Gwav Winter 2011/12
Gwav Winter 2011/12
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argaret Parkins, Philippa's mother, also spoke to Holman at this time and confirmed that he had denied murdering her daughter and the warning was repeated to her to take care about what they said. At some point the authorities had been informed and, as in the case of any person being discovered dead, a quick inquest was held but adjourned because the surgeons needed to examine the body more thoroughly. Mrs. Parkins stayed there Wednesday night but not on the Thursday night and then returned on Friday and went home later in the day. So on Wednesday, assuming that her husband was not with her, she spent the night with the body of her daughter and her strongly suspected murderer. Constable Orchard visited the house on the Wednesday after the adjourned inquest. The constable looked through the house, with others, but what he found was not reported in the press at the
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time of the trial. Orchard was a Parish Constable, the County Police Force was not formed until four years later. n the Thursday the surgeons came to examine the body to determine cause of death. After they had completed their work they must have informed Constable Orchard that the blunt end of a hatchet was the weapon used to strike Philippa. Mr. Gurney, one of the surgeons, asked Holman whether he possessed an axe and he denied that he did so. The constable
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Cornish Story Magazine
also asked whether Holman possessed an axe but he said again that he did not and neither did he have a coal hammer. He then made a search of the house but did not find the weapon which killed Philippa. He did find in the kitchen chamber, as he first said, “a child's pinney, a frock and two socks with blood on them,” although he later said that they were found in the “room over the kitchen.” Margaret Parkins remembered that, after the surgeons left, Holman threatened that he would “ruin”
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uring Thursday Holman visited his neighbour, Thomas Cory, twice to get water from his well. In evidence Cory said that Holman had got water from him in the spring when his own well was dry but never in the winter. He also asked Cory to go down to the Churchtown “and speak for the grave and to the parson about the burying of his wife.” Cory wondered that Holman's brother in law, Trewhella, or some of his friends had not done that but Holman maintained that Trewhella did not like to do that. It was very likely that all the arrangements had been made by Philippa's family. By Friday, the day of the funeral, Holman had been committed in custody by John Parkins the younger though it was at Carne Farm with a constable, probably John Webster, present. It appears that he wished to attend the funeral but he was prevented from doing so. In the morning, at 9.30 am, Margaret Parkins returned, probably from Penrose and found Holman still in the house with the constable. Both Margaret Parkins and Holman had been informed by the surgeons about the injuries sustained by Philippa Holman and that these amounted to 'willful murder.' They both explained this to Thomas Trewhella who arrived at the house that morning. Holman agreed with Trewhella that the constable had taken Holman's shirt and that of the child and implied that these blood-stained clothes had been taken up by the women when they cleaned the chamber and were hidden away as evidence against him.
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I am clear of it; I never gave her the weight of my hand; I never lifted my hand against her, and never gave her an angry word and I never had no cause for it.
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Orchard was a Parish Constable, the County Police Force was not formed until four years later.
John Parkins then tried to find from Holman who else other than Holman himself could have been the murderer. Holman had no suspicions of any neighbours, they were “quiet” neighbours and, asked about robbery, well nothing was taken so that could not have been the motive. He angrily said that he had threatened to prosecute Philippa's brother for stating to me that “I was the murderer. The interview ended at that point and Holman was very angry.
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rs. Parkins, according to her evidence in court, told Trewhella that the surgeons had told them that Philippa had suffered many blows and was kicked in the side and that she had died on her back. Trewhella looked at Holman but Holman looked on the ground and said “I am clear of it; I never gave her the weight of my hand; I never lifted my hand against her, and never gave her an angry word and I never had no cause for it.” He also said that he never found any fault in her. Mrs. Parkins responded by saying that she had seen them have differences at Cathebedron and that he had very badly neglected her. To this Holman made a strange response saying that he was never willing to have Philippa as his wife. In answer to this Mrs. Parkins pointed out to him that they were not willing that he should have her and if he did not want her why didn't he let her go to others. Cornish Story Magazine
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