The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-14 00:00:00

SUSPECTED MURDER AT CHELTENHAM.

CHELTENHAM, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
An inquest is now being held in the town before
J. Lovegrove, Esq., one of the coroners for Gloucestershire,
on the body of Richard Mace, wheat death occurred under
the following circumstances :
The deceased, with a sawyer named William Baker, had
arrived in Cheltenham from the neighbouring town of
Wiuchcomb, and stopped at a beerhouse kept by OR. John
Williams, in Queen-street. After drinking hero until they
both became partially intoxicated, they sallied out 'for a
walk through the streets of Chettenham,havingfirbtengaged
and paid for a bed at the beerhouse. They proceeded along
High-street to Wellington-square, where tney found two
women swearing. They caked them what was the matter,
on which one of them, named Margaret Bell, ran up to the
deceased and struck him, knocking him down. Her com-
panion, whose name was Bridget Wimble, then kicked hint
while on the ground, and as soon as the deceased gut up again
a man named Hart rushed out of a passage and knocked the
deceased down. His companion does not seem to have
rendered him any assistance, for the unfortunate deceased
was afte:warda again attacked. After the first affray the
two tompanions, Baker and Mace, walked along the street,
when Baker expressed his intention of returning at once
to Winchcomb, but Mace &aid he should return back to the
beer-house, where he hail engaged a bed. After ineffectual
attempts to prevail upon Mace to accompany him, Baker
proceeded aline to Wiuchcomb, where he arrived about six
o'clock in the morning, having parted with his companion,
as he says, about eleven o'clock at night, and the distance
between Wiuchcomb and Cheltenham being five miles.
After Baker had left Mace the two women and Hart again
attacked Mace, whom Hart beat in a very severe manner,
knocking him down several times. While on the
ground the witnesses observed blood flowing from
his head, and one witness, a widow woman named
Finch, who had gone to her door in consequence of
of bearing a disturbance in the street, saw Bell and Hart
hollowing up the deceased and repeatedly striking bin. At
last a simultaneous attack was made by Hart and the two
women, when Mace was knocked down four times, and
while upon the ground the woman Wimbles, who had a
child in her arms, jumped upon him and etamped upon him
repeated) y with her feet, until he lay motionless, on which
they left him, one of the party observing that "he won't
want any more." What became of the unfortunate de-
ceased between this time (about 11 o'clock at night) and 3
o'clock next morning does not yet appear. It seems that he
partially recovered, so asto be able to walk, and he was
then lett, and nothing is seen of him until he was found
lying in Wellington-square by a policeman a few hours
afterwards. He was then groaning and insensible, and
lying in a pool of blood. He died shortly afterwards, but it
appears that the policeman left him in the street for an
hour before he took him away.
The inquest was proceeding when our report was de-
spatched.

DRAMA.

ADELPHI.

The clever comedyoiTiiis IT and Faces, originally
produced with such deserved success at the Haymarket
Theatre, was performed last night for the first time at the
Adelphi, with some few novelties to the cast—the principal
being the appearance of Mime. Celeste as Peg Woffiagton,
and of Miss Woolgar as Mrs. Vane. The former character
is scarcely within the range of Mdme. Celeste, whose pecu-
liaritT of accent has a somewhat bizarre effect when per-
' walling the genial-hearted English actress. Granting, how-
-1 ever, l'eg Woffiugton to speak broken English (!), Mdme.
Celeste's performance uses not without merit, particularly 1
in the scene with Mrs. Vans in Triplet's garret, which was
on both sides a most effective piece of acting. Of Mica
Woelgar's Mrs. Vane it is scareely possible to speak in too
high terms—it was a charming representation of the affec-
tionate, simple-hearted wife, aa amusing in its delineation
of the rustic ignorance of town manners and habits, as it
was pathetic in its portrayal of the agonies of unrequited
love. The other principal characters were sustained
by their original representatives, Mr. Benjamin Web-
ster's Triplet and Mr. Leigh Murray's Sir Charles
Pomander standing out prominently for artistic cons
ception and finished execution. Mr. G. Honey was
I very successful in rendering the querulous aceriory of
Colley Cibber, and Miss Fanny Maskell was a charming
Kitty Clive. The comedy was altogether exceedingly well
performed, and bids fair to become as attractive with the
Adelphi 11.4 it has heretofore been with the Haymarket
audiences. Last night was also marked by the commence-
meet of a new feature in Mr. Webster's arrangements, each

person paying to the stalk, boxes, pit, or gallery being
entitled to a bill of the evening's performer's. It is to bo
hoped that Mr. Webster will still further carry out
reform in such matters; which, small in themselves, are
nevertheless intimately connected with the comfort and
enjoy meat of the audience.

Lose OF TIIREE LIVES BY FlRE.—Yesterday
morning Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, received information
of three deaths by fire. The first was the death of Mary
Ann Kavanagh, aged seven years, whose friends reside at
No. 8, Spring-street, Shadwell, and who died from injuries
sustained by the accidental ignition of her clothiug on
Saturday last. The second case was respecting the death
of Catherine Hoffman, aged eight years, lately residing at
No. 22, Robert.place, Commercial.road East. The child
was in the act of lighting a fire when her pinafore became
in a blaze, and before !the fire was extinguished her body
was shockingly burnt, from the effects of which she expired
on Monday. A third death from tire occurred yesterday in
the London Hospital to a troy named George Marks, aged
five years, whose parent; reside in Oreen-street, Stepney.
On Sunday last he was 'yawing himself with II lighted piece
of p iner and set fire to his dress, whereby he rec. ived such
injuries that he died in consequence. Thu bodies are lyzng
at the hospital awaiting inquests.
MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAY —Traffic for week end-
Jac March 31, 15,:13, 1852,