A family dog in Clyst Honiton, Devon, has potentially solved a century-and-a-half-old murder mystery after persistently digging up a Victorian-era poison bottle from the garden of his home.
Stanley, a Labrador belonging to Paul Phillips, repeatedly excavated the same spot in the family garden until he unearthed a bright blue glass vial bearing the ominous inscription 'Not To Be Taken' embossed on its surface. The 49-year-old homeowner initially mistook the artifact for a piece of pipe until he examined the pristine bottle more closely.
The discovery prompted Phillips to investigate the history of his property, leading him to uncover a dark chapter in local history. His research revealed that Mary Ann Ashford had resided just two doors away in 1865 when she murdered her husband, William Ashford, by poisoning his tea. According to historical records, she committed the crime to obtain his money and pursue a relationship with a younger lover who worked at the local bakery.
Phillips explained that Stanley had been fixating on the location for an extended period. The family attempted multiple interventions, including patching the area and placing a paving slab over the spot, but the determined canine persisted in his excavation efforts.
The bottle itself represents a significant historical artifact. Such vessels were commonly utilized during the mid-19th century to store poisonous substances, with distinctive coloring and warning text designed to prevent accidental consumption. The pristine condition of the bottle suggests it may have been deliberately concealed.
Historical records indicate that Mary Ann Ashford was convicted after forensic testing revealed traces of arsenic and strychnine on her clothing. She was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband of twenty years. However, the execution itself became a catalyst for significant legal reform.
According to historical accounts, approximately 20,000 spectators witnessed the botched execution, during which Ashford took several minutes to die. The incident generated substantial public outcry and contributed to the eventual abolition of public hangings throughout Britain.
Phillips noted the profound historical significance of the discovery, stating that it connects his property to a woman whose case influenced the end of capital punishment practices in the nation. He expressed fascination that such a consequential piece of history had been buried beneath his garden for more than a century and a half.
Since unearthing the bottle, Stanley has ceased his excavation activities in that particular area of the garden. Phillips hopes that local historians will come forward to assist in further investigating the case and potentially authenticating the bottle as evidence from the original crime.
The discovery underscores how residential properties often conceal layers of history beneath their surfaces, and how seemingly mundane findings can illuminate significant moments in a community's past. Phillips believes his property may have once served as a cider barn, which could explain why evidence from the neighboring property ended up buried in his garden.
The case serves as a reminder of how modern forensic techniques and historical research can converge to shed new light on cold cases, even those dating back more than a century. Whether the bottle can be definitively linked to the Ashford murder remains to be determined, but the circumstantial evidence presents a compelling connection between the artifact and one of the area's most notorious criminal cases.