The second trial began in January 1903. The details, more or less, remained the same for the second trial, but the result was the opposite — one juror voted to convict William Gardiner, and 11 voted to acquit him. A third trial was considered, but authorities believed that they would end up with the same outcome, as there was no concrete evidence of Gardiner’s guilt, as reported by Dark Curiosities. As a result, he was set free.

Most of those who lived in Peasenhall believed that Gardiner was guilty despite the lack of proof against him. He was neither convicted, nor acquitted. After the trial, the Gardiners decided to move away from Peasenhall, and they started a new life in London. Gardiner lived the remainder of his life quietly until his death in 1941. No other individuals were arrested in connection to Rose Harsent’s death, and the Peasenhall murder remains one of the most mysterious unsolved cases in England to this day.