Times (London)
13 December 1888

THE HAVANT MURDER.-The inquest was continued yesterday relative to the death of the boy Percy Searle, when some additional evidence was given. A lad named Charles Clark stated that on the night of the murder he saw Husband near the latter's house, and heard him say in the presence of other lads "Here comes Jack the Ripper," and showed a knife with the blade open. He stopped witness and pointed the knife at him. He had never mentioned the circumstance to anybody but Sergeant Knapton and his grandmother. Professor Tidy repeated his evidence as to the examination of the blood stains upon the accused's clothes. He could not say whether a boy of the age and size of Husband could have inflicted the wounds. Robert Husband, the father of the accused, was then examined. He said that about 20 minutes past 6 his son came indoors and said that a man was killing a boy. He did not notice any blood upon his hands. He had not washed his hands at the time, but his mother afterwards told him to wash as his face and hands had got dirty in the coalyard. He remembered Mrs. Searle coming to make a complaint. She said that her little boy had been for coal and that the accused would not serve it. He never allowed his son to serve coal when he himself was not present. Mrs. Husband gave corroborative evidence. The jury, after long consideration, eventually brought in a verdict of "Wilful murder against some one unknown."