CRIPPLED BOY'S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 24, 22 February 1909, Page 4

CRIPPLED BOY'S DEATH.

A MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER. THE JURY DISAGREE. London, February 18. The jury disagreed in the trial of Mrs. Haskell 1 a«t Devizes for the alleged murder of the cripple bov Teddv on 31st October.

VY MlDNßi'ltT UUli AND CRY. The Daily News rf Ist November Stated: —A inystcrioiK murder was committed at Salisbury, the victim being a crippled lad named Edwin llaskell, aged twelve years, who was found dead in liis bed with a deep pish in his throat. The Iboy, who lived witli his mother, a widow, itmong tho artisan class and railway workers,, went ito bed at 10 o'clock, jand, was left alone in the house for labout a quarter of tin hour while liis .mother went out to purchase provisions. |A lad named Percy Noble, a cousin of the victim, called at the house at lialf,past 10, and ltad just entered the hack door when he heard has aunt erv out, f'Stop that man; lie has murdered my ■Teddy." The woman then rushed into Ithe road and raised] aln alarm. There ,was a line and cry hi the streets, hut ,in the neighborhood, with its short 'terrace,; and many corners, it was an easy .ma.tter for a man to escape pursuers on a dark night. There is some suggestion that tho murderer was bent upon u robbery of a particularly mean character. | iThe crippled boy Juul for some years ibefln saving tip all his oddipenee to purchase a, cork leg to take the place of ithc limb lie lost some years ago. The neighbors, out. of their small earnings, had been extremely generous to the .boy. and he had saved about £B, which lie kept 111 11. box in a "bedroom. Mrs. 1 task ell states that £4 of the boy's sivings is missing. She. says that directly after her nephew knocked at the door she heard a noise in her son's tied:i'ooni anil sanv a- man come downstairs anil escape by (he street door, throwing down a blood stained lmife as he jran. Apparently the boy was killed while sleeping peacefully. The, city police immediately took steps to form « .cordon round the city and district in order that no one might lcavo without being seem. Mr. Frank Richardson, the chief constable, telephoned to all the neighboring towns, posted men at the exits from tile city, and had the eounjry roads searched 'by officers on cycles. The indignation, of the residents of .Fishcrtoii, .the district in which the crime was committed, was very great, aaid bands of 'men with lanterns set out to .search (the downs and faran lands irarnd the city. The unfortunate boy vitSim was quite a. local character. Although he. had only one leg he was very active., and actually kept goal for one of the minor Salisbury football teams.