CORSE HALL MYSTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2714, 20 January 1910, Page 7

CORSE HALL MYSTERY.

VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER AGAINST ACCUSED. MAN IDENTIFIED. Tbe coroner’s resumed inquiry into tbe murdeir of Mr. George Harry Storrs, at Gorse Hall, on November 1, termina. ted on November 27 at Dukinfield, with a verdict of wilful murder against Cornelius Howard, aged thirty-one, an ex-army man and a cousin of the dead man. There were several sensational incidents during the hearing, which occupied ove r seven hours. The most notable was the apnearance_ of Mrs. Storrs, who was re-called. Already tbe accused had been identified by Miss Lindlev. tbe adonted daughter of Mr. Storrs, and the two servants at Gorse Hall, although thev stated that the dead man’s assailant had a moustache, while Howard is clean shaven. Tbe first witness called was Constable Schofield, who arested the prisoner at Oldham, on November 17. The accused gave the name of “John Ward, of ’Huddersfield,” but changed this at the police station to “Cornelius Howard, pork butcher.” He knew he was wanted by the police because “he bad seen it in tbe newspapers.” An inspection by Sorgeant Wheeler showed that Howard’s clothing bore traces of blood, and that be had a knife in his possession. —The Prisoner’s Wounds. — Howard’s account of Ins whereabouts during the last two months was as follows : “I was locked up for shopbreaking at Sheffield in July last, and was tried: on October 11 and acquitted. I went to Huddersfield on about October 16 and stayed at Tom Joyce’s lodgings, Lower Head-road. I went to Leeds for two days, returning to the same lodgings at Huddersfield on October 31, and stayed there until November 11, when I came to Oldham. The wounds on his ho attributed to glass falling on his legs at Joyce’s lodging-house on November 10, when tho landlord was handling glass. He denied that the right leg was cut, and bo tried to rub off a bruise, saying it was dirt. Inspector Brewster, of the Dukinfield Police, stated that Howard gave to him tbe following explanation of the bloodstains on his clothes and boots and the injury to bis left leg. Howard said: “The wound-on my left leg was caused by a large piece of jagged glass which fell on me while I was smashing a window on Wednesday night, November 11, at Stalybridge, at the premises of Messrs. Dansey and Walkers, wholesale grocers, near the town hall. I hit the window with a stone, and some of the glass fell inside, and some outside falling on my leg and causing the injury.” William Thomas Wilson, a laborer and hawker, stated that ho met Howard at Joyce’s lodging-house, Huddersfield. They placed dominoes frequently. At noon on Sunday, October 31. Howard left the lodging-house, and the witness did not sec him - again until the Tuesday or Wednesday following. He was not there on the night- of November 1. Howard was clean-shaven. Mrs Alice Doolan, who assists her father in the keeping of a lodging-house in Boardman street, Oldham, said thata man whom she identified ns Howard, came to her between half-past, ten and II o’clock on November 1, and asked to stay, tho night. He stayed and left before sho got up. Howard bad asked the way to Hull. —“I Think He-i 6 the Man.”—

Tliene was a painful -scene at this stage, when Mrs Storrs, dressed in deep mourning, was brought into court assisted by her brother-in-law, Mr James Storrs, J.P., and Miss Lindlev, her adopted daughter. The widow was deeply affected whije giving her evidence, and several times broke into tears. Seated only a little way from ■Howard, she was as'lced if she recognised him as the man who struggled with Mr Storrs on November 1. Slightly raising her head and turning in the direction of the accused, she quietly regarded him for a few moments. Then, in: a voice almost inaudible, she murmured, “I think he is the man.” Immediately after this ordeal she broke into tears, and Miss Lindley helped her to smelling salts. Mr. James Storrs, brother of tbe deceased, gave evidenoo. “I have not seen Howard”*’ he said ; “since about eleven years ago, when his mother was buried. I do not know that ho had any grievance against the -deceased, nor do I know of any he could have.” The coroner addressing tbe accused, asked him if be had anything to say. Howard replied: “I just wish to say I am perfectly innocent and know nothing of this charge against me.” After an absence of an hour and three-quarters the jury returned into court with a unanimous verdict of wilful murder against Cornelius Howard.