GORSE HALL MURDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9159, 8 March 1910, Page 7

GORSE HALL MURDER.

HOWARD ACQUITTED

(By Electhic Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) LONDON, March 4. Cornelius Howard, charged with the murder of Mr Storrs, successfully proved an alibi, and was acquitted.

Mr Storrs, a building contractor, wae fatally stabbed at his residence, Gorse Hall, Dorsetshire, early in November last. It was at first supposed the murderer was a burglar, and he was seen by one of the maids hiding behind the kitchen door. He pointed a revolver at her, saying, "Not a word!" The girl, however, rushed from the room and raised the alarm. The probability is that the man thereupon attempted to fire the revolver, because the weapon shows signs of having missed fire. Mrs Storrs then came running on the scene, and caught up a heavy stick with which to strike the intruder. According to one of the maids, he was heard to say, "Don't hit me !" and he threw away the useless revolver. Almost simultaneously, Mr Storrs himself put in an appearance and grappled with the man, calling to Mrs Storrs and the maids to ring the alarm. Mrs Storre ran to do this, while Miss Lindley, the daughter, and one of the servants made for the Liberal Club, near the entrance to the estate. Meanwhile, Mr Storrs was engaged ,-in a death-struggle with his assailant, who would seem to have drawn a dagger and struck bis adversary no fewer than sixteen times. Despite his terrible injuries, Mr Storrs made a last effort, and, rushing the miscreant into the scullery, locked him in. He then managed to reach the kitchen, where he collapsed. Finding himself entrapped, the murderer broke the sashes of a- small window in the scullery, and escaped. Later, Howard, Mr Storrs' cousin, was arrested, and was identified by throe persons, including Mrs Storrs, as the assailant. On the other hand, several witnesses were called to prove an alibi.