CRIME IN PAST TIMES

Girl's killer goes free

An inquest was held in Bourne on Wednesday 2nd June 1819 on a young woman who lived with her parents in the town but who had gone to work in service at a public house in Folkingham during the annual fair when business was brisk.

But, according to the Stamford Mercury, "she received in an affray some violent treatment from a person named Joseph Johnston, a travelling draper, who put up at the house, from the effect of which ill treatment she died after lingering for about a fortnight, the fatal wound being on the back of the head". The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Johnston and the coroner issued a warrant for his apprehension because he had disappeared.

The newspaper appeared to be convinced of his guilt because it reported in its next issue on June 11th that because "Joseph Johnston will in all probability be put on trial for his life at the next assizes, it would not be right to enter at this time into particulars of the evidence in a newspaper read in every parish of the county in which he is to be tried as the effect would necessarily be to excite some prejudice.

"We must say, however, generally, that we understand the principal evidence against him consists of declarations made by the deceased shortly before her death. What the state of mind the sufferer might be at that time will become subject of enquiry. Johnston is yet at large; it is said he will surrender himself at the time of the assizes."

In the event, Johnston, who was described as a draper, did appear before Lincoln Crown Court on Monday 26th July charged with wilful murder at Folkingham on the day stated, the case to be heard before the judge, Chief Baron Richards, and a grand jury of 15 men.

But the grand jury found No True Bills against him which in legal parlance meant that the charge was dismissed because there was insufficient evidence against him to convict and as a result he was discharged.

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