SENSATIONAL STORY OF SACRILEGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2769, 12 April 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

SENSATIONAL STORY OF SACRILEGE.

A Chester correspondent - telegraphs : — '! At Eddisbury (Cheshire) Petty Sessions to-day (Monday) John Henry Thompson, alias Jones, was charged on remand with breaking into Norley Church, Cotebronk Church, and Norley Wesleyan Chapel. Prisoner, since his incarceration in Knutsford Gaol, has confessed that he murdered Lance-Corporal Marshall ou the Canal, near Chester, in the summer of ISSS. He further gave details of a number of serious crimes which he says he has committed in different parts of the country. The police are making enquiries into these, and the prisoner to-day was simply charged with sacrilege. He conducted himself during the hearing in the most eccentric manner, and the general impression was that he was shamming insanity. He was caught while endeavouring to sell the Communiou plate stolen from Norley Church at a Crewe silversmith's. Superintendent Walker said prisoner sent for him to his cell and made a confession, in the course of which he detailed how he had committed the robberies. He entered Norley Church by the window, and, fiuding a lamp, lighted it and walked up to the altar. Here he took up the crucifix, and after examining it went into another part of the church, where he found a safe and let it fall on the floor. It opened, and he exclaimed, " Goly ! here's soma money," but when he looked he only found some paper.*, which he scattered about the place, and said " What a sell !" adding to witness, •' and it was a sell, too." He then wrenched a cupboard open, afterwards hitting the door with the cross, breaking it. In the cupboard lie found a casket, ..and some plate bearing the initials "I. U.S." All of these articles were of silver. He also took two bottles of wine, a portion of which he poured into a silver cup and drauk "to the health of all the Saints in the Calendar !" He then lighter! the fire with the candles, and anything else combustible he could lay his hands on. He put a coalbox on the fire, and placed the silver in it to melt, but as that could not be done he allowed the silver to cool and pack it up. As he was leaving the church he fouKd the money-box, which he broke open, but there was only a penny in it. He then described how he successfully broke into the Norley Wesleyan Chapel and Norley Temperance Hall. After that he walked about three or four miles to another church, Cotebrook, where he broke the window, got inside, and burst a cupboard open. He got onlj one bottle and a-half of wine. He looked everywhere for the safe and silver, but could not find them. Again he lighted a fire, and lay down and slept until near nine o'clock. Superintendent Walker: This is his statement. Prisoner : Hold hard Why don't you read the other thing ? Superintendent Walker: Because it has nothing whatever to do with the case. Prisoner : It is one which should have been seen before this. It is more serious than this. Asked if he had anything to say, prisoner said : Yes. If you want that silver flagon and plate I took from Norley Church, take me down and I will get it. If you don't want it, that's all right. The Chief Constable observed that he had made arrangements for the prisoner to be conveyed to the npot on the following day. Asked why he should not be oommitted to the assizes, priaoner said: Yes ; I have a word to say against that. I have given myself up for committing two murder.'', and I feel I ought to be tried for them, instead of for this. I don't want to get so much time for this and to be j*ulled up again fer the other offences. I mean what I say; I'm not ' codding.' I can prove that I did it (to Colonel Hammersley, the Chief Constable) as sure as lam here, Colonel. The Chief Constable added that he had communicated with the police authorities in the districts where the murders are alleged to have been committed, and, if necessary, the prisouer would be brought up again while waiting trial on the present chargo. He was then formally committed to the as.iizes.''