Murder Will Out
On the night of the 4th of Aug, 1834, Mr. John Askern, a hosier, of Leicester, in England, was murdered under revolting circumstances. Mr. Askern was about forty years of age, married, and the father of a numerous family. His wife, two years previously, had eloped with a commercial traveler named Powell, and the two were supposed to be living together in London. Mr. Askern’s sister was at the head of his domestic establishment, and he had just instituted proceedings to procure a divorce. He was a wealthy man, and resides in a well-appointed house on Belgrave Gate. In front of it was a garden which extended around one side to the rear. A high railing separated it from the street, and a wall, fully twenty feet high, protected it in the rear. On the left side of the door, on entering, was a room which Mr. Askern used as a library or private parlor. In front of it was a very large laburnum tree, which shaded all that side of the dwelling.
Separated from the back of the premises by the high wall mentioned, was the yard of an inn, and a shed for vehicles. About 9 o’clock in the evening of August 4th, one of Mr. Askern’s servants ran into the kitchen from the back garden and exclaimed:
“I’m sure I saw the head of a man looking over the wall.”
“Most likely it was a cat,” was the reply, and nothing more was said on the subject.
Soon… Read More