BORDON BANK MURDER.
ALLEGED CONFESSION. “A RED CLOUD.”
At Alton Police-court on Thursday, Lance-corporal Abraham (otherwise Jack) Goldenberg, 21, of the 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, stationed at St. Lucia Barracks, Bordon, was charged on remand with the murder on April 3 of Mr. William Edward Hall, the Farnham bank cashier, who was in charge of the sub-branch of Lloyds Bank at Bordon.
It was stated that the prisoner had made two separate confessions. In the first it was alleged that he implicated himself only, while in the second he said that the shooting was done by a man named Meredith.
The prosecution was conducted by Mr. G. C. Peevor on behalf of the Treasury, and the prisoner was represented by Mr. Simon Burns (Messrs. C. Butcher and Simon Burns, Gresham-street, E.C.).
Resting his arms on the rail of the dock throughout the proceedings, the prisoner appeared to be calm and possessed, and occasionally smiled round the crowded court. Mr. Gerald Hall, chairman of the Alton Bench, presided, the other magistrates being Sir Hubert Miller, the Hon. Geoffrey Parsons, Colonel Lionel Knight, Mr. C. W. Mcandrew, and Mr. A. Ingham Whitaker. Major St. A. Bruce Warde, chief constable for Hampshire, and Major G. Nicholson, assistant chief constable, occupied seats on the Bench.
Superintendent W. T. Jones, of the Alton Division, described the result of his inspection of the bank premises, and produced a quantity of silver and Treasury notes which he found. On some of the notes there appeared to be bloodstains. On April 8 witness received a telephone message, in consequence of which he proceeded to St. Lucia Barracks, where the prisoner was detained. From what he was told he took the prisoner to Whitehill Police-station, where he cautioned and charged him with the murder of Mr. Hall by shooting him with a revolver. Prisoner replied, “Yes, yes, yes.” Witness took him to the cells, and when inside he said, “I am guilty. I will tell you everything after I have had some tea.” Later in the day Goldenberg sent for him and said, “I have had tea, Mr, Jones, and I will now tell you everything.” Witness again cautioned him, and prisoner then proceeded: