Sketch plan to enabling to follow the evidence:— A. Dickens' cottage. B. Stile over which Dickens went to his work, along footpath. C. Where Dickens was work on Wednesday morning, and where the tools were found. D. Pond near which the basket was found. E. Spot where the murder took place and from which the body was dragged to F. where it was found concealed in ditch.

After the jury had been sworn, the coroner said they had met to enquire how and under what circumstances Joseph Dickens had come by his death. The deceased was a man they had all doubtless known as an inoffensive, respectable citizen, and there was one thing more clear than another; he had come to death through brutal violence. There was apparently question about that it appeared the deceased went to his work on the afternoon of the day as he did not come home again, a search was made for him, but could not be found that night. The next morning, however, his body was found in a ditch, with a wound to the head, and appeared to have been shot through the back whilst lying down, and by a gun that was placed close to his body. If it was so it was clearly a case of murder, and it was the duty of the jury to enquire if it was so, and if they could, further, to say who was guilty the crime. The evidence was not conclusive against anybody, nor did it point to anybody directly. They would as far as they could that day, and, if the police thought it necessary, could adjourn in order to give opportunity for bringing further evidence. If the jury did not wish to be called together again it rested with them to say that murder had been committed by some persons unknown, such a verdict would not stop the police from making enquiries. They could with this case, and if anyone was found could bring him before the magistrates without prejudicing the case. An adjournment might indeed useful, as he had power to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence that the police had not. However, as he had said, the man had been murdered, and it was their duty to enquire how. He hoped, whatever might be the result that enquiry that eventually the person or persons who committed the act, would, for the sake of the community large, and for the sake of that locality particular, be discovered. He believed that the great majority of the people, not all of them, would be anxious to see that the criminal was brought to justice, and would aid the police their enquiries. He hoped every citizen in the place would turn himself into amateur till the mystery surrounding the affair was elucidated. It was, not a disgrace, a slur upon a place of that size that murder be committed and the murderer undiscovered. Somebody in the place must, he thought, have some notion as to who was seen the direction of the place, and if all who knew anything would give information to the police, their enquiries would be helped. He hoped if anybody had any information to give they would give it, that the criminal might brought to justice. The jury then proceeded to view the body, which was lying on the floor of the little house that deceased occupied, and on their return the following evidence was called: Fanny Jackson, wife of George Jacksen, identified the body of deceased that Joseph Dickens, who was a farm labourer and occupied bit of land. He was 72 years of age. Witness and her husband lived in the same house with deceased. On Wednesday last he went home to his dinner as usual about twenty minutes past one, and left the house again shortly before two o'clock to go back to work. He usually returned in the afternoon about half-past five, but did not so on Wednesday, and in consequence of this she made inquiries and told his employer, Mr. Wyldes. She never saw deceased again till he was brought home dead. She did not know anything of deceased carrying his money about with him, as he seldom said anything of it. She did not, however, think he had much money, he was man who always paid his way. She did not see any one on the road after deceased. By Mr. Skinner: Deceased did not tell her he had got a bill of £5 to make up. John Underwood, labourer, Rushden, deposed that he knew the deceased, and saw him about a quarter to two Wednesday afternoon on the Bedford-road, and walked with him far as the footpath that goes across to Park, where deceased left him across the field. This path was only hundred yards or so from the village. Witness saw him go as far the allotment ground, but when he got to the second field from road witness could see him no further. Deceased went in the direction Mr. Wyldes' land, and told witness he was going back to his work. The only person witness saw about was little girl. He only went a short way along the road, where he saw man who was doing threshing, and who went on towards the town. John Wyldes, farmer, Rushden, gave evidence that the deceased was a labourer in his employ. On Wednesday witness set him to trim hedge in field which is approached by a footpath from the Bedford-road. He started on the work about half the morning, and witness saw no more of him. He ought to have come back to the farm buildings about five o'clock in the afternoon, but did not do so. In consequence of what Mrs. Jackson told him a search was made for deceased, and continued all the evening. They proceeded to the field where they supposed deceased had been at work, and whilst Jackson found a fork which deceased had taken from the farm for his work that morning, the hedge-trimmer was also found close by. This was the field in which deceased had worked during the morning, but the afternoon he had been at work another field. As far as witness knew deceased had had no quarrel with his fellow-workmen. By Mr. Skinner: He was not a quarrelsome man. €”By Mr. Wilkins: He drew his harvest money some months ago. €”By another juror: Witness lived near the deceased for some years, and knew that his house was broken into on one occasion. He never heard him say he had suspected any particular person of the robbery. By the Coroner: He did not hear deceased say he should carry his money about with him. He found that the deceased during the latter portion of Wednesday had been cutting a hedge in a stubble field, known Lang Furlong, whilst the tools were found in Eight Acre Field, which was nearer Rushden. Thomas Tomlinson, farm bailiff, living at Rushden Lodge, deposed that on Thursday morning, about a quarter past eight, he was on the footpath leading from Higham Park to Rushden, when he met man named Thomas Childs coming towards him from the direction of Rushden across the field. Childs, who had three dogs with him, asked witness if he had seen anyone that way. He did not mention any name, and witness replied, "No; I've met neither man nor woman." Childs then said, "We have lost Joe Dickens, and I am looking for him." Witness suggested that Childs should look the other side of the hedge in the ditch, and he would look the other way he went towards Rushden. Childs and witness passed on their way, but immediately afterwards Childs called him and said, "Here he is." Witness then went back to where Childs stood, and saw man's feet lying in the bottom of the ditch, which is 7ft. or 8ft. deep. He could see no more, as the body was covered over. When he got to the spot Childs said. Here he is; he's done it." Witness replied, "It's very evident he has never covered himself up." Childs asked witness to go to Mr. Wyldes' farm and fetch a horse and cart, and also tell the police. The body was not touched, and witness left Childs with it whilst he went to tell Mr. Wyldes and the police.—By Mr. Skinner: He took it for granted that the body was that of Dickens.—Continuing, the witness said the body was covered with sedge grass and hedge toppings. There was blood on the grass and on the bridge close by the ditch.€” By Superintendent Bailie: Witness afterwards saw marks of the body being across the stubble lield, and there was blood about the field. Thomas Childs, said he was a shoe finisher, and acted sometimes game watcher to Mr. H. Sartoris. He heard on Wednesday evening of Dickens being missed, but did not go search of him that evening. He heard of it whilst in the Compasses Inn about seven o'clock. The next morning, however, he heard deceased had not been found, he went in search, at the request of Jackson. Witness went on Mr. Wylde's farm (over which Mr. Sartoris has the right of shooting) and met Mr. Tomlinson, to whom he mentiosed his errand. When witness got about twenty-five yards further on, near the occupation bridge, one of his dogs made a dart at something on the bank, and on looking in the ditch he saw a lot of hedge trimmings there. Looking more closely he saw man's leg, and at once called to Mr. Tomlinson to come back. He saw some blood the snow, and said to Mr. Tomlinson, "It looks as if he has cut his throat." Witness supposed it was Dickens directly he saw the body. He did not know deceased had been working in the field there that day. He waited with body till the police arrived. He saw marks in the field as if the body had been dragged about seventy yards from the direction of hedge that had just been trimmed, but did not see any blood on the bridge. It looked as if the body was lifted up and dropped into the ditch. I traced a footmark as if someone had walked backwards and dragged the body towards the ditch. There was blood along the ground at intervals. The hedge trimmings appeared to have been fetched from about fifty yards from where the body was dragged.—By the Jury: There were marks of a slight struggle near the hedge about seventy yards from where the body was found, but he did not see any blood there. €”By Mr. Wilkins: Witness went about watching as he had no shoe work to do. He was out on Wednesday in the park, but did not hear the report of gun. He did not have his gun with him then. He had not had it during the frost, for fear of slipping down. If he had heard the report of gun from that direction on Wednesday would have gone there. No one else had the right to carry a gun over the farm, but some did so. Whilst out he did not see anyone going the Bedford-road with gun. €”By the Coroner: You knew the deceased well, but did not know anything of his carrying money about with him. €”By Mr. Wilkins: The last time witness was the field was Sunday. He started to go on Wednesday morning, but it was too slippery, and he went back. The witness was closely questioned as to his movements on Wednesday afternoon, and to persons he had seen on the farm at various times with guns. He said he was at work till half-past four. P.C. Haines, stationed at Rushden, said he heard on Wednesday evening the deceased being missing, and assisted others in the search for him, but they were unsuccessful. He resumed the search the next morning, and about half past eight was informed by Mr. Tomlinson as to the finding of a body. He went to where he was directed, and saw Childs standing on the bridge near the ditch. Childs said, "Here is Dickens in the dyke. He's been murdered. You look in the dyke; he's been covered over." On looking in the ditch witness saw a man's feet and part of his leggings. The remainder body was covered over with grass and hedge trimmings. Witness did not remove anything, but examined the ditch. There were no marks to show that anyone had stepped into the ditch. There was snow lying on both banks, but he saw no marks upon it. There was blood on the banks outside the ditch. Childs pointed to mark the field, and said, "It looks as if he has been dragged along here." Witness examined the ground, and apparently body had been dragged over it. There were footmarks along both sides of track, but they were very indistinct, there had been slight fall of snow during the night. There were marks of blood about the stubble. About .. yards from the ditch, and near the newly trimmed hedge, there were no marks if a struggle had taken place, but there was blood. From near there some thorns had been picked and taken away. Subsequently witness got into the dyke and uncovered the body. It was fully dressed with the exception of the hat. He searched the body, and, in a bag in the left-hand trousers pocket, he found ..... with assistance the body was got on to the bank, when witness saw wound on the left ear. The clothing on the back just under the right shoulder was saturated with blood, and there was a hole in the coat. The body was quite stiff and cold. The clothing was not disarranged or unbuttoned, and the deceased had hedgecutting gloves on his hands. On searching the hedgerows witness found deceased's hat about .. yards away from where the body was found, and 20 from the scene the struggle, but on the opposite side of tbe hedge. About 170 yards away a stock-axe (produced) was found. There were marks of blood on the handle near the head. The axe was hidden in the hedge. By a juror: Apparently the body was thrown into the ditch from the side. One person might have dragged the body along. He thought it was dragged with the head first, as the clothes were not rallied up, and there would have been more blood about if the head was on the ground. Mr. Wyldes, re-called, identified the axe produced as his, and said Dickens had it to peck some ice. He would not want it for his hedge-cutting. Mr. Charles Richard Owen, surgeon, Rushden, said he first saw the body of deceased on Thursday morning about half-past ten at the house. He had apparently been dead some hours. The clothing was wet, and was sprinkled with blood. He noticed top of the left ear was severed across, the wound extending about inch on to the face. Underneath, the skin was torn in a downward direction. On the right side of the head he found a small triangular piece flesh sticking up, exposing a puncture wound in the scalp. Taking off the clothing he found a wound on the back under the right shoulder; apparently a gun-shot wound. It was about an inch across, and the edges of it were black. On Friday morning he made post-mortem examination. On the abdomen, a little below the ribs, he discovered a swelling about the size of an egg, and shot could be felt beneath the skin. One shot had the skin. He then traced the gunshot wound, found it had traversed the body. Thirty-two shots (now produced) were found just beneath skin of the abdomen. Witness described the internal injuries, showing that the other shots were in the kidneys, liver, etc. He thought half-an-ounce of shot could be accounted for, in the stomach was some undigested food. The gunshot wound would be sufficient to cause death almost immediately. From its position he should say the gun was pointed downwards, and was held close to the body. The wound in the back was about three inches higher than where the shot had lodged. The clothing over the wound was singed. Probably the deceased was first struck on the head, the wound on the ear being such as would be caused by the axe. This wound might have rendered deceased insensible, but was not sufficient to kill him. The wound on the top of the head might have been caused by the hedge-knife. The marks on the handle and head of the axe were, in his opinion, bloodstains. He thought the wounds the head were caused whilst deceased was standing, and the gunshot wound whilst he was either standing or whilst on the ground. He did not think the injuries on the head were caused by the deceased being thrown into the ditch. This was all the evidence, and the Coroner asked the jury if they wished for adjournment. After a short discussion, in the course of which the jury said they wished to do what they could to help the police, Supt. Bailiee said adjournment might useful, it was decided that the inquiry should be adjourned till Saturday, Feb. 7, at four o'clock. The witnesses and jurymen were then bound over to appear on the day named. The proceedings lasted just four hours.

The Funeral €”took place on Monday afternoon at the Cemetery. The time fixed for the interment was three o'clock, and by that time good number people had assembled near the little cottage. It is, however, so far out of the place, being almost the last house on the Bedford-road, that the crowd was by no means large, the spectators assembling for the most part at the Cemetery. It was little after three when the mournful cortege started. At its head walked the undertaker (Mr. H. Knight), and immediately behind him was the funeral car, drawn by hand by several friends the deceased. In it was to be seen the coffin, bearing on its lid a beautiful wreath. The breast plate bore the inscription: Joseph Dickens, died January 21st, 1891. Aged 71 years. Behind the car walked the mourners, who included Mrs. Hollis (Wellingborough), Mrs. Beauchamp (Bristol), sisters the deceased; Mr. Brewster Cook (Wellingborough), Mr. S. Willis (Lamport), brothers-in-law; Mr. George (Wellingborough), nephew; Mr. R. Dickens, Mr. A. Dickens, cousins; Mrs. Jackson, house-keeper, etc. Mr. W. J. Henry, of Wellingborough, under whom the deceased rented his cottage and holding, also attended as token of respect, and walked the rear of the procession. A short cut was taken to the cemetery along the Harborough Park estate, to the side gate near the caretaker's house, this chosen to avoid the long route in the town to the main entrance. At the cemetery a crowd of several hundreds had gathered some time before the cortege arrived, but many were kept away doubtless by the boisterous weather. A keen, strong wind was blowing right across the ground, those who had assembled, or as many could do so, sheltered themselves from the cutting blasts behind the walls of the neat little chapel that stands in the centre of the grounds. These, as procession approached, opened out and formed a line, the most respectable demeanour being observed. There was only one policeman in uniform present; he had nothing to do to maintain order, the behaviour of the large crowd being as decorous as the occasion deserved. When within twenty or thirty yards from the chapel the procession halted, as the coffin was lifted from the car and placed on the appliances for carrying it into the chapel. Then the Rev. F. Hird, the parish, came from the chapel, and to the words, "I am the resurrection and the life," the mournful procession filed into the building between the lines of spectators, many whom doffed their hats and stood bareheaded. As soon the mourners had taken their seats, the spectators flocked in, and every place was filled very short time. The beautiful service of the Church England was read by the rev. gentleman, and at the accustomed place was broken off, to be taken grave side, which the body was then conveyed, amidst the respectable bearing the onlookers. The grave was situated within short distance from the main gates on the Newton Road, and here the closing portion of the burial service was read. The mourners took a farewell glance into the grave, and proceeded on their return journey, and after all of the spectators had taken a glimpse of the coffin, the large assembly quietly dispersed.

Pulpit References. Before commencing his sermon at the Parish Church on Sunday night, the Rev. F. Hird referred to the fact that although there were many sins committed that called for the earnest prayers of all true Christians at all times, yet the one that had been committed in their midst during the past few days seemed to eclipse them all, and the enormity which seemed to paralyse them all; and he trusted that all God's people would make matter of earnest prayer until this cloud was removed from above this place. The "Dead March" from "Saul" was played at the close of the service. At the Old Baptist Meeting, the Rev. W. J. Tomkins preached a sermon having special reference to the Rushden murder. The rev. gentleman chose for his text Proverbs 28, 13th: "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper; but who confesseth and forsoketh them shall have mercy."

Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 02 April 1891 - SUPPOSED SEQUEL TO THE RUSHDEN MURDER
An inquest was held on Wednesday evening on the body of man found in the water near Ditchford Station, Northamptonshire. It was identified that of a bricklayer named Attley, Rushden, and it is supposed that the body had been the water for five weeks, corresponding with the time when the deceased was suspected having murdered a farmer at Rushden in January last, and the author of which remains undiscovered. Verdict of found drowned was returned.