Morning Advertiser (London) – Saturday 18 September 1847

The Late Murder at Swinton.

At the Coroner’s inquest held upon the body of Caleb Parker, at Swinton Bridge, evidence was given that a young man, answering to a certain description, was seen near the spot where the murder was subsequently committed.

This young man was talking in so strange and inconsistent manner, that suspicions were expressed the time as to his character—and particularly as he gave no satisfactory account of himself.

This man was the only suspicious character seen in the neighbourhood on the night of the murder, and his description was minutely detailed man and woman who had seen him. He had on a blue coat and waistcoat, and moleskin trousers, in dirty state, as though he had been employed as a navigator. This man removed from Swinton, and was afterwards suspected of committing a burglary at Great Houghton, and also of stealing a cow. From the house broken into were stolen a quantity of silver spoons, on which were certain marks; and on Wednesday afternoon some of these spoons were found pawned by the prisoner, in West bar, Sheffield.

The man’s description having been given to the pawnbroker, he promptly sent for the police, and Inspector Astwood, took the prisoner into custody. He had, on the previous evening, threatened to stab a female with a butcher’s dressing-knife. When he was taken to the Town Hall, he was searched, and the lower part of his moleskin trousers contained several marks of blood—whether this may form any clue to the discovery of the murder, remains to be seen but the description of the man seen at Swinton, on the night of the murder, and that of the prisoner, correspond in so complete and extraordinary manner, that no doubt seems to be entertained that he is one and the same person.

At Sheffield, he pave the name of Wm. Shakespeare—but at Swinton, he said his name was Edwin Garland, and that his mother was an unmarried woman, named Sellars. He was brought up at the Town Hall on Thursday before the Mayor, in company with a man named Thomas Robinson, a notoriously bad character.

Mr. Raynor then informed the Mayor that the prisoner had been taken into custody on suspicion of having committed a burglary at Great Houghton, on the previous day, at the house of Mr. W. Brookes, as above stated. He was offering more spoons for sale in West bar when he was apprehended. From the description given there was no doubt whatever that this formed a portion of the property stolen from Great Houghton. Besides this there was another charge against the prisoner, viz., for stealing a cow, and which he was afterwards seen offering for sale in Rotherham market. Under these circumstances (Mr. Raynor added) he would apply to have the prisoner remanded. This was accordingly done, and Robinson was discharged. The latter appeared quite unconcerned while before the Mayor, and treat the charge against him very lightly. He, however, made no defence, nor did he deny the charge against him.

It is expected that when further evidence is obtained against him he will be taken before the bench magistrates at Rotherham.