The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-08-26 00:00:00

A BRUTAL ASSAULT NEAR FARNHAM.

On Saturday, a cowardly and brutal assault was com-
mitted in a sequestered portion of the Weald of
of Surrey !yin between k arnham and the Hindhead
hills, and known as the "Devil's Jumps."
The situation being admirably adapted for the ob-
servance of astronomical and atmospheric phenomena,
Mr. 'Arrington, who is an astronomer, some time ago
oonstructed in the centre if one of these hills, and at
a large iuitlay, an observatory replete with electrical
and other appliances, having previously erected a large
and hanasome residence at the foot 4 the hill. In this
retired locality he was enabled to pursue his scientific
stndies apparently without fear of interruption.

It appears that Mrs. Carrington had previous to her
wedding been acstuainted with a person named William
Rodway, formerly a soldier in the 4th Light Dragoons,
and that this man had since their marriage nourished a
feeling of jealousy and revenge. On Friday last he
went to the neighbourhood of Frensham, near to Mr.
Carrington's residence, and lodged in an inn for the
night. In the morning it seems that he watched the ob-
servatory; for no sooner had Mr. Carrington left his
home than Roda-ay presented himself at the door
of the house. and wiliest to see Mrs. ('arrin,gton.
He was at once admitted, when he had an in-
terview with that lady, and it is staid that she
treated him with contempt, and that high words loassed
between them. However this may he, it is certain
that shortly after his admission loud screams were
heard it), the servants, who, on rushing into the front I
hall, saw 01..1,H:toner and Mrs. Carrington struggling I
together, and tits flt.r bespattered with blood. The '
prisoner at once left it. house, and Mrs. 4 'arrington,
sith.mgh bielly wounded, managed to run for protec-
tion to a cottage occupied by a Mats named Smithey in
the immediate vicinity. A walk ingstiek b.-longing t..the
prisoner, and a large spring-backed clasp knife, the blade
of which iS nearly five inches in length, were picked up
on the spot where the affray occurred in the hall. MIK
formidable weapon was covered with blood, and was
perfectly new.
On Saturday afternoon information wait received by
Superintendent Newland, that Mrs. Carrington had
been stabbed, when, act-omit:wits] by I tr. Willituns,he int-
nusliately drove to the scene of the brutal assault, when
it waeascovered that the unfortunate lady had received
three linnet...4l roitnds, one of which had pen etrated the
middle of the hack io a eonsiderable depth, and another
at the back of the left ann, u.kielt it completely passed
• through, thereby penetrating tnt ult-t between the
fount, ,stul fifth ribs, and laying it open in a thatoeront
manner. sujcal assistuwe watt at once renders-4'l, at
Mrs. Carrington i.e. ;...fterwards conveyed to her resi-
dence, though, of course, m very precarious state.
Itcslwav, on leaving the loots., ;rstle his way to
a neighbotning inn, where he was apprehended by
the superintendent, and was removed in custody to the
police-station at Farnham. Ile had inflicted no less
than seven stabs in front of his i.hust on the left side,
evidently attempting to strike the region of the heart;
but the weapon tieing diverted by the rile, failed to
accomplish that object, taosing only long, sublintane-
, oils wounds.

(Inlifc.;;;;ty, the prisoner was brought before the
magistrate, at 44; arnhain Police-court, which was
crowded by pessona of sexes anxious to obtain a
view of the prisoner. Mr. Car..i:Von was present
during the baring of the case.
The prisoner, wit.. gppeareil to be in a weak condi.
tion, was accommodatea with a chair. Ile is a person
of tall stature and genteel appears...4a, and was deeply
affected on entering the court.
Ann Langley, cook in tl-s-2 seniee of Mr. ( 'arringtoo,
said that on Satunlay morning, about a quarter-past
nine o'clock, she saw the prisoner on the "Devil's
Jumps," adjoining Mr. Carrington's house. At
eleven or twelve -o'clock the front door bell Was pulled
but as no one seemed to answer it she was
going, when she Saw Mm. Carrington mid lug to.

wards the door. She answered the bell, and then
shut a door leading from the kitchen, which ob-
structed witness's view. Going round the house she
saw a man talking with her mistress, and heard
her refuse to give him something. 10 consequence of
what the housemaid toll her witness went into the pas-
sage, and saw the prisoner and Mrs. Carrington strug-
gling together, the prisoner having his arm round her,
and a knife in his hand. They were both on the floor.
Mrs. Carrington askedhim to forgive her something she
had done. He replied, "1 will, I will, and may God
bless you." (The prisoner here sobbed bitterly.) Mrs.
Carrington begged him to throw the knife away,
and he did so. Whether he was stabbing him-
self or Mrs. Carrington witness could not say, hut she
saw blood on the knife. They both went out of the
door, and witness, being afraid, ran away. A few
minutes afterwards she saw the man going down the
road, and Mrs. Carrington running Ia front of him.
The prisoner was the man. The light jaoket stained
with 14.401 and now produced was that which Mn, 'ar-
rington was wearing at the time.
The Magistrate said the prisoner should have an
oppirtunity of putting questions to the wituww, as he
appeared too weak and ill to do so On the present occa-
sion, and the evidence would therefore be read over at
a future tinw. . . . .

Mr, Andrews, surgeon, deposed to the injuries in.
flietod on Airs. rarriin,don, and added that she would
be unable to attend before the magistrates for about
a week or ten days.
The prisoner, who sighed deeply, was remanded for
a week.

It lent the first time thatthis wild and half mrAte-
ri ins locality hai4 been stained with crime. Near the Hind-
head, which is 923 feet above the level of the sea. in
September, 1786, a seaman, on his way to Portsmouth,
was foully Daudet-v.41 by three sailors whom he had
treated at tiodalming, atid his body was thrown into
the peculiar hollow called the " Punchbowl."
The murderers afterwards expiated their crime near
the spot, and were hung in chains on indhead-com-
mou. The scene of the murder is marked by a memo-
rial stone, which the pen of Mr. Dicketis has inverted
with additional interest by making it the resting-
place of .Nichulus Niekleby on the occasion of his me-
morable jouruuy from Portsmouth to 'Austin.