A Labrador named Stanley has unearthed what could be the 'smoking gun' from a 160-year-old murder case in his back garden in Clyst Honiton, Devon. The dog's persistent digging led his owner, Paul Phillips, to discover a Victorian poison bottle buried in the ground.
The bottle, in mint condition, bears the words 'Not To Be Taken' and is believed to have been used to administer poison in the murder of William Ashford. His wife, Mary Ann, was hanged in 1866 after slipping arsenic and strychnine into his tea to steal his money and run off with a young lover.
Phillips, 49, said Stanley had pawed at the same spot for months before he decided to investigate. 'I had a rummage around, did some mini-excavation and realised it was a bottle,' he said. 'I went back online and found the old newspaper article about William and Mary Ann Ashford living in Clyst Honiton next door to the police station.’
The Ashfords lived two doors down from Phillips's home, which once stood near a cider barn. Mary Ann was arrested by the police officer living next door after her husband suddenly died. The couple's story has drawn comparisons to the infamous 'botched' execution of Mary Ann, which took three minutes and is often cited as a key factor in ending public hangings.
Phillips said the brutal hanging left him uneasy about keeping the bottle indoors. 'It is in the garage at the moment which is a shame because it's lovely but I bet it comes with some weirdness,' he said. Stanley, however, has stopped digging in the spot since the discovery.
Phillips hopes a local historian will come forward to help the family learn more about the unique story. 'If there is a local historian who is interested in coming to have a chat and do a bit more digging, that would be great,' he added.
