The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-11-07 00:00:00

SU3IRI.TTED MURDER OF A WOMAN Al
OXFORD.

Early on Sunday morning Ito dead body of a worm.
named Betsey litcharls, between 30 awl 40 years a
age, was discovered iii. fidd lying elf the Letley-road
Thu deceased load a frightful gash iu Ler Woes,
ezteuding from the right ear boyeud the impalas so„
wkioh had hem oompletely severed. Two pools d
blood were discovered about 15 yards apart. Tilt fins
impression wee that deceased load committed suicide,
but the absen:e of any instrument by which sub
wound weld be cittied, leaves no alternative but tlis
supposition that • dreadful murder has been outuusittad
Deceased 1141 matches about the railway stations. sad
was nickuained " blatchey." She bore an Manned
character, but kept himself Cleall and thy. She ve
seen at nine o'clock on Saturday night; but the peae
have been unable at present to trace her since tax
hour. A labouring man residtng at Cninnor, ahe
miles from Oxford, wilo wits seen in the neighbourhood
of Binsey-lane at • late hour on Saturday night, easel
Sunday arreated, but gave a satasfrctory ACCOUnt Of
himself except es to the nun-possession of his knit;
which he was known to have load Qui, in the eves.,
By a singular coinoldeoce • knife lose been discnerel
by a boy on the high road not many hundred 'mid
from the fatal spot, but a very miuute insp.:igloo of tle
handle anti blade ham led to the eonolusieu that ills not
the instrument with which the deed was committed.
Deceased had not been robbed, but was iu pooassioa
of from 3s. to 4s. in money.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF TRArD
AGAINST A YOUNG GENTLEMAN.

An extraordinary case of advertisemeot 'lnaba,/ by
a young gentleman of professedly literary USW, mil
to be the son of a member of parliament, came behes
the magistrates at the West Brouswioh (itatforishirs)
petty sessions, on Saturday. The prisoner gave*
name of William Luther Leeman. and sail he Wel 2:
years of age. It was further stated th it he bed re.
wetly come from York, was a fellow of Oaford
varsity, and had been of late acting so tutor to, mid
residing with, the family of Mr. Ralph Decker, clerk
to the Smethwiok Board of Commissioners, and also te
the King's Norton board of guardians. Aecordin; to
the chargipsheet the prisoner was arrested for " Istria{
! by certain false preteneesominaly.by illeatie of an a Ire.
tisement in the nue and the .S.'endurd, ohtaiscl trot
one Anne Skinner, of Birmingham, one postage .emo,
onetwritten obarraiter,and one c in‘c,ultu tut,el
to defraud."glaspector Ordish, of Smethwick, os it.
previous Friday (the 31 instant) said his attention ow
called to this ativertiannont—" Governess wastel ins
nobleman's family, for two young children ; re.tu;rd
to travel, salary 100 guineas and travelling expon“—
Apply fully, with csric tie visite, to Frances Age, l'oss
°Hiroo, Sinethwiok." Ordish went to this post-otEa
prisoner presented himself, and ley:sired for any
addressed to Framees Ate. No less than two huntst
letters were handed to him, and on that (Saturday)
, morning soother hundred had arrived. Prisoner mini.
heated great surprise at the enormous number of letkri
and recognising the inspector said, " Do you ro,to:re
any explanations?" Ordish answered yes, and obs.ar,d,
" Are the letters yours?" to which Luetnau auswerel,
yes, they are," adding, " 1 know it is a fictitiou
name; but Imu writing a book, anal wanted to to
different obaractJrs and handwriting of the applicant,'
The prisoner was then detaiuel by the inspector oni
charge of obtaining lutters, postage atateps, aud er
de VilliC by false, prutourtos. To the maAtitrat:Li
prisoner, who throughout appear.' to feel his iwsito:
acutely, said he would do everything to clear himself.
lie was respectably cionnected and never imagined hi
would have received so many replies, to fact, he only
expected two or three answers. lie put in the saver.
tisemeut believing that as a writer ho had a pedal
right to resort to any means by which he could pi
characters for his book. The letters that bad bees
opened contained postage stamps, it. 'de risi!e, sod
testimonials from various parts of the country, sad from
young ladies of good social p .aitz .o. rbe maelstrom
said the prisoner had adopted • very curl niltle.l of
getting "characters' for his book, and r. minded hits
for • week. Bail was accepted for his appearaliCia
Al ter leaving the court the prisoner was gr.: sly &tested.

Tliouune

Printed and Published. at 8, Iligh-dreet Wit
Doreivester, by Ai 11114 D AMMO, of the perish
Hely Trinity, for psU and 00-proprietor.
Tneeday. November 7,187 L