DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0097
ABRAHAM THORNTON.
75
continued in a zig-zag direction, for nearly two yards. There
was some blood also on some grass more to the left of the
pit, and a much larger quantity by the side of a bush. After
relating what I had seen, at the works at Penn’s Mill, I
returned with some assistance to the pit, and then went to
my work.
William Lavell sworn. Examined by Mr, Clarke.
I am a workman belonging to Penn’s Mills. I recollect see-
ing George Jackson, on the morning of the 27th of May.
In consequence of what I heard from him, I went to the
pit. In going along the ploughed field towards Erdington,
I examined the foot-path, to see if I could see any foot-
steps—and I soon discovered several impressions of a man’s
foot; the toe part of which were pointing to the corner of
the field, where there is a dry pit. About eight yards further,
on the foot-path, I saw the impression of a woman’s foot,
leading to the right, in the same direction as the man’s; I
traced them for fifteen yards further. [By the plans pro-
duced, it seemed as if the woman, going towards Langley,
had made an attempt to pass the man, by running out of the
path, and making a circuitous race out of his line: and that
the man, (who had been either waiting for her, or coming on
to meet her,) seeing this, had run out of the path to intercept
her. It was clear, also, that she had been coming from
Erdington, and that he had been moving in a contrary direc-
tion.] They then came together; and from that spot I
traced the footsteps of both to the corner of the field, within
a dozen yards of the dry pit, near to which appeared a number
of foot-marks in all directions, apparently made by twro per-
sons dodging each other, or as if one had been pursued by the
other. The foot-marks up to this spot appeared to have
been made by two persons running. I then traced the foot-
steps upon the grass near to the dry pit, and from thence to
another pit in the harrowed field. These footsteps appeared
to be made by persons walking. The woman’s footsteps
were sometimes on the harrowed ground, and sometimes on
the grass at the edge of the field; the man’s were mostly
75
continued in a zig-zag direction, for nearly two yards. There
was some blood also on some grass more to the left of the
pit, and a much larger quantity by the side of a bush. After
relating what I had seen, at the works at Penn’s Mill, I
returned with some assistance to the pit, and then went to
my work.
William Lavell sworn. Examined by Mr, Clarke.
I am a workman belonging to Penn’s Mills. I recollect see-
ing George Jackson, on the morning of the 27th of May.
In consequence of what I heard from him, I went to the
pit. In going along the ploughed field towards Erdington,
I examined the foot-path, to see if I could see any foot-
steps—and I soon discovered several impressions of a man’s
foot; the toe part of which were pointing to the corner of
the field, where there is a dry pit. About eight yards further,
on the foot-path, I saw the impression of a woman’s foot,
leading to the right, in the same direction as the man’s; I
traced them for fifteen yards further. [By the plans pro-
duced, it seemed as if the woman, going towards Langley,
had made an attempt to pass the man, by running out of the
path, and making a circuitous race out of his line: and that
the man, (who had been either waiting for her, or coming on
to meet her,) seeing this, had run out of the path to intercept
her. It was clear, also, that she had been coming from
Erdington, and that he had been moving in a contrary direc-
tion.] They then came together; and from that spot I
traced the footsteps of both to the corner of the field, within
a dozen yards of the dry pit, near to which appeared a number
of foot-marks in all directions, apparently made by twro per-
sons dodging each other, or as if one had been pursued by the
other. The foot-marks up to this spot appeared to have
been made by two persons running. I then traced the foot-
steps upon the grass near to the dry pit, and from thence to
another pit in the harrowed field. These footsteps appeared
to be made by persons walking. The woman’s footsteps
were sometimes on the harrowed ground, and sometimes on
the grass at the edge of the field; the man’s were mostly