morning. He had heard of a confession having been made by Clewes; he was told of on Wednesday, by his brother's solicitor, Mr. Lawrence; lie then heard of it first. Mr. Lawrence told

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

15

him thatClewes had said that Bankes and Evans were concerned in mur- dering Heming, or that they were accomplices, or something of that sort ; it was about dinner-time on Wednesday: he met Mr. Lawrence in the street, and went with him to the gaol to see witness'sbrother. Mr. Lawrence did not say anything about the confession at the gaol, as the turnkeys were by ; nothing passed except about the farming business. The confession was not talked of in witness's presence at the gaol ; no- thing was said about Pershore Fair, to the best of his knowledge. Does not.recollect his brother being told by Mr. Lawrence, in his presence, that Clewes had said that J. Barnett had given him a sum of money at Pershore Fair. Witness did not hear his brother say he did not give him any. He, his brother, and Mr. Law- rence were not in the Talbot-Irm yard on Tuesday afternoon, consult- ing together : he swears that.

Mr. Smith, the coroner, here said he saw them there himself.

The witness, however, persisted in saying he was not there. He heard on Tuesday afternoon of some confession being made, but not what. Was toid by Mr. Lawrence, on re- turning from the gaol, about the statement of Clewes, respecting the money he said was paid him at Per- shore fair; was not told by Mr. Law- rence to know nothing about Per- sliore fair, when he came to be ex- amined. Does not recollect being told by any person that Clewes had said Heming was murdered in his barn on the night of the 25th of June. Would not swear he was not told so.

The witness, for nearly half an hour, would not give a positive answer either way on this subject, although remonstrated with by the foremai], and threatened to be com- mitted, if he did not answer it, by the coroner. At last, he svi-ore positively that he had not been told of it by any body.

Sixth Day— Friday, Feb. 5, 1830.

Thursday was chiefly occupied by the coroner in his recapitulation of the evidence, after which the jury retired for about an hour, and then returned a verdict of " Wilful Mur- der against Thomas Clewes and GeorgeBanks and against John Bar- nett as an accessary before the fact."

Thomas Clewes, though he exhi- bited no symptoms of agitation when the first committal was announced to him, yet the solitude of a prison and 'the dread of future conse- quences, produced such an eifect upon him, that on Sunday he made his confession to the Rev. E, Clifton ; the consequence was, that on the af- ternoon of that day, two police offi- cers were dispatched in a chaise to Hanbury, to apprehend George Banks, who was one of the witnesses examined on Friday. They found him at home, and convej^ed him to the county gaol in the course of the evening.

George Banks is about forty-fivs years of age. He manages a farm for a female, at Hanbury, and pos- sesses property ; he seems to have been much respected in that neigh- bourhood. Taylor, whom Clewes charges with the murder of Hem- ing, was a farrier at Droitwich ; he is dead. Captain Evans died in May last, at Droitwich, at the age of 95 ; he was for many years a magistrate of Droitwich : he had retired from the 89th Foot, on half-yay. Mr. John Barnett is a farrier at Odding- ley : Clewes failed a (ew after Mr. Parker's murder. Heming was a native of Breden ; he bore an indif- ferent ciiaracier. The barn at Ne- therwood farm is completely pulled down, but the spot where the skele- ton was found is kept as free from disturbance as possible. Numbers have visited it daily since the in- quiry.

l^

THE MURDERED MURDERER.

At the time of the murder, Clewes was an opulent farmer ; the farm of Netherwood, which he held under Lord Foley, containing 160 acres of well-cultivated land. His affairs sub- sequently became embarrassed, and he made an assignment of his stock and other etfects to Mr. Waterson, for the benefit of his creditors. Since then he has worked as a farm labourer ; but, obtaining frequent employ from Lord Foley as woodman, he, has been able to maintain a more decent appearance than the average of agricultural la- bourers.

Mr. Banks is possessed of a goi property, is well educated, and pleasing address ; he kept a hunt< and was in the habit of mixing wi the gentlemen of the neighbourhood.

Mr. J. Barnett, the other allege participator in the crime of Heming: murder, is an extensive farmer at O dingley ; he inherits property devis' to him by his father's vv'ill, and is sa to be worth £20,000. He is about years old. It is said an applicati will be made to the King's Bench admit Messrs. Banks and Barnett bail.

CHEAP REABIMG!

Notn publishing in Numbers, every one complete in itself, price only ONE PENNY ca containing sixteen closely printed columns, and embellished ivilh Engravings,

THE UNIVERSAL PAMPHLETEER.

CONTENTS OF THE NUMBERS ALREADY PUBLISHED.

No. I. The ART of TELLING FORTUNES b^- CARDS. With an Eni,'raving.

2. LIFE of JONATHAN W ILD, with an Account of all his Villainies, and liis Portrait.

3. . Extraordinary Instances of SOMNO- LENCY ; with a Portrait.

4. History of R. HERTZ, from whom 395 Needles were extracted, with other similar cases.

5. LIFE and EXPLOITS of tiie notorious BUCKHORSE, with his Portrait.

6. Anecdotes of Celebrated DOGS ; with a Likeness of the Dog of St, Bernard Corivent.

7. LIFE of COOKE, the Actor ; with a Scene in his Life.

8. Trial of BURKE for the MURDERS in EDINBURGH ; with an Engraving.

9. Life of SAWJSEY BEANE, the Scotch Robber, Murderer, and Cannibal ; with an En- gravinsi

10. Curious History of the FEMALE HUS- BAND, James Allen.

11. AtrociousLife and Cruelties of MOTHER BROWNRIGG ; with a Frontispiece. .

12. An Exposure of the Adulterations of Tea ; with Engravings of the Tea and Sloe Plants.

13. Speech of EARL ELDUN, '>n iivc Caiiio- lic Question-

14. Anecdotes of Celebrated DOGS, Part 1 with an Engraving.

15. Unparalleled Feats of the American P nomenon, TOM THUMB ; with liis Liicenes

16. Trial of BIRMINGHAM, for the K sinaiton Murder; with an Engraving.

Tt— 18. The Whole ot the LAWS relating SAVINGS' BANKS.

19. The CASE of ELIZA PENNING, w Proofs of her Innocence; and" an Engraving

20. The whole ART of SWIMMING ; w an Engraving of the best Attitudes.

21. the GREENWICH HOAX ; with all Love-Letters.

22. The whole Art of Making FIREWORK with an Engraving of the Taking of Guy Faw

23—24. ilie NEW POLICE ACT ; with accurate Engraving of the New Police Constat

25—26. Life of "VIDOCQ, the French Pol Spy : with an Engraving.

27. Full History of the SIAMESE UNITl TWINS: with their Likeness.

28. Account of the Performances of the Gr SIAMESE ELEl'HAN'l" at the Adelphi.

29-30. THE UNIVERSAL VALENTIl WRII'ER; in Two Paris — Humorous^ and I rious.

[To be Continued.]

G. II, Davidson. Printer, Irelaiid Yard, Blackfriurs.

COUNTWAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE

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6535 GT C59

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