Carlisle Journal December 19^th 1856

The Staffield Murder

The adjourned inquest will be held at Ainstable this (Friday) morning, but the court will be a close one, as on the last occasion. Mr Robinson, superintendent, had been busily engaged in the neighbourhood where the murder was committed, and it is expected that some very important evidence will be forthcoming today. It will be proved, we understand, that on the afternoon of the day of the murder, William Graham told a man named Francis Boustead that he was going to poach that night, and that if the gamekeeper from Staffield came across his path he would finish him – or words to that effect.

We are not in a position to state the exact nature of the report made by the medical gentlemen to whom the bloody clothes were submitted, but we understand it is not quite so satisfactory as was first anticipated. We are informed that many of the stains were found to contain a mixture of the blood of both birds and mammalia.

Since the 9^th inst the three prisoners have been confined in the House of Correction at Penrith. Each prisoner has a separate room, so that they have little chance of communication with each other. A very remarkable change has come over William Graham since the 9^th inst. He has become fretful and nervous, and has been suffering from inflammation of the chest, which the medical gentlemen who attended him is of the opinion was brought on by anxiety of mind.

 

REMAND OF THE PRISONERS

Mr Hasell and Mr F B Atkinson attended at the Police Office on Tuesday, to remand the prisoners.

Henry and Joseph appeared to be in good health and spirits, but William could scarcely walk along the passage to the room where the magistrates were in attendance. His features had a careworn appearance. He seemed to be crushed down with grief. – totally prostrated. When he spoke in answer to Inspector Robinson, who inquired after his health, his voice was quite tremulous.

Mr Inspector Robinson said he had been requested by the Superintendent to ask for a remand of the prisoners, as he had got some additional evidence.

Mr HASELL – Is that evidence strong?

Mr ROBINSON – Very strong, I believe, from what he told me.

Mr HASELL – (to Mr Atkinson) That will justify us.

Mr ROBINSON – The Superintendent intends to have all done against the inquest. There is some more evidence as strong as this (Meaning some dispositions which had been made recently.)

Mr HASELL – Well, prisoners, you are remanded on a charge of murder until this day week, to be brought up at the George, at 11 o’clock; and you, William Graham are also remanded for the assault upon Clement Richardson. We have come up here rather than have you again brought through the streets.

 

 

 

2^nd Jan 1857 Carlisle Journal

The Staffield Murder

The magistrates resumed their inquiry on Friday last at the Penrith police-office. The proceedings were again conducted in private. William Graham was committed for trial at the ensuing Carlisle assizes on the charge of murder; Henry Graham was remanded until this day (Friday); and Joseph, the youngest of the brothers, was discharged in consequence of insufficient evidence. We are informed that Henry was in the first instance discharged, in order that he might be placed in the witness box to give evidence against his brother William but was afterwards again taken into custody and remanded till today on the charge of being an accessory after the fact.