The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-26 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL. •

MURDER AT LITTLE lIEATON.—On Tuesday after-
noon, at half-past one o'clock, an inquest was held at the
house of Mr. William Heaton, the Doecocker public-house,
in Heath's, before Mr. Rutter, county coroner. The jury
haying returned from viewing the body, whjch was at the
farm-house, at the top of Heaton, about a mile from the Doff-
cocker public.bouse, the coroner proceeded to examine the
witnesses aa follows —Bridget Dean, a girl about 22 years of
age, servant to John Pilkington, said : I have been at Pilk-
ington'a several months. There lived there the old woman's
son, William, myself, and her sou John, whole now in prison,
and with whom I lived. The old man did not live there. I
don't know where he lived. On Sunday morning, about 7
o'clock, the old man came to the house. Ile asked to come
in to light his pipe. The door was fastened inside. He said
he would go nut again when he got a light, but he sat down
and would not leave. I then said I would not leave the eld
woman with him. I was going to deliver out some ni;lk,
and I said she must go with me. She agreed to go, and her
eon and the old woman went with me. That was the first
time she had ever gone with me. We both returned
together. The son went another way. It wanted ten
minutes to nine o'clock when I met her at Mr. J. H.
Ainsworth's shop. I had been to some customers by myself,
and met her on my return. When we got back the old man
was sitting by the fire in the aim-chair. When we came is,
he said to the old woman, " is thee to be master ?" and she
replied " Yea; our John left me in care of the house."
Nothing more wan said, but he got up and struck her on the
head twice with the poker. lie was going to strike again,
and I caught the poker in my hand. He weeded it out of
my hand and struck me on the head with it. He was making
another blow at me, but he missed, and I ran out at the
door. I alarmed the neighbours at Barrow-bridge, and then
a number of people went up. They were at the house be-
fore me. When he struck at me he had the old woman in
the corner on the left-hand side of the fire. He was between
her and me. It was there he struck her. When .1 returned
from Barrow-bridge the house was full of neighbours, and
the old woman was in the armchair. The old man was not
there. I saw him yesterday in Bolton, before the magis-
trates. I did not see the poker until I saw a policeman with
it in his hand on Sunday. The poker generally stood by the
aide of the fire. The old woman was about three yards from
him when he struck her. I saw hint get up from the chair,
but did not sec him take up the poker. He bad to go over
the hearth-atone to get to her. The old woman only heaved
three sighs after I returned, and then expired. When I ran
out, I saw no blood only what came out of my own head. I
did not look back.—John Hodgkinson, of Lane Ends,
Heaton, said: The deceased was my aunt. I went op to the
farm about a quarter past eight on Sunday morning. I found
the prisoner there, sitting by the fire-aide. I did net go in.
Seeing him, I went to the shippons to see if there was any one
there; but finding nobody, I came back. As I was returning
he came out of the house sod asked me what I wanted. I
told him I wanted to see my aunt Betty. He said, " She's
drained herself up, and gone off about half an hour ago I
thought she had gone over to your house." I said, " If she
had gone half an hour ago she would have been there before
I started." He said," Then I don't know where she's gone;
will you come in and sit down." I refused, and then he
came a little nesrer to me and said, " Our John has given
me seders to look after the property. He told me to get
lodgings convenient, so that I could come every day, and no
longer lodge upon the hay-roost." He then stood awhile,
apparently full of thought, and said, " I think things is
going to he very awkward." I made no reply, bat only
" Perhaps she will not be long.'' And he " No, very
likely not," and went back into the bonne. He had lodged at
Walker Fold, in Horwich, with Joseph Heaton, about half a
mile eft—The prisoner said he told llodgkineon that his eon
and the girl had gone with the milk, and that his wife had
deemed herself up and gone off; nor did he ray that his son
said he was to sleep no longer on the hay-roost. What he
said was that his eon said he must get lodging! convenient,
and that he got lodgings at J. Heaton's, at Walker Feld.
—Hodgkinron, however, declared that the statement he had
made was perfectly correct, and that the prisoner used the
words be had mentioned. William Miller, of Barrow-bridge,
which is about a quarter of a mile from Pilkingten's home,
said on Sunday morning, about a quarter-put nine o'clock,
Pilkingten's servant came screaming down the fields, and
laid old Robert had killed aid Betty, and she wanted some
one to go up. I ran up, and when I got there. thi re was a
young man standing there. His name is Joseph Hunt. He
ran up the fields before me, and got there first. William
Pilkington also ran up the field, and looked through the
back window. Joseph Hunt went to the front. The door
was closed; I asked Hunt if he dent open it, and he said
"No." I then got a beesom's handle, and he got a spade.
and then he opened the door. The old woman lay bleeding
on the floor, and Hunt stepped back. I went to her,
and said, " She is not dead, we had better go for a
doctor," I went up to the field, and caught the horse.
to go for a doctor. A young man, however, named
William Morris, said he could go faster himself, and ran
off to Bolton. • William Pdkington and Hunt then fitted
the old woman upon a chair, and Ann Haworth washed her
head, and tied a cloth round it. She sighed about threes
times, and then died. I saw nothing of the old man. There
was a great deal of blood'apen the floor, which was coming
from her right ear and her mouth —Ann Haworth, of Bar-
row-bridge : I went up to Pilkington's after the alarm,
,esa
Sunday moyrning, and saw the old woman upon a chair,tchh.l4
b her son. I bathed her head with water, and she. fe ed
five or six sobs, and then died. The blood was flowing. rom
her head, her mouth, end her ear. I did not sec the old
man. She bad her working dress on. She was not ' d hod's
u jar eerat.not:sT:
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Belmont. He was ecalingio:ppavently, from his eon's
farm. He was walking rather . lie was not going towards

his lodgings at Walker Fold, but towards the moors.—John
Lawton, one of the county conatabuicry I found the piece
of iron, or poker, in the ashes under the grate, nearly co-
vered. Thero was a quantity of blood and ashes upon it,
and a little hair. I found a cap on the floor, near where
her head had lain, and, on examining it, I found that it was
cut at the top. (The cap was produced.)—Charles Hods-
kinson one of the county police, deposed to apprehending
the prisoner in Little Bolton, Higher Bud, on the Belmont-
road, near Bryon Hey Lodge. He was coming towards
Bolton. He (witness) charged him with having murdered
his wife. The prisoner said, "My wife / " He (witness)
said, " Yea." And he replied, " Saying so does not make it
so." The prisoner had some blood on his left hand. The
prisoner was coming back the road he had gone,
when he (witness) met him, haying been turned by
some of the party in pursuit a little higher up—William
Miller said he thought he saw marks of blood on the
old man's left hand, and told the policeman so.
liodgkinsom then looked at it, and saw it was blood--
Mr. George Wohtenholme, surgeon, said: I saw the body
of Betty Pilkington on Sunday, and I else examined the
body to-day. There is • smell wound on the right hand,
between the third and fourth finger. A wound under the
left temple. The left cheek-bone is nearly fractured. A
wound, about an inch and a half long above the left eye ; and
the bone underneath is fractured. At the back of the head,
on the left side, there is a wound two inches long, and thebone
is fractured underneath.
i Above the right ear there is ano-
ther wound about an inch in length. The integuments
round the ear are swollen as it they had been violently
beaten. The hones of the skull, above the right ear, are
broken to pieces, and driven in upon the brain, to the ex-
tent of three inches • and several pieces of bone were sepa-
rated and broken off. I did not think it necessary to ex-
amine further, as these injuries were quite sufficient to
account for immediate death. A poker might have bees
used to cause these injuries. After a few words from the
coroner,the jury unanimously returned a verdict of " Wilful
Murder" against Robert Pilkington ; and he was committed
for trial on the coroner's warrant.
The history of the prisoner's family presents a melan-
choly picture of crime and depravity. The prisoner's
father, we understand, was • soldier, many years ago,
and, whilst his regiment was stationed at Liverpool, he
aback a comrade with a penknife, and killed him. For this
crime he was executed. A half-brother of the prisoner (by
the same mother, but by a second husband, whom she
married after the prisoners father had been hung), named
George Aspinall, (better known in the neighbourhood es
George at Lambert's), killed a man named Anders, then
living at Smitbilla Dean. This was about fourteen years ago.
They had been drinking together at the Doircocker public-
house, where the inquest was held, and were on their way
home, late at night, when Asden charged Aspinall with
insulting his (Aeclen's) wife. Upon this Aspinall kicked
him violently on the lower part of his belly, and, after he
fell, alto kicked him about the bead, from which injuries he
died shortly afterwards. He wu found guilty of man-
slaughter by the jury, and sentenced to seven years' trans-
portation The judge who tried the case stated that if he had
been indicted fur murder, he would hare left him for execu-
tion.—A convict, named John Orrell, who lived at Borrow-
bridge, was charged, about ten years ago, with having hung
his wife. The circumstances were very strong against
but the evidence leavieg a doubt on the minds of the jury, he
was not indicted for the offence. Subsequently he removed
to Bolton, where he poisoned two of his children, and it was
then proved to demonstration that he bad also murdered his
wife. He was executed fee the murder of the children.—
The prisoner's son, John Pilkington, who is the occupier of
the farm where the murder was committed, is now in prison
for nearly causing the death of William Kershaw, at the
Doffeocker public-house, as before stated. About 12 years
ago the prisoner, Robert Pilkington, nearly murdered his
wife, and now he stands charged on the verdict of a coroner's
jury with having done so. It is also worthy of remark that
Betty Pilkington, the victim in this case, was cousin to John
Heaton, who was tried at Liverpool, the last assizes but one,
for starving his wife to death, in Horwich, but was acquitted.
QIIARANTINE. —The select vestry of Liverpool
have resolved to discontinue the quarantine regulations, as
far as the Irish are concerned; the improved health of the
town haying warranted them in so doing.

YORKSHIRE.
HOME CONFINEMENT INSTEAD OF TRANSPORTA-
rzoN.—As before stated, arrangements have been concluded
between Major Jebb, inspector of prisons, on behalf of the
government, and the Hon. E. Lateen's, M.P chairman of
the West Riding quarter sessions, on behalf of the West
Riding, for the occupation of 400 cells in the newly enlarged
prison at Wakefield; and that number of prisoners under
sentence of transp-station, will shortly be removed from the
Millbsnk prison to Wakefield, at the rate of 100 per week,
and in batches of 25 each. These convicts will have a sepa-
rate chaplain, surgeon, and warders, the former at a salary of
2501. a year; tho latter at salaries varying from 901. and 801.
to 601. par annum ; but though these officers are nominated
by government, they must be appointed by the visiting jus-
tices. The rent paid by government is at the rate of 61. per
cell per annuls, the burden of maintenance falling upon the
government.

---
CHARGE OS ASSAULT AGAINST A CLIIRGYMAN.—
At the Hyde petty sessions, on Monday lot, the Rev. D.
Seddon, vicar of Mottram, was charged with havingassaulted
Samuel Dearnaly and John Schofield, in the parish church
of Mottram, on the Bth of August last. On the case being
called, Mr. Seddon said he wished to make a request to the
bench. He stated that it was late on Friday evening when
the summons was served upon him, and on going to con-
mutt his friends at Manchester on the Saturday, he found the
offices locked up, and he was therefore unable to obtain
professional advice. He had had no time to prepare for the
charge which had been brought against him ; for on a
Saturday a minister had to prepare for the following day,
and Sunday was not the day to employ for such a purpose.
He therefore requested that the case might be postponed
until the following week. Mr. Brook said the usual notice
required was tweet -four, but Mr. Seddon had had forty-
eight hours. His clients were poor, and had to leave their
work to attend that morning ; it would therefore be unfair
to postpone the case, unless Mr. Seddon agreed to pay the
expenses. Mr. Seddon thought he ought not to be taken
advantage of; the summons ought to have been served
sooner. The bench agreed that the complainants should be
allowed ss. The eau was therefore adjourned.
GOOD EFIECTS OF CHEAP RAILWAY EXCURSIONS.
—The wakes commenced at Ashton and Dukinfiald on
Sunday last, but the town and neighbourhood did net mos&
fest the gay appearance of last year ; not even a single Inds
cart appeared in the streets, and their only substitute was a
cart heavily laden with coals, which woo taken through the
town by the miners of the Broadoak Colliery, for the purpose
of obtaining money and liquor. The working classes, in
preference of stopping in the town, took the opportunity of
enjoying the cheap trips which were afforded them, both by
the Leeds. and the Sheffield Railway Companies. On the
Ashton branch of the Leeds line a train started on Monday
morning for Fleetwood and Blackpool, the fare there and
back being tr. Passengers by this train might also go to
the Lake district, or the Isle of Man, at the fere of 7s. there
and back, and return on Wednesday. Oa the Sheffield line
there was a trip to Sheffield, the train leaving Ashton on
Monday morning and returning at night. The fare there
and back was Is. 6d. By this train, which consisted of 4.5
carriages, no fewer than 1,820 passengers visited Sheffield ;
of these 1,583 were from Ashton, and the remainder from
Newton, Mottram, and Hadfield. The mills stopped on
Monday and Tuesday as usual, but the town presented a
very quiet, peaceable aspect.

A YOUNG Woxi.;SHol---BTTER SWEETHEART.
—At Waseter, on Tuesday, a jury assembled to inquire
into theses of the death of Jane Steel, aged 16, who came
2.1,,,Lid..d. . from a gun-shot wound, under the following
: —lt appears that on Sunday last J. Waldron,
lank keeper on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, left
Muse Ike the day with his wife, leaving his family of eight
yaloe children In the care of a neighbour, Mrs. Steel, who
am seer as Waldron's house early in the morning, and
smiesal this all the day. After dinner, Mrs. Steel's
&mesas Joined her mother at Waldron's, and the youthful
party, having purchased some fruit, were in the height of
asjeretest, when one of the youngest of Waldron's children
ease We the heats with the news that "the piveons were
eating the pees in the garden." Thomas Waldron, the
aided sea, seed between 17 and 18 years, who was looked
ups se the sweetheart of Jane Steel, then said that he
weal& bighting them away with stones, but some others of
the gm* reposed that a small charge of powder should be
Seed ireathegen. Mrs. Steel at first objected, but allowed
hareelf le be our-persuaded ; and Thomas Waldron reached
dews • sesamisa gen, and a nap was found open the nipple
el the lank, 'ldea Thomas Waldron took off and threw
amitg, wispriag (u did the whole of the family) that the
pee vas unleaded, and that tide was an exploded cap, which
had been left en the nipple when the gun was last fired. At
this tisane Steel expressed a wish to see the gun fired,
and wished to know how it was done. Her mother accord-
iagly4mmed that she should fire off a cap, but objected to
being seed; and, while some of the family Wtr•
be the seersien ceps, Thomas Waldron was alma-
=siealeasis-hele with a pit, having the muzzle of the gun
at Jane Steel, sad the stock being placed under his
amt. While in this situation the hammer fell upon the
=exploding, it is supseed a small quantity of the per-
powder which hat lasi left on the withdrawal of
the asp, and Skin the whole contents of the gun in the
tee sad head of the imheftmate girl Jane Steel, who fell
kola bee stair oreered with blood, and expired without ut-
tering& sonsi. The yea*, who sou dreadfully distressed
at the resideat, was the same evening taken into custody
yea an in steat could be held. The jury found a verdict of
Andfienftl death."

JENNY LIND'S PECTVINCFAL7IOIJII.—The Swedish
Nightingale is to sing at Birmingham to-day (Thursday).
To-morrow she goes to Manchester, and plays in opera time
on thiturdav evening in this week, and on thenimings of
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, In next week. On Mon-
day week, the 6th September, and Wednesday, the nth, the
at the Theatre 'total, Liverpool, the flat evening is
wairn-Sonnainbule," sad the Nand in " La Figlia dal
'inmate." On Thursday, the 06 of September, she rotates
le Birmingham, to give a concert In the Town-hall, hew
of the itebeew redound whoa of that teem Oa
!ridgy, the 10th BegileaDer, thieves a grand miessihmeems
amen is the Ana ague, st Zell ; and on See
_iksW, tie
USN doe s came at Neweefale-on-Tyne.
Ibise it is stated that the prepdsear the
nein loyal is reareerieL Jew Lisi Jima
awer birder, mai siva • see is IdialieWs. sos
readber Ctiogow ; after whisis dte passim le
amt. irthig to appear very sloe* etterverds In. Watt
Lianas = Vicrommia Assocunoff,The Ewa-
Sind Ms =societies in Bileitee7 twenty-
. aik amhemer y dieser se V 1,1 In that lowa, yester-
=r deo peeeliney el Mr. 0111M16011 Pews Tile
aye ameeees, sal issialal Ashen Item alma
Mrs dam reisladoes Is diarist paled the Undoes.

The usual touts were proposed, the speeches were of the
usual character, and the affair altogether passed off satis-
factorily to throe interested.
...

ATTEMPTED SUPPRESSION OP ETON RACES.—The
inhabitants of Eton and Windsor having subscribed for the
parpose of reviving this year the races which formerly took
place at Eton, considerable excitement was created in the
two towns yesterday morning by the appearance of a hand-
bill, signed by the authorities of Eton College. forbidding
the gott in the vicinity of the school—the South Meadow,
which is Lammas land, close to the town, having been fixed
upon for the contemplated amusements. The meeting is to
take place In anothsr spot.