Marston Murder Mystery from 1770
Below is an account of a murder, the trial and subsequent events that took place in Marston in 1770. The information is taken from the court records of the time. But who did it?...
OXFORD September 29 [1770]
On Monday last and inquisition was taken at Marston, about two miles from the city, before Mr. Johnson, His Majesty's Coroner for this county, on view of the Body of Elizabeth Cummins, a poor woman, aged upwards of sixty-five, who was found dead in her bed last Saturday Forenoon, with her throat cut in so dreadful a manner that her head was almost severed from her body.
It appeared, upon the examination of the witnesses, that the door of the cottage in which the poor woman lived alone, had been forced open by a hedge stake left near it; and a bloody razor was found at a very small distance, which was known to belong to Mr. John Grove, a young farmer of the same place, who was recollected to have been seen out late the night before in his usual dress, and early next morning in other clothes; this circumstance, among others, together in his absence, induced the neighbours to call in the Peace Officer, and break open Mr Grove's house; in searching which the coat and shirt, both very bloody, in which the fact was suppossed to have been committed, were discovered thrust into a very obscure hole between the lath and plaistering of an upper room.
Mr Groves, who had been absent both Saturday and Sunday, returned to Marston on Monday morning, when he was immediately apprehended and brought before the inquest; and being asked what he had to alledge in his own defence, he declared himself innocent, and said the razor was not his, for he sold it to a stranger:
Upon being asked the reason for hiding his clothes, he said he could not tell; and the cause he assigned for their bloody was, that he had scratched his finger, and his nose had bled; but there was no proof or appearance of either; and the jury returned their verdict, Wilful Murder, against the said John Groves; upon which he was committed to our Castle, by virtue of the Coroner's warrant, in order to take his trial at the next Assize.
The poor woman had long been supported by the Parish, and was much more decrepid and infirm than many women of her years; yet what is very extraordinary, it appeared that a rape had been committed; and it is supposed the murder might be intended to prevent a prosecution.
Saturday 2 March 1771 n.931
On Wednesday next the Commission will be opened here, for holding the ensuing Lent Assize; at which the following prisoners, now in our Castle, are to take their trials, viz:
John Grove, charged with the murder of Elizabeth Cummings...
Saturday 8 March 1771
....John Grove acquitted.
27 July 1771 N. 952
We hear from Brize Norton, in this county, that on Monday last, to the amazement of many people, was married there, Mr John Grove, late of Marston, near this city, to Miss Elizabeth Wells, daughter of Mrs Wells, of Brize Norton aforesaid, baker. This is the same person who was tried and acquitted at our last Lent Assize for the murder of Elizabeth Cummings.
