The Cretingham Murder by Sheila Hardy Page B

walls stood out against the black cloths with which the churchwardens had draped the communion table, reading desk and pulpit. Blinds were partially drawn across the south windows to exclude any sunshine that might have attempted to lighten the atmosphere.
    For the first time in public, Harriet displayed her great grief. On entering the church she sobbed loudly and when she took her place in the familiar pew opposite the pulpit she appeared to fall to the floor. Throughout the service ‘most distinctly and feelingly read’ by the Revd Allen of Winston, Harriet’s sobs were audible to all.
    By the time they reached the graveside for the committal, where she leaned heavily on the arm of her eldest stepson, Thomas, her weeping was verging on hysteria, almost drowning out the muted responses to the service. What were her thoughts as she took a long look into the depths as the coffin was lowered into the grave beside the second Mrs Farley?
    Among the mourners listed in the account given by the Star of the East, the local evening paper, was a Mr J. Gilbert-Cooper. No one in the family had this initial but I suggest that it would have been Arthur’s uncle, the colonel, rather than his older brother, who attended as a mark of respect.
    Almost fulfilling its position as a nine day wonder in the headlines, Sunday’s service at Cretingham attracted both a very large congregation and press coverage. Every seat in the little church was taken and many latecomers had to be turned away to stand outside the door or roam over the graveyard. The church interior was still swathed in black and the service which took place was in many ways a continuation of Friday’s funeral. On this occasion members of the family were seated in the chancel.
    Again the Revd Allen officiated and he prefaced the service by referring to the difficult, possibly unique situation in which he found himself: ‘Hardly before had a clergyman to preach at the funeral of another clergyman while a third clergyman lay in prison awaiting trial for the murder of the second.’
    For his sermon he took as his text 2 Chronicles 2:12: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord and an house for his kingdom.’
    We are not told how much of the verse he used or what theme the discourse followed. Perhaps he associated Farley with the wise son, picking out his qualities of prudence and understanding. In his tribute to him, Allen spoke of Farley in warm terms, emphasizing the affection with which he had been held. The service ended with the singing of ‘Abide with me’. Harriet remained controlled throughout.
    Outside in the churchyard, the recent grave was still covered in wreaths and ‘they and the falling leaves, varied in hue, typical of the fading year remind us of the uncertainties of life.’
    One thing that was certain was that by the following day some other crime would be reported which would capture the public’s interest. Cretingham’s time in the spotlight had come to its end.

7
    THE ASSIZES,
15 NOVEMBER 1887
    Such is the fragility of fame that when the Cretingham murder case came up at the Assizes just five weeks later, the national papers found little room for it beyond a brief paragraph outlining the case and announcing the verdict.
    In the circumstances, it was hardly surprising. There were far more serious things to occupy the pages than the fate of an insignificant curate. The government and the country as a whole were gripped with fear that the stability of social order was about to be severely undermined by Radicalism.
    For several days hundreds of the unemployed and homeless had marched upon London, converging on Trafalgar Square where they remained waiting for the rally which was to be addressed by the leading Radicals, Tom O’Brien, John Burns, the MP, Cunningham Grahame and Mrs Annie Besant. By Sunday 13