The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-09 00:00:00

MURDER IN CORNTFAiZ'

A man named James Holman, a labourer, living
in the parish of Crowan, in Cornwell, has just beau tom.
mitred to take his trial for the murder of Phillipps, his
wile on the 20th of December. On the day named.
Holman went to a neighbour's house, about SO yards from
his own residence, and implored him to accompany him to
his cottage, saying that he believed his wife wee dead. 0a
going hither the unfortunate women wee discovered lying
under the grate, with her feet partially buried in the ashes.
Williams, the neighbour's son-in-law, lifted her up.
and removed her into the kitchen. Oa walking her flee
it was discovered that she had received some frightful
wounds about the temple end over the nose; there were
also scalds on the back of both of her hands, but not any on
the pants, nor were her clothes burnt. rood was also
noticed in the sleeve of liolstan's coat, and some on his
Mowers, just under the knee, as well as several spots of
blood about the room. In the chimney corner, as they
Lifted the body, a lighted candle was found stack in the
ashes. A constable sou called in, surf his attention was
directed to a stain of blood on Holman's shirt. On
being asked how it came there, he said it was with
lifting his wife. On the following day a pod alert's's
examination of the body was made. At the same time
Holman was asked if he kept a hatchet on the premises, to
which he replied in the negative. Two days afterwards, a
well belonging to kis house was examined, in consequence
of some suspicions that bad been excited, and at the bottom
a hatchet was found. Holman strongly denied any know-
ledge of it, bat it was identified by one of his neighbours
as having belonged to him. He was then apprehended,
end whilst in custody conducted himself very strangely.
On the following Monday be expressed a wish to see two of
the jurors who bad sat on the coroner's inquest held on the
body, to whom he said, " I left home on Monday morning,
and returned in the evening. As I tame in, I called
out whe.e are you ?' and she replied 'What
is that W -you ?" I than hied, You are. drum. again I
let," upon which she threw the firehook at me. I there-
upon gave her a push, and she fell into the &septets. I
left her there, and went out to feed the cattle ; but finding
her in the same position when I returned, I lifted her up,
and found her dead, with a cut overhead. Seeing the
hatchet on the floor covered with blood, and fearing I
might be suspected of murder, I took it away to throw it
into the well."

At the inquest the medical gentlemen, Mr. Gurney and
Mr. Hutchinson, stated it as their opinion that the unfortu-
nate deemed came to her death by violence, and that the
fractures apparent on the left temple sad depression of the
brain were occasioned by severe and repeated blows in-
flicted with some blunt instrument, such as a hatchet.
The prisoner Holman was then committed for trial at the
assizes for wilful murder.

LOSS OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP.

On Saturday information was received by the ship
Francis Meaty of the wreck of the fine barque Hannah
Maria, on the south-west coast of Australia, on the 10th of
September last. Happily no lives were lost. The Hannah
Maria sailed from London with a general cargo and emi-
grants for Adelaide and Melbourne, 'calling at Plymouth to
embark the remainder of her passengers; she left the last
mentioned port on Wednesday, May 11, under the com-
mend of Captain Drew, a crew of above 35 men, and about
po emigrants. She made a fair passage to Adelaide, where
she arrived on the Ist September, having performed the
distance in 112 days ; at this place she landed about half
her passengers and discharged some portion of the cargo,
and left for Melbourne on Friday, Sept. 9, but had scarcely
left the port when it came to blow • fearful gale from
S.S.W. Captain Drew close reefed the topsails and made
everything snug under the circumstances, but the
gale continued with a tremendous bead sea, she
struck heavily on • shingle bank, Cape Jaffa bearing
S.W. by W. W., distant about 15 miles. Finding that
it would be futile to attempt getting ;her off, Capt. Drew
ordered the boats out, which was done with promptitude.
The women and children were first landed, next the adult
passengers, and filially the captain, officers, and crew, who
took the precaution to take with them some stores, spare
sails, and • few spars. Tents were quickly erected, sofa-
dent for the wants of the hiving crew end passengers, and
on Sunday, the 11th inst., the chief officer, with a boat's
crew, were despatched to Portland Bay for assistance
Captain Drew remaining with those under his care ; but
BOOR after the boat's departure it came on to blow heavily.
It was considered prudent to run her on shore near Cape
Northumberland, from whence the crew proceeded by land
to Portland Bay, where a vessel was secured to proceed to
the relief of Captain Drew and his companions, at their
secluded encampment. The vessel, with her cargo, is
insured.