Early on the morning of Monday the 26th of August, Frederick Baker was taken before the local magistrate, Edward Knight, and was remanded in custody until the Thursday of that week.
A GREAT CROWD ASSEMBLED
According to newspaper reports, a great crowd of persons, especially of women, turned up outside the police station, and “yelled and hooted the prisoner most vociferously.”
THE ENTRY IN THE DIARY
That afternoon, Superintendent Cheyney returned to Clements office with a set of keys he had taken from Frederick Baker on the Saturday night, and, on unlocking the draw of Baker’s desk, he found a diary in which, under Saturday the 24th of August, was written the chilling entry:- “Killed a young girl. It was fine and hot.”
Cheyney took the diary to the police station where he showed it to Baker, who confirmed that it was his handwriting, and said that he had written it after he had seen the two women, but that he had not meant to enter it like that, and had only done so because he was intoxicated when he wrote it.
FANNY ADAMS’S INQUEST
The Inquest into the death of Fanny Adams was held at the Duke’s head on Butts Road – a building that still stands – although it is now known as the George – on the afternoon of Tuesday the 27th of August with the Deputy Coroner for Hampshire, Mr. Robert Harfield presiding.
Frederick Baker was brought in handcuffs from the police station, and, amidst hoots and yells from the crowd assembled outside, he was taken into the Duke’s Head, where he was placed on a sofa behind the Deputy Coroner.
BAKER’S APPEARANCE
Reporting on the prisoner’s appearance The Hampshire Telegraph informed its readers that he was:-
“..somewhat slightly built, and if his features are not prepossessing, they are by no means repulsive.”
He was, the paper continued, “naturally pale, and his eyes being singularly sparkling, the anxiety which he manifests has rendered his appearance very careworn, and, on Tuesday afternoon, he was at times extremely nervous.”
THE CROWD OUTSIDE
Outside the Duke’s Head, the crowd grew evermore agitated, and as many as could pressed their faces to the window trying to see the accused.
A WARNING FROM THE CORONER
Harfield warned the jury that from what he had heard, and from what they had read in the papers, they would have to listen to a very melancholy tale, but he thought it better not to say anything more before the enquiry was gone into.
The twelve members of the jury were then taken to view the body, and, on their return, the inquest got underway.
MINNIE WARNER’S TESTIMONY
The first witness was Minnie Warner, who recounted the events of the previous Saturday.
When asked by the Deputy Coroner if the man wo had carried Fanny away was present, she looked around the room, but was so unnerved by the crowd staring in at the windows and talking loudly that she was unable to identify Baker as the man.
GEORGE ADAMS GIVES EVIDENCE
The next witness was Fanny’s father George, who identified the victim as his daughter.
“The poor man,” so The Morning Herald reported, “seemed nearly heartbroken, and gave his brief evidence in much grief.”
THE AFTERNOON HEARING
His wife, Harriet, then testified as to the events of the Saturday, and of her meeting with Baker on the evening of her daughter’s murder.
The inquest continued through the afternoon, as various witnesses appeared to recount the events leading up to the finding of Fanny’s body, and what had happened in the interim between then and the inquest.
Following Jane Gardeners evidence, the Deputy Coroner turned to Baker and told him that he thought it only fair to allow him to ask any questions of the witness. “I have no question to ask at present, thank you,” was his reply.
The last witness that day was Joseph Waters.
Once all the witnesses had been heard, the Deputy Coroner asked Baker if he would like to say anything.
“No Sir, only that I am innocent.”
A VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER
Harfield then summed up the evidence, and, after a brief deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder against Frederick Baker for the killing of Fanny Adams.”
THE CROWD BECOME HOSTILE
The crowd outside had now increased dramatically, swollen by a large numbers of farmer workers who had finished their days labours in the fields around Alton.
On news of the verdict, the mood became even more hostile, with cries of “lynch” the villain” echoing from the street outside.
The police deemed it best to detain the prisoner at the Duke’s Head until the clamour and excitement had died down.
THE RACE TO THE POLICE STATION
After two hours all but trapped inside the pub, they snuck Baker out of the backdoor, walked him across the yard at the side, and hustled him out of the gate. Surrounded by a body of police officers, Baker was hurried towards the police station.
But a small knot of spectators spotted them, and a cry went up that the prisoner was in the street, whereupon the angry mob surged towards them hissing and shouting, and a barrage of sticks, stones and other missiles were flung at the party, as the police made a smart dash with their prisoner to the safety of the police station, where he was locked in his cell once more.
THE FUNERAL OF FANNY ADAMS
The next day, Fanny Adams was laid to rest in Alton cemetery. A large number of persons assembled to witness the funeral. Wreaths of flowers were placed upon the coffin and subsequently upon the grave. A memorial stone, paid for by public subscription, would later be erected over her grave. It was made by her father’s employers J. H. and E Dyer.