I saw Graham on the following morning and he told me that he had struck at Clem – meaning Clement Richardson. I saw him at Croft House. He told me that he had knocked Clement Richardson off the hedge. I saw Clement Richardson on the Sunday evening; his face was much swollen. If I am not mistaken, he had a cut above one eye. I never saw the prisoner afterwards. He was not about home. When we met Clement Richardson he appeared to be fresh in drink.
Mr MOORE declined to cross – examine the witness.
The prisoner was then remanded.
The Staffield Murder
Henry Graham, William Graham and Joseph Graham (who had been brought by train from Carlisle gaol that morning by Superintendent Robinson) were again placed in the dock, on remand, charged with the wilful murder of Thomas Simpson.
Mr R B MOORE of Carlisle appeared on behalf of the prisoners.
No evidence was tendered but Mr ROBINSON applied that the prisoners might be remanded for a week, and that they might be detained in Penrith lockup instead of being sent to Carlisle gaol. At the present time his force was so much occupied that he could not spare men to go back and forward to Carlisle with them.
Mr MOORE objected to the prisoners remaining in Penrith, on account of the inconvenience of communicating with them.
Mr ROBINSON said if the prisoners wished to be examined before the coroner on Friday it would be more convenient for them to be at Penrith.
Mr MOORE said the prisoners had no wish to appear before the coroner.
The magistrates consulted for a few minutes after which they remanded the prisoners to Penrith lockup.
Carlisle Journal December 12th 1856
The Staffield Murder
We have but few additional facts to mention in connection with this murder, beyond what have already been published in these columns. The coroner having made his last sitting a private one, the most recent discoveries of the police have not yet transpired, but it is stated that a clue has been obtained to some evidence which in all probability will bring to bear very strongly against at least two of the prisoners.
One fact is that certain property has been found in the possession of one of the Grahams, which there will be no difficulty in proving to have belonged to the deceased … The bench, as our readers are aware, have not yet gone into any evidence with respect to the murder, and in all likelihood they will not do so until the coroner has brought his investigation to a close.
It will be recollected that on the evening of Saturday the 15th ult, the youngest prisoner, Joseph Graham (who is a tall, simple, awkward–looking lad) had returned home from Carlisle hiring, where he had been engaged by Mr William Richardson of Wetheral Shields. He went to his situation on the Monday following, taking with him a bundle, which he carelessly slung beneath the sink-stone.