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- Transcribed by unknown author unknown author
- Edition: March 31, 1882 March 31, 1882
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Page 7 of 9
THE WORKINGTON MURDER
MURDER
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EXAMINATION OF HARRISON
YESTERDAY.
Part Seven.
William WILSON deposed: I am a stone mason and live in North Wall Street. Knew the deceased Lucy SANDS and often met her on the street and stopped to talk to her. Once walked her out to the cemetery. That would be about a month before she was missing. Have never been out with her since. The last time I saw her was one Thursday night standing on the bridge at Speedwell-lane with SHAOONON and CRANNIE. I believe that was the night she was missing. Did not speak to them. Did not speak to CRANNIE, SHANNON, or SANDS either that night or during the day. Had not spoken to Lucy SANDS about a week before that time. Never made an appointment to meet her. Walked with Lucy SANDS one night on the North-side. Came up from the dock with her. I am quite sure I had no appointment to meet her on this Thursday night. Had no appointment with CRANNIE or SHANNON. If anybody states that I had an appointment on that night it is untrue. On the same night I saw MAINPRIZE in John-street, when we turned, and then came up as far as the Wesleyan Chapel. We parted there and I went home. It would be about half an hour after before I went to bed. It would be about eleven o'clock when I went to bed.
Cross examined by Mr. PAISLEY: MAINPRIZE and I are friendly; we sometimes go a-bicycle riding together. On the night of the 1st December we were in the Royal Oak together till about ten o'clock. On the night before the first December I was in Maryport. I once took a walk out with SHANNON last summer.
At this point the Court adjourned for three quarters of an hour. The Court assembled again at half past two o'clock. The first witness called was:
Jane SHANNON, who deposed: I lived in Grapesyard. Knew the prisoner. Have known him for about twelve months, during which time I have been keeping company with him. Remember the night of 1st of December. On that night I was in Pow-street with Mary LAWSON, Margaret CRANNIE and Lucy SANDS. They were all talking together. Thought Margaret CRANNIE talked to LAWSON first. Margaret CRANNIE proposed to go to the North-side. The north-side had not been mentioned before that I can remember. CRANNIE asked Mary LAWSON if she would go, and Mary LAWSON said she was going home. Do not remember if Lucy had spoken before to Mary LAWSON. Lucy asked Mary LAWSON also. The three of us started for the North-side. We had been at work that day till tea time. LAWSON was with us. It was between half past seven and eight o'clock when we started. We went over the cleator and Workington Junction Railway Bridge. It was moonlight. We went up to West Cumberland Iron and Steel Works. We were seated at the chimney when Maynard HARRISON came down. Lucy SANDS proposed going into the works. She (SANDS) said nothing about going to see HARRISON. We all three went into the works together. When Maynard came up he asked us all three if we would go into the works, and he would let us see them. We all went. HARRISON and CRANNIE went first, and Lucy and I walked after. We were not far apart. We came out by the same way that we went in. We went to see the iron run out of the furnaces. Stopped in the works about a quarter of an hour, and then came out, and the prisoner came with us. Came out of the works on the road between HARRISON's house and the office, and stood by the garden gate.
Margaret CRANNIE asked Maynard HARRISON if he would let them see the garden, and he said, "Yes," and they all four went into the garden. The gate was not locked. After they got in they went round the garden, and then came and sat doen on the seat beside the door. HARRISON also sat down next to witness. They sat about five or ten minutes before anyone moved. Lucy SANDS moved first. She got up and went out by the garden door on the road; Margaret CRANNIE followed immediately after. That was the last I saw of Lucy.
In answer to the Chairman, the witness said: Lucy was out of the door before CRANNIE followed her. I believe the whole time we were sitting on the seat HARRISON had his arms around me. I don't think HARRISON had his arms around me when they went out. He was not kissing me. We were laughing and larking. We were not laughing loud enough for any person to hear us on the road. Where we were sitting is close to the door. I did not leave the seat again to go into the garden. We remained there all the time we were there. When walking round the garden, HARRISON was next to Margaret CRANNIE, and Lucy and I were behind. Do not remember HARRISON joining Lucy at any time in the garden, or him speaking to her. I think the garden door was closed. From the time we went into the garden to the time that Lucy went out the door, I did not hear any talk that her and HARRISON had together. Do not remember seeing HARRISON have hold of Lucy. When I came out of garden I did not see Lucy. HARRISON came out with me, and we met Margaret CRANNIE just outside the garden gate. I asked Margaret where Lucy was and she replied, "She has gone round by the offices." We all three stood talking a while, and HARRISON went up the steps to go to the house. Did not see the door open. He did not come along the road before we parted. He said he would set us home, and we said, "No thank you; we can go ourselves." Am quite positive that after Lucy went out the garden door that I never saw her again. I did not make any inquiries for Lucy that night. We came straight home. It was between nine and ten o'clock when we got home. When we left HARRISON he told us it would be about half past nine. We came back by the new bridge the same way we came by, and through Speedwell-lane.
Lucy's grandmother came down to our house the following afternoon, and told me Lucy was missing. I was surprised. It was on the Friday when the grandmother told me Lucy was missing. About eight o'clock I met HARRISON on Speedwell-lane, but not by appointment. I left off work at four o'clock. "Cheap John" was in Speedwell-lane and I met HARRISON at his stand. HARRISON had not sent me any message, and I had not sent him any message. I had told two or three persons about Lucy being missing before I met HARRISON. Asked HARRISON at "Cheap John's" if he had seen Lucy SANDS, and he said he hadn't seen her since she left the garden, and I told him about her grandmother being down to our house to ask if I had seen Lucy, and that I had told her that I had not.
~To be continued...