The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-01 00:00:00

THE MURDER ON THE BRIGHTON
RAILWAY.

On Friday morning Percy Lsfroy, charged with the
Brighton Railway murder, RSI rem iced from Lewes Gaol
to Maidetono, where the assizes for Kent and Sussex
will open to-day (Monday). The prisoner, who was in
charged of two warders, WM well dressed in a pair of
dark trousers. block coat, huh hat, and new shoes. He
looked per, but in remarkably good health.
it t. now stated that the trial of Lefroy for the murder
of Mr. Gold upon the Brighton Railway will begin before
Mr. Juice Denman, at the Maidotone assise, on Thurs-
day. The police have been enable to trace ci,ber the
watch of the murdered man or the revolver with which
tho murder was committed.'

No further evidence has been obtained by the Scotland.
yard authorities, who have been unable ti trace the wstch
taken from the murdered man, or the revolver with whirb
the murder was committed. A pocket-book found some
time since with the name of Lefroy written within it is
not supposed to have belonged to the man now in custody.
Several knives have been bond in the vicinity of tbe line,
but in the majority of cases they appear to be worn out
articles of table cutlery, which have been rejected as
useless, and with which it could have been impossible to
seriously wound any person. The Treasury, however,
regard the case as complete, and do not think that further
evidence is necessary. The requisite reminders were
served upon the witnesses for the Crown on Ssturday.
Mr. F. ficuiamore, the under-sheriff for the county, hee
made all the necessary arrangements for the aeoommo,
dation of the jury, who will not be allowed to &musts
alter the prisoner has been given iwo their charge until
they have delivered their verdict Owing to the public
interest cunnewed with the trial of Lefroy, the London,
Cnatham, and Dover Railway Company have arranged to
run specie' trains for the conveyance of council, witnesses,
and others to Maidstone.
As to the probable duration of the trial, various esti..
mates have been formed, end in some quarters it has been
snticipated that it may be concluded within the space of
three days. It must be -remembered, however. that the
inquest occupied no less than five days, the Court sitting
from in early hour in the morning until late in the even-
ing, its time being, with the exception of the coroner's
summing up, occupied' entirely with the receptien of
evidence. As there is no announcement of • diminution
in the number of witnesses, sad es in addition to the
evidence there will be the opening of the Attorney.
General, the speeches of conned for the defence, the
reply of the Attorney-General, and the summing up of
the Judge, it is difficult to see how the proceedinvi can
be compressed within the space of three days.

The project of funeral reform should indeed receive an
impetus if the Duke of Westminster has determined to
lend it his petronage In so practical • degree u to place
Grosvenor House at the disposal of the Church of England
Funeral and Mourning &dorm Aseocietion for the
purpose of holding one of its meetius. Sitarists of the
stamp of Thackerey, Dickens. and Iluoi have done their
best to discountenance the vulgar mummery of lb.
mu Awn funeral which of ten makes the stroke of the fell
Destroyer doubly grievous from the expense that his
unwelcome visit entail.. But the brilliancy of their
humour has not yet shamed the professional under-
taker out of count.nanee, and it le evident that until the
fashion of simplicity in burials is set by those who are the
leader of fashion in most things clue, we shall find
that very little improvement his been enected. Hitherto
the advances in economy have been very tritlah In the
ditectitia of the chew and nut/.