Photo of William Gardiner (the accused)

The girl's violent death was an event which rocked the fabric of the close village life in Peasenhall - and no less shocking was the implication of William Gardiner, a married Methodist worthy with whose name, Rose had been scandalously linked, in the events of that night. Gardiner found himself on trial for his life twice over, and was neither convicted nor cleared. Both times the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The prosecution then issued a writ of nolle prosequi. This was contrary to the usual process of a formal acquittal. The cosequence of this is that Gardiner is one of the few people in English history to have been tried for murder and to have no verdict ever returned.

When he fled into obscurity he left a small community still in shock and a case which has remained a mystery for nearly nine decades.

Some say that after the trial he left for London, others say he left the country altogether and headed for America. I can say with 100% certainty that he never left the country as I have had communication with one of his grand daughters.

Photo of William Harsant at his daughter's grave. Rose was buried on Thursday 5th June 1902 at 3 p.m. in the cemetery just beyond the church. A small cross stands at her grave and is inscribed:-

In Affectionate Remembrance of Rose Anne Harsent Whose life was cruelly taken on the 1st of June 1902 in her 23rd year.